Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1554
By Senator Collins
14-00881A-25 20251554__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public safety; providing a short
3 title; amending s. 20.201, F.S.; establishing a
4 Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit within the
5 Department of Law Enforcement; amending s. 111.09,
6 F.S.; revising the definitions of the terms
7 “affiliated first responder organization” and “first
8 responder”; creating s. 111.11, F.S.; defining the
9 term “first responder”; prohibiting first responder
10 employment discrimination; authorizing civil actions;
11 providing that prohibited discrimination may be
12 inferred solely from the disparate impact of
13 employment decisions or practices on the members of a
14 group; providing for damages, including punitive
15 damages, reasonable attorney fees, and costs;
16 providing for remedies in cases of denied promotion;
17 amending s. 365.171, F.S.; revising legislative intent
18 relating to 911 systems; providing for a unified 911
19 system for every county-level first responder agency
20 by a specified date; prohibiting a municipality from
21 opting out of such consolidation; requiring
22 integration of 911 operations within a county under
23 the sheriff; authorizing sheriffs to opt out of such
24 consolidation; providing construction; providing
25 requirements for unified 911 call centers; requiring
26 unified call centers to establish an executive board
27 in each county; providing requirements; requiring
28 counties to provide the total funding for 911 call
29 centers as determined by an annual needs assessment
30 and as requested by the sheriff; providing
31 construction; authorizing a sheriff to contract with
32 certain entities to meet specified requirements;
33 authorizing a county that opts out of a unified 911
34 call center to establish a regional 911 call center;
35 providing construction; requiring that regional call
36 centers be governed by a regional 911 operations
37 board; providing for membership of the board;
38 requiring counties to provide the total funding for
39 the regional 911 call center as required and requested
40 by the regional 911 operations board; requiring the
41 department to negotiate and establish a preferred
42 price list for certain equipment; providing
43 requirements for such list; creating s. 365.1795,
44 F.S.; requiring a 911 call center to dispatch the
45 closest unit to an emergency regardless of
46 jurisdiction; requiring an agency to sign a certain
47 memorandum of understanding by a specified date;
48 providing requirements for the reimbursement of
49 certain costs; amending ss. 937.021 and 937.022, F.S.;
50 revising requirements for the reporting of missing
51 persons information; creating s. 943.0322, F.S.;
52 requiring the department to establish and operate a
53 Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit; providing
54 requirements for such unit; amending s. 943.131, F.S.;
55 providing an exemption from certain law enforcement
56 basic training requirements for persons who have
57 served as intelligence or counterintelligence officers
58 or agents for a specified time period; providing
59 requirements for verification of qualifications;
60 creating s. 943.1714, F.S.; requiring certain basic
61 skills training in resilience for law enforcement
62 officers; authorizing first responder amputees to
63 continue to serve as first responders in certain
64 circumstances; creating the Florida Medal of Valor and
65 the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal; providing
66 requirements for such medals; requiring the department
67 to study the viability, necessity, and possibility of
68 creating hurricane-hardened public safety operations
69 centers; providing requirements for such centers;
70 requiring the Governor or his or her designee to
71 present the awards; requiring a resident of this state
72 or of an employing agency in this state to apply for
73 such medal on behalf of the recipient; requiring
74 applications be considered by a board; providing
75 requirements for the board; requiring the Department
76 of Law Enforcement to conduct a study assessing
77 certain factors related to the creation of the
78 hurricane-hardened public safety operation centers;
79 requiring a report to be submitted to the Governor and
80 the Legislature; providing requirements for such
81 report; creating the Florida Department of Public
82 Safety Consolidation Task Force within the department
83 for specified purpose; providing for membership of the
84 task force; requiring the task force to prepare and
85 submit a report to certain persons by a specified
86 date; requiring the task force to establish a Florida
87 Department of Public Safety; providing for
88 administrative support; providing for future repeal;
89 providing an effective date.
90
91 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
92
93 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Florida First
94 Responder and Florida Public Safety Act.”
95 Section 2. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
96 section 20.201, Florida Statutes, to read:
97 20.201 Department of Law Enforcement.—
98 (2) The following programs of the Department of Law
99 Enforcement are established:
100 (e) Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit.
