Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1216
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       24-01602-24                                           20241216__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to reentry resource centers; amending
    3         s. 944.706, F.S.; providing for the provision of
    4         inmate transition assistance services through reentry
    5         resource centers that collocate support services and
    6         resources; specifying some types of assistance that
    7         should be included; reenacting s. 944.7071, F.S.,
    8         relating to Operation New Hope, to incorporate the
    9         amendment made to s. 944.706, F.S., in a reference
   10         thereto; providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 944.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   15  read:
   16         944.706 Basic Release assistance.—
   17         (1) Any inmate who is being released is eligible for
   18  transition assistance. Those inmates released to a detainer are
   19  eligible pursuant to s. 944.703. Transition assistance services
   20  should be made available through reentry resource centers that
   21  collocate the necessary support services and resources in one
   22  location, including services that address the critical needs of
   23  released inmates such as housing, employment, family
   24  unification, mental and physical health treatment, and probation
   25  support.
   26         (2) The department may contract with the Department of
   27  Children and Families, the Salvation Army, and other public or
   28  private organizations, including faith-based service groups, for
   29  the provision of basic support services for releasees.
   30         (3) The department shall adopt rules for the development,
   31  implementation, and termination of transition assistance.
   32         Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
   33  made by this act to section 944.706, Florida Statutes, in a
   34  reference thereto, section 944.7071, Florida Statutes, is
   35  reenacted to read:
   36         944.7071 Operation New Hope.—As authorized by and
   37  consistent with funding appropriated in the General
   38  Appropriations Act, the department may contract, in accordance
   39  with s. 944.706, with Operation New Hope, a nonprofit
   40  organization exempt from taxation pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of
   41  the Internal Revenue Code, to provide reentry services,
   42  including, but not limited to, counseling; providing information
   43  on housing and job placement; money management assistance; and
   44  programs that address substance abuse, mental health, and co
   45  occurring conditions.
   46         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.