Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 212
       
       
        
       By Senator McClain
       
       
       
       
       
       9-00401-26                                             2026212__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to sexual offenders and sexual
    3         predators; amending s. 514.011, F.S.; revising the
    4         definitions of the terms “public swimming pool” and
    5         “public pool”; amending s. 775.215, F.S.; defining the
    6         terms “public bathing place” and “public swimming
    7         pool”; revising residency restrictions for persons
    8         convicted of certain sexual offenses; amending s.
    9         943.04351, F.S.; revising requirements for a search of
   10         sexual predator or sexual offender registration
   11         information by a state agency or governmental
   12         subdivision before appointing or employing a person to
   13         work; amending s. 947.005, F.S.; defining the terms
   14         “public bathing place” and “public swimming pool”;
   15         amending s. 947.1405, F.S.; revising special
   16         conditions for certain sexual offenders subject to
   17         conditional release supervision; amending s. 948.001,
   18         F.S.; defining the terms “public bathing place” and
   19         “public swimming pool”; amending s. 948.30, F.S.;
   20         revising standard conditions of probation or community
   21         control for certain sexual offenders; providing an
   22         effective date.
   23          
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25  
   26         Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 514.011, Florida
   27  Statutes, is amended to read:
   28         514.011 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
   29         (2) “Public swimming pool” or “public pool” means a
   30  watertight structure of concrete, masonry, or other approved
   31  materials which is located either indoors or outdoors, used for
   32  bathing or swimming by humans, and filled with a filtered and
   33  disinfected water supply, together with buildings,
   34  appurtenances, and equipment used in connection therewith. A
   35  public swimming pool or public pool shall mean a conventional
   36  pool, spa-type pool, wading pool, special purpose pool, spray
   37  pool, splash pad, or water recreation attraction, to which
   38  admission may be gained with or without payment of a fee and
   39  includes, but is not limited to, pools operated by or serving
   40  camps, churches, cities, counties, child care facilities day
   41  care centers, group home facilities for eight or more clients,
   42  health spas, institutions, parks, state agencies, schools,
   43  subdivisions, or the cooperative living-type projects of five or
   44  more living units, such as apartments, boardinghouses, hotels,
   45  mobile home parks, motels, recreational vehicle parks, and
   46  townhouses.
   47         Section 2. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of
   48  section 775.215, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
   49  (f) of that subsection, a new paragraph (d) and paragraph (e)
   50  are added to that subsection, and paragraph (a) of subsection
   51  (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of that section are
   52  amended, to read:
   53         775.215 Residency restriction for persons convicted of
   54  certain sex offenses.—
   55         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   56         (d) “Public bathing place” has the same meaning as provided
   57  in s. 514.011(4).
   58         (e) “Public swimming pool” has the same meaning as provided
   59  in s. 514.011(2).
   60         (2)(a) A person who has been convicted of a violation of s.
   61  794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145,
   62  regardless of whether adjudication has been withheld, in which
   63  the victim of the offense was less than 16 years of age, may not
   64  reside within 1,000 feet of any school, child care facility,
   65  park, public swimming pool, public bathing place, or playground.
   66  However, a person does not violate this subsection and may not
   67  be forced to relocate if he or she is living in a residence that
   68  meets the requirements of this subsection and a school, child
   69  care facility, park, public swimming pool, public bathing place,
   70  or playground is subsequently established within 1,000 feet of
   71  his or her residence.
   72         (3)(a) A person who has been convicted of an offense in
   73  another jurisdiction that is similar to a violation of s.
   74  794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145,
   75  regardless of whether adjudication has been withheld, in which
   76  the victim of the offense was less than 16 years of age, may not
   77  reside within 1,000 feet of any school, child care facility,
   78  park, public swimming pool, public bathing place, or playground.
