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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to law enforcement officer benefits, 2
recruitment, and training; amending s. 145.071, F.S.; 3
revising salary minimums for county sheriffs; amending 4
s. 409.1664, F.S.; providing for adoption benefits for 5
law enforcements officers; providing re quirements to 6
receive such benefits; providing procedures to obtain 7
such benefits; creating s. 445.08, F.S.; creating the 8
Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment 9
Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity; 10
providing definitions; provid ing for one-time bonus 11
payments to newly-employed law enforcement officers; 12
providing requirements for award of bonus payments; 13
requiring the department to develop an annual plan for 14
the administration of the program and distribution of 15
payments; authorizing employing agencies to assist the 16
department with the collection of specified data to 17
collect such payments; providing plan requirements; 18
providing eligibility requirements for the plan; 19
requiring the department to consult quarterly with the 20
commission to verify specified information; providing 21
for reporting; authorizing the department to submit 22
certain information for a specified purpose; providing 23
for use of a funding; requiring rulemaking; providing 24
for expiration of the program; amending s. 683.11, 25
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F.S.; providing for the designation of "Law 26
Enforcement Appreciation Day"; amending s. 943.17, 27
F.S.; providing an exemption from certain law 28
enforcement officer training requirements for military 29
veterans; creating s. 943.1745, F.S.; providing 30
requirements for skills training for law enforcement 31
officers relating to officer health and safety; 32
amending s. 1002.394, F.S.; providing eligibility for 33
the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program for 34
children of law enforcement officers; creating s. 35
1003.4933, F.S.; providing for each district school 36
board to establish a public safety telecommunication 37
training program; authorizing the district to partner 38
with programs operated by certain entities; requiring 39
school districts to allow certain students to enroll 40
in such a program under specified circumstances; 41
providing exceptions; creating s. 1003.49966, F.S.; 42
providing for each district school board to offer a 43
law enforcement explorer program; authorizing the 44
school board to partner with law enforcement agencies 45
to offer such programs; providing for a student to 46
receive course credit if such a program is offered as 47
an elective; creating s. 1004.098, F.S.; providing 48
definitions; requiring the Board of Governors and the 49
State Board of Education to create a process that 50
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
enables eligible law enforcement officers or former 51
law enforcement officers to earn uniform postsecondary 52
credit across all Florida public postsecondary 53
educational institutions for college -level training 54
and education acquired while serving as a law 55
enforcement officer; requiring the Articulation 56
Coordinating Committee to convene a workgroup by a 57
specified date to facilitate such process; providing 58
membership of the workgroup; providing a timetable for 59
the process; creating s. 1009.896, F.S.; providing 60
definitions; creating the Florida Law Enforcement 61
Academy Scholarship Program; providing requirements 62
for receipt of such a scholarship; providing 63
procedures for the program; proving for the amount of 64
such awards; requiring rulemaking; creating s. 65
1009.8961, F.S.; providing definitions; providing for 66
reimbursement for out -of-state and special operations 67
forces law enforcement equivalency training; providing 68
requirements for receipt of such reimbursement; 69
providing procedures for such reimbursement; providing 70
for amount of such awards; requiring rulemaking; 71
providing an effective date. 72
73
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 74
75
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Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 145.071, Florida 76
Statutes, is amended to read: 77
145.071 Sheriff.— 78
(1) Each sheriff shall receive as salary the amount 79
indicated, based on the population of his or her county. In 80
addition, a compensation shall be made for population increments 81
over the minimum for each group, which shall be determined by 82
multiplying the populat ion in excess of the minimum for the 83
group times the group rate. 84
85
Pop.