101 Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
102 section 111.09, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
103 111.09 Peer support for first responders.—
104 (1) For purposes of this section, the term:
105 (a) “Affiliated first responder organization” includes, but
106 is not limited to, any of the following organizations:
107 1. Regularly organized volunteer firefighting departments
108 or associations.
109 2. Regularly organized volunteer ambulance services.
110 3. Combination fire departments, as that term is defined in
111 s. 633.135(1).
112 4. An organization of prosecutors.
113 5. An organization of crime scene technicians.
114 (b) “First responder” has the same meaning as provided in
115 s. 112.1815 and includes 911 public safety telecommunicators as
116 defined in s. 401.465, correctional officers as defined in s.
117 943.10(2), and correctional probation officers as defined in s.
118 943.10(3), prosecutors, crime scene technicians, and judges and
119 their clerks who deal with criminal matters.
120 Section 4. Section 111.11, Florida Statutes, is created to
121 read:
122 111.11 Employment of first responders; discrimination
123 prohibited.—
124 (1) As used in this section, the term “first responder” has
125 the same meaning as in s. 112.1815(1).
126 (2) An employing agency of first responders may not
127 discriminate in hiring, promotion, or any other employment
128 decision or practice on any basis prohibited in s. 760.10,
129 including following any diversity, equity, or inclusion policy
130 or practice, whether formal or informal, that results in such
131 discrimination.
132 (3)(a) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, a
133 victim of discrimination prohibited by this section may bring a
134 civil action.
135 (b) In any civil action brought under this section,
136 discrimination prohibited by this section may be inferred solely
137 from the disparate impact of employment decisions or practices
138 on the members of a group.
139 (c) In any civil action brought under this subsection, the
140 court may issue an order prohibiting the discriminatory policy
141 or practice and providing affirmative relief from the effects of
142 the discriminatory policy or practice, including back pay. The
143 court may also award compensatory damages, including, but not
144 limited to, damages for mental anguish, loss of dignity, and any
145 other intangible injuries, and punitive damages. In any civil
146 action brought under this subsection, the court shall award a
147 prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney fees and costs.
148 (d) If an employing agency of first responders is found to
149 have violated subsection (2) in regards to promotion, the
150 individual seeking relief shall be awarded back pay from the
151 date he or she would been paid the higher salary had he or she
152 been promoted. If such an individual cannot be promoted to the
153 position he or she was denied, the court shall order that he or
154 she be paid as if he or she had been promoted to such position
155 while remaining in his or her current position and order that
156 the individual be promoted to such position at the next
157 available opportunity.
158 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 365.171, Florida
159 Statutes, is amended, and paragraphs (e) and (f) are added to
160 subsection (4) of that section, to read:
161 365.171 Emergency communications state plan.—
162 (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature
163 that the communications number “911” be the designated emergency
164 communications number. A public safety agency may not advertise
165 or otherwise promote the use of any communications number for
166 emergency response services other than “911.” It is further the
167 intent of the Legislature to implement and continually update a
168 cohesive statewide emergency communications plan for enhanced
169 911 services which will provide citizens with rapid direct
170 access to public safety agencies by accessing “911” with the
171 objective of reducing the response time to situations requiring
172 law enforcement, fire, medical, rescue, and other emergency
173 services. It is further the intent of the Legislature to
174 prohibit the transfer of calls between 911 call centers and to
175 maximize the efficiency of the statewide emergency
176 communications plan for citizens dialing “911” for emergency
177 services.
178 (4) STATE PLAN.—The office shall develop, maintain, and
179 implement appropriate modifications for a statewide emergency
180 communications plan. The plan shall provide for:
181 (e)1. A unified 911 system. By July 1, 2029, every county
182 level first responder agency must be provided 911, emergency
183 call, and dispatch services from a unified 911 call center. A
184 municipality may not opt out of this consolidation. All existing
185 911 operations within a county shall be integrated under the
186 sheriff to create a unified 911 call center and all county-level
187 first responder agencies and jurisdictions must participate in
188 the unified 911 call center in their service area.
