The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Criminal Justice
BILL: SB 208
INTRODUCER: Senators Burgess and Perry
SUBJECT: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Training for Law Enforcement Officers
DATE: January 22, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Wyant Stokes CJ Pre-meeting
2. ACJ
3. FP
I. Summary:
SB 208 creates s. 943.17299, F.S., which establishes a continued employment training
component related to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. The Florida
Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) shall establish an online training in consultation with
the Department of Elder Affairs. The training must include, but is not limited to:
Instruction on interacting with persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of
dementia.
Instruