Bill > S1570

This bill revives and amends a law concerning a statewide project called "Project Leo" for missing persons with special needs, specifically those at risk of elopement (wandering off). The project will now be administered through the centers for autism and related disabilities, which are established under a specific Florida Statute (s. 1004.55). Participants will be chosen by these centers based on criteria they develop, with a minimum requirement being the person's risk of elopement, and will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis as funding allows, with the program being voluntary and free for participants. The centers will provide personal devices to help with search-and-rescue efforts to participating county sheriff's offices, who will then distribute them to participants, and the centers will cover the costs of monitoring these devices. The bill also includes appropriations of $250,000 in nonrecurring funds for each of the four centers for autism and related disabilities at the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida, and Florida State University for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, specifically for purchasing these search-and-rescue devices. The bill also removes an outdated expiration date for the project and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1570