Title: Release from Confinement During a State of Emergency or a Pandemic

Summary: Authorizes Secretaries of Corrections & DJJ, & sheriffs to release prisoners & persons being detained during a state of emergency or pandemic if they meet specified criteria.

Full Text:
An act relating to release from confinement during a state of emergency or a pandemic; creating s. 944.614, F.S.; authorizing the Secretary of Corrections to release prisoners from the correctional system during a state of emergency or a pandemic if they meet specified criteria; creating s. 951.30, F.S.; authorizing each sheriff to release from detention county and municipal prisoners during a state of emergenc yor a pandemic if they meet specified criteria; creating s. 985.261, F.S.; authorizing the Secretary of Juvenile Justice to release persons it is detaining during a state of emergency or a pandemic if they meet specified criteria; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 944.614, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 944.614 Release from incarceration during a state of emergency or a pandemic.-The secretary may release a prisoner from the correctional system during a state of emergency or a pandemic if the prisoner meets all of the following criteria: (1) Is nonviolent. HB 1427 2021 (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition that makes him or her more susceptible to serious illn ess, permanent disability, or death. (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or to the public. Section 2. Section 951.30, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 951.30 Release from detention during a state of emergency or a pandemic.-Each sheriff may release from detention any county prisoner or municipal prisoner, as those terms are defined in s. 951.23, during a state of emergency or a pandemic if the prisoner meets all of the following criteria: (1) Is nonviolent. (2) Is of an ag eor has a preexisting health condition that makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness, permanent disability, or death. (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or to the public. Section 3. Section 985.261, Florida Statutes, i screated to read: 985.261 Release from detention during a state of emergency or a pandemic.-The secretary of the department may release any person detained by the department during a state of emergency or a pandemic if the person meets all of the follow ing criteria: (1) Is nonviolent. HB 1427 2021 (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition that makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness, permanent disability, or death. (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or to the public. Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.