   79  However, a person does not violate this subsection and may not
   80  be forced to relocate if he or she is living in a residence that
   81  meets the requirements of this subsection and a school, child
   82  care facility, park, public swimming pool, public bathing place,
   83  or playground is subsequently established within 1,000 feet of
   84  his or her residence.
   85         Section 3. Section 943.04351, Florida Statutes, is amended
   86  to read:
   87         943.04351 Search of registration information regarding
   88  sexual predators and sexual offenders required before
   89  appointment or employment.—A state agency or governmental
   90  subdivision, before making any decision to appoint or employ a
   91  person to work, whether for compensation or as a volunteer, at
   92  any park, playground, public swimming pool, public bathing
   93  place, child care facility day care center, or other place where
   94  children regularly congregate, must conduct a search of that
   95  person’s name or other identifying information against the
   96  registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual
   97  offenders through the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public
   98  Website maintained by the United States Department of Justice.
   99  If for any reason that site is not available, a search of the
  100  registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual
  101  offenders maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement under
  102  s. 943.043 shall be performed. This section does not apply to
  103  those positions or appointments within a state agency or
  104  governmental subdivision for which a state and national criminal
  105  history background check is conducted.
  106         Section 4. Present subsections (10) through (15) of section
  107  947.005, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (12)
  108  through (17), respectively, and new subsections (10) and (11)
  109  are added that section, to read:
  110         947.005 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, unless the
  111  context clearly indicates otherwise:
  112         (10) “Public bathing place” has the same meaning as
  113  provided in s. 514.011(4).
  114         (11) “Public swimming pool” has the same meaning as
  115  provided in s. 514.011(2).
  116         Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and paragraph
  117  (a) of subsection (12) of section 947.1405, Florida Statutes,
  118  are amended to read:
  119         947.1405 Conditional release program.—
  120         (7)(a) Any inmate who is convicted of a crime committed on
  121  or after October 1, 1995, or who has been previously convicted
  122  of a crime committed on or after October 1, 1995, in violation
  123  of chapter 794, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s.
  124  847.0145, and is subject to conditional release supervision,
  125  shall have, in addition to any other conditions imposed, the
  126  following special conditions imposed by the commission:
  127         1. A mandatory curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The commission
  128  may designate another 8-hour period if the offender’s employment
  129  precludes the above specified time, and such alternative is
  130  recommended by the Department of Corrections. If the commission
  131  determines that imposing a curfew would endanger the victim, the
  132  commission may consider alternative sanctions.
  133         2. If the victim was under the age of 18, a prohibition on
  134  living within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, park,
  135  playground, public swimming pool, public bathing place,
  136  designated public school bus stop, or other place where children
  137  regularly congregate. A releasee who is subject to this
  138  subparagraph may not relocate to a residence that is within
  139  1,000 feet of a public school bus stop. Beginning October 1,
  140  2004, the commission or the department may not approve a
  141  residence that is located within 1,000 feet of a school, child
  142  care facility, park, playground, public swimming pool, public
  143  bathing place, designated school bus stop, or other place where
  144  children regularly congregate for any releasee who is subject to
  145  this subparagraph. On October 1, 2004, the department shall
  146  notify each affected school district of the location of the
  147  residence of a releasee 30 days prior to release and thereafter,
  148  if the releasee relocates to a new residence, shall notify any
  149  affected school district of the residence of the releasee within
  150  30 days after relocation. If, on October 1, 2004, any public
  151  school bus stop is located within 1,000 feet of the existing
  152  residence of such releasee, the district school board shall
  153  relocate that school bus stop. Beginning October 1, 2004, a
  154  district school board may not establish or relocate a public
  155  school bus stop within 1,000 feet of the residence of a releasee
  156  who is subject to this subparagraph. The failure of the district
  157  school board to comply with this subparagraph shall not result
  158  in a violation of conditional release supervision. A releasee
  159  who is subject to this subparagraph may not be forced to
  160  relocate and does not violate his or her conditional release
  161  supervision if he or she is living in a residence that meets the
  162  requirements of this subparagraph and a school, child care
  163  facility, park, playground, public swimming pool, public bathing
  164  place, designated public school bus stop, or other place where
  165  children regularly congregate is subsequently established within
  166  1,000 feet of his or her residence.