189 2.a. A sheriff may opt out of the consolidation requirement
190 in subparagraph 1., in which case the county shall establish a
191 regional 911 call center as provided in subparagraph 4. A
192 sheriff may later choose to opt in to the requirement in
193 subparagraph 1. without limitation.
194 b. If a sheriff later chooses to opt in to the requirement
195 in subparagraph 1., he or she must declare his or her
196 willingness to do so by written declaration to every
197 jurisdiction in the county which participates in the unified 911
198 call center and to the county’s supervisor of elections no later
199 than 6 months before the next regular election. Once the
200 declaration is made, the supervisor of elections shall place the
201 issue on the ballot at the next regular election. The voters
202 shall determine by referendum whether to have the unified 911
203 call center operated by the sheriff.
204 3.a. Each unified 911 call center shall:
205 (I) Establish a single computer-aided dispatching software,
206 regardless of the agency being dispatched.
207 (II) Establish the minimum standard requirements for radio
208 communications within the county to which all agencies must
209 adhere.
210 (III) Establish, maintain, and operate all systems and
211 properties necessary for radio and telephone operations, such as
212 a computer-aided dispatch system, telephony, hardware, and
213 information technology.
214 (IV) Require Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking
215 requirements of each unit within the system to allow computer
216 aided dispatch and implement closest-unit dispatching
217 requirements.
218 (V) Establish an executive board in each county. The
219 executive board shall consist of three members appointed by the
220 entities they represent as follows: an individual representing
221 the county government, an individual representing police
222 departments, and an individual representing fire rescue
223 services. Each member shall serve a term of 3 years. The
224 executive board shall meet monthly.
225
226 If there are multiple jurisdictions within the unified 911 call
227 center, each jurisdiction shall pick the representative to serve
228 the 3-year term and then rotate to the next jurisdiction. The
229 rotational order shall begin with the largest jurisdiction by
230 population, then the next largest jurisdiction by population,
231 and then the smallest jurisdiction by population and continue ad
232 infinitum.
233 (A) A representative of the sheriff’s office shall attend
234 each meeting of the executive board and serve as a liaison
235 between the board and the sheriff’s office.
236 (B) The executive board may create a nonvoting advisory
237 board that consists of as many members as needed, but only one
238 member from each jurisdiction shall be represented on the
239 nonvoting advisory board.
240 (C) If the center is operated by the sheriff, the executive
241 board shall advise and guide the sheriff on the operation and
242 budget of the center. The executive board must vote to approve
243 the sheriff’s budget proposal for the center if the proposal is
244 submitted to the county for consideration.
245 (D) If the center is operated by the sheriff, the executive
246 board may overrule a decision by the sheriff concerning any
247 operation of the center by unanimous vote of all voting members
248 after giving the sheriff 30 days written notice about the matter
249 that specifies the nature of the issue, their written intent to
250 overrule, and an alternative plan for the sheriff’s
251 consideration.
252 b. The sheriff shall annually conduct a needs assessment to
253 identify the financial requirements necessary to perform the
254 services required to provide a unified 911 call center,
255 including, but not limited to:
256 (I) Telephony.
257 (II) Radio dispatch.
258 (III) Information technology.
259 c. Counties shall provide total funding for the unified 911
260 call center as determined by the annual needs assessment and as
261 requested by the sheriff but do not have any right or control
262 over the funds or equipment of the center. A unified 911 call
263 center operated by a sheriff may not be included in the
264 sheriff’s operational budget but shall serve as a separate line
265 item and fulfillment requirement by the county to the sheriff.
266 The county must be provided funding and each jurisdiction that
267 is provided services under this paragraph must provide pro-rata
268 funding to the county based on its population. Any funding not
269 covered by the 911 fee as requested by the annual needs
270 assessment shall be provided by the participating jurisdictions
271 on a pro-rata basis.
