Bill > H1211

This bill introduces several significant changes to public safety and first responder regulations in Florida. It establishes a new Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit within the Department of Law Enforcement, which will be composed of seven regional teams focused on proactively addressing terrorist threats and intelligence collection efforts. The bill expands the definition of "first responders" to include prosecutors, crime scene technicians, and judges, thereby extending peer support provisions to these professionals. It also modifies missing persons reporting requirements, mandating more frequent reviews of missing persons databases and quicker transmission of reports to state and national systems. The legislation creates new basic skills training standards for law enforcement officers, with a focus on resilience and health-related topics such as mental health, trauma, and chemical exposure. Additionally, the bill introduces two new medals: the Florida Medal of Valor for first responders who go above and beyond to save lives, and the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal for law enforcement and corrections officers injured in the line of duty. The bill also allows first responder amputees to continue serving if they meet certification requirements without accommodation and provides an exemption from basic law enforcement training for individuals with significant intelligence or counterintelligence experience. The new provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

Government Operations Subcommittee (House)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1211