Bill > S1710

Introduced Session

An act relating to the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsperson; creating s. 944.101, F.S.; defining terms; creating the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsperson within the Department of Corrections; providing duties for the office; specifying that the office is directed by the Ombudsperson; requiring that the Ombudsperson be selected by the Corrections Oversight Committee; specifying the authority and duties of the Ombudsperson; establishing the Corrections Oversight Committee; providing for membership, appointment, and terms of committee members; specifying that committee members are not eligible for compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of per diem and travel expenses; requiring the committee to announce Ombudsperson nominees publicly; requiring the committee to hold quarterly meetings and at least one annual public hearing; providing powers and duties of the committee; requiring that the office have access to department facilities for specified purposes; providing powers and duties of the office; authorizing the office to subpoena department records, employees, or contractors; providing that specified correspondence and communications are confidential and privileged; requiring the office to conduct periodic inspections of department facilities; requiring the office to produce a report upon completion of an inspection, make it available to the public, and submit it to the Governor, the Legislature, and the department; providing report requirements; requiring that facilities inspected by the office be assigned a safety and compliance classification; requiring the department to respond, within a specified timeframe, to each office inspection report; authorizing the office to investigate complaints on specified matters; authorizing the office to decline to investigate complaints; prohibiting the office from investigating complaints on specified matters; prohibiting the office from levying fees; prohibiting the department or its employees or contractors from terminating, retaliating against, or discriminating against a person who files a complaint; requiring the office to produce an annual report by a specified date and make it publicly available on its website and submit it to the Governor, the Attorney General, the Legislature, and the department; providing report requirements; authorizing the department and the office to adopt rules; creating s. 944.102, F.S.; defining terms; requiring the office to create an electronic family form and make it available on the office’s public website for a specified purpose; requiring the office to create an incarcerated person advocacy and support services form; providing requirements relating to making the form accessible to incarcerated persons; providing for confidentiality and privilege of the forms; providing office requirements relating to the forms; requiring the office to create telephone hotlines for specified purposes; providing office requirements regarding the hotlines; prohibiting the department and its employees and contractors from terminating, retaliating against, or discriminating against a person for filing a complaint or inquiry; providing for redress of violations; authorizing the department and the office to adopt rules; providing an appropriation; providing effective dates.

AI Summary

Carlos Smith (D)*, 

Died in Criminal Justice (on 03/13/2026)

Official Document