FL H0817

Creates Section 925.13, Florida Statutes, requiring each state attorney and statewide prosecutor to adopt a two-tier charging system designed to reduce racial bias in criminal cases

First tier requires redaction of all racially identifying information (name, race, photographs, videos) before prosecutors make preliminary charging decisions

Second tier allows prosecutors to review unredacted information before making final charging decisions, but requires documentation of what additional evidence caused any changes from preliminary decisions

State attorneys and statewide prosecutor must report annually by October 1 to the Department of Law Enforcement on changed charging decisions, including statistics on cases and races of defendants and victims

Department of Law Enforcement must submit summary report by December 31 each year to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker with recommendations for legislative changes to reduce criminal justice system biases

Effective date: July 1, 2021