Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1198
       
       
        
       By Senator Thurston
       
       
       
       
       
       33-01836-21                                           20211198__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the duty of law enforcement
    3         officers to render medical assistance; creating s.
    4         901.44, F.S.; providing that a law enforcement officer
    5         has a duty to render first aid to or seek medical
    6         assistance for individuals in custody in certain
    7         circumstances; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Section 901.44, Florida Statutes, is created to
   12  read:
   13         901.44 Duty to render medical assistance.—A law enforcement
   14  officer who becomes aware, or has reason to be aware, that an
   15  individual in the custody of a law enforcement agency is
   16  injured, is in need of immediate medical attention, or is
   17  requesting immediate medical attention has a duty to examine the
   18  individual and render first aid to or seek medical attention for
   19  that individual, if the individual needs such first aid or
   20  further medical attention, to the extent that it is reasonable
   21  for the officer to do so based upon the totality of the
   22  circumstances.
   23         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.