272 d. A sheriff may choose to contract with another county or
273 another county’s unified 911 call center to meet the
274 requirements of this section. If a sheriff chooses to contract
275 with another county, the executive board’s membership shall
276 increase by two additional voting members. The two additional
277 voting members shall be the contracting sheriff and a
278 representative of the county government of the additional
279 county. All other jurisdictions represented by the contracting
280 sheriff may each appoint a member to the nonvoting advisory
281 board, each of whom has the right to attend and participate in
282 meetings as a nonvoting member.
283 4. If a sheriff opts out of the operation of a unified 911
284 call center, the county shall establish a regional 911 call
285 center. A regional 911 call center may be within one county or
286 among several counties that choose to pool resources. A
287 memorandum of understanding is required between the agencies
288 involved. A regional 911 call center shall be governed by a
289 regional 911 operations board made up of agencies within the
290 participating county or counties.
291 a. Members of the regional 911 operations board shall
292 include the agency head of each law enforcement, fire rescue, or
293 emergency rescue service that operates in the regional 911 call
294 center. Members shall serve 2-year terms. The sheriff of each
295 county in the regional 911 call center shall be a member of the
296 board. In the event that there are an even amount of members,
297 the chair of the board shall rotate between the sheriffs of each
298 participating county and each sheriff shall serve on the board
299 for a period of 2 years.
300 b. The board’s operating expenses shall be funded on a pro
301 rata basis from each participating county.
302 c. The board shall annually conduct a needs assessment to
303 identify the financial requirements necessary to perform the
304 services required to provide a regional 911 call center,
305 including, but not limited to:
306 (I) Telephony.
307 (II) Radio dispatch.
308 (III) Information technology.
309 d. Counties shall provide total funding for the regional
310 911 call center as required and as requested by the regional 911
311 operations board but do not have any right or control over the
312 funds or equipment of the center. Each jurisdiction that is
313 provided services under this subparagraph must provide pro-rata
314 funding to the county or counties based on its population. Any
315 amount not covered by the 911 fee as requested by the annual
316 needs assessment shall be provided by the participating
317 jurisdictions on a pro-rata basis.
318 (f) The Department of Law Enforcement shall negotiate and
319 establish a preferred price list for major equipment used in the
320 operation of unified 911 call centers to maximize cost savings
321 to the state. Unified 911 call centers are encouraged, but not
322 required, to use the preferred price list. The preferred price
323 list shall, at a minimum, include preferred prices for:
324 1. Radios.
325 2. Computer-aided dispatch software.
326 3. Telephone equipment.
327 4. Related software.
328
329 The office shall be responsible for the implementation and
330 coordination of such plan. The office shall adopt any necessary
331 rules and schedules related to public agencies for implementing
332 and coordinating the plan, pursuant to chapter 120.
333 Section 6. Section 365.1795, Florida Statutes, is created
334 to read:
335 365.1795 Dispatch of the closest unit required.—
336 (1) A 911 call center shall dispatch the closest unit to an
337 emergency regardless of jurisdiction.
338 (2) By July 1, 2026, an agency must sign a memorandum of
339 understanding to reflect the requirements of this section and to
340 set standard operating procedures.
341 (3) If an agency responds to an emergency pursuant to the
342 requirements of this section, the agency must be reimbursed
343 quarterly for the cost of the services provided at true cost
344 without markup from the jurisdiction in which the emergency
345 occurred.
346 Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection
347 (4) of section 937.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
348 937.021 Missing child and missing adult reports.—
349 (1) Law enforcement agencies in this state shall adopt
350 written policies that specify the procedures to be used to
351 investigate reports of missing children and missing adults. The
352 policies must ensure that cases involving missing children and
353 adults are investigated promptly using appropriate resources.
354 The policies must include:
355 (c) Standards for maintaining and clearing computer data of
356 information concerning a missing child or missing adult which is
357 stored in the Florida Crime Information Center, the National
358 Crime Information Center, and the National Missing and
359 Unidentified Persons System. The standards must require, at a
360 minimum, a monthly review of each case entered into the Florida
361 Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information
362 Center, an annual review of each case entered into the National
363 Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and a determination of
364 whether the case should be maintained in the databases database.
