House Bill hb0505e1

                                        CS/HB 505, First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to law enforcement; creating

  3         the Law Enforcement Agency Consolidation Task

  4         Force; providing for the appointment of

  5         members; providing for duties; providing for a

  6         report addressing the effects of the

  7         consolidation of all sworn law enforcement

  8         positions in the state; providing for future

  9         sunset; providing an effective date.

10

11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

12

13         Section 1.  Law Enforcement Agency Consolidation Task

14  Force.--

15         (1)(a)  There is created within the Executive Office of

16  the Governor the Law Enforcement Agency Consolidation Task

17  Force.  Members of the task force shall be appointed no later

18  than July 1, 2002.  The task force shall be composed of:

19         1.  Two representatives from private industry who have

20  expertise in corporate mergers, appointed by the Governor;

21         2.  The Attorney General or his or her designee;

22         3.  A member of the Senate, appointed by the President

23  of the Senate; and

24         4.  A member of the House of Representatives, appointed

25  by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

26         (b)  The first meeting of the task force shall be held

27  no later than July 15, 2002, at which time the members shall

28  select by majority vote a chair from among its members. All

29  other recommendations of the task force shall be by majority

30  vote of those members in attendance.  Three members of the

31  task force shall constitute a quorum. The task force is


                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






                                        CS/HB 505, First Engrossed



  1  subject to the requirements of chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

  2  All meetings of the task force shall be in accordance with s.

  3  286.011, Florida Statutes, and the public in attendance at any

  4  meeting shall be given the opportunity to participate.  The

  5  Executive Office of the Governor shall ensure that those

  6  persons who request notification of the time and place of any

  7  meeting of the task force, including its initial meeting,

  8  shall receive such notice in a timely fashion.

  9         (c)  Members of the task force shall serve without

10  compensation.  Members are entitled to reimbursement for per

11  diem and travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061,

12  Florida Statutes.

13         (d)  The Executive Office of the Governor shall provide

14  staff support for the task force within existing

15  appropriations.

16         (2)(a)  The task force shall meet for the purpose of

17  studying the effects of consolidating law enforcement

18  functions in state agencies under a unified command.  The task

19  force shall submit a preliminary report of its findings and

20  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

21  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than

22  45 days prior to the first day of the 2003 Regular Session of

23  the Legislature.  The final report shall be filed with the

24  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

25  House of Representatives no later than 30 days prior to the

26  first day of the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature.

27         (b)  The preliminary and final report shall:

28         1.  Identify all law enforcement functions and

29  personnel positions that exist in each state agency;

30         2.  Identify all statutory provisions assigning law

31  enforcement duties to state agencies;


                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






                                        CS/HB 505, First Engrossed



  1         3.  Identify the options considered by the task force

  2  for consolidation of state law enforcement functions, duties,

  3  and personnel and identify costs for consolidation under each

  4  option considered;

  5         4.  Determine whether consolidation of all law

  6  enforcement functions or law enforcement personnel, or both,

  7  would prove more effective and efficient.  Such determination

  8  shall include a cost analysis and comparison, with supporting

  9  analysis; and

10         5.  If the determination is made that consolidation is

11  more effective and efficient, recommend proposed legislation

12  based upon the recommended best option for consolidating all

13  law enforcement functions or law enforcement personnel, or

14  both. Such proposed legislation shall include provision for

15  any necessary restructuring of agencies as a result of the

16  recommended reorganization.

17         (3)(a)  Each state agency shall fully cooperate with

18  the task force in the performance of its duties under this

19  section.

20         (b)  Each agency that has been assigned law enforcement

21  functions or which employs sworn law enforcement personnel

22  shall provide a report to the task force that identifies each

23  section of law upon which that agency relies for authority to

24  perform law enforcement functions and to employ sworn law

25  enforcement officers. This report shall be submitted to the

26  task force no later than October 1, 2002.

27         (4)  The task force shall sunset July 1, 2003.

28         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

29  law.

30

31


                                  3

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.