This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1113c.ISC
DATE: 1/31/2024
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 1113 Use of Lights and Sirens on Emergency Vehicles
SPONSOR(S): Infrastructure Strategies Committee, Transportation & Modals Subcommittee, Killebrew
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/SB 1164
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Transportation & Modals Subcommittee 17 Y, 0 N, As CS Walker Hinshelwood
2) Infrastructure Strategies Committee 24 Y, 0 N, As CS Walker Harrington
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Under Florida law, authorized emergency vehicles are vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol), police
vehicles, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments, volunteer ambulance
services, public service corporations operated by private corporations, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, the Department of
Transportation, and the Department of Corrections as are designated or authorized by their respective
departments or the chief of police of an incorporated city or any sheriff of any of the various counties.
Authorized emergency vehicles, except when otherwise directed by a police officer, may, park or stand,
irrespective of the traffic laws provided in ch. 316, F.S.; proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only
after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation; exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the
driver does not endanger life or property; and disregard regulations governing direction or movement or turning
in specified directions, so long as the driver does not endanger life or property. Additionally, authorized
emergency vehicles may show or display emergency lights and operate sirens while en route to an emergency.
The bill:
Amends the definition of authorized emergency vehicles to include organ transport vehicles and
makes other conforming changes to the term;
Defines organ transport vehicle as any dedicated and marked vehicle operated by an organ
procurement organization, transplant center, or its contracted service provider to transport organs
or surgical teams for organ recovery and transplant;
Requires that an operator of an organ transplant vehicle must have completed a 16-hour
emergency vehicle operator course;
Provides that an authorized emergency vehicle when transporting organs or surgical teams for
organ donation or transplant while en route to a hospital, an airport, or other designated location
may exercise the current law privileges available to authorized emergency vehicles to bypass
certain uniform traffic safety laws; and
Provides that organ transport vehicles may show or display red lights or display and use red
warning signals while transporting organs or surgical teams for organ donation or transplant while in
route to a hospital, an airport, or other designated location.
The bill will have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and local government and the private sector.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2024. STORAGE NAME: h1113c.ISC PAGE: 2
DATE: 1/31/2024
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Authorized Emergency Vehicles
Under Florida law, authorized emergency vehicles are vehicles of the fire department (fire patrol),
police vehicles, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments, volunteer
ambulance services, public service corporations operated by private corporations, the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, the
Department of Transportation, and the Department of Corrections as are designated or authorized by
their respective departments or the chief of police of an incorporated city or any sheriff of any of the
various counties.
1
The following drivers of authorized emergency vehicles, except when otherwise directed by a police
officer, may park or stand, irrespective of the uniform traffic laws provided in ch. 316, F.S.; proceed past
a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life or property; and
disregard regulations governing direction or movement or turning in specified directions, so long as the
driver does not endanger life or property:
A driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, when in
the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to a fire alarm, but
not upon returning from a fire;
A medical staff physician or technician of a medical facility licensed by the state or of a
volunteer ambulance service when responding to an emergency in the line of duty in his or her
privately owned vehicle, using red lights; or
The driver of an authorized law enforcement vehicle, when conducting a nonemergency escort,
to warn the public of an approaching motorcade.
2
Show or Display of Red, White, or Blue Lights on Vehicles and Use of Sirens in Florida
Florida law prohibits a person from driving a vehicle with any lamp or device thereon showing or
displaying a red, red and white, or blue light visible from directly in front thereof, except for certain
vehicles specifically provided for in Florida law.
3
Blue lights may only be shown or displayed on:
4
Police vehicles, or
Vehicles of the Department of Corrections or county correctional agency when responding to
emergencies.
Red lights may be shown or displayed on:
5
Vehicles of medical staff physicians or technicians of medical facilities licensed by the state or of
volunteer ambulance services as authorized under s. 316.2398, F.S.
Ambulances as authorized under ch. 316, F.S.
Buses and taxicabs as authorized under s. 316.2399, F.S.
Emergency response vehicles of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the
Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Health when responding to an
emergency in the line of duty.
1
S. 316.003(1), F.S.
2
S. 316.072(5), F.S.
3
S. 316.2397(1), F.S.
4
S. 316.2397(2), F.S.
5
S. 316.2397(3) and (9), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h1113c.ISC PAGE: 3
DATE: 1/31/2024
Red or red and white lights may be shown or displayed on vehicles of the fire department and fire
patrol, including vehicles of volunteer firefighters as permitted under s. 316.2398, F.S.
6
No vehicle may be equipped with, nor may any person use upon a vehicle, any siren, whistle, or bell,
except for certain vehicles specifically provided for in Florida law.
7
Emergency lights and sirens in an
emergency may be operated on the following vehicles as designated or authorized by their respective
department, chief of police, or sheriff:
8
Fire department vehicles;
Fire patrol vehicles;
Police vehicles;
Ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal and county departments;
Vehicles of volunteer ambulance services;
Vehicles of public service corporations operated by private corporations; and
Vehicles of the following state agencies: the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the
Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Corrections.
Organ Donation
One organ donor can save up to eight lives, and on average, 17 people die each day while waiting for
an organ transplant.
9
Once recovered from the donors, life-saving organs will only remain healthy for a
short period of time. Therefore, transporting organs or surgical teams for organ recovery is a process
that requires timely and seamless coordination between the involved parties. Involved parties include,
but are not limited to, donor hospitals, organ procurement organizations, transplant centers, and other
contracted service providers.
10
Organ transportation is most commonly achieved through ground or air
transportation.
