Florida Statute 943.4354 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2024 Florida Statutes (including 2025 Special Session C)

Title XLVII
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS

Chapter 943
DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

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F.S. 943.04354

943.04354 Removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator in special circumstances.—

(1) For purposes of this section, a person shall be considered for removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator only if the person:

(a) Was convicted, regardless of adjudication, or adjudicated delinquent of a violation of s. 800.04, s. 827.071, or s. 847.0135(5) or of a similar offense in another jurisdiction and if the person does not have any other conviction, regardless of adjudication, or adjudication of delinquency for a violation of s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, or s. 847.0135(5) or for a similar offense in another jurisdiction;

(b)1. Was convicted, regardless of adjudication, or adjudicated delinquent of an offense listed in paragraph (a) and is required to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator solely on the basis of this conviction or adjudication; or

2. Was convicted, regardless of adjudication, or adjudicated delinquent of an offense in another jurisdiction which is similar to an offense listed in paragraph (a) and no longer meets the criteria for registration as a sexual offender or sexual predator under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the similar offense occurred; and

(c) Is not more than 4 years older than the victim of this violation who was 13 years of age or older but younger than 18 years of age at the time the person committed this violation.

(2)(a) If a person meets the criteria in subsection (1), the person may, for the purpose of removing the requirement that he or she register as a sexual offender or sexual predator, move the criminal division of the circuit court of the circuit:

1. Where the conviction or adjudication for the qualifying offense occurred for a conviction in this state;

2. Where the sexual offender or sexual predator resides for a conviction for a violation of similar law of another jurisdiction; or

3. Where the sexual offender or sexual predator last resided for a sexual offender or sexual predator with a conviction of a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction who no longer resides in this state.

(b) The person must allege in the motion that he or she meets the criteria in subsection (1) and that removal of the registration requirement will not conflict with federal law that requires that the sexual act be consensual, notwithstanding the age of the victim. A person convicted or adjudicated delinquent of an offense in another jurisdiction which is similar to an offense listed in paragraph (1)(a) must provide the court written confirmation that he or she is not required to register in the jurisdiction in which the conviction or adjudication occurred. The state attorney and the department must be given notice of the motion at least 21 days before the date of sentencing, disposition of the violation, or hearing on the motion and may present evidence in opposition to the requested relief or may otherwise demonstrate why the motion should be denied. At sentencing, disposition of the violation, or hearing on the motion, the court shall rule on the motion, and, if the court determines the person meets the criteria in subsection (1) and the removal of the registration requirement will not conflict with federal law that requires that the sexual act be consensual, notwithstanding the age of the victim, it may grant the motion and order the removal of the registration requirement. The court shall instruct the person to provide the department a certified copy of the order granting relief. If the court denies the motion, the person is not authorized under this section to file another motion for removal of the registration requirement.

(3) If a person provides to the Department of Law Enforcement a certified copy of the court’s order removing the requirement that the person register as a sexual offender or sexual predator for the violation of s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, or s. 847.0135(5), or a similar offense in another jurisdiction, the registration requirement will not apply to the person and the department shall remove all information about the person from the public registry of sexual offenders and sexual predators maintained by the department. However, the removal of this information from the public registry does not mean that the public is denied access to information about the person’s criminal history or record that is otherwise available as a public record.

History.—s. 3, ch. 2007-209; s. 26, ch. 2008-172; s. 6, ch. 2010-92; s. 6, ch. 2014-5; s. 4, ch. 2016-104.

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F.S. 943.04354 on CourtListener

Amendments to 943.04354

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 943.04354

Total Results: 22

State v. Whitt

96 So. 3d 1125, 2012 WL 3870519, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 14996

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 7, 2012 | Docket: 60311450

Cited 3 times | Published

This action was not filed pursuant to either section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2012), or section 943.0435(11)

State v. Welch

94 So. 3d 631, 2012 WL 2613556, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 10889

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 6, 2012 | Docket: 60310920

Cited 3 times | Published

Miller v. State

17 So. 3d 778, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 10972, 2009 WL 2407656

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 7, 2009 | Docket: 1644862

Cited 2 times | Published

the sex offender registry as permitted in section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2007). In its response

