Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 864
       
       
        
       By Senator Collins
       
       
       
       
       
       14-01363-24                                            2024864__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to autism spectrum disorder training
    3         for law enforcement officers; amending s. 943.1727,
    4         F.S.; providing definitions; providing requirements
    5         for training officers for interacting with individuals
    6         with autism spectrum disorder; requiring the Criminal
    7         Justice Standards and Training Commission to adopt
    8         rules requiring such training as part of continued
    9         employment training for officers; providing an
   10         effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 943.1727, Florida Statutes, is amended
   15  to read:
   16         943.1727 Continued Employment training relating to autism
   17  spectrum disorder.—
   18         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   19         (a) “Agency” means the ability to make independent
   20  decisions and act in one’s own best interests.
   21         (b) “Autism spectrum disorder” has the same meaning as in
   22  s. 627.6686(2).
   23         (2) The commission department shall establish an a
   24  continued employment training component relating to individuals
   25  with autism spectrum disorder as defined in s. 627.6686. The
   26  training component shall include, but need not be limited to,
   27  instruction on the recognition of the symptoms and
   28  characteristics of an individual on the autism disorder spectrum
   29  and appropriate responses to an individual exhibiting such
   30  symptoms and characteristics. Completion of the training
   31  component may count toward the 40 hours of instruction for
   32  continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer
   33  required under s. 943.135.
   34         (3) The employment training component for officers relating
   35  to interaction with individuals with autism spectrum disorder
   36  may include at least 4 hours of in-person instruction in the
   37  techniques and procedures described in this subsection:
   38         (a) The nature and manifestation of autism spectrum
   39  disorders.
   40         (b) Appropriate techniques for interviewing or
   41  interrogating an individual with autism spectrum disorder,
   42  including techniques to ensure the legality of statements made
   43  by the individual and techniques used to protect the rights of
   44  the individual.
   45         (c) Techniques for locating an individual with autism
   46  spectrum disorder who runs away and is in danger and for
   47  returning that individual while causing as little stress as
   48  possible to the individual.
   49         (d) Techniques for recognizing the agency of an individual
   50  with autism spectrum disorder while identifying potential
   51  abusive or coercive situations.
   52         (e) Techniques for deescalating a potentially dangerous
   53  situation to maximize the safety of both the officer and the
   54  individual with autism spectrum disorder.
   55         (f) Techniques for differentiating an individual with
   56  autism spectrum disorder from an individual who is belligerent,
   57  uncooperative, or otherwise displaying traits similar to the
   58  characteristics of an individual with autism spectrum disorder
   59  and understanding the law as it relates to the use of the Baker
   60  Act against an individual with autism spectrum disorder.
   61         (g) Procedures to identify and address challenges related
   62  to the safety and wellbeing of individuals with autism spectrum
   63  disorder in a correctional facility.
   64         (h) The impact of interaction with officers on individuals
   65  with autism spectrum disorder.
   66         (4) All recruits must receive the employment training
   67  component relating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
   68  Such training component may be taught as part of other relevant
   69  components of the training.
   70         (5) The commission shall by rule require that each officer
   71  receive, as part of the required instruction for continued
   72  employment or appointment as an officer, instruction in the
   73  techniques and procedures described in subsection (3).
   74         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.