365 (4)(a) Upon the filing of a police report that a child is
366 missing by the parent or guardian, the Department of Children
367 and Families, or a community-based care provider, the law
368 enforcement agency receiving the report shall immediately inform
369 all on-duty law enforcement officers of the missing child
370 report, communicate the report to every other law enforcement
371 agency having jurisdiction in the county, and within 2 hours
372 after receipt of the report, transmit the report for inclusion
373 within the Florida Crime Information Center and, the National
374 Crime Information Center, and the National Missing and
375 Unidentified Persons System databases, and shall, within 90 days
376 after receipt of the report, transmit the report to the National
377 Missing and Unidentified Persons System. A law enforcement
378 agency may not require a reporter to present an order that a
379 child be taken into custody or any other such order before
380 accepting a report that a child is missing.
381 (b) Upon the filing of a credible police report that an
382 adult is missing, the law enforcement agency receiving the
383 report shall, within 2 hours after receipt of the report,
384 transmit the report for inclusion within the Florida Crime
385 Information Center and, the National Crime Information Center,
386 and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System
387 databases, and shall, within 90 days after receipt of the
388 report, transmit the report to the National Missing and
389 Unidentified Persons System.
390 Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
391 937.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
392 937.022 Missing Endangered Persons Information
393 Clearinghouse.—
394 (3) The clearinghouse shall:
395 (b) Provide a centralized file for the exchange of
396 information on missing endangered persons.
397 1. Every state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency
398 shall submit to the clearinghouse information concerning missing
399 endangered persons.
400 2. Any person having knowledge may submit a missing
401 endangered person report to the clearinghouse concerning a child
402 or adult younger than 26 years of age whose whereabouts is
403 unknown, regardless of the circumstances, subsequent to
404 reporting such child or adult missing to the appropriate law
405 enforcement agency within the county in which the child or adult
406 became missing, and subsequent to entry by the law enforcement
407 agency of the child or person into the Florida Crime Information
408 Center and, the National Crime Information Center, and the
409 National Missing and Unidentified Persons System databases. The
410 missing endangered person report shall be included in the
411 clearinghouse database.
412 3. Only the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over
413 the case may submit a missing endangered person report to the
414 clearinghouse involving a missing adult age 26 years or older
415 who is suspected by a law enforcement agency of being endangered
416 or the victim of criminal activity.
417 4. Only the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over
418 the case may make a request to the clearinghouse for the
419 activation of a state Silver Alert or a Purple Alert involving a
420 missing adult if circumstances regarding the disappearance have
421 met the criteria for activation of the Silver Alert Plan or the
422 Purple Alert.
423 Section 9. Section 943.0322, Florida Statutes, is created
424 to read:
425 943.0322 Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit.—
426 (1) The department shall establish and operate a
427 Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit consisting of teams
428 located regionally throughout this state whose primary purpose
429 is to proactively address terrorist threats, foreign
430 intelligence collection efforts, and insider threat actors. The
431 unit shall focus on identifying threats, analyzing patterns of
432 life, gathering actionable intelligence, formulating an
433 effective action plan, and executing arrests or revealing the
434 intent of this state to compel a response, thus avoiding
435 protracted investigations. The unit may conduct direct action
436 missions against identifiable threats on its own or join other
437 units to counteract and stop such threats.
438 (2) The Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit shall
439 consist of seven teams, with one team assigned to each Regional
440 Domestic Security Task Force housed at each of the department’s
441 regional operations centers.