Group County Pop. Range
Base
Salary
Group Rate
86
Minimum Maximum
87
I
-0- 49,999
28,350
$23,350 $0.07875
88
II
50,000 99,999
31,500
26,500 0.06300
89
III
100,000 199,999
34,650
29,650 0.02625
90
IV 200,000 399,999 37,275 0.01575
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32,275
91
V
400,000 999,999
40,425
35,425 0.00525
92
VI
1,000,000
43,575
38,575 0.00400
93
Section 2. Paragraphs (b) through (e) of subsection (1) of 94
section 409.1664, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 95
paragraphs (c) through (f), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is 96
added to that subsection, and subsections (2), (3), (4), and (6) 97
of that section are amended, to read: 98
409.1664 Adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive 99
employees of state agencies, vetera ns, and servicemembers, and 100
law enforcement officers .— 101
(1) As used in this section, the term: 102
(b) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 103
provided in s. 943.10(1). 104
(2) A qualifying adoptive employee, veteran, or 105
servicemember who adopts a ch ild within the child welfare system 106
who has special needs described in s. 409.166(2)(a)2. is 107
eligible to receive a lump -sum monetary benefit in the amount of 108
$10,000 per such child, subject to applicable taxes. A law 109
enforcement officer who adopts a child within the child welfare 110
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system who has special needs described in s. 409.166(2)(a)2. is 111
eligible to receive a lump -sum monetary benefit in the amount of 112
$25,000 per such child, subject to applicable taxes. A 113
qualifying adoptive employee, veteran, or servi cemember who 114
adopts a child within the child welfare system who does not have 115
special needs described in s. 409.166(2)(a)2. is eligible to 116
receive a lump-sum monetary benefit in the amount of $5,000 per 117
such child, subject to applicable taxes. A law enforcement 118
officer who adopts a child within the child welfare system who 119
does not have special needs described in s. 409.166(2)(a)2. is 120
eligible to receive a lump -sum monetary benefit in the amount of 121
$10,000 per each such child, subject to applicable taxes. A 122
qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the Florida 123
Virtual School may retroactively apply for the monetary benefit 124
provided in this subsection if such employee was employed by a 125
charter school or the Florida Virtual School when he or she 126
adopted a child within the child welfare system pursuant to 127
chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. A veteran or servicemember 128
may apply for the monetary benefit provided in this subsection 129
if he or she is domiciled in this state and adopts a child 130
within the child welfare system pursuant to chapter 63 on or 131
after July 1, 2020. A law enforcement officer may apply for the 132
monetary benefit provided in this subsection if he or she is 133
domiciled in this state and adopts a child within the child 134
welfare system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2022. 135
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(a) Benefits paid to a qualifying adoptive employee who is 136
a part-time employee must be prorated based on the qualifying 137
adoptive employee's full -time equivalency at the time of 138
applying for the benefits. 139
(b) Monetary benefits awarded under this subsection are 140
limited to one award per adopted child within the child welfare 141
system. 142
(c) The payment of a lump -sum monetary benefit for 143
adopting a child within the child welfare system under this 144
section is subject to a specific appropriation to the department 145
for such purpose. 146
(3) A qualifying adoptive employee must apply to his or 147
her agency head, or to his or her school director in the case of 148
a qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the 149
Florida Virtual School, to obtain the monetary benefit provided 150
in subsection (2). A veteran or servicemember must apply to the 151
department to obtain the benefit. A law enforcement officer must 152
apply to the Department of Law Enforcement to obtain the 153
benefit. Applications must be on forms approved by the 154
department and must include a certified copy of the final order 155
of adoption naming the applicant as the adoptive parent. 156
Monetary benefits shall be approved on a first -come, first-157
served basis based upon the date that each fully completed 158
application is received by the department. 159
(4) This section does not preclude a qualifying adoptive 160
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employee, veteran, or servicemember, or law enforcement officer 161
from receiving adoption assistance for which he or she may 162
qualify under s. 409.166 or any other statute that provides 163
financial incentives for the adoption of children. 164
(6) The department may adopt rules to administer this 165
section. The rules may provide for an application process such 166
as, but not limited to, an open enro llment period during which 167
qualifying adoptive employees, veterans, or servicemembers, or 168
law enforcement officers may apply for monetary benefits under 169
this section. 170
Section 3. Section 445.08, Florida Statutes, is created to 171
read: 172
445.08 Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment 173
Program.— 174
(1) For the purposes of this section, the term: 175
(a) "Commission" means the Criminal Justice Standards and 176
Training Commission within the Department of Law Enforcement. 177
(b) "Employing agency" has the sa me meaning as provided in 178
s. 943.10(4). 179
(c) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 180
provided in s. 943.10(1). 181
(d) "Newly employed officer" means a person who gains or 182
is appointed to full -time employment as a certified law 183
enforcement officer with a Florida criminal justice employing 184
agency on or after July 1, 2022, and who has never before been 185
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employed as a law enforcement officer in this state. 186
(e) "Program" means the Florida Law Enforcement 187
Recruitment Bonus Payment Program. 188
