CS/HB 353 Summary

• Creates section 985.702 establishing criminal penalties for employees who inflict cruel or inhuman treatment on juvenile offenders, with first-degree misdemeanor charges for treatment without serious injury and second-degree felony charges when treatment causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.

• Mandates that employees witnessing abuse immediately report incidents to a department hotline and submit written reports describing the incident details, with supervisors forwarding reports to the inspector general and circuit juvenile justice manager.

• Prohibits employees from knowingly failing to report abuse (first-degree misdemeanor), knowingly submitting false reports (first-degree misdemeanor), or coercing others to alter testimony or reports (third-degree felony).

• Requires that any violation constitute sufficient cause for dismissal under section 110.227 and prohibits the employee from future employment in the juvenile justice system.

• Amends section 985.701 to define "juvenile offender" as any person of any age detained or committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, and repeals sections 945.75 and 985.105 regarding correctional facility tours and youth custody officer positions.