State v. Caragol

120 So. 3d 641, 2013 WL 4764639, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 14319

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 6, 2013 | Docket: 60234176

Cited 1 times | Published

registration requirement removed pursuant to section 943.04354(3)(b), Florida Statutes (2012), which requires

State v. Marcel

67 So. 3d 1223, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 13744, 2011 WL 3820700

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 31, 2011 | Docket: 60301961

Cited 1 times | Published

the offense, the Florida Legislature added section 943.04354 to the Florida Statutes, providing an exception

State of Florida v. Korson

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 26, 2025 | Docket: 69792798

Published

the ["Romeo and Juliet"] statute [section 943.04354] to Hurtado. This court has upheld the application

Marken Leger v. U.S. Attorney General

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: May 20, 2024 | Docket: 67993862

Published

Argued: Nov 9, 2023

A separate Florida statute, Fla. Stat. § 943.04354, allows a person convicted of violating

Wromas Jr. v. State

239 So. 3d 748

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 14, 2018 | Docket: 6304693

Published

defendant met the requirements specified under section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2015), which permits persons

Wromas Jr. v. State

208 So. 3d 218, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 16670

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 9, 2016 | Docket: 4486848

Published

offender under the “Romeo and Juliet Law,” section 943.04354 of the Florida Statutes (2016). Because it

Matos v. State

184 So. 3d 1194, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 19541, 2015 WL 9491858

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 31, 2015 | Docket: 60253135

Published

appeals the denial of his petition under section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2011), the so-called “Romeo

Horton v. State

127 So. 3d 825, 2013 WL 6223408, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 18909

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 27, 2013 | Docket: 60236866

Published

offender under the “Romeo and Juliet Law.” See § 943.04354, Fla. Stat. (2013). We affirm the trial court’s

Calhoun v. State

158 So. 3d 610, 2013 WL 6122128, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 18574

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 22, 2013 | Docket: 60246259

Published

Calhoun’s right to file a petition under section 943.04354, Florida Stat*611utes, should he conclude

Calhoun v. State

158 So. 3d 610, 2013 WL 6122128, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 18574

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 22, 2013 | Docket: 60246259

Published

Calhoun’s right to file a petition under section 943.04354, Florida Stat*611utes, should he conclude

Matos v. State

111 So. 3d 964, 2013 WL 1775547, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 6734

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 26, 2013 | Docket: 60230930

Published

Martinez v. State

111 So. 3d 915, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 3659, 2013 WL 845590

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 8, 2013 | Docket: 60230906

Published

that his client did not qualify for relief. Section 943.04354 was enacted in 2007;3 the subsection describing

Vann v. State

99 So. 3d 633, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 18955, 2012 WL 5350152

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 31, 2012 | Docket: 60313135

Published

years older than the victim” pursuant to section 943.04354(l)(c), Florida Statutes. Consistent with the

Dukharan v. State

96 So. 3d 454, 2012 WL 3629286, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 14227

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 24, 2012 | Docket: 60311523

Published

appeals an order denying his motion filed under section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2010), for removal of the

Clark v. State

95 So. 3d 986, 2012 WL 3588174, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 13894

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 22, 2012 | Docket: 60311359

Published

hearing. See § 943.04354(2). He is not eligible to file a petition after sentencing. See § 943.04354(3). Mr

State v. Samuels

76 So. 3d 1109, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 20892, 2011 WL 6843011

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 30, 2011 | Docket: 60304170

Published

sexual offender registration requirement under section 943.04354 of the Florida Statutes (2009), commonly referred

Adams v. State

37 So. 3d 953, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 8647, 2010 WL 2382605

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 16, 2010 | Docket: 1668571

Published

a sexual offender in Florida pursuant to section 943.04354(1), Florida Statutes (2007), which provides:

Courson v. State

24 So. 3d 1249, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 20510, 2009 WL 5151525

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 31, 2009 | Docket: 1648322

Published

from the registration requirements under section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2008), known as the "Romeo

Simmons v. State

25 So. 3d 638, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 20523, 2009 WL 5151752

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 31, 2009 | Docket: 2569067

Published

sexual offender which was filed pursuant to section 943.04354, Florida Statutes (2008). The trial court