From underage drinking to schoolyard fistfights, they're acts that can land kids behind bars, giving them criminal records for the rest of their lives.

Now, some Florida lawmakers say it's time to start doling out second chances.

  • Florida bills call for civil citations for juveniles who commit minor offenses
  • The citations are an alternative to arrests
  • Bill's supporters say the tickets could save taxpayers money, give juveniles a second chance

Under new legislation in Tallahassee, SB 196 and HB 205, children busted for 11 different minor offenses wouldn't be arrested.

Instead, they'd be handed a civil citation -- a ticket.

In some counties, most of the time that's what already happens. Last December, a coalition of law enforcement agencies and community leaders in Orange and Osceola counties said going with civil citations keeps kids out of the Juvenile Detention Center, it lowers re-arrest rates.

But in other places, kids don't tend to get so lucky.

The lawmakers behind the bill say it's time to make civil citations the rule statewide, and some community leaders agree.

At the state capitol, Polk County Pastor Ron Clark said he sees hundreds of kids get arrested every year for minor offenses, and in the process, pick up an arrest record that can make it difficult to get a job.

“In my church, there was a young man, after school, walking across the orange grove, taking a shortcut home from school,” Clark said. “Never been in trouble before, good kid, good in school. Got an arrest record for trespassing.”

The bill's supporters say ticketing kids instead of locking them up could save Florida taxpayers around $54 million a year.

The Florida Legislature meets for its regular session starting in March.

Other news out of Tallahassee...

Gov. Rick Scott wants more than $600 million in tax cuts for the coming year. The majority of the tax package -- $454 million -- would cut sales taxes on commercial rents. He also wants the following sales tax holidays:

  • 10-day back-to-school holiday
  • Three-day sales tax holiday for military veterans
  • Nine-day holiday for hurricane supplies
  • One day "camping and fishing" sales tax holiday
  • One-year elimination on sales taxes for college textbooks

Republicans in the state legislature, however, are more concerned about pessimistic financial forecasts from the state's economists. They are looking at budget cuts to keep the state's budget balanced.

Gambling expansion bill

Have lawmakers finally reached some sort of agreement to expand gambling in Florida?

On Wednesday, a Florida Senate panel approved a measure to legalize fantasy sports and allow the Seminole Tribe to offer craps and roulette at its casinos.

The measure would also expand slot machines across the state.

The bill is seen as a priority by Senate leaders.

But whether the Florida House will give the bill the same attention is unclear.

In past years attempts to expand gambling have gone up against staunch gambling opponents and died on the floor.