FL S0644

Establishes requirement for each county to create one or more civil citation or similar diversion programs serving all juveniles charged with misdemeanor offenses, with concurrence of chief judge, state attorney, public defender, and local law enforcement.

Law enforcement officers shall issue civil citations or require participation in diversion programs for juveniles committing first-time misdemeanors including possession of alcohol, battery, criminal mischief, trespass, theft, disorderly conduct, and drug paraphernalia offenses.

Officers may issue civil citations or require diversion program participation for juveniles committing other misdemeanors not specifically listed, and must do so for second or third misdemeanor offenses regardless of offense type.

Juveniles participating must complete up to 50 community service hours and participate in assigned intervention services, report within 10 business days of citation issuance, and may refuse the program at any time before completing community service to be referred to the department instead.

Exempts juveniles charged with or found to have committed felony offenses, and preserves law enforcement authority to issue simple warnings; modifies fingerprinting requirements to exclude juveniles participating in civil citation or diversion programs.