Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1570
       
       
        
       By Senator Gaetz
       
       
       
       
       
       1-01335A-26                                           20261570__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to a statewide project for missing
    3         persons with special needs; reviving, readopting, and
    4         amending s. 937.041, F.S., relating to the missing
    5         persons with special needs statewide project;
    6         providing that the project is created through the
    7         centers for autism and related disabilities; requiring
    8         that participants for the project be selected based on
    9         certain criteria; deleting obsolete language;
   10         providing appropriations; providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Notwithstanding the repeal of section 937.041,
   15  Florida Statutes, in section 13 of chapter 2020-3, Laws of
   16  Florida, section 937.041, Florida Statutes, is revived,
   17  readopted, and amended to read:
   18         937.041 Missing persons with special needs statewide
   19  project.—
   20         (1) There is created a statewide project, to be known as
   21  “Project Leo,” through the centers a center for autism and
   22  related disabilities established under s. 1004.55. Each center
   23  that opts to join the project shall distribute personal devices
   24  to aid search-and-rescue efforts for persons with special needs
   25  in the case of elopement.
   26         (2) Participants for the project shall be selected based on
   27  criteria developed by the respective center for autism and
   28  related disabilities based on the specific needs of the
   29  respective each center’s service area counties prescribed under
   30  s. 1004.55. Criteria for participation in the project must
   31  include, at a minimum, the person’s risk of elopement. The
   32  qualifying participants shall be selected on a first-come,
   33  first-served basis by the respective centers to the extent of
   34  available funding within their existing resources. The project
   35  must be voluntary and free of charge to participants.
   36         (3) Under the project, personal devices to aid search-and
   37  rescue efforts shall be provided by the respective center to the
   38  sheriff’s offices of the participating counties. The devices
   39  shall be distributed to project participants by the county
   40  sheriff’s offices in conjunction with the respective center. The
   41  respective center shall fund any costs associated with
   42  monitoring the devices.
   43         (4) The project shall operate to the extent of available
   44  funding within the respective center’s existing resources.
   45         (5) This section expires June 30, 2019.
   46         Section 2. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of
   47  $250,000 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
   48  Revenue Fund to the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
   49  at the University of Florida, the sum of $250,000 in
   50  nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund
   51  to the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida
   52  Atlantic University, the sum of $250,000 in nonrecurring funds
   53  is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Center for
   54  Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South
   55  Florida, and the sum of $250,000 in nonrecurring funds is
   56  appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Center for
   57  Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida State University. The
   58  funds provided to each center shall be used solely for the
   59  purchase of personal devices to aid search-and-rescue efforts
   60  for persons with special needs in the case of elopement.
   61         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.