CS/HB 831 2024
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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 enhanced firearms training 2
facilities; creating s. 790.501, F.S.; providing 3
definitions; establishing procedures for licensure by 4
the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; 5
authorizing a sheriff to provide supporting 6
documentation to an application for licensure; 7
specifying the duration of a license; specifying 8
conditions under which a license must be revoked; 9
authorizing a sheriff to enter into an agreement with 10
the owner of an enhanced firearms training facility to 11
conduct training for the school guardian program at 12
the facility; exempting an enhanced firearms training 13
facility from complying with specified local 14
government requirements in certain circumstances; 15
authorizing the department to adopt rules; providing 16
an effective date. 17
18
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 19
20
Section 1. Section 790.501, Florida Statutes, is created 21
to read: 22
790.501 Enhanced firearms training facilities. - 23
(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 24
(a) "Department" means the Department of Agriculture and 25
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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
Consumer Services. 26
(b) "Enhanced firearms training facility" means a facility 27
located on land zoned for agri cultural use or the equivalent 28
which is used to train people in the use of firearms and 29
personal safety. 30
(c) "Owner" means a person who: 31
1. Holds the legal title to the agricultural land and 32
facilities upon which the enhanced firearms training facilit y 33
will be licensed; or 34
2. Holds a percentage interest in the agricultural land 35
and facilities that is equal to or greater than the other 36
persons who also hold a legal interest, if the legal title is 37
held in the name of two or more people. 38
(2) The department is authorized to issue a license to 39
designate a facility as an enhanced firearms training facility. 40
To receive such a license, the owner must complete and submit an 41
application to the department and must: 42
(a) Successfully complete a Level 2 backgro und screening 43
as provided in s. 435.04(2). The applicant must submit a full 44
set of fingerprints to the department or to a vendor, an entity, 45
or an agency authorized by s. 943.053(13). The department, 46
vendor, entity, or agency shall forward the fingerprints to the 47
Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and the 48
Department of Law Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to 49
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing. 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
Fees for state and federal fingerprint processing and retention 51
shall be borne by the applicant. The state cost for fingerprint 52
processing shall be as provided in s. 943.053(3)(e). 53
(b) Not have been convicted of a felony. 54
(c) Successfully complete the National Rifle Association 55
Chief Range Safety Officer training p rogram or an equivalent 56
program conducted by a nationally recognized organization that 57
provides similar firearms training. 58
(d) Hold a valid class "K" firearms instructor license 59
issued by the department. 60
(3) In support of an owner's application submitted under 61
subsection (2), the owner may provide to the department a 62
written attestation from the sheriff who has jurisdiction over 63
the property on which the enhanced firearms training facility is 64
or will be located, if the sheriff, at his or her sole 65
discretion, agrees to provide such attestation, confirming that 66
the sheriff or his or her designee has: 67
(a) Visited the property and facilities on which the 68
enhanced firearms training facility is or will be loca ted. 69
(b) Determined that the property and facilities are large 70
enough and sufficient enough to be designated as an enhanced 71
firearms training facility. 72
(c) Determined that the property and facilities may 73
fulfill a public safety training need, includin g providing a 74
place for the sheriff or a law enforcement agency to provide 75
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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
firearms or other training to the public, including such 76
training as authorized under s. 37, chapter 2023 –18, Laws of 77
Florida. 78
(4)(a) An enhanced firearms training facility licens e 79
issued by the department is valid for 12 months and must be 80
renewed annually by the owner to remain valid. 81
(b) The department must revoke the license of an enhanced 82
firearms training facility if the department determines that the 83
owner is no longer in compliance with the requirements listed in 84
paragraph (2)(b) or paragraph (2)(d). 85
(5) A sheriff, under an agreement with an enhanced 86
firearms training facility, may provide training for the school 87
guardian program under s. 30.15 at an enhanced firearms tr aining 88
facility. 89
(6) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an 90
enhanced firearms training facility licensed by the department 91
is not subject to local government planning and zoning or public 92
works restrictions if the facility is located in an 93
unincorporated area of a county. 94
(7) The department may adopt rules to implement this 95
section. 96
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 97