Florida Senate - 2026                       CS for CS for SB 212
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Judiciary; and Criminal Justice; and
       Senator McClain
       
       
       
       
       590-02694-26                                           2026212c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to sexual offenders and sexual
    3         predators; amending s. 775.215, F.S.; defining the
    4         term “public swimming pool”; revising residency
    5         restrictions for persons convicted of certain sexual
    6         offenses; providing penalties; providing
    7         applicability; creating s. 775.216, F.S.; defining
    8         terms; prohibiting persons convicted of certain sexual
    9         offenses from visiting or otherwise being on the
   10         premises of specified locations; providing criminal
   11         penalties; providing exceptions; amending s. 856.022,
   12         F.S.; requiring a sexual offender or sexual predator
   13         to notify a school or child care facility of his or
   14         her conviction of specific offenses and that he or she
   15         intends to be present at the school or child care
   16         facility under certain circumstances; amending s.
   17         901.15, F.S.; authorizing the warrantless arrest of a
   18         person if a law enforcement officer has probable cause
   19         to believe the person was on the premises of specified
   20         prohibited locations after he or she was previously
   21         convicted of committing specified sexual offenses
   22         against a victim younger than 16 years of age;
   23         amending s. 943.04351, F.S.; revising requirements for
   24         a search of sexual predator or sexual offender
   25         registration information by a state agency or
   26         governmental subdivision before appointing or
   27         employing a person to work at specified locations;
   28         amending s. 947.005, F.S.; defining the term “public
   29         swimming pool”; amending s. 947.1405, F.S.; revising
   30         special conditions for certain sexual offenders
   31         subject to conditional release supervision for
   32         offenses committed on or after a specified date;
   33         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   34         amending s. 948.001, F.S.; defining the term “public
   35         swimming pool”; amending s. 948.30, F.S.; revising
   36         conditions of probation or community control for
   37         certain sexual offenders for offenses committed on or
   38         after a specified date; conforming provisions to
   39         changes made by the act; providing an effective date.
   40          
   41  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   42  
   43         Section 1. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of
   44  section 775.215, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
   45  (e), a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, subsection
   46  (4) is added to that section, and paragraph (c) of subsection
   47  (2) and paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of that section are
   48  amended, read:
   49         775.215 Residency restriction for persons convicted of
   50  certain sex offenses.—
   51         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   52         (d) “Public swimming pool” means a watertight structure of
   53  concrete, masonry, or other approved materials which is located
   54  either indoors or outdoors, used for bathing or swimming by
   55  humans, and filled with a filtered and disinfected water supply,
   56  together with buildings, appurtenances, and equipment used in
   57  connection therewith. The term includes a conventional pool,
   58  spa-type pool, wading pool, special purpose pool, spray pool,
   59  splash pad, or water recreation attraction, to which admission
   60  may be gained with or without payment of a fee, regardless of
   61  whether entry to the public swimming pool is limited by a gate
   62  or other method of controlling access. The term also includes
   63  pools operated by or serving subdivisions, apartments, mobile
   64  home parks, or townhouses or any pool operated by a county,
   65  city, or municipality which is held open to the public. The term
   66  does not include a swimming pool at a private single-family
   67  residence, hotels, motels, or recreational vehicle parks or a
   68  swimming pool at a facility where the operator prohibits the use
   69  of such pool by persons younger than 18 years of age.
   70         (2)
   71         (c) This subsection applies to any person convicted of a
   72  violation of s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5),
   73  or s. 847.0145 for offenses that occurred occur on or after
   74  October 1, 2004, and before July 1, 2026, excluding persons who
   75  have been removed from the requirement to register as a sexual
   76  offender or sexual predator pursuant to s. 943.04354.
   77         (3)
   78         (c) This subsection applies to any person convicted of an
   79  offense in another jurisdiction that is similar to a violation
   80  of s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s.
   81  847.0145 if such offense occurred on or after May 26, 2010, and
   82  before July 1, 2026, excluding persons who have been removed
   83  from the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual
   84  predator pursuant to s. 943.04354.
   85         (4)(a) A person who has been convicted of a violation of s.
