1997 Florida Code
TITLE XLVII CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 943 Department Of Law Enforcement  
943.042   Violent Crime Emergency Account within the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust Fund.

943.042  Violent Crime Emergency Account within the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust Fund.--

(1)  There is created a Violent Crime Emergency Account within the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust Fund. The account shall be used to provide emergency supplemental funds to:

(a)  State and local law enforcement agencies which are involved in complex and lengthy violent crime investigations;

(b)  State and local law enforcement agencies which are involved in violent crime investigations which constitute a significant emergency within the state; or

(c)  Counties which demonstrate a significant hardship or an inability to cover extraordinary expenses associated with a violent crime trial.

(2)  In consultation with the Florida Violent Crime Council, the department must promulgate rules which, at minimum, address the following:

(a)  Criteria for determining what constitutes a complex and lengthy violent crime investigation for the purpose of this section.

(b)  Criteria for determining those violent crime investigations which constitute a significant emergency within the state for the purpose of this section.

(c)  Criteria for determining the circumstances under which counties may receive emergency supplemental funds for extraordinary expenses associated with a violent crime trial under this section.

(d)  Guidelines which establish limits on the amount that may be disbursed on a single investigation.

(e)  Procedures for law enforcement agencies to use when applying for funds.

(f)  Annual evaluation and audit of the trust fund.

(3)

(a)  A disbursement for the Violent Crime Emergency Account shall not be used to supplant existing appropriations of state and local law enforcement agencies and counties.

(b)  The moneys placed in the account shall consist of appropriations from the Legislature or moneys received from any other public or private source. Any local law enforcement agency that acquires funds pursuant to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act is authorized to donate a portion of such funds to the account.

History.--s. 3, ch. 93-204; s. 3, ch. 94-215; s. 2, ch. 97-302.