HB 201 — Gun Violence Reduction

(d) The task force shall meet on a quarterly basis or as necessary to conduct its work at the call of the chairchair, andas atnecessary ato timeconduct designatedits bywork, him or her at a time and location in this state designated by the state.chair.

(e)(3) MembersThe of the task force areshall entitledinvestigate tosystem receivefailures reimbursementand forthe percauses diemof high crime rates and travelgun expensesviolence pursuantincidents toin s.urban core neighborhoods and communities.

112.061,In Floridaaddition, Statutes.the task force shall develop recommendations for solutions, programs, services, and strategies for improved interagency communications between local and state government agencies which will help facilitate the reduction of crime and gun violence in urban core neighborhoods and communities.

(3)(4) The task force shallmay investigatecall systemupon failuresappropriate andstate government agencies for such professional assistance as may be needed in the causesdischarge of highits crimeduties, and gunsuch violenceagencies incidentsshall inprovide urbansuch coreassistance communitiesin anda neighborhoods.timely manner.

In(5) addition,Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the task force may request and shall developbe recommendationsprovided forwith solutions,access programs,to services,any information or records that pertain to crime and gun violence Page 23 of 39 CODING:

hb0201-00hb0201-01-c1 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 HBCS/HB 201 2020 andincidents strategiesin forthis improvedstate's interagency communications between local and state government agencies that will help facilitate the reduction of crime and gun violence in urban core neighborhoods and communities.

(4)Information Theor records obtained by the task force haswhich are otherwise exempt or confidential and exempt shall retain such exempt or confidential and exempt status, and the powertask toforce investigate.may not disclose any such information or records.

(6) The task force mayshall delegatesubmit toan initial report on its investigatorsfindings theand authorityrecommendations to administerthe oathsGovernor, the President of the Senate, and affirmations.the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2021, and may issue reports annually thereafter.

(5)(7) TheThis tasksection forceis mayrepealed callon uponJune appropriate30, state2023. government agencies for such professional assistance as may be needed in the discharge of its duties, and such agencies shall provide such assistance in a timely manner.

(6) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the task force may request and shall be provided with access to any information or records that pertain to crime and gun violence incidents in this state's urban core neighborhoods and communities.

Information or records obtained by the task force that are otherwise exempt or confidential and exempt shall retain such exempt or confidential and exempt status, and the task force may not disclose any such information or records.

(7) The task force shall submit an initial report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2021, and may issue reports annually thereafter.

(8) This section is repealed on December 31, 2025.

Section 943.6873, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

943.6873 Florida Firearm Violence Reduction Pilot Program.- (1) CREATION.-Beginning July 1, 2020, the Florida Firearm Violence Reduction Pilot Program is created within the department for a period of 3 years.

The purpose of the pilot program is to improve public health and safety by supporting evidence-based firearm violence reduction models in counties that are disproportionately impacted by firearm violence.

(2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term:

(a) "Disproportionately impacted by firearm violence" means the county experienced 20 or more firearm-related homicides per calendar year during at least 2 of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the application, or the county Page 4 of 9 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb0201-01-c1 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 CS/HB 201 2020 experienced at least 10 firearm-related homicides per calendar year and had a homicide rate that was at least 50 percent higher than the statewide homicide rate during at least 2 of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the application.

(b) "Evidence-based firearm violence reduction model" means a program, proven through empirical evidence, to reduce firearm violence through focused deterrence or recidivism reduction strategies.

(c) "Program implementation organization" means an organization with experience implementing an evidence-based firearm violence reduction model including providing training, collecting and analyzing data, and conducting program evaluations.

(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS;

APPLICATIONS.-To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a county must submit an application in a form prescribed by the department by October 1, 2020.

At a minimum, the application must include:

(a) A statement and any empirical evidence indicating that the county is disproportionately impacted by firearm violence or otherwise demonstrating the county's compelling need for additional resources to address the impact of firearm violence.

(b) A statement of the estimated fiscal impact of firearm violence in the county including the costs incurred by the county investigating, prosecuting, incarcerating, and treating individuals related to firearm violence in the 3 calendar years Page 5 of 9 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb0201-01-c1 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 CS/HB 201 2020 immediately preceding the application.

(c) A description of the evidence-based firearm violence reduction model the county will implement during the pilot program.

A county must implement one of the following evidence- based firearm violence reduction models:

the Group Violence Intervention program, the Cure Violence program, or a hospital- based violence intervention program.

(d) A statement identifying a program implementation organization the county will consult to implement the evidence- based firearm violence reduction model and a description of the organization's experience implementing such programs.

(e) A description of any public or private organization the county intends to collaborate with to provide services.

Such organizations may include faith-based service groups that offer community support services including, but not limited to, substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, housing support programs, and employment support programs.

(f) A description of the criteria the county will use to identify eligible participants.

A participant must be an individual who has been identified as being at a high risk for becoming a victim or perpetrator of firearm violence.

(g) A statement describing how the county proposes to coordinate the evidence-based firearm violence reduction model and any existing violence prevention and intervention programs operating in the county to minimize duplication of services.

Page 6 of 9 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb0201-01-c1 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 CS/HB 201 2020 (4) DEPARTMENT DUTIES.- (a) The department shall develop and make available an application form to be used by counties seeking to participate in the pilot program.

(b) Subject to an appropriation in the General Appropriations Act, the department shall use program funds to provide grants for up to six counties to implement the pilot program.

Each county must meet the eligibility and application requirements provided in subsection (3).

The department may develop other needs-based criteria for pilot program selection and to determine the appropriate grant amount to award to each county based on such needs-based criteria.

(c) The department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program by measuring firearm violence reduction in the participating counties.

The department shall compile the information required under subsection (5), and by June 30, 2022, and each June 30 thereafter, submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the impact of the pilot program.

The department shall publish the report on its website.

(d) The department may adopt rules to administer this section.

(5) DUTIES OF PARTICIPATING COUNTIES.- (a) Each county participating in the pilot program must contribute $1 for every $1 requested from the department.

All Page 7 of 9 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb0201-01-c1 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 CS/HB 201 2020 funds, whether provided by the county or by the department, must be used to implement the pilot program.

(b) Each county participating in the pilot program shall appoint a program steering committee which must, at a minimum, include one representative from each law enforcement agency located in the county.

The program steering committee shall collaborate with a program implementation organization to implement an appropriate evidence-based firearm violence reduction model.

(c) To maintain its eligibility for participation in the pilot program, a county must report to the department by January 1, 2022, and each January 1 thereafter, in a format prescribed by the department, the following information:

1.

A description of the evidence-based firearm violence reduction model utilized.

2.

A description of program strategies used to attract and retain participants.

3.

A description of the type and quantity of services provided to participants.

4.

The total number of participants served and the demographic characteristics of participants.

5.

A description of how the services provided improved participant outcomes, including, but not limited to:

a.

Any change in participants' employment status or educational attainment level.

Page 8 of 9 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb0201-01-c1 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 CS/HB 201 2020 b.

Any change in the frequency of arrests experienced by participants.

c.

Any change in the frequency of victimizations experienced by participants.

6.

Any change in the frequency or severity of firearm violence experienced by the county, including any increase or reduction in the number of:

a.

Firearm-related arrests.

b.

Firearm-related injuries.

c.

Other firearm-related law enforcement calls for service.

7.

The period for which the data submitted was collected, aggregated, and analyzed.

(6) EXPIRATION.-This section expires June 30, 2023.

Section 3.

Page 39 of 39 CODING:

hb0201-00hb0201-01-c1