Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
33-601.105: Restoration of Forfeited Gain Time
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect of the proposed rule is to update the list of release mechanisms to include probation and community control and to clarify the conditions under which inmates are ineligible for restoration on subsequent release violations.
SUMMARY: The proposed amendment to Rule 33-601.105, F.A.C., adds language allowing restoration of forfeited gain time for inmates whose probation or community control status has been revoked and clarifies that inmates who have had forfeited gain time restored are ineligible for subsequent restoration while serving the sentence for the same offense under which gain time was previously revoked.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 944.09, 944.275 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 944.09, 944.275, 944.28 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kendra Lee Jowers, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Corrections, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

33-601.105 Restoration of Forfeited Gain Time.

(1) Restoration of gain time as a positive management tool. Gain time that has been forfeited under the current commitment as a result of disciplinary action or revocation of parole, probation, community control, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release shall be subject to restoration when the restoration would produce the same or greater benefits as those derived from the forfeiture in the first place. Only those inmates whose adjustment and performance since their last disciplinary report or revocation of parole, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release has exceeded that which is required to comply with all the behavioral objectives are eligible for consideration. The restoration shall only be considered when the inmate has clearly performed positively over a period of time and it appears the inmate will continue this positive adjustment without further violating the rules of the department or the laws of the state and the inmate is serving that portion of the sentence which, but for the forfeiture of gain time, would have been completed.

(2)(1) Eligibility.

(a) No change.

(b) Restoration of gain time forfeited by violation of the conditions of parole, probation, community control, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release may be considered only when there have been no new convictions for offenses that occurred during the period of release.

1. There must be a minimum of one year from the effective date of the parole revocation probation revocation, community control revocation, or violation of the conditions of provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release;

2. The inmate must be discipline free (formal reports) since return as a parole, probation, community control, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release violator;

3. The inmate’s adjustment and performance must exceed that which is required to comply with all behavioral objectives since return as a parole, probation, community control, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release violator;

4. No change.

5. Any inmate who receives restoration of gain time forfeited due to parole, probation, community control, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release violation will not be eligible for restoration on any subsequent parole, probation, community control, provisional release, supervised community release, conditional medical release, control release, or conditional release violation while serving the sentence for the same offense commitment;

6. No change.

(3)(2) How processed. Restoration of gain time will be considered only when the inmate has met the criteria specified in subsection (2)(1) of this rule. There is no entitlement for consideration based upon an inmate’s request. The final approving authority for restoration of forfeited gain time will be the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Institutions – Program. The institution where the inmate is assigned will be notified and the facility staff will notify the inmate of the decision.

Specific Authority 944.09, 944.275 FS. Law Implemented 944.09, 944.275, 944.28 FS. History–New 11-27-84, Formerly 33-11.15, Amended 10-12-89, 8-29-91, 10-13-93, Formerly 33-11.015, Amended 8-30-01, 4-30-02, 4-10-08,_________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: George Sapp, Assistant Secretary of Institutions
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Walter A McNeil, Secretary
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 27, 2008
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: January 16, 2009