CS for SB 2282                            Second Engrossed (ntc)
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       20092282e2
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to first-responder services; creating
    3         ss. 125.01045 and 166.0446, F.S.; prohibiting counties
    4         and municipalities from imposing a fee or seeking
    5         reimbursement for costs relating to certain first
    6         responder services; providing exceptions; defining the
    7         term “first responder”; providing an effective date.
    8  
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Section 125.01045, Florida Statutes, is created
   12  to read:
   13         125.01045 Prohibition of fees for first-responder
   14  services.—
   15         (1) A county may not impose a fee or seek reimbursement for
   16  any costs or expenses that may be incurred for services provided
   17  by a first responder, including costs or expenses related to
   18  personnel, supplies, motor vehicles, or equipment in response to
   19  a motor vehicle accident, except for costs to contain or clean
   20  up hazardous materials in quantities reportable to the Florida
   21  State Warning Point at the Division of Emergency Management, and
   22  costs for transportation and treatment provided by ambulance
   23  services licensed pursuant to ss. 401.23(4) and 401.23(5).
   24         (2) As used in this section, the term “first responder”
   25  means a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10, a
   26  firefighter as defined in s. 633.30, or an emergency medical
   27  technician or paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 who is employed
   28  by the state or a local government. A volunteer law enforcement
   29  officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician or
   30  paramedic engaged by the state or a local government is also
   31  considered a first responder of the state or local government
   32  for purposes of this section.
   33         Section 2. Section 166.0446, Florida Statutes, is created
   34  to read:
   35         166.0446 Prohibition of fees for first-responder services.—
   36         (1) A municipality may not impose a fee or seek
   37  reimbursement for any costs or expenses that may be incurred for
   38  services provided by a first responder, including costs or
   39  expenses related to personnel, supplies, motor vehicles, or
   40  equipment in response to a motor vehicle accident, except for
   41  costs to contain or clean up hazardous materials in quantities
   42  reportable to the Florida State Warning Point at the Division of
   43  Emergency Management, and costs for transportation and treatment
   44  provided by ambulance services licensed pursuant to ss.
   45  401.23(4) and 401.23(5).
   46         (2) As used in this section, the term “first responder”
   47  means a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10, a
   48  firefighter as defined in s. 633.30, or an emergency medical
   49  technician or paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 who is employed
   50  by the state or a local government. A volunteer law enforcement
   51  officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician or
   52  paramedic engaged by the state or a local government is also
   53  considered a first responder of the state or local government
   54  for purposes of this section.
   55         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.