Andrew Powell
A bill that aims to create a pilot program to reduce drug and alcohol abuse among offenders was given the green light by the Florida Senate Monday and will now move to the Governor’s desk.
Sarasota Republican Sen. Joe Gruters presented the bill (SB 1140) that was substituted for its House companion (HB 1095) sponsored by Tampa Republican Rep. Traci Koster.
The pilot program would be in Hillsborough County and would begin Oct. 1, 2025, and run until Sep. 30, 2027.
For individuals charged or convicted of a felony or first-degree misdemeanor who are on probation, community control or any other community sanction — including supervised pretrial release with conditions to abstain from alcohol or controlled substances — the court may identify and designate them as eligible for the program.
Gruters explained the program provides eligibility for up to 150 participants. Prior to selection, the eligible individual would be advised in the program’s terms and conditions before entering into a plea agreement and would be able to have their attorney present throughout the process.
Participants who have been ordered to abstain from controlled substances would be subject to random testing, which would happen at least every seven days with no fewer than 60 hours between tests.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office would be required to work with the Hillsborough County court system and would further manage the program.
St. Petersburg Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson said he thought it was a good bill and added that there needs to be more pilot programs outside of Hillsborough County.
Tamarac Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood detailed her own struggle with substance abuse, and said the legislation is heading in the right direction.
“I think about the trillions and trillions of dollars that we spend nationally to incarcerate people who have a disease that impacts their brain, and their behavior, and leads to the inability to control the use of substances, legal and illegal,” Osgood said. “This bill is beginning to shift that trajectory where we’re offering some means of help.”
In closing, Gruters said the measure will offer people a chance.
“This bill is good because it provides a different pathway forward for some of these substance abuse people that get into trouble with the law and it provides that unique path that allows them the chance to recover in a different way,” Gruters said.