442 Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 943.131, Florida
443 Statutes, is amended to read:
444 943.131 Temporary employment or appointment; minimum basic
445 recruit training exemptions.—
446 (2) If an applicant seeks an exemption from completing a
447 commission-approved basic recruit training program, the
448 employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection
449 center must verify and document that the applicant has:
450 (a) Successfully completed a comparable basic recruit
451 training program for the discipline in which the applicant is
452 seeking certification in another state or for the Federal
453 Government or a previous Florida basic recruit training program.
454 Further, the employing agency, training center, or criminal
455 justice selection center must verify that the applicant has
456 served as a full-time sworn officer in another state or for the
457 Federal Government for at least 1 year provided there is no more
458 than an 8-year break in employment or was a previously certified
459 Florida officer provided there is no more than an 8-year break
460 in employment, as measured from the separation date of the most
461 recent qualifying employment to the time a complete application
462 is submitted for an exemption under this section. The employing
463 agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center
464 shall submit documentation of satisfaction of this requirement
465 to the commission; or
466 (b) Served in the special operation forces for a minimum of
467 5 years, provided there is no more than a 4-year break from the
468 applicant’s special operations forces experience, as measured
469 from the separation date from the special operations forces to
470 the time a complete application for an exemption under this
471 subsection is submitted. The employing agency, training center,
472 or criminal justice selection center shall further verify and
473 document the specific training and experience the applicant
474 received during his or her special operations forces service
475 that is relevant to law enforcement. The employing agency,
476 training center, or criminal justice selection center shall
477 submit documentation of satisfaction of these requirements to
478 the commission; or
479 (c) Served as an intelligence or counterintelligence
480 officer or agent for a minimum of 5 years, provided that there
481 is no more than a 4-year break from the applicant’s special
482 operations forces experience, as measured from the separation
483 date from the military or federal government to the time a
484 complete application for an exemption under this subsection is
485 submitted. The employing agency, training center, or criminal
486 justice selection center shall further verify and document the
487 specific training and experience the applicant received during
488 his or her intelligence or counterintelligence service that is
489 relevant to law enforcement. The employing agency, training
490 center, or criminal justice selection center shall submit
491 documentation of satisfaction of these requirements to the
492 commission.
493 Section 11. Section 943.1714, Florida Statutes, is created
494 to read:
495 943.1714 Basic skills training in resilience.—The
496 commission shall establish and maintain standards for basic
497 skills training in resilience for law enforcement officers,
498 including, but not limited to, mental health, sleep,
499 concussions, trauma, chemical and substance exposure and their
500 effects on health, lead exposure from ammunition, exposure to
501 harmful substances from fires, and the effects of exposure to
502 chemicals in protective gear. All basic skills training for law
503 enforcement officers to obtain initial certification must
504 include basic skills training in resilience.
505 Section 12. First responder amputees.—An individual who is
506 certified as a first responder as defined in s. 112.1815(1),
507 Florida Statutes and who has a physical disability resulting
508 from amputation may continue to serve as a first responder if he
509 or she meets the first responder certification requirements
510 without an accommodation.
511 Section 13. Florida Medal of Valor and Florida Blue/Red
512 Heart Medal.—
513 (1)(a) There is created the Florida Medal of Valor for
514 first responders as defined in s. 112.1815(1), Florida Statutes,
515 and related personnel. The medal may be awarded only to a first
516 responder or related personnel who goes above and beyond the
517 call of duty to save the life of an individual.
518 (b) There is created the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal. The
519 medal shall be awarded to a law enforcement officer,
520 firefighter, correctional officer, or correctional probation
521 officer who is injured in the line of duty.
522 (2) The Governor or his or her designee may present the
523 awards. The awards shall be issued and administered through the
524 Department of Law Enforcement. A resident of this state or an
525 employing agency in this state must apply for the Florida Medal
526 of Valor or the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal on behalf of the
527 potential recipient.
528 (3)(a) The application for a medal under this section shall
529 be considered and acted upon by a board charged with the duty of
530 evaluating the appropriateness of an application. The board
531 shall consist of five individuals as follows:
532 1. Three members appointed by the Governor.
533 2. One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
534 Representatives.
535 3. One member appointed by the President of the Senate.
536 (b) Members of the board shall serve 2-year terms. Any
537 vacancy on the board must be filled within 3 months. At least
538 three board members must be active, retired, or former law
539 enforcement officers or firefighters.
540 Section 14. (1) The Department of Law Enforcement shall
541 conduct a study assessing the viability, necessity, and
542 possibility of creating hurricane-hardened public safety
543 operations centers. By July 1, 2026, the department shall submit
544 a report containing the results of the study to the Governor,
545 the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
546 Representatives, the chair of the Committee on Military and
547 Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security of the Senate,
548 and the chair of the Security and Threat Assessment Committee of
549 the House of Representatives.
