(1) INDICTMENT OR INFORMATION PENDING.—A defendant arrested or held in a county other than that in which an indictment or information is pending against him or her may state in writing that he or she wishes to plead guilty or nolo contendere, to waive trial in the county in which the indictment or information is pending, and to consent to disposition of the case in the county in which the defendant was arrested or is held, subject to the approval of the prosecuting attorney of the court in which the indictment or information is pending. Upon receipt of the defendant’s statement and the written approval of the prosecuting attorney, the clerk of the court in which the indictment or information is pending shall transmit the papers in the proceeding, or certified copies thereof, to the clerk of the court of competent jurisdiction for the county in which the defendant is held, and the prosecution shall continue in that county upon the information or indictment originally filed. In the event a fine is imposed upon the defendant in that county, two-thirds thereof shall be returned to the county in which the indictment or information was originally filed.

(2) INDICTMENT OR INFORMATION NOT PENDING.—A defendant arrested on a warrant issued upon a complaint in a county other than the county of arrest may state in writing that he or she wishes to plead guilty or nolo contendere, to waive trial in the county in which the warrant was issued, and to consent to disposition of the case in the county in which the defendant was arrested, subject to the approval of the prosecuting attorney of the court in which the indictment or information is pending. Upon receipt of the defendant’s statement and the written approval of the prosecuting attorney, and upon the filing of an information or the return of an indictment, the clerk of the court from which the warrant was issued shall transmit the papers in the proceeding, or certified copies thereof, to the clerk of the court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the defendant was arrested, and the prosecution shall continue in that county upon the information or indictment originally filed.

(3) EFFECT OF NOT GUILTY PLEA.—If, after the proceeding has been transferred pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (2), the defendant pleads not guilty, the clerk shall return the papers to the court in which the prosecution was commenced, and the proceeding shall be restored to the docket of that court. The defendant’s statement that he or she wishes to plead guilty or nolo contendere shall not be used against the defendant.

(4) APPEARANCE IN RESPONSE TO A SUMMONS.—For the purpose of initiating a transfer under this section, a person who appears in response to a summons shall be treated as if he or she had been arrested on a warrant in the county of such appearance.

(5) TRANSFER FOR PARTICIPATION IN A PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT.—

(a) For purposes of this subsection, the term “problem-solving court” means a drug court pursuant to s. 948.01, s. 948.06, s. 948.08, s. 948.16, or s. 948.20; a military veterans’ and servicemembers’ court pursuant to s. 394.47891, s. 948.08, s. 948.16, or s. 948.21; a mental health court program pursuant to s. 394.47892, s. 948.01, s. 948.06, s. 948.08, or s. 948.16; or a delinquency pretrial intervention court program pursuant to s. 985.345.

(b) Any person eligible for participation in a problem-solving court shall, upon request by the person or a court, have the case transferred to a county other than that in which the charge arose if the person agrees to the transfer, the authorized representative of the trial court consults with the authorized representative of the problem-solving court in the county to which transfer is desired, and both representatives agree to the transfer.

(c) If all parties agree to the transfer as required by paragraph (b), the trial court shall enter a transfer order directing the clerk to transfer the case to the county which has accepted the defendant into its problem-solving court.

(d)1. When transferring a pretrial problem-solving court case, the transfer order shall include a copy of the probable cause affidavit; any charging documents in the case; all reports, witness statements, test results, evidence lists, and other documents in the case; the defendant’s mailing address and telephone number; and the defendant’s written consent to abide by the rules and procedures of the receiving county’s problem-solving court.

2. When transferring a postadjudicatory problem-solving court case, the transfer order shall include a copy of the charging documents in the case; the final disposition; all reports, test results, and other documents in the case; the defendant’s mailing address and telephone number; and the defendant’s written consent to abide by the rules and procedures of the receiving county’s problem-solving court.

(e) After the transfer takes place, the receiving clerk shall set the matter for a hearing before the problem-solving court in the receiving jurisdiction to ensure the defendant’s entry into the problem-solving court.

(f) Upon successful completion of the problem-solving court program, the jurisdiction to which the case has been transferred shall dispose of the case. If the defendant does not complete the problem-solving court program successfully, the jurisdiction to which the case has been transferred shall dispose of the case within the guidelines of the Criminal Punishment Code.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-45; s. 1514, ch. 97-102; s. 2, ch. 2001-48; s. 7, ch. 2006-97; s. 1, ch. 2015-178; s. 12, ch. 2016-127; s. 144, ch. 2019-167.