HB 829 2024
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hb0829-00
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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 autism spectrum disorder training 2
for law enforcement officers; amending s. 943.1727, 3
F.S.; providing definitions; providing requirements 4
for training officers regarding individuals with 5
autism spectrum disorder; requiring the Criminal 6
Justice Standards and Training Commission to adopt 7
rules requiring such training as part of continued 8
employment training for officers; providing an 9
effective date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. Section 943.1727, Florida Statutes, is amended 14
to read: 15
943.1727 Continued Employment training relating to autism 16
spectrum disorder.— 17
(1) As used in this section, the term: 18
(a) "Agency" means the ability to make independent 19
decisions and act in one's own best interests. 20
(b) "Autism spectrum disorder" has the same meaning as 21
provided in s. 627.6686(2). 22
(2) The commission department shall establish an a 23
continued employment training component relating to individuals 24
with autism spectrum disorder as defined in s. 627.6686. The 25
HB 829 2024
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hb0829-00
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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
training component shall include, but need not be limited to, 26
instruction on the recognition of the symptoms and 27
characteristics of an individ ual on the autism disorder spectrum 28
and appropriate responses to an individual exhibiting such 29
symptoms and characteristics . Completion of the training 30
component may count toward the 40 hours of instruction for 31
continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer 32
required under s. 943.135. 33
(3) The employment training component relating to 34
individuals with autism spectrum disorder for officers may 35
include at least 4 hours of in person instruction in the 36
procedures and techniques described in th is subsection: 37
(a) The nature and manifestation of autism spectrum 38
disorders. 39
(b) Appropriate techniques for interviewing or 40
interrogating an individual with autism spectrum disorder, 41
including techniques to ensure the legality of statements made 42
and techniques used to protect the rights of the individual. 43
(c) Techniques for locating an individual with autism 44
spectrum disorder who runs away and is in danger and returning 45
the individual while causing as little stress as possible to the 46
individual. 47
(d) Techniques for recognizing the agency of an individual 48
with autism spectrum disorder while identifying potential 49
abusive or coercive situations. 50
HB 829 2024
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hb0829-00
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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
(e) Techniques for deescalating a potentially dangerous 51
situation to maximize the safety of both the office r and the 52
individual with autism spectrum disorder. 53
(f) Techniques for differentiating an individual with 54
autism spectrum disorder from an individual who is belligerent, 55
uncooperative, or otherwise displaying traits similar to the 56
characteristics of an individual with autism spectrum disorder 57
and understanding the law as it relates to the use of the Baker 58
Act against an individual with autism spectrum disorder. 59
(g) Procedures to identify and address challenges related 60
to the safety and wellbeing of individuals with autism spectrum 61
disorder in a correctional facility. 62
(h) The impact of interaction with officers on individuals 63
with autism spectrum disorder. 64
(4) All recruits must receive the employment training 65
component relating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. 66
Such training component may be taught as part of other relevant 67
components of the training. 68
(5) The commission shall by rule require that each officer 69
receive, as part of the required instruction for continue d 70
employment or appointment as an officer, instruction in the 71
procedures and techniques described in subsection (3). 72
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 73