HB 705 - Florida First-Step Act

• Requires Department of Corrections to provide inmates with a comprehensive community reentry resource directory organized by county before release, including provider contact information and service descriptions.

• Establishes optional Prison Entrepreneurship Program with at least 180 days of in-prison education and 90 days of transitional/postrelease services; allows one-time award of 60 days gain-time upon completion.

• Authorizes Department of Corrections to transfer offenders to administrative probation after completing half their probation term if they present low risk of harm to community.

• Creates alternative sanctioning program for technical probation violations, offering sanctions such as jail time (up to 5-21 days), community service, counseling, curfew, or electronic monitoring based on violation risk level; excludes violent felony offenders and certain predicate offenses.

• Requires courts to place inmates within 150 driving miles of primary residence when practicable, allows sentencing below statutory minimum for certain drug trafficking offenses when defendant meets specified criteria including no prior dangerous crime convictions and full cooperation with state.