  167         3. Active participation in and successful completion of a
  168  sex offender treatment program with qualified practitioners
  169  specifically trained to treat sex offenders, at the releasee’s
  170  own expense. If a qualified practitioner is not available within
  171  a 50-mile radius of the releasee’s residence, the offender shall
  172  participate in other appropriate therapy.
  173         4. A prohibition on any contact with the victim, directly
  174  or indirectly, including through a third person, unless approved
  175  by the victim, a qualified practitioner in the sexual offender
  176  treatment program, and the sentencing court.
  177         5. If the victim was under the age of 18, a prohibition
  178  against contact with children under the age of 18 without review
  179  and approval by the commission. The commission may approve
  180  supervised contact with a child under the age of 18 if the
  181  approval is based upon a recommendation for contact issued by a
  182  qualified practitioner who is basing the recommendation on a
  183  risk assessment. Further, the sex offender must be currently
  184  enrolled in or have successfully completed a sex offender
  185  therapy program. The commission may not grant supervised contact
  186  with a child if the contact is not recommended by a qualified
  187  practitioner and may deny supervised contact with a child at any
  188  time. When considering whether to approve supervised contact
  189  with a child, the commission must review and consider the
  190  following:
  191         a. A risk assessment completed by a qualified practitioner.
  192  The qualified practitioner must prepare a written report that
  193  must include the findings of the assessment and address each of
  194  the following components:
  195         (I) The sex offender’s current legal status;
  196         (II) The sex offender’s history of adult charges with
  197  apparent sexual motivation;
  198         (III) The sex offender’s history of adult charges without
  199  apparent sexual motivation;
  200         (IV) The sex offender’s history of juvenile charges,
  201  whenever available;
  202         (V) The sex offender’s offender treatment history,
  203  including a consultation from the sex offender’s treating, or
  204  most recent treating, therapist;
  205         (VI) The sex offender’s current mental status;
  206         (VII) The sex offender’s mental health and substance abuse
  207  history as provided by the Department of Corrections;
  208         (VIII) The sex offender’s personal, social, educational,
  209  and work history;
  210         (IX) The results of current psychological testing of the
  211  sex offender if determined necessary by the qualified
  212  practitioner;
  213         (X) A description of the proposed contact, including the
  214  location, frequency, duration, and supervisory arrangement;
  215         (XI) The child’s preference and relative comfort level with
  216  the proposed contact, when age-appropriate;
  217         (XII) The parent’s or legal guardian’s preference regarding
  218  the proposed contact; and
  219         (XIII) The qualified practitioner’s opinion, along with the
  220  basis for that opinion, as to whether the proposed contact would
  221  likely pose significant risk of emotional or physical harm to
  222  the child.
  223  
  224  The written report of the assessment must be given to the
  225  commission.
  226         b. A recommendation made as a part of the risk-assessment
  227  report as to whether supervised contact with the child should be
  228  approved;
  229         c. A written consent signed by the child’s parent or legal
  230  guardian, if the parent or legal guardian is not the sex
  231  offender, agreeing to the sex offender having supervised contact
  232  with the child after receiving full disclosure of the sex
  233  offender’s present legal status, past criminal history, and the
  234  results of the risk assessment. The commission may not approve
  235  contact with the child if the parent or legal guardian refuses
  236  to give written consent for supervised contact;
  237         d. A safety plan prepared by the qualified practitioner,
  238  who provides treatment to the offender, in collaboration with
  239  the sex offender, the child’s parent or legal guardian, and the
  240  child, when age appropriate, which details the acceptable
  241  conditions of contact between the sex offender and the child.
