A proposal by Republican Fort Myers Rep. Jonathan Martin to expand Florida’s career offender registration requirements has cleared the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
Martin told committee members that SB 1332 is intended to “expand and strengthen” Florida’s career offender registry by modeling it more closely after the state’s sexual offender and sexual predator registration systems.
If approved, the mandates would substantially increase law enforcement oversight and legal consequences for noncompliance for repeat violent offenders. The bill would require people designated as career offenders to register in person with local Sheriff’s Offices, obtain driver’s licenses or identification cards marked to reflect their status, and provide detailed information.
The bill expands the amount of information career offenders must provide and maintain, including fingerprints, photographs, identifying marks, employment information, vehicle ownership and telephone numbers.
Under the proposal, career offenders would be required to register in person within 48 hours of establishing a permanent, temporary or transient residence, or within 48 hours of release from custody or supervision, with failure to do so punishable as a separate criminal offense.
It also tightens reporting timelines, makes each failure to comply with reporting requirements a separate criminal offense, and requires career offenders to renew or update their marked driver’s license or identification card annually during their birth month.
During committee questions, a Senator asked whether there is evidence showing career offender registries reduce recidivism. Martin said he did not have studies in front of him but acknowledged that research on the issue is mixed.
The committee voted unanimously Monday to report the bill favorably. It now heads to the second of three stops with the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice. Its companion bill (HB 931) sponsored by Jacksonville Republican Rep. Jessica Baker, is scheduled for its own first committee stop on Wednesday at the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
