HB 717 Summary

• Creates section 394.9125 authorizing state attorneys to refer persons for civil commitment proceedings if they are required to register as sexual offenders, have prior sexually violent offense convictions, and are sentenced to county or municipal jail for certain crimes (excluding DUI, license suspension, and forgery violations).

• Requires state attorneys to notify the county or municipal jail within 1 week of referring a person for civil commitment, and jails to provide notice to the multidisciplinary team within specified timeframes before release.

• Directs the Department of Children and Families to prioritize assessment of referred persons based on their release date and conduct evaluations within 180 days of notice or as soon as practicable.

• Allows civil commitment proceedings to be initiated after release if a person was not properly referred due to mistake, oversight, or intentional act; state attorney may file petition within 120 hours of release.

• Permits both petitioner and respondent to present evidence at probable cause hearings for civil commitment and corrects department references throughout the statute to reflect the Department of Children and Families rather than Family Services; effective July 1, 2014.