Florida HB 889: Employment Practices

Bill Text

HB 889 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb889-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Office of the Corrections 2
Ombudsman; creating s. 11.92, F.S.; providing 3
legislative findings; providing definitions; creating 4
the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman within the 5
legislative branch; providing for staff; specifying 6
the duties of the office; providing for the 7
appointment of a Corrections Ombudsman; requiring that 8
the Ombudsman meet certain criteria; requiring the 9
Legislature to establish a Corrections Oversight 10
Committee on or before a certain date; providing 11
duties and membership of the committee; requiring the 12
Department of Corrections to provide the Ombudsman and 13
committee members with access to certain department 14
facilities and records; authorizing the Ombudsman and 15
committee members access to such facilities 16
unannounced; requiring confidentiality of in-person 17
communications between incarcerated persons or 18
facility staff members and the Ombudsman or a 19
committee member; providing that correspondence 20
between an incarcerated person and the office is 21
privileged; providing that the decision, or failure, 22
to file a complaint with the office does not impact 23
the inmate grievance procedure; providing that the 24
office need not investigate or process complaints in 25

HB 889 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb889-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

the order received; requiring the office to submit to 26
the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House 27
of Representatives a specified report annually; 28
providing an appropriation; providing an effective 29
date. 30
31
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 32
33
Section 1. Section 11.92, Florida Statutes, is created to 34
read: 35
11.92 Office of the Corrections Ombudsman.— 36
(1) The Legislature finds that the protection of the 37
health, safety, welfare, and rights of persons who are 38
incarcerated within the state correctional system is a matter of 39
urgent public concern. Current law does not provide adequate and 40
independent oversight of the Department of Corrections to ensure 41
accountability, monitor conditions of confinement, and 42
investigate complaints. It is appropriate and necessary to 43
create an independent entity as unit of the legislative branch 44
of state government in order to restore public trust in the 45
department. 46
(2) As used in this section, the term: 47
(a) "Committee" means the Corrections Oversight Committee. 48
(b) "Correctional facility" means a state correctional 49
institution or contractor-operated correctional facility. 50

HB 889 2026

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hb889-00
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(c) "Department" means the Department of Corrections. 51
(d) "Office" means the Office of the Corrections 52
Ombudsman. 53
(e) "Ombudsman" means the Corrections Ombudsman. 54
(3) The Office of the Corrections Ombudsman is created as a 55
unit of the legislative branch of state government. The office 56
is independent of the Department of Corrections and reports 57
directly to the Legislature. The office shall be headed by the 58
Corrections Ombudsman. The office may hire staff and use 59
volunteers as necessary to perform its duties. The office shall 60
do all of the following: 61
(a) Receive, track, investigate, and attempt to resolve 62
complaints concerning correctional facilities made by or on 63
behalf of incarcerated persons, supporters of incarcerated 64
persons, and the public. 65
(b) Monitor and evaluate the conditions of confinement and 66
the treatment of incarcerated persons in correctional 67
facilities. The office may inspect such facilities at any time, 68
but must inspect each facility at least once each year. 69
(c) Collect and analyze data relating to serious 70
incidents, violence, and deaths that occur in correctional 71
facilities. 72
(d) Make recommendations to the department and Legislature 73
which identify solutions to systemic problems, policy changes, 74
or corrective actions necessary to protect the health, safety, 75

HB 889 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb889-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

welfare, and rights of incarcerated persons. 76
(e) Provide information, as appropriate, to incarcerated 77
persons, supporters of incarcerated persons, and the public 78
about the rights of incarcerated persons and the services of the 79
office. 80
(4) The Legislature shall appoint the Ombudsman to a 5-81
year term by a majority vote and may only remove the Ombudsman 82
by a majority vote. The Ombudsman may be reappointed for a 5-83
year term. The Ombudsman: