Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 576
       
       
        
       By Senator Harrell
       
       
       
       
       
       31-00943-26                                            2026576__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to local government cyber security;
    3         creating s. 282.31855, F.S.; creating the Local
    4         Government Cybersecurity Protection Program; providing
    5         the purpose of the program; requiring local
    6         governments to participate in the program and to apply
    7         to the Florida Digital Service to use cybersecurity
    8         programs and software; providing that such application
    9         must be made on a form prescribed by the Department of
   10         Management Services; establishing priority for certain
   11         counties under the program; requiring the Florida
   12         Digital Service through the department to secure and
   13         administer federal funds; authorizing the department
   14         to adopt rules; requiring that such rules encourage
   15         intergovernmental cooperation for a specified purpose;
   16         providing an effective date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Section 282.31855, Florida Statutes, is created
   21  to read:
   22         282.31855 Local Government Cybersecurity Protection
   23  Program.—
   24         (1) The Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program
   25  is created within the department and shall be administered by
   26  the Florida Digital Service.
   27         (2) The purpose of the program is to give local governments
   28  and law enforcement access to cybersecurity programs and
   29  software to protect against cybersecurity threats and ransomware
   30  incidents.
   31         (3)(a) Each local government shall participate in the
   32  program and shall apply to the Florida Digital Service to use
   33  cybersecurity programs and software. The application must be
   34  made on a form prescribed by the department.
   35         (b) A fiscally constrained county as described in s.
   36  218.67(1) shall be given priority in the program.
   37         (4) The Florida Digital Service through the department
   38  shall secure and administer federal grants to further the
   39  program.
   40         (5) The department may adopt rules to implement this
   41  section. The rules must encourage intergovernmental cooperation,
   42  collaboration, and information sharing to protect digital
   43  enterprise data.
   44         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.