Treatment of Inmates

HB 55 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb55-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to treatment of inmates; creating s. 2
944.092, F.S.; specifying certain rights of inmates in 3
the correctional system; requiring a written copy of 4
the rights to be provided to each inmate; authorizing 5
relief for deprivation of rights; amending s. 947.149, 6
F.S.; revising the definition of the term "permanently 7
incapacitated inmate" for purposes of conditional 8
medical release; providing an effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Section 944.092, Florida Statutes, is created 13
to read: 14
944.092 Basic rights of inmates.— 15
(1) RIGHTS.—Each inmate in the correctional system has the 16
right to: 17
(a) Proper ventilation.—All housing units must have air 18
conditioning systems or air cooling systems; however, housing 19
units in use on or before July 1, 2026, which cannot be fitted 20
for air conditioning systems or air cooling systems shall 21
receive exhaust and air circulators sufficient to provide a safe 22
and healthful environment for inmates. 23
(b) Sufficient meal time.—Inmates must receive a minimum 24
of 20 minutes to eat each meal. The minimum time shall be 25

HB 55 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb55-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

extended to the amount necessary for an inmate to complete the 26
meal if the inmate receives an approved medical reason for such 27
an extension. 28
(c) Adequate food supply in case of emergency.—Each 29
correctional institution shall establish a program with one or 30
more community food banks located near the institution to ensure 31
adequate food supply is made available to the inmate population 32
if conditions exist that prevent regular food supply services 33
due to an event such as a natural disaster or other emergency. 34
(d) Necessary health supplies.—The department must 35
provide: 36
1. Necessary personal protective equipment for medical 37
staff at all times and for all staff and inmates during health 38
crises or during any cleaning. 39
2. Necessary health products for inmates including, but 40
not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons, soap, and toothpaste, 41
upon request of inmates. 42
(2) NOTICE.—The department shall provide a written copy of 43
the rights established in this section to each inmate upon his 44
or her entry into the correctional system. 45
(3) GRIEVANCES.—An inmate may file a grievance with the 46
department if the inmate believes a right guaranteed in this 47
section is denied by a correctional institution. 48
Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 49
947.149, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 50

HB 55 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb55-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

947.149 Conditional medical release.— 51
(1) The commission shall, in conjunction with the 52
department, establish the conditional medical release program. 53
An inmate is eligible for consideration for release under the 54
conditional medical release program when the inmate, because of 55
an existing medical or physical condition, is determined by the 56
department to be within one of the following designations: 57
(a) "Permanently incapacitated inmate," which means an 58
inmate who: 59
1. Has a condition caused by injury, disease, or illness 60
which, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, renders the 61
inmate permanently and irreversibly physically incapacitated; or 62
2. Has a physical disability, impairment, or handicap, 63
64
to the extent that the inmate does not constitute a danger to 65
herself or himself or others. 66
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 67