FL H5203

Courts may sentence offenders to county jail for up to 24 months for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2015, if the county has a contract with the Department of Corrections and the offender meets specific criteria.

Eligible offenders must have a sentence points score between 44 and 60 points, a primary offense that is not a forcible felony (with exception for third-degree theft felonies), and a primary offense not punishable by a minimum mandatory sentence exceeding 24 months.

County jails can contract with the Department of Corrections to house these offenders, with contracts establishing a maximum number of beds and per diem reimbursement rates not to exceed $60 per inmate per day.

Contracts are contingent on specific appropriations in the General Appropriations Act and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with the Department of Corrections transferring funds from custody operations budgets to reimburse counties.

All contractual per diem rates and rates used by the Department of Corrections must be validated by the Auditor General before payments are made.