(2) There is created within the department the Florida Law 189
Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, to aid in the 190
recruitment of law enforcement officers within the state. The 191
purpose of the program is to administer one -time bonus payments 192
to each newly employed officer within the state. Bonus payments 193
provided to eligible newly employed officers are contingent upon 194
legislative appropriations and shall be prorated subject to the 195
amount appropriated for the program. 196
(3) Each bonus payment shall be adjusted to include 7.65 197
percent for the officer's share of Federal Insurance 198
Contribution Act tax on the payment. 199
(4) The department shall develop an annual plan for the 200
administration of the program and distribution of bonus 201
payments. Applicable employing agenc ies shall assist the 202
department with the collection of any data necessary to 203
determine bonus payment amounts and to distribute the bonus 204
payments, and shall otherwise provide the department with any 205
information or assistance needed to fulfill the requireme nts of 206
this section. At a minimum, the plan must include: 207
(a) The method for determining the estimated number of 208
newly employed officers to gain or be appointed to full -time 209
employment during the applicable fiscal year. 210
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(b) The minimum eligibility requ irements a newly employed 211
officer must meet to receive and retain a bonus payment, which 212
must include: 213
1. Obtaining certification for employment or appointment 214
as a law enforcement officer pursuant to s. 943.1395. 215
2. Gaining full-time employment with a Florida criminal 216
justice agency. 217
3. Maintaining continuous full -time employment with a 218
Florida criminal justice agency for at least 2 years from the 219
date on which the officer obtained certification. The required 220
2-year employment period may be satisfied by maintaining 221
employment at one or more employing agencies, but such period 222
must not contain any break in service longer than 15 calendar 223
days. 224
(c) The method that will be used to determine the bonus 225
payment amount to be distributed to each ne wly employed officer. 226
(d) The method that will be used to distribute bonus 227
payments to applicable employing agencies for distribution to 228
eligible officers. Such method should prioritize distributing 229
bonus payments to eligible officers in the most efficie nt and 230
quickest manner possible. 231
(e) The estimated cost to the department associated with 232
developing and administering the program and distributing bonus 233
payment funds. 234
(f) The method by which an officer must reimburse the 235
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state if he or she received a bonus payment under the program, 236
but failed to maintain continuous employment for the required 2 -237
year period. Reimbursement shall not be required if an officer 238
is discharged by his or her employing agency for a reason other 239
than misconduct as designated o n the affidavit of separation 240
completed by the employing agency and maintained by the 241
commission. 242
243
The department may establish other criteria deemed necessary to 244
determine bonus payment eligibility and distribution. 245
(5) The department shall consult quarterly with the 246
commission to verify the certification of newly employed 247
officers and affidavits of separation submitted to the 248
commission which detail officer misconduct. 249
(6) The department shall submit the plan to the Executive 250
Office of the Governor's Office of Policy and Budget, the chair 251
of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the chair of the 252
House Appropriations Committee by October 1 of each year. The 253
department is authorized to submit budget amendments pu rsuant to 254
chapter 216 as necessary to release appropriated funds for 255
distribution to applicable employing agencies under this 256
program. 257
(7) The funding allocation for the bonus payments must be 258
used solely to comply with the requirements of this section, but 259
applicable collective bargaining units are not otherwise 260
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precluded from wage negotiation. 261
(8) The department shall adopt rules to implement this 262
section. 263
(9) This section expires July 1, 2025. 264
Section 4. Section 683.11, Florida Statutes, is a mended to 265
read: 266
683.11 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and Law 267
Enforcement Appreciation Month. — 268
(1) May 1 of each year is hereby designated as "Law 269
Enforcement Appreciation Day." 270
(2)(1) The month of May of each year is hereby designated 271
as "Law Enforcement Appreciation Month." 272
(3)(2) The Governor and the mayor of each municipality may 273
issue annually a proclamation designating May 1 as "Law 274
Enforcement Appreciation Day" and the month of May as "Law 275
Enforcement Appreciation Month" and urging all civi c, fraternal, 276
and religious organizations and public and private educational 277
institutions to recognize and observe this occasion through 278
appropriate programs, meetings, services, or celebrations in 279
which state, county, and local law enforcement officers ar e 280
invited to participate. 281
Section 5. Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section 282
943.17, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 283
943.17 Basic recruit, advanced, and career development 284
training programs; participation; cost; evaluation. —The 285
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commission shall, by rule, design, implement, maintain, 286
evaluate, and revise entry requirements and job -related 287
curricula and performance standards for basic recruit, advanced, 288
and career development training programs and courses. The rules 289
shall include, but are not l imited to, a methodology to assess 290
relevance of the subject matter to the job, student performance, 291
and instructor competency. 292
(1) The commission shall: 293
(g) Assure that entrance into the basic recruit training 294
program for law enforcement and correction al officers be limited 295
to those who have passed a basic skills examination and 296
assessment instrument, based on a job task analysis in each 297
discipline and adopted by the commission. However, a person is 298
not required to take the basic skills examination and assessment 299
instrument before entering a law enforcement officer basic 300
recruit training program if he or she is a veteran as defined in 301
s. 1.01(14) or holds an associate degree or higher from an 302
accredited college or university. 303
Section 6. Section 943.1 745, Florida Statutes, is created 304
to read: 305
943.1745 Training relating to officer health and wellness 306
principles.— 307
(1) By July 1, 2023, the commission shall incorporate into 308
the course curriculum required for initial certification of a 309
law enforcement officer instruction on health and wellness 310
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principles specific to the law enforcement profession. The 311
commission shall consult with the Florida State University 312
Institute for Justice Research and Development and the 313
Resiliency Behind the Badge training prog ram to develop the 314
basic skills training component relating to officer health and 315
wellness principles. The training must include, but need not be 316
limited to, understanding the role secondary trauma and work 317
related incidents have on the personal life of an officer; 318
methods for identifying and addressing personal and work related 319
stressors; strategies to better understand when to seek 320
professional help and what kind of professional help to seek; 321
and strategies to normalize conversations about stress, trauma, 322
and mental health within the law enforcement community. 323
(2) By July 1, 2023, the commission shall by rule require 324
that each law enforcement officer receive, as part of the 40 325
hours of required instruction for continued employment or 326
appointment as an of ficer, instruction on health and wellness 327
principles specific to the law enforcement profession. The 328
commission shall consult with the Florida State University 329
Institute for Justice Research and Development and the 330
Resiliency Behind the Badge training prog ram to develop the 331
training component relating to officer health and wellness 332
principles. The training must include, but need not be limited 333
to, understanding the role secondary trauma and work related 334
incidents have on the personal life of an officer; met hods for 335
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identifying and addressing personal and work related stressors; 336
strategies to better understand when to seek professional help 337
and what kind of professional help to seek; and strategies to 338
normalize conversations about stress, trauma, and mental h ealth 339
within the law enforcement community. 340
Section 7. Paragraphs (k) and (l) of subsection (2) of 341
section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 342
paragraphs (l) and (m), respectively, a new paragraph (k) is 343
added to that subsection, and paragr aph (a) of subsection (3) 344
and subsection (12) of that section are amended, to read: 345
1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. — 346
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 347
(k) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 348
provided in s. 943.10(1). 349
(3) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY. — 350
(a) A parent of a student may request and receive from the 351
state a scholarship for the purposes specified in paragraph 352
(4)(a) if: 353
1. The student is on the direct certification list 354
pursuant to s. 1002.395(2)(c) or the student's household income 355
level does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level; 356
2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous 357
state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out -of-home 358
care as defined in s. 39.01; 359
3. The student's household income level does not exceed 360
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375 percent of the federal poverty level or an adjusted maximum 361
percent of the federal poverty level that is increased by 25 362
percentage points in the fiscal year following any fiscal year 363
in which more than 5 percent of the available scholarships 364
authorized under paragraph (12)(a) have not been funded; 365
4. The student is a sibling of a student who is 366
participating in the scholarship program under this subsection 367
and such siblings reside in th e same household; or 368
5. The student is a dependent child of a member of the 369
United States Armed Forces. 370
6. The student is a dependent child of a law enforcement 371
officer. 372
373
Priority must be given to a student whose household income level 374
does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who 375
is in foster care or out -of-home care. 376
(12) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT. — 377
(a)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible 378
pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) are established for up to 18,000 379
students annually beginning in the 2019 -2020 school year. 380
Beginning in the 2020 -2021 school year, the maximum number of 381
students participating in the scholarship program under this 382
section shall annually increase by 1.0 percent of the state's 383
total public school stude nt enrollment. An eligible student who 384
meets any of the following requirements shall be excluded from 385
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the maximum number of students if the student: 386
a. Received a scholarship pursuant to s. 1002.395 during 387
the previous school year but did not receive a r enewal 388
scholarship based solely on the eligible nonprofit scholarship -389
funding organization's lack of available funds after the 390
organization fully exhausted its efforts to use funds available 391
for awards under ss. 1002.395 and 1002.40(11)(i). Eligible 392
nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations with students who 393
meet the criterion in this subparagraph must annually notify the 394
department in a format and by a date established by the 395
department. The maximum number of scholarships awarded pursuant 396
to this subparagraph shall not exceed 15,000 per school year; 397
b. Is a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or a 398
member of the United States Armed Forces, a foster child, or an 399
adopted child; or 400
c. Is determined eligible pursuant to subparagraph 401
(3)(a)1. or subparagraph (3)(a)2. and either spent the prior 402
school year in attendance at a Florida public school or, 403
beginning in the 2022 -2023 school year, is eligible to enroll in 404
kindergarten. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "prior 405
school year in attenda nce" means that the student was enrolled 406
and reported by a school district for funding during either the 407
preceding October or February Florida Education Finance Program 408
surveys in kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time 409
spent in a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if 410
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funded under the Florida Education Finance Program. 411
2. The scholarship amount provided to a student for any 412
single school year shall be for tuition and fees for an eligible 413
private school, not to exceed annual limit s, which shall be 414
determined in accordance with this subparagraph. The calculated 415
amount for a participating student shall be based upon the grade 416
level and school district in which the student was assigned as 417
100 percent of the funds per unweighted full -time equivalent in 418
the Florida Education Finance Program for a student in the basic 419
program established pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)1., plus a per -420
full-time equivalent share of funds for all categorical 421
programs, except for the Exceptional Student Education 422
Guaranteed Allocation. 423
3. The amount of the scholarship shall be the calculated 424
amount or the amount of the private school's tuition and fees, 425
whichever is less. The amount of any assessment fee required by 426
the participating private school and any costs to provide a 427
digital device, including Internet access, if necessary, to the 428
student may be paid from the total amount of the scholarship. 429
4. A scholarship of $750 may be awarded to a student who 430
is determined eligible pursuant to subparagraph (3)(a)1. or 431
subparagraph (3)(a)2. and enrolled in a Florida public school 432
that is different from the school to which the student was 433
assigned or in a lab school as defined in s. 1002.32 if the 434
school district does not provide the student with transportation 435
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to the school. 436
5. Upon notification from the organization on July 1, 437
September 1, December 1, and February 1 that an application has 438
been approved for the program, the department shall verify that 439
the student is not prohibited from receiving a scholarship 440
pursuant to subsection (6). The organization must provide the 441
department with the documentation necessary to verify the 442
student's participation. Upon verification, the department shall 443
transfer, from state funds only, the amount calculated pursuant 444
to subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly 445
disbursement to parents of participating students each school 446
year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting 447
a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses 448
to participate in the sc holarship program, the amount of the 449
Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 450
subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in 451
which the student last attended a public school before 452
commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justi ce. When a student 453
enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive 454
all documentation required for the student's participation, 455
including the private school's and the student's fee schedules, 456
at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholar ship payment 457
is made for the student. 458
6. The initial payment shall be made after the 459
organization's verification of admission acceptance, and 460
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subsequent payments shall be made upon verification of continued 461
enrollment and attendance at the private school . Payment must be 462
by individual warrant made payable to the student's parent or by 463
funds transfer or any other means of payment that the department 464
deems to be commercially viable or cost -effective. If the 465
payment is made by warrant, the warrant must be de livered by the 466
organization to the private school of the parent's choice, and 467
the parent shall restrictively endorse the warrant to the 468
private school. An organization shall ensure that the parent to 469
whom the warrant is made has restrictively endorsed the warrant 470
to the private school for deposit into the account of the 471
private school or that the parent has approved a funds transfer 472
before any scholarship funds are deposited. 473
(b)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible 474
pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) are established for up to 20,000 475
students annually beginning in the 2021 -2022 school year. 476
Beginning in the 2022 -2023 school year, the maximum number of 477
students participating in the scholarship program under this 478
section shall annually increase by 1.0 pe rcent of the state's 479
total exceptional student education full -time equivalent student 480
enrollment, not including gifted students. An eligible student 481
who meets any of the following requirements shall be excluded 482
from the maximum number of students if the st udent: 483
a. Received specialized instructional services under the 484
Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s. 485
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1002.66 during the previous school year and the student has a 486
current IEP developed by the local school board in accordance 487
with rules of the State Board of Education; 488
