FL S1346

Authorizes circuit courts to establish procedures for felony settlement conferences to facilitate settlement negotiations between parties who have previously failed to reach a negotiated disposition.

Requires settlement conferences to be presided over by a settlement conference judge who assists parties in reaching a negotiated disposition.

Settlement conference judges must be either a retired judge or an attorney with no prior involvement with the pending matter outside the settlement conference process.

Prohibits the trial judge presiding over the pending felony case from presiding over the settlement conference.

Takes effect July 1, 2021.