   86  794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145,
   87  regardless of whether adjudication has been withheld, in which
   88  the victim was younger than 16 years of age at the time of the
   89  offense, or who has been convicted of a similar offense in
   90  another jurisdiction, regardless of whether adjudication has
   91  been withheld, in which the victim was younger than 16 years of
   92  age at the time of the offense, may not reside within 1,000 feet
   93  of any school, child care facility, park, public swimming pool,
   94  or playground. However, a person does not violate this
   95  subsection and may not be forced to relocate if he or she is
   96  living in a residence that meets the requirements of this
   97  subsection and a school, child care facility, park, public
   98  swimming pool, or playground is subsequently established within
   99  1,000 feet of his or her residence.
  100         (b)A person who violates this subsection and whose
  101  conviction under s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s.
  102  847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145 was classified as a felony of the
  103  first degree or higher or whose conviction in another
  104  jurisdiction resulted in a penalty that is substantially similar
  105  to a felony of the first degree or higher commits a felony of
  106  the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
  107  775.083, or s. 775.084. A person who violates this subsection
  108  and whose conviction under s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s.
  109  847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145 was classified as a felony of the
  110  second or third degree or whose conviction in another
  111  jurisdiction was substantially similar to a felony of the second
  112  or third degree commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
  113  punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
  114         (c) This subsection applies to:
  115         1.Any person convicted of a violation described in
  116  paragraph (a) for offenses that occur on or after July 1, 2026,
  117  excluding persons who have been removed from the requirement to
  118  register as a sexual offender or sexual predator pursuant to s.
  119  943.04354.
  120         2.Any person who is subject to the residency restrictions
  121  in subsection (2) or subsection (3) who changes his or her place
  122  of residence on or after July 1, 2026.
  123         Section 2. Section 775.216, Florida Statutes, is created to
  124  read:
  125         775.216 Restricted locations for persons convicted of
  126  certain sex offenses.—
  127         (1) As used in this section, the term:
  128         (a) “Child care facility” has the same meaning as in s.
  129  402.302.
  130         (b) “Park,” “playground,” and “school” have the same
  131  meanings as in s. 775.215.
  132         (c) “Public swimming pool” means a watertight structure of
  133  concrete, masonry, or other approved materials which is located
  134  either indoors or outdoors, used for bathing or swimming by
  135  humans, and filled with a filtered and disinfected water supply,
  136  together with buildings, appurtenances, and equipment used in
  137  connection therewith. The term includes a conventional pool,
  138  spa-type pool, wading pool, special purpose pool, spray pool,
  139  splash pad, or water recreation attraction, to which admission
  140  may be gained with or without payment of a fee, regardless of
  141  whether entry to the public swimming pool is limited by a gate
  142  or other method of controlling access. The term only includes
  143  the water feature and the immediate surrounding area of such
  144  water feature. The term also includes, but is not limited to,
  145  pools operated by or serving camps, churches, cities, counties,
  146  municipalities, day care centers, parks, state agencies,
  147  schools, subdivisions, apartments, hotels, motels, mobile home
  148  parks, recreational vehicle parks, and townhouses. The term does
  149  not include a swimming pool at a private single-family residence
  150  or a swimming pool at a facility where the operator prohibits
  151  the use of such pool by persons younger than 18 years of age.
  152         (2) A person who has been convicted of a violation of s.
  153  794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145,
  154  regardless of whether adjudication has been withheld, in which
  155  the victim was younger than 16 years of age at the time of the
  156  offense, or who has been convicted of a similar offense in
  157  another jurisdiction, regardless of whether adjudication has
  158  been withheld, in which the victim was younger than 16 years of
  159  age at the time of the offense, may not be on the premises of
  160  any school, child care facility, park, public swimming pool, or
  161  playground.
  162         (3) A person who violates this section commits a
  163  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
  164  775.082 or s. 775.083.
  165         (4) This section does not apply to a person who:
  166         (a) Has been removed from the requirement to register as a
  167  sexual offender or sexual predator under s. 943.04354.
  168         (b) Is actively traveling past a location described in
  169  subsection (1) while in transit to another destination.
  170         (c) A parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who is
  171  dropping off or picking up his or her child or grandchild from a
  172  child care facility or school or who is visiting his or her
  173  child’s or grandchild’s child care facility or school, subject
  174  to the requirements in s. 856.022(4)(b).
  175         (d) A parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who is only
  176  dropping off or picking up his or her child or grandchild from a
  177  park, playground, or public swimming pool.
