HB 747 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0747-00
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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 officers; amending 2
s. 943.03, F.S.; providing legislative findings; 3
requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to create 4
a program to appoint and supervise unpaid auxiliary 5
law enforcement officers with statewide jurisdiction 6
to support law enforcement agencies; specifying the 7
status of such officers; providing that certain 8
training courses may be taught from any location in a 9
virtual classroom without an instructor present; 10
providing an effective date. 11
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Subsections (17) and (18) are added to section 15
943.03, Florida Statutes, to read: 16
943.03 Department of Law Enforcement. — 17
(17)(a) The Legislature finds that there is a need to 18
develop and implement a comprehensive statewide strategy to 19
coordinate law enforcement efforts in combating the recent surge 20
in hate crimes based on religious and ethnic her itage. The 21
Legislature further finds that the state will benefit from the 22
further engagement of community members as unpaid auxiliary law 23
enforcement officers who can support multiple jurisdictions to 24
enhance, among other things, the exchange and collectio n of 25
HB 747 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0747-00
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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
intelligence information, thereby benefitting statewide law 26
enforcement efforts. 27
(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the 28
department shall create a program to appoint and supervise 29
unpaid auxiliary law enforcement officers with statewi de 30
jurisdiction to support law enforcement agencies throughout the 31
state. An auxiliary law enforcement officer appointed under this 32
paragraph shall not be considered as holding an office under the 33
government of the state or the counties and municipalities 34
therein as a result of the appointment. 35
(18) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, non -36
high-liability law enforcement officer training courses of eight 37
or fewer students taught using a virtual classroom may be 38
conducted from any location without a commission-certified 39
instructor present in the classroom. 40
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 41