FL H0585

Modernizes Florida's criminal justice information systems by redesignating the statewide automated fingerprint identification system as a biometric identification system, expanding capabilities to include palm prints and facial images alongside fingerprints, and renaming the statewide telecommunications network the Criminal Justice Network; defines "biometric" to encompass DNA, fingerprints, palm prints, retina/iris images, voice patterns, and facial images

Expands criminal history screening authority for counties and municipalities to cover private contractors, vendors, for-hire chauffeurs, and delivery persons who have direct contact with the public or access to publicly operated facilities where security concerns exist; requires fingerprint submission to FDLE and FBI

Strengthens sexual offender/predator provisions by requiring fingerprints and photographs at registration, mandating pre-use registration of email addresses, and requiring state agencies to search the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website before hiring persons for positions at parks, playgrounds, day care centers, or other places where children congregate

Revises criminal record sealing and expunction rules so that out-of-state sealings or expunctions no longer preclude a Florida petition; extends the juvenile diversion expunction application window from 6 months to 12 months; adds an exception allowing persons seeking seaport employment authorization under s. 311.12 to deny or fail to acknowledge sealed/expunged records

Updates missing persons laws by expanding the scope from "missing children" to "missing persons," authorizing retention of fingerprints in the biometric system until a person is recovered, granting civil immunity to entities releasing information about missing adults or children in good faith, and removing the redundant Unidentified Person Report form requirement

Adds more than 2 lead-acid batteries (or parts thereof) purchased in a single transaction or from the same individual in a single day to the list of restricted regulated metals property subject to secondary metals recycler restrictions

Broadens voluntary accreditation programs to include correctional facilities, public agency inspectors general offices, and pretrial diversion programs, with standards set by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. and the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, Inc.

Modifies state crime laboratory procedures by explicitly prohibiting defense experts from being present inside laboratories where testing occurs or from using laboratory equipment, expanding the definition of "good cause" for denying defense requests, and shifting lab cost assessments to the defendant or defendant's counsel who obtained the testing order

Reduces the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council's minimum meeting frequency from semiannually to annually, permits meetings via teleconference, makes council duties subject to legislative funding, and authorizes recovery of unexpended proactive funds from recipients

Removes the provision allowing temporary employment of law enforcement/correctional officer candidates during fingerprint processing delays, authorizes up to $250,000/year from the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund for computer-based testing, and makes numerous conforming terminology changes across 40+ statutes; the act takes effect July 1, 2013