HB 213 Summary

• Requires establishment of civil citation or similar diversion programs in each Florida county for juveniles who commit misdemeanor offenses, to serve as alternatives to Department of Juvenile Justice custody.

• Law enforcement officers must issue civil citations for first-time misdemeanor offenses involving 11 specified crimes (including battery, theft, drug possession, disorderly conduct, and resisting an officer), and may issue citations for other misdemeanor violations not on the list.

• Participating juveniles must complete up to 50 community service hours within prescribed timeframes (minimum 5 hours per week, reporting within 10 business days) and participate in intervention services including family counseling, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.

• Juveniles may refuse the civil citation program and be referred to the department at any time before completion of community service; failure to comply results in referral to the department as a delinquent act.

• Exempts juveniles charged with or convicted of felonies, those with prior felony pleas, and juveniles involved in episodes containing felony allegations from program eligibility; effective July 1, 2017.