  178         (e) A person who is on the premises of a location described
  179  in subsection (1) for the sole purpose of:
  180         1. Attending a religious service as defined in s. 775.0861.
  181         2. Voting, if such person is present during the hours
  182  designated for voting.
  183         3. Conducting official business at a local, state, or
  184  federal government building.
  185         Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
  186  856.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  187         856.022 Loitering or prowling by certain offenders in close
  188  proximity to children; penalty.—
  189         (4)
  190         (b) It is unlawful for a person described in subsection (1)
  191  to knowingly be present in any child care facility or school
  192  containing any students in prekindergarten through grade 12 or
  193  on real property comprising any child care facility or school
  194  containing any students in prekindergarten through grade 12 when
  195  the child care facility or school is in operation, if such
  196  person fails to:
  197         1. Provide written notification that he or she has a
  198  conviction specified in subsection (1) of his or her intent to
  199  be present to the school board, superintendent, principal, or
  200  child care facility owner and that he or she intends to be
  201  present at the school or child care facility;
  202         2. Notify the child care facility owner or the school
  203  principal’s office when he or she arrives and departs the child
  204  care facility or school; or
  205         3. Remain under direct supervision of a school official or
  206  designated chaperone when present in the vicinity of children.
  207  As used in this paragraph, the term “school official” means a
  208  principal, a school resource officer, a teacher or any other
  209  employee of the school, the superintendent of schools, a member
  210  of the school board, a child care facility owner, or a child
  211  care provider.
  212         Section 4. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (9) of
  213  section 901.15, Florida Statutes, to read:
  214         901.15 When arrest by officer without warrant is lawful.—A
  215  law enforcement officer may arrest a person without a warrant
  216  when:
  217         (9) There is probable cause to believe that the person has
  218  committed:
  219         (h) A violation of s. 775.216 by being on the premises of a
  220  school, child care facility, park, public swimming pool, or
  221  playground after he or she was convicted of committing a
  222  specified sexual offense against a victim who was younger than
  223  16 years of age at the time of the offense.
  224         Section 5. Section 943.04351, Florida Statutes, is amended
  225  to read:
  226         943.04351 Search of registration information regarding
  227  sexual predators and sexual offenders required before
  228  appointment or employment.—A state agency or governmental
  229  subdivision, before making any decision to appoint or employ a
  230  person to work, whether for compensation or as a volunteer, at
  231  any park, playground, public swimming pool, child care facility
  232  day care center, or other place where children regularly
  233  congregate, must conduct a search of that person’s name or other
  234  identifying information against the registration information
  235  regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders through the Dru
  236  Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website maintained by the
  237  United States Department of Justice. If for any reason that site
  238  is not available, a search of the registration information
  239  regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders maintained by
  240  the Department of Law Enforcement under s. 943.043 must shall be
  241  performed. This section does not apply to those positions or
  242  appointments within a state agency or governmental subdivision
  243  for which a state and national criminal history background check
  244  is conducted.
  245         Section 6. Present subsections (10) through (15) of section
  246  947.005, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (11)
  247  through (16), respectively, and a new subsection (10) is added
  248  to that section, to read:
  249         947.005 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, unless the
  250  context clearly indicates otherwise:
  251         (10) “Public swimming pool” has the same meaning as in s.
  252  775.215.
  253         Section 7. Subsections (15) and (16) are added to section
  254  947.1405, Florida Statutes, to read:
  255         947.1405 Conditional release program.—
  256         (15) Effective for a releasee who is convicted of a crime
  257  committed on or after July 1, 2026, or who has been previously
  258  convicted of a crime committed on or after July 1, 2026, in
  259  violation of chapter 794, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5),
  260  or s. 847.0145, against a victim who was younger than 18 years
  261  of age at the time of the offense, in addition to any other
  262  provision of this section, the commission shall impose the
  263  following conditions:
  264         (a)A prohibition on living within 1,000 feet of any public
  265  swimming pool. A releasee who is subject to this paragraph may
  266  not be forced to relocate and does not violate his or her
  267  conditional release supervision if he or she is living in a
  268  residence that meets the requirements of this paragraph and a
  269  public swimming pool is subsequently established within 1,000
  270  feet of his or her residence.
  271         (b)A prohibition on working for pay or as a volunteer at
  272  any public swimming pool.
