Attorney General Charity Clark issued a statement in response to Governor Scott’s veto of H.645, an act relating to the expansion of approaches to restorative justice.
"Let me be clear: I support H.645. The Governor’s veto message rightly points out that H.645 does not include requested funding in this fiscal year’s budget. It fails, however, to note that the effective date of the relevant sections of this bill is a year away," said Clark.
Clark explained that the funding requested for this year’s budget was intended to create a position within her office to assist with transitioning the pre-charge program from the Department of Corrections (DOC) to her office before the effective date, July 1, 2025. She emphasized that her office has been a close partner with the Legislature on this bill throughout the session and had made it clear that having a position for the coming fiscal year was preferred.
"However, especially in light of the important policy objectives of the bill, we have determined that we have the bandwidth to do the preliminary preparation for the transfer of this program," she stated.
Clark acknowledged Governor Scott's concern but asserted her confidence in her office's capabilities. "I am best positioned to determine the capabilities of this office I know so well. So, while I agree that lack of a position would be problematic in the long term, lack of funding at this moment, in this year’s budget, should not be a barrier to enactment of this bill."
She also noted that it was understood that "the Legislature simply ran out of time to adequately address this issue this session but can take it up next year."
Looking forward, Clark detailed plans for transferring the pre-charge program from DOC to her office and expanding services statewide. She mentioned ensuring consistent programming, tracking outcome measures, and meeting reporting requirements as critical tasks requiring a dedicated position.
"For these reasons, if the Legislature votes to override the Governor’s veto – and I hope it does – my office will work with DOC and the Legislature next session to sort out the appropriate approach to addressing the issue," she said. Clark added that she could envision requesting a budget adjustment and including an appropriation for grant funding in their FY 2026 Court Diversion budget as envisioned by H.645.
In conclusion, Clark reiterated her support for H.645 and expressed her belief that her office is "the most appropriate home for the pre-charge program."