Sen. Joe Gruters

Public Records/Crime Victims/Officers Involved in Use of Force Incidents; Expanding a public records exemption for crime victims to include the name and personal identification number of the victim and any other information or records that could be used to locate, intimidate, harass, or abuse a victim or the victim’s family; providing that certain records identifying law enforcement officers who are involved in a use of force incident are confidential and exempt for a specified timeframe; providing requirements for extending such timeframe; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemptions; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.

Maddy summarySB 984 provides an additional aggravating factor that can be considered in capital felony cases. This means that for crimes classified as capital felonies, there will be one more specific circumstance or condition that could lead to a more severe sentencing outcome. This change directly affects individuals charged with or convicted of capital felonies, as it expands the criteria that can be weighed during the sentencing phase.

Gulf of America; Requiring state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation of the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America”; requiring that specified materials and collections adopted or acquired by district school boards and charter school governing boards on or after a specified date reflect the new federal designation of the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America”, etc.

Sales or Transfers of Firearms to Persons Under 21 Years of Age; Deleting a prohibition on sales or transfers of firearms to persons under 21 years of age and exceptions, etc.

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Senator Geraldine F. “Geri” Thompson; Recognizing and celebrating the life and legacy of Senator Geraldine F. “Geri” Thompson, etc.

Immigration; Providing criminal penalties for adult unauthorized aliens who knowingly enter or attempt to enter this state after entering the United States by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers; providing enhanced criminal penalties for second or subsequent convictions; specifying that such aliens are not eligible for any civil citation or other prearrest or postarrest diversion program; providing criminal penalties for an adult unauthorized alien who, after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed or having departed the United States during the time an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal is outstanding, thereafter enters, attempts to enter, or is at any time found in this state, etc.

Immigration; Providing that certain persons who vote in an election are guilty of a felony; prohibiting the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles from issuing a driver license or identification card to unauthorized aliens and undocumented immigrants; requiring a state attorney to seek to have the court sentence certain persons as dangerous unauthorized alien offenders; creating the State Board of Immigration Enforcement within the Department of Law Enforcement; creating the State Immigration Enforcement Council within the State Board of Immigration Enforcement for a specified purpose; requiring the Attorney General to initiate judicial proceedings in the name of the state in order to enforce compliance with an immigration detainer issued by a federal immigration agency; creating the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program within the Division of Emergency Management within the Executive Office of the Governor for a specified purpose, etc. APPROPRIATION: $298,830,552

Secretary of Homeland Security; Urging the United States Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training opportunities for 287(g) agreements, etc.

Marijuana Products; Authorizing certain qualified patients to apply to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a certificate to cultivate up to two cannabis plants for personal consumption; requiring an applicant to provide certain documentation if he or she is leasing a residence; providing that no more than two cannabis plants may be cultivated at a single residence regardless of the number of eligible qualified patients who reside there; providing conditions for the manufacture, delivery, holding, offering for sale, distribution, and sale of hemp extract; prohibiting businesses and food establishments from possessing hemp extract products that are attractive to children or from being located within a specified distance of certain properties, etc. APPROPRIATION: $2,000,000

Individuals with Disabilities; Revising provisions related to programs and services provided by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; requiring the agency, within available resources, to offer voluntary participation care navigation services to clients and their caregivers at specified times; requiring the agency to develop and implement an online application process; revising which types of clients are eligible for an individual support plan; clarifying the timeframe within which a family or individual support plan must be developed, etc. APPROPRIATION: $38,852,223