  242  The safety plan must be reviewed and approved by the Department
  243  of Corrections before being submitted to the commission; and
  244         e. Evidence that the child’s parent or legal guardian, if
  245  the parent or legal guardian is not the sex offender,
  246  understands the need for and agrees to the safety plan and has
  247  agreed to provide, or to designate another adult to provide,
  248  constant supervision any time the child is in contact with the
  249  offender.
  250  
  251  The commission may not appoint a person to conduct a risk
  252  assessment and may not accept a risk assessment from a person
  253  who has not demonstrated to the commission that he or she has
  254  met the requirements of a qualified practitioner as defined in
  255  this section.
  256         6. If the victim was under age 18, a prohibition on working
  257  for pay or as a volunteer at any school, child care facility,
  258  park, playground, public swimming pool, public bathing place, or
  259  other place where children regularly congregate, as prescribed
  260  by the commission.
  261         7. Unless otherwise indicated in the treatment plan
  262  provided by a qualified practitioner in the sexual offender
  263  treatment program, a prohibition on viewing, owning, or
  264  possessing any obscene, pornographic, or sexually stimulating
  265  visual or auditory material, including telephone, electronic
  266  media, computer programs, or computer services that are relevant
  267  to the offender’s deviant behavior pattern.
  268         8. Effective for a releasee whose crime is committed on or
  269  after July 1, 2005, a prohibition on accessing the Internet or
  270  other computer services until a qualified practitioner in the
  271  offender’s sex offender treatment program, after a risk
  272  assessment is completed, approves and implements a safety plan
  273  for the offender’s accessing or using the Internet or other
  274  computer services.
  275         9. A requirement that the releasee must submit two
  276  specimens of blood to the Department of Law Enforcement to be
  277  registered with the DNA database.
  278         10. A requirement that the releasee make restitution to the
  279  victim, as determined by the sentencing court or the commission,
  280  for all necessary medical and related professional services
  281  relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological care.
  282         11. Submission to a warrantless search by the community
  283  control or probation officer of the probationer’s or community
  284  controllee’s person, residence, or vehicle.
  285         (12) In addition to all other conditions imposed, for a
  286  releasee who is subject to conditional release for a crime that
  287  was committed on or after May 26, 2010, and who has been
  288  convicted at any time of committing, or attempting, soliciting,
  289  or conspiring to commit, any of the criminal offenses listed in
  290  s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I), or a similar offense in another
  291  jurisdiction against a victim who was under 18 years of age at
  292  the time of the offense, if the releasee has not received a
  293  pardon for any felony or similar law of another jurisdiction
  294  necessary for the operation of this subsection, if a conviction
  295  of a felony or similar law of another jurisdiction necessary for
  296  the operation of this subsection has not been set aside in any
  297  postconviction proceeding, or if the releasee has not been
  298  removed from the requirement to register as a sexual offender or
  299  sexual predator pursuant to s. 943.04354, the commission must
  300  impose the following conditions:
  301         (a) A prohibition on visiting schools, child care
  302  facilities, parks, public swimming pools, public bathing places,
  303  and playgrounds without prior approval from the releasee’s
  304  supervising officer. The commission may also designate
  305  additional prohibited locations to protect a victim. The
  306  prohibition ordered under this paragraph does not prohibit the
  307  releasee from visiting a school, child care facility, park,
  308  public swimming pool, public bathing place, or playground for
  309  the sole purpose of attending a religious service as defined in
  310  s. 775.0861 or picking up or dropping off the releasee’s child
  311  or grandchild at a child care facility or school.
  312         Section 6. Present subsections (9) though (13) of section
  313  948.001, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (11)
  314  through (15), respectively, and new subsections (9) and (10) are
  315  added to that section, to read:
  316         948.001 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
  317         (9) “Public bathing place” has the same meaning as provided
  318  in s. 514.011(4).