  273         (16) In addition to all other conditions imposed, for a
  274  releasee who is subject to conditional release for a crime that
  275  was committed on or after July 1, 2026, and who has been
  276  convicted at any time of committing, or attempting, soliciting,
  277  or conspiring to commit, any of the criminal offenses listed in
  278  s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I), or a similar offense in another
  279  jurisdiction, against a victim who was younger than 18 years of
  280  age at the time of the offense, if the releasee has not received
  281  a pardon for any felony or similar law of another jurisdiction
  282  necessary for the operation of this subsection, if a conviction
  283  of a felony or similar law of another jurisdiction necessary for
  284  the operation of this subsection has not been set aside in any
  285  postconviction proceeding, or if the releasee has not been
  286  removed from the requirement to register as a sexual offender or
  287  sexual predator pursuant to s. 943.04354, the commission must
  288  impose a condition prohibiting the releasee from visiting a
  289  public swimming pool without prior approval from his or her
  290  supervising officer.
  291         (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a supervising
  292  officer must deny a releasee’s request to visit a public
  293  swimming pool if the releasee is prohibited from visiting such a
  294  public swimming pool under s. 775.216.
  295         (b) A supervising officer may authorize a releasee who is
  296  prohibited from visiting a public swimming pool under s. 775.216
  297  if it is for any purpose listed in s. 775.216(4).
  298         Section 8. Present subsections (9) through (13) of section
  299  948.001, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (10)
  300  through (14), respectively, and a new subsection (9) is added to
  301  that section, to read:
  302         948.001 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
  303         (9) “Public swimming pool” has the same meaning as in s.
  304  775.215.
  305         Section 9. Subsections (6) and (7) are added to section
  306  948.30, Florida Statutes, to read:
  307         948.30 Additional terms and conditions of probation or
  308  community control for certain sex offenses.—Conditions imposed
  309  pursuant to this section do not require oral pronouncement at
  310  the time of sentencing and shall be considered standard
  311  conditions of probation or community control for offenders
  312  specified in this section.
  313         (6) In addition to all other conditions imposed, for a
  314  probationer or community controllee whose crime was committed on
  315  or after July 1, 2026, and who is placed on supervision for
  316  committing, or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit,
  317  a violation of s. 787.06(3)(b), (d), (f), or (g); chapter 794;
  318  s. 800.04; s. 827.071; s. 847.0135(5); or s. 847.0145 against a
  319  victim who was younger than 18 years of age at the time of the
  320  offense, the court must impose the following conditions:
  321         (a)A prohibition on living within 1,000 feet of any public
  322  swimming pool. A probationer or community controllee who is
  323  subject to this paragraph may not be forced to relocate and does
  324  not violate his or her probation or community control if he or
  325  she is living in a residence that meets the requirements of this
  326  paragraph and a public swimming pool is subsequently established
  327  within 1,000 feet of his or her residence.
  328         (b)A prohibition on working for pay or as a volunteer at
  329  any public swimming pool.
  330         (7) In addition to all other conditions imposed, for a
  331  probationer or community controllee who is subject to
  332  supervision for a crime that was committed on or after July 1,
  333  2026, and who has been convicted at any time of committing, or
  334  attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit, any of the
  335  criminal offenses listed in s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.a.(I), or a
  336  similar offense in another jurisdiction, against a victim who
  337  was younger than 18 years of age at the time of the offense, if
  338  the offender has not received a pardon for any felony or similar
  339  law of another jurisdiction necessary for the operation of this
  340  subsection, if a conviction of a felony or similar law of
  341  another jurisdiction necessary for the operation of this
  342  subsection has not been set aside in any postconviction
  343  proceeding, or if the offender has not been removed from the
  344  requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator
  345  pursuant to s. 943.04354, the court must impose a condition
  346  prohibiting the probationer or community controllee from
  347  visiting a public swimming pool without prior approval from his
  348  or her supervising officer.
  349         (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a supervising
  350  officer must deny a probationer’s request to visit a public
  351  swimming pool if the probationer is prohibited from visiting
  352  such a public swimming pool under s. 775.216.
  353         (b) A supervising officer may authorize a probationer who
  354  is prohibited from visiting a public swimming pool under s.
  355  775.216 if it is for any purpose listed in s. 775.216(4).
  356         Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.