b. Is a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or a 489
member of the United States Armed Forces, a foster child, or an 490
adopted child; 491
c. Spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida 492
public school or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. 493
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "prior school year 494
in attendance" means that the student was enrolled and reported 495
by: 496
(I) A school district for funding during either the 497
preceding October or Februa ry Florida Education Finance Program 498
surveys in kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time 499
spent in a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if 500
funded under the Florida Education Finance Program; 501
(II) The Florida School for the Deaf an d the Blind during 502
the preceding October or February student membership surveys in 503
kindergarten through grade 12; 504
(III) A school district for funding during the preceding 505
October or February Florida Education Finance Program surveys, 506
was at least 4 years of age when enrolled and reported, and was 507
eligible for services under s. 1003.21(1)(e); or 508
(IV) Received a John M. McKay Scholarship for Students 509
with Disabilities in the 2021 -2022 school year. 510
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2. For a student who has a Level I to Level III matrix o f 511
services or a diagnosis by a physician or psychologist, the 512
calculated scholarship amount for a student participating in the 513
program must be based upon the grade level and school district 514
in which the student would have been enrolled as the total funds 515
per unweighted full-time equivalent in the Florida Education 516
Finance Program for a student in the basic exceptional student 517
education program pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and (e)1.c., 518
plus a per full-time equivalent share of funds for all 519
categorical programs, as funded in the General Appropriations 520
Act, except that for the exceptional student education 521
guaranteed allocation as provided in s. 1011.62(1)(e)1.c. and 522
2., the funds must be allocated based on the school district's 523
average exceptional student ed ucation guaranteed allocation 524
funds per exceptional student education full -time equivalent 525
student. 526
3. For a student with a Level IV or Level V matrix of 527
services, the calculated scholarship amount must be based upon 528
the school district to which the stud ent would have been 529
assigned as the total funds per full -time equivalent for the 530
Level IV or Level V exceptional student education program 531
pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)2.a. or b., plus a per -full time 532
equivalent share of funds for all categorical programs, as 533
funded in the General Appropriations Act. 534
4. For a student who received a Gardiner Scholarship 535
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pursuant to s. 1002.385 in the 2020 -2021 school year, the amount 536
shall be the greater of the amount calculated pursuant to 537
subparagraph 2. or the amount the student received for the 2020 -538
2021 school year. 539
5. For a student who received a John M. McKay Scholarship 540
pursuant to s. 1002.39 in the 2020 -2021 school year, the amount 541
shall be the greater of the amount calculated pursuant to 542
subparagraph 2. or the am ount the student received for the 2020 -543
2021 school year. 544
6. Upon notification from an organization on July 1, 545
September 1, December 1, and February 1 that an application has 546
been approved for the program, the department shall verify that 547
the student is not prohibited from receiving a scholarship 548
pursuant to subsection (6). The organization must provide the 549
department with the documentation necessary to verify the 550
student's participation. 551
7. Upon verification, the department shall release, from 552
state funds only, the student's scholarship funds to the 553
organization, to be deposited into the student's account in four 554
equal amounts no later than September 1, November 1, February 1, 555
and April 1 of each school year in which the scholarship is in 556
force. 557
8. Accrued interest in the student's account is in 558
addition to, and not part of, the awarded funds. Program funds 559
include both the awarded funds and accrued interest. 560
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9. The organization may develop a system for payment of 561
benefits by funds transfer, including , but not limited to, debit 562
cards, electronic payment cards, or any other means of payment 563
which the department deems to be commercially viable or cost -564
effective. A student's scholarship award may not be reduced for 565
debit card or electronic payment fees. C ommodities or services 566
related to the development of such a system must be procured by 567
competitive solicitation unless they are purchased from a state 568
term contract pursuant to s. 287.056. 569
10. Moneys received pursuant to this section do not 570
constitute taxable income to the qualified student or the parent 571
of the qualified student. 572
Section 8. Section 1003.4933, Florida Statutes, is created 573
to read: 574
1003.4933 911 public safety telecommunication training 575
programs.— 576
(1)(a) Each district school board is encouraged to 577
establish a public safety telecommunication training program as 578
defined in s. 401.465 in at least one public high school in the 579
district. 580
(b) The district school board may partner with an existing 581
public safety telecommunication training program operated by a 582
law enforcement agency or Florida College System Institution. 583
(2)(a) A school district shall allow a student attending a 584
public high school in the district to enroll in the public 585
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safety telecommunication training program at anoth er public high 586
school in the district unless: 587
1. The student's school offers a public safety 588
telecommunication training program; 589
2. The student does not meet the minimum enrollment 590
qualifications for the public safety telecommunication training 591
