Bill > H0711

This bill establishes the Spectrum Alert, a comprehensive system designed to help locate and protect children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who go missing. Recognizing that children with ASD are more likely to wander from safe environments and face higher risks of serious harm, such as drowning or traffic accidents, the bill requires the Department of Law Enforcement to create a specialized alert and response system by July 1, 2026. The system will involve multiple state agencies, including the Departments of Transportation, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the Lottery, as well as local law enforcement. Key provisions include developing a training program for law enforcement that focuses on understanding ASD, creating crisis intervention techniques, and establishing protocols for rapid and widespread information dissemination when a child with ASD is reported missing. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies immediately contact media, inform on-duty officers, and communicate with surrounding counties when such a report is filed. To support implementation, the bill appropriates $190,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/711