Bill > H0383

Introduced Session

An act relating to criminal conflict and civil regional counsels; amending s. 27.0065, F.S.; specifying the responsibilities of regional counsels regarding witness coordination; amending s. 27.341, F.S.; revising legislative intent regarding electronic filing and receipt of court documents; amending s. 27.511, F.S.; removing the requirement that regional counsel employees be governed by Justice Administrative Commission classification and salary and benefits plans; modifying procedures for the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission to nominate candidates to the Governor for regional counsel positions; specifying that the nomination and appointment process applies retroactively; prohibiting the court from appointing a regional counsel to represent a defendant who has retained private counsel; specifying requirements for the manner of access to court facilities for regional counsels; amending s. 27.53, F.S.; revising requirements for the classification and pay plan developed by the regional counsels; amending s. 39.0132, F.S.; authorizing the release of certain confidential information relating to proceedings involving children to regional counsels under specified circumstances; amending s. 92.153, F.S.; providing a limitation on costs for documents produced in response to a subpoena or records request by a regional counsel; amending s. 112.19, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer" to include regional counsel investigators for purposes of eligibility for certain death benefits; amending s. 320.025, F.S.; authorizing criminal conflict and civil regional counsel offices to obtain fictitious names for motor vehicle and vessel plates or decals; amending s. 393.12, F.S.; waiving an education requirement for the appointment of attorneys from regional counsel offices to represent a person with a developmental disability; amending s. 394.916, F.S.; requiring a court to appoint a regional counsel or other counsel to represent an allegedly sexually violent predator in the event of a conflict; amending s. 744.331, F.S.; waiving a certain training requirement for the appointment of attorneys from regional counsel offices to represent an alleged incapacitated person; amending s. 943.053, F.S.; specifying that a regional counsel may not be charged a fee for accessing certain criminal justice information; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to provide regional counsels online access to certain information; amending s. 945.10, F.S.; authorizing the release of certain records and information to regional counsels; amending s. 945.48, F.S.; authorizing the appointment of a regional counsel to represent an inmate subject to involuntary mental health treatment if certain conditions exist; amending s. 985.045, F.S.; requiring that regional counsels have access to official records of juveniles whom they represent; reenacting s. 110.123(4)(e), F.S.; relating to the payment of health insurance premiums by state agencies for certain employees and surviving spouses, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 112.19, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 112.1912(1), F.S., relating to death benefits for educational expenses for survivors of first responders, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 112.19, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Patt Maney (R)*, 

Other Sponsors (2)

Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/SB 596 (on 03/07/2022)

Official Document