550 (2) The report shall:
551 (a) Address the need for regional backup centers addressing
552 the potential need for hardened space if a county experiences a
553 direct hit from a debilitating weather event or any manmade
554 cataclysmic event that could disable a county’s ability to
555 operate emergency services.
556 (b) Identify a minimum of five regional locations to house
557 the regional backup centers.
558 (c) Provide a standardized list of what is housed and what
559 is necessary to be housed at each regional backup center. At a
560 minimum, each regional backup center shall house:
561 1. 911 dispatching and call taking.
562 2. An emergency operations center.
563 3. Worker housing.
564 4. Food service facilities.
565 5. Information technology.
566 6. Backup generator.
567 7. A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF).
568 8. Parking capacity for relocating units.
569 (d) Estimate a price for each regional backup center and a
570 total estimated price of the project.
571 (e) Identify alternate uses of the regional backup center
572 in nonemergency settings to co-use the space.
573 (f) Identify a list of potential local, state, and federal
574 tenants.
575 Section 15. (1) The Florida Department of Public Safety
576 Consolidation Task Force, a task force as defined in s.
577 20.03(5), Florida Statutes, is created within the Department of
578 Law Enforcement. The task force shall specify the steps and
579 legislation necessary and provide the cost estimates and
580 timelines required to implement the consolidation of all law
581 enforcement agencies into a Florida Department of Public Safety
582 as outlined in this section. The purpose of the consolidation is
583 to maximize this state’s crime-fighting ability, intelligence
584 capability, and defensive capacity while increasing government
585 efficiency, consolidating chains of command, increasing
586 communications and coordination, standardizing training, pooling
587 resources, increasing opportunities for officers such as
588 increased salaries and promotions, and better preparing this
589 state through one voice of law enforcement.
590 (2) The task force shall consist of the following members,
591 each of whom must be appointed by July 31, 2025:
592 (a) A senator appointed by the President of the Senate.
593 (b) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by
594 the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
595 (c) Three representatives of the Department of Law
596 Enforcement appointed by the executive director of the
597 department.
598 (d) A representative of the Division of Florida Highway
599 Patrol of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
600 appointed by the executive director of the department.
601 (e) A representative of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
602 Commission appointed by the executive director of the
603 commission.
604 (f) A representative of the Capitol Police appointed by the
605 director of the Capitol Police.
606 (g) A representative of the Governor appointed by the
607 Governor.
608 (3) The task force shall prepare and submit a report by
609 July 1, 2026, to each person who appointed at least one member
610 to the task force as provided in subsection (2).
611 (4) The task force shall establish a Florida Department of
612 Public Safety to be administered by a director appointed by the
613 Governor. The director shall appoint a deputy director and
614 chiefs. The chiefs shall administer the following areas:
615 (a) Administration, including fleet management, human
616 resources, purchasing, federal liaison, professional standards,
617 internal affairs, and communications.
618 (b) Patrol, including the Florida Highway Patrol, which
619 shall maintain its current duties and branding, and the Capitol
620 Police, which shall be dissolved and become part of the Florida
621 Department of Public Safety.
622 (c) Investigations, including the intel and fusion center,
623 cyber unit, crime analysts, law enforcement officer shooting
624 investigations, homicide, and narcotics.
625 (d) Investigative support, including crime labs, forensics,
626 DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and background screening.
627 (e) Special operations, including Special Weapons and
628 Tactics (SWAT), bomb, dive, drone, and mounted units.
629 (f) Marine and environmental, including Fish and Wildlife
630 Conservation Commission units.
631 (g) Dignitary protection, including units assigned to
632 protect the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General.
633 (h) Aviation, including all aviation assets from all
634 agencies.
635 (5) The Department of Law Enforcement shall provide
636 administrative support to the task force.
637 (6) This section is repealed upon submission of the task
638 force report under subsection (3).
639 Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.