program; or 592
3. Scheduling of the student's courses of study does not 593
allow the student to attend the public safety telecommunication 594
training program at another public high school in the district. 595
(b) This subsection does not require a school district to 596
provide transportation for a student to attend the public safety 597
telecommunication training program at another public high school 598
in the district. 599
Section 9. Section 1003.49966, Florida Statutes, is 600
created to read: 601
1003.49966 Law Enforcement Explorer Pr ogram.— 602
(1) Each district school board is encouraged to partner 603
with a law enforcement agency to offer a law enforcement 604
explorer program at public middle and high schools in the state 605
to educate students about law enforcement careers and the 606
criminal justice system. 607
(2) A law enforcement explorer program may be integrated 608
into existing curriculum, offered as an elective course, or 609
offered as an after-school program. 610
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(3) If a district school board offers a law enforcement 611
explorer program as an electi ve course, a student enrolled in 612
such course shall receive middle school or high school course 613
credit for successful completion of the course. 614
Section 10. Section 1004.098, Florida Statutes, is created 615
to read: 616
1004.098 College credit for law enforce ment training.— 617
(1) As used in this section: 618
(a) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 619
provided in s. 943.10(1). 620
(b) "Law enforcement training and experience" means 621
training courses, specialized assignments or work experience, 622
and other similar activities performed by a person during his or 623
her service as a law enforcement officer that require education 624
beyond the basic skills of an officer. 625
(2) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations and the 626
State Board of Education shall adopt rules that create a process 627
that enables eligible law enforcement officers or former law 628
enforcement officers to earn uniform postsecondary credit across 629
all Florida public postsecondary educational institutions for 630
college-level training and education acq uired while serving as a 631
law enforcement officer. The regulations and rules shall include 632
procedures for credential evaluation and the uniform award of 633
postsecondary credit or career education clock hours, including, 634
but not limited to, equivalency and ali gnment of law enforcement 635
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training with appropriate postsecondary courses and course 636
descriptions. 637
(3) The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall convene 638
a workgroup by September 1, 2022, which is responsible for 639
developing a process for determining postsecondary course 640
equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or career 641
education clock hours that must be awarded for law enforcement 642
training and experience. 643
(a) The workgroup shall be composed of the following 14 644
members: 645
1. The chair of the Articulation Coordinating Committee, 646
or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair. 647
2. Four members representing academic affairs 648
administrators and faculty from state universities, appointed by 649
the chair of the Board of Governors. 650
3. Four members representing academic affairs 651
administrators and faculty from Florida College System 652
institutions, appointed by the chair of the State Board of 653
Education. 654
4. Two members representing faculty from career centers, 655
appointed by the State Board of Educatio n. 656
5. A representative from the Florida Sheriffs Association. 657
6. A representative from the Florida Police Chiefs 658
Association. 659
7. A representative from the Criminal Justice Standards 660
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and Training Commission. 661
(b) The Office of K -20 Articulation shall provide 662
administrative support for the workgroup. 663
(c) The workgroup shall establish a process for 664
prioritizing and determining postsecondary course equivalencies 665
and the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock 666
hours that must be awarded f or law enforcement training and 667
experience. The workgroup shall provide recommendations to the 668
Board of Governors and the State Board of Education by March 1, 669
2023, for approval at the next meeting of each board to allow 670
for adequate public notice. The wor kgroup shall terminate upon 671
submission of its recommendations. 672
(d) Upon approval of the workgroup's recommendations by 673
the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education, the 674
Articulation Coordinating Committee shall facilitate the review 675
of law enforcement training and experience for postsecondary 676
course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or 677
career education clock hours that must be awarded in accordance 678
with the approved process. 679
(e) Within 1 year after approval of the workgroup's 680
recommendations by the Board of Governors and the State Board of 681
Education pursuant to paragraph (c), the Articulation 682
Coordinating Committee shall approve a prioritized list of 683
postsecondary course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary 684
credit or career education clock hours that must be awarded for 685
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law enforcement training and experience. The list must be 686
updated annually. The Board of Governors and the State Board of 687
Education shall timely adopt the list approved by the 688
Articulation Coordinating Co mmittee at the next meeting of each 689
board to allow for adequate public notice. For the purpose of 690
statewide application, postsecondary course equivalencies and 691
the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock hours 692
that must be awarded for law en forcement training and experience 693
shall be delineated by the State Board of Education and the 694
Board of Governors in the statewide articulation agreement 695
required by s. 1007.23(1). 696