  319         (10) “Public swimming pool” has the same meaning as
  320  provided in s. 514.011(2)
  321         Section 7. Paragraphs (b) and (f) of subsection (1) and
  322  paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 948.30, Florida
  323  Statutes, are amended to read:
  324         948.30 Additional terms and conditions of probation or
  325  community control for certain sex offenses.—Conditions imposed
  326  pursuant to this section do not require oral pronouncement at
  327  the time of sentencing and shall be considered standard
  328  conditions of probation or community control for offenders
  329  specified in this section.
  330         (1) Effective for probationers or community controllees
  331  whose crime was committed on or after October 1, 1995, and who
  332  are placed under supervision for a violation of chapter 794, s.
  333  800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145, or whose
  334  crime was committed on or after July 1, 2021, and who are placed
  335  under supervision for a violation of s. 787.06(3)(b), (d), (f),
  336  or (g), or whose crime was committed on or after July 1, 2023,
  337  and who are placed under supervision for attempting, soliciting,
  338  or conspiring to commit a violation of s. 787.06(3)(b), (d),
  339  (f), or (g); chapter 794; s. 800.04; s. 827.071; s. 847.0135(5);
  340  or s. 847.0145, the court must impose the following conditions
  341  in addition to all other standard and special conditions
  342  imposed:
  343         (b) If the victim was under the age of 18, a prohibition on
  344  living within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, park,
  345  playground, public swimming pool, public bathing place, or other
  346  place where children regularly congregate, as prescribed by the
  347  court. The 1,000-foot distance shall be measured in a straight
  348  line from the offender’s place of residence to the nearest
  349  boundary line of the school, child care facility, park,
  350  playground, public swimming pool, public bathing place, or other
  351  place where children congregate. The distance may not be
  352  measured by a pedestrian route or automobile route. A
  353  probationer or community controllee who is subject to this
  354  paragraph may not be forced to relocate and does not violate his
  355  or her probation or community control if he or she is living in
  356  a residence that meets the requirements of this paragraph and a
  357  school, child care facility, park, playground, public swimming
  358  pool, public bathing place, or other place where children
  359  regularly congregate is subsequently established within 1,000
  360  feet of his or her residence.
  361         (f) If the victim was under age 18, a prohibition on
  362  working for pay or as a volunteer at any place where children
  363  regularly congregate, including, but not limited to, schools,
  364  child care facilities, parks, playgrounds, public swimming
  365  pools, public bathing places, pet stores, libraries, zoos, theme
  366  parks, and malls.
  367         (4) In addition to all other conditions imposed, for a
  368  probationer or community controllee who is subject to
  369  supervision for a crime that was committed on or after May 26,
  370  2010, and who has been convicted at any time of committing, or
  371  attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit, any of the
  372  criminal offenses listed in s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I), or a
  373  similar offense in another jurisdiction, against a victim who
  374  was under the age of 18 at the time of the offense; if the
  375  offender has not received a pardon for any felony or similar law
  376  of another jurisdiction necessary for the operation of this
  377  subsection, if a conviction of a felony or similar law of
  378  another jurisdiction necessary for the operation of this
  379  subsection has not been set aside in any postconviction
  380  proceeding, or if the offender has not been removed from the
  381  requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator
  382  pursuant to s. 943.04354, the court must impose the following
  383  conditions:
  384         (a) A prohibition on visiting schools, child care
  385  facilities, parks, public swimming pools, public bathing places,
  386  and playgrounds, without prior approval from the offender’s
  387  supervising officer. The court may also designate additional
  388  locations to protect a victim. The prohibition ordered under
  389  this paragraph does not prohibit the offender from visiting a
  390  school, child care facility, park, public swimming pool, public
  391  bathing place, or playground for the sole purpose of attending a
  392  religious service as defined in s. 775.0861 or picking up or
  393  dropping off the offender’s children or grandchildren at a child
  394  care facility or school.
  395         Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.