11
Florida law does not currently allow motor vehicles that solely transport organs or surgical teams for
organ recovery to operate emergency lights and sirens.
Effect of the Bill
The bill amends the definition of authorized emergency vehicles to include organ transport vehicles.
The bill also clarifies that the term includes emergency vehicles of county departments and vehicles
operated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS).
The bill defines organ transport vehicle as any dedicated and marked vehicle operated by an organ
procurement organization, transplant center, or its contracted service provider to transport organs or
surgical teams for organ recovery and transplant. The bill requires that an operator of an organ
transport vehicle must have completed a 16-hour emergency vehicle operator course.
The bill provides that an authorized emergency vehicle when transporting organs or surgical teams for
organ donation or transplant while en route to a hospital, an airport, or other designated location may
exercise the privilege to, except when otherwise directed by a police officer, park or stand, irrespective
of the uniform traffic laws provided in ch. 316, F.S.; proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but
6
S. 316.2397(3), F.S.
7
S. 316.271(4), F.S.
8
Ss. 316.2397(3) and 316.271(6), F.S.
9
Gift of Life Donor Program, Get the Facts, https://www.donors1.org/learn-about-organ-donation/who-can-donate/get-the-
facts/#:~:text=One%20organ%20donor%20can%20save,are%20waiting%20for%20a%20kidney. (last visited Jan. 16,
2024).
10
LifeSource Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation, How are Organs Transported for Transplant, (Sep. 22, 2020),
https://www.life-source.org/latest/how-are-organs-transported-for-
transplant/#:~:text=Transportation%20often%20depends%20on%20the,time%2C%20so%20every%20minute%20counts.
(last visited Jan. 16, 2024).
11
Id. STORAGE NAME: h1113c.ISC PAGE: 4
DATE: 1/31/2024
only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation; exceed the maximum speed limits so
long as the driver does not endanger life or property; and disregard regulations governing direction or
movement or turning in specified directions, so long as the driver does not endanger life or property.
The bill provides that authorized emergency vehicles may operate emergency lights and sirens in an
emergency. Additionally, the bill provides that organ transport vehicles may show or display red lights
and may display or use red warning signals while transporting organs or surgical teams for organ
donation or transplant while en route to a hospital, an airport, or other designated location.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2024.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1 Amends 316.003, F.S., relating to definitions.
Section 2 Amends 316.072, F.S., relating to obedience to and effect of traffic laws.
Section 3 Amends s. 316.2397, F.S., relating to certain lights prohibited; exceptions.
Section 4 Amends s. 316.2398, F.S., relating to display or use of red or red and white warning
signals; motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters or medical staff.
Section 5 Amends s. 316.271, F.S., relating to horns and warning devices.
Section 6 Amends s. 316.306, F.S., relating to school and work zones; prohibition on the use of a
wireless communication device in a handheld manner.
Section 7 Amends s. 655.960, F.S., relating to definitions.
Section 8 Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
Indeterminate. The bill does not require DACS to retrofit their vehicles to display emergency lights
and operate signals. However, where such vehicles are retrofitted with emergency lights and sirens,
DACS may incur costs.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
Indeterminate. The bill does not require county departments to retrofit their emergency vehicles to
display emergency lights and operate signals. However, where such vehicles are retrofitted with
emergency lights and sirens, county departments may incur costs.
STORAGE NAME: h1113c.ISC PAGE: 5
DATE: 1/31/2024
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
Indeterminate. The bill does not require private entities that transport organs or surgical teams for organ
recovery to retrofit their vehicles to display emergency lights and operate sirens. However, where
vehicles are retrofitted with emergency lights and sirens, the bill may positively impact the speed and
efficiency with which organs and surgical teams are transported and may, therefore, ultimately help
save lives.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to require counties or municipalities to spend funds or take
action requiring the expenditures of funds; reduce the authority that counties or municipalities have
to raise revenues in the aggregate; or reduce the percentage of state tax shared with counties or
municipalities.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill neither authorizes nor requires executive branch rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On January 19, 2024, the Transportation & Modals Subcommittee considered one amendment, which was
adopted, and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment:
Clarifies who designates the organ transport vehicles such that the vehicles are authorized to
display emergency lights and sirens;
Specifies permissible colors for the emergency lights; and
Amends s. 316.271, F.S., in order to provide for use of sirens on organ transport vehicles.
On January 30, 2024, the Infrastructure Strategies Committee considered one strike all amendment, which
was adopted, and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment:
Amends the definition of authorized emergency vehicles to include organ transport vehicles and
makes other conforming changes to the term;
Defines organ transport vehicle as any dedicated and marked vehicle operated by an organ
procurement organization, transplant center, or its contracted service provider to transport organs
or surgical teams for organ recovery and transplant;
Requires that an operator of an organ transplant vehicle must have completed a 16-hour
emergency vehicle operator course;
Provides that an authorized emergency vehicle when transporting organs or surgical teams for
organ donation or transplant while en route to a hospital, an airport, or other designated location
may exercise the current law privileges available to authorized emergency vehicles to bypass
certain uniform traffic safety laws;
Provides that authorized emergency vehicles may operate emergency lights and sirens in an
emergency; and STORAGE NAME: h1113c.ISC PAGE: 6
DATE: 1/31/2024
Provides that organ transport vehicles may show or display red lights and display or use red
warning signals while transporting organs or surgical teams for organ donation or transplant while in
route to a hospital, an airport, or other designated location.
The analysis is drafted to the committee substitute as approved by the Infrastructure Strategies Committee.