(f) State universities, Florida College System 697
institutions, and career ce nters must award postsecondary credit 698
or career education clock hours for law enforcement training and 699
experience based on the list adopted by the Board of Governors 700
and the State Board of Education pursuant to paragraph (e) if 701
the credit or career educati on clock hours are applicable toward 702
the student's degree or certificate. Institutions may award 703
additional postsecondary credit or career education clock hours 704
if appropriate. Credit or career education clock hours awarded 705
in accordance with minimum posts econdary credit and clock hour 706
requirements, respectively, are guaranteed to transfer to other 707
state universities, Florida College System institutions, and 708
career centers. 709
Section 11. Section 1009.896, Florida Statutes, is created 710
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to read: 711
1009.896 Florida Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship 712
Program.— 713
(1) As used in this section, the term: 714
(a) "Commission" means the Criminal Justice Standards and 715
Training Commission within the Department of Law Enforcement. 716
(b) "Department" means the Department of Education. 717
(c) "Employing agency" has the same meaning as provided in 718
s. 943.10(4). 719
(d) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 720
provided in s. 943.10(1). 721
(e) "Scholarship program" means the Florida Law 722
Enforcement Academy Scholarship Pro gram. 723
(2) Beginning with the 2022 -2023 academic year, the 724
Florida Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship Program is created 725
to assist in the recruitment of law enforcement officers within 726
the state by providing financial assistance to trainees who 727
enroll in a commission-approved law enforcement officer basic 728
recruit training program. 729
(3) The department shall administer the scholarship 730
program, in consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement, 731
according to the rules and procedures established by the S tate 732
Board of Education. 733
(4) The scholarship shall be awarded on a first -come, 734
first-served basis based on the date the department receives 735
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each completed application, and is contingent upon an 736
appropriation by the Legislature. 737
(5) To be eligible for the scholarship award a trainee 738
must: 739
(a) Be enrolled in a commission -approved basic recruit 740
training program at a Florida College System institution or 741
school district technical center for the purposes of meeting the 742
minimum qualifications under s. 943. 13(9) for employment or 743
appointment as a law enforcement officer. 744
(b) Not be sponsored by an employing agency that is 745
already covering the cost of a basic recruit training program. 746
(6) The award to eligible trainees shall be an amount 747
equal to any costs and fees described in this subsection which 748
are necessary to complete the basic recruit training program, 749
less any state financial aid received by the trainee. The award 750
to trainees shall cover: 751
(a) The cost of tuition. 752
(b) Any applicable fees requi red by ss. 1009.22(3), (5), 753
(6), and (7), and 1009.23 (3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); 754
however, any award for a nonresident trainee shall not include 755
the out-of-state fee. 756
(c) Up to $1,000 for eligible expenses including: 757
1. The officer certificatio n examination fee established 758
pursuant to s. 943.1397. 759
2. Textbooks. 760
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3. Uniforms. 761
4. Ammunition. 762
5. Required insurance. 763
6. Any other costs or fees for necessary consumable 764
materials required to complete the basic recruit training 765
program. 766
(7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 767
necessary to administer this section. 768
Section 12. Section 1009.8961, Florida Statutes, is 769
created to read: 770
1009.8961 Reimbursement for out -of-state and special 771
operations forces law enforcement equi valency training.— 772
(1) As used in this section, the term: 773
(a) "Commission" means the Criminal Justice Standards and 774
Training Commission within the Department of Law Enforcement. 775
(b) "Department" means the Department of Education. 776
(c) "Employing agency" has the same meaning as provided in 777
s. 943.10(4). 778
(d) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 779
provided in s. 943.10(1). 780
(e) "Special operations forces" has the same meaning as 781
provided in s. 943.10(22). 782
(2) Beginning with the 2022 -2023 academic year, the 783
department, in consultation with the Department of Law 784
Enforcement, shall reimburse eligible applicants who relocate 785
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from outside the state or who transition from service in the 786
special operations forces to become a full -time law enforcement 787
officer within this state for eligible expenses incurred while 788
obtaining a Florida law enforcement officer certification. 789
(3) To be eligible for reimbursement under this section, 790
an applicant's employing agency must certify that he or she: 791
(a) Meets the requirements of s. 943.131(2) to qualify for 792
an exemption from the basic recruit training program. 793
(b) Was not sponsored by the employing agency to cover the 794
cost of any commission required training. 795
(4) Reimbursement shall be awarded on a first-come, first-796
served basis based on the date the department received each 797
completed application and is contingent upon an appropriation by 798
the Legislature. 799
(5) Eligible applicants may be reimbursed for eligible 800
costs and fees up to $1,000, which incl ude any cost or fee 801
incurred for: 802
(a) Any equivalency assessment administered to determine 803
required equivalency training. 804
(b) Any equivalency training required by the commission. 805
(c) The law enforcement officer certification examination. 806
(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 807
necessary to administer this section. 808
Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 809