FL H0485

Creates the "Stop Harassing Underage Teens Act" establishing new statute 775.0862 to reclassify sexual offenses committed by school authority figures against students under age 18.

Defines "authority figure" as any person age 18 or older employed by, volunteering at, or under contract with a school, and applies to public schools, private schools, virtual schools, early learning programs, and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.

Automatically elevates felony charges one degree when sexual offenses listed in statute 943.0435(1)(a)1.a are committed by an authority figure against a student: third-degree felonies become second-degree, second-degree become first-degree, and first-degree become life felonies.

Specifies that reclassified offenses are ranked one level above their original severity ranking under the Criminal Punishment Code for purposes of sentencing and determining incentive gain-time eligibility.

Takes effect October 1, 2014.