Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 1762
By
Senator Rouson
16-01152-26 20261762__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Criminal Justice Commission;
3 creating s. 945.231, F.S.; creating the commission
4 within the Department of Corrections; specifying the
5 purpose of the commission; providing for membership of
6 the commission; specifying terms of commission
7 members; requiring the commission to take specified
8 actions; providing reporting requirements; authorizing
9 the commission to take specified actions; providing an
10 effective date.
11
12 WHEREAS, in 2023, this state spent $2.3 million on a report
13 to develop a master plan for the state prison system, and
14 WHEREAS, the state-commissioned KPMG Master Plan Report
15 analyzed this state’s correctional system and suggested ways to
16 improve it over the next 20 years, and
17 WHEREAS, the report recommended numerous areas for
18 improvement, including addressing workforce shortages and
19 planning for improved correctional facilities, and
20 WHEREAS, the report also recommended that this state create
21 a criminal justice commission modeled after those in existence
22 in other states, and
23 WHEREAS, though several steps have been taken in addressing
24 concerns raised in the report, the creation of a state criminal
25 justice commission may help facilitate further positive reforms
26 to the state’s correctional system, NOW, THEREFORE,
27
28 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30 Section 1. Section 945.231, Florida Statutes, is created to
31 read:
32
945.231
Criminal Justice Commission
.—
33
(1)
There is created the Criminal Justice Commission. The
34
commission is assigned to the department for administrative
35
purposes but shall exercise its duties independently of the
36
department.
37
(2)
The
purpose of the
commission is to evaluate, advise,
38
and make policy recommendations regarding
this state’s
criminal
39
justice system which analyze the next 20 years of needs and
40
challenges in the state correctional system. The commission
41
shall
help
advance long-term strategic improvements in criminal
42
justice policy, workforce capacity, facility planning, and
43
systemwide reform.
44
(3)
The commission
shall be composed of the following
45
members:
46
(a)
One member appointed by the President of the Senate.
47
(b)
One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
48
Representatives.
49
(c)
The Attorney General, or his or her designee.
50
(d)
The secretary of the department, or his or her
51
designee.
52
(e)
One member,
appointed by the Governor, who is a
53
sheriff, a chief of police, or a representative of a state law
54
enforcement agency.
55
(f)
One member, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
56
Representatives, who is a representative of a victim’s rights
57
organization, a criminal justice reform advocate, a formerly
58
incarcerated individual, or a reentry program leader.
59
(g)
One member, appointed by the President of the Senate,
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who is a professor or researcher specializing in criminology,
61
public policy, or law or a data analyst with expertise in
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criminal justice metrics.
63
(4)
Members shall serve up to two 4-year terms. For the
64
purpose of achieving staggered terms, the initial appointments
65
under paragraphs (3)(e), (f), and (g) shall be for 2 years
. Any
66
vacancy
must
be filled by appointment by the original appointing
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authority for the unexpired portion of the term.
The members
68
shall elect from among
the committee’s membership
a chair and
69
vice
chair, who shall hold their respective positions for 2-year
70
terms
.
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(5)
The commission shall do all of the following:
72
(a)
Evaluate and recommend strategic initiatives derived
73
from the findings of the 2023 KPMG Master Plan Report, including
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recommendations concerning correctional workforce development,
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facilities modernization, long-term capacity planning, and
76
operational reforms.
77
(b)
Conduct comprehensive reviews of the state’s criminal
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justice system, including
, but not limited to,
policing,
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sentencing, corrections, and community supervision.
80
(c)
Recommend reforms to ensure fair, proportional, and
81
evidence-based punishment.
82
(d)
Assess corrections policies, including
, but not limited
83
to,
prison conditions, parole, probation, and supervised
84
release.
85
(e)
Promote, evaluate, and recommend reentry initiatives
86
designed to reduce recidivism and assist returning citizens.
87
(f)
Address racial, economic, disability-related, and
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geographic disparities in the criminal justice system.
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(g)
Collect, maintain, and analyze data-driven metrics on
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crime rates, sentencing patterns, incarceration trends, and
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correctional outcomes.
92
(h)
Issue a
n initial
report
by July 1, 2027, and annually
93
thereafter,
to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
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the Speaker of the House of Representatives containing findings,
95
performance metrics, and policy recommendations.
96
(6)
The commission may do all of the following:
97
(a)
Conduct public hearings, listening sessions, and
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community outreach and solicit testimony from experts,
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stakeholders, and affected communities.
100
(b)
Request and receive data, reports, and information from
101
state agencies, law enforcement
agencies
, and the judicia
ry
.
102
(c)
Develop pilot programs, grant proposals, or
103
demonstration projects testing innovative
criminal
justice
104
reform strategies or correctional improvements.
105
(d)
Partner with academic institutions, research
106
organizations, or national experts to conduct impact studies,
107
cost-benefit analyses, and system evaluations.
108 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.