Proposed legislation addresses climate in Florida correctional institutions
Legislation currently pending in the Florida Legislature addresses the climate in Florida’s correctional institutions.
Climate in correctional institutions was a fairly popular topic of discussion last summer when the South saw a wave of record-high temperatures. Legislation currently pending in the Florida Legislature addresses the climate in Florida’s correctional institutions.
Representative Nixon filed House Bill 181 addressing “air conditioning in inmate housing.” In full, the bill proposes statutory language as follows:
The bill was referred to subcommittees, and its first reading was January 9. An identical bill (Senate Bill 296) was introduced in the Senate on January 9.
Another set of similar bills (HB 233 and SB 1702) introduced goes a bit further. These bills provide that DOC shall provide proper ventilation to “[a]ll housing units” to “provide a safe and healthful environment for inmates.” The bill further provides that inmates “must receive a minimum of 20 minutes to eat each meal.” and that correctional institutions must “establish a program” with food banks “to ensure that an adequate food supply is made available to the inmate population if conditions exist that prevent regular food supply services” during an emergency. HB 233 had its first reading on January 9, and SB 1702 was referred to subcommittees.
The bills use inclusive language like “all” and, on their face, do not make any exception for death row units. Currently, prisoners on Florida’s death row do not have air conditioning.
Prior TFDP Coverage on Prison Climate
Record-high temperatures this summer
DOC’s uniform change due to heat