HB 1133 Summary

• Requires courts to sentence defendants convicted of simple drug possession committed on or after October 1, 2019, to nonstate prison sanctions if total sentence points are 60 or fewer, unless the court finds public safety danger and makes written findings to the contrary.

• Allows defendants convicted of offenses with mandatory minimum sentences committed on or after October 1, 2019, to petition the court for departure from mandatory minimums if they meet criteria including no prior departures, no forcible felonies, no physical injury or coercion, and no minor victims.

• Increases incentive gain-time for inmates sentenced on or after October 1, 2019, from 10 days to 20 days per month, with restrictions preventing early release before serving 65-85 percent of sentence depending on felony type.

• Authorizes one-time 60-day educational gain-time awards for inmates completing high school equivalency or vocational certificates on offenses committed after October 1, 2019.

• Permits persons convicted of noncapital offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment to qualify for conditional release after serving 20 years with no disciplinary violations, subject to terms and conditions set by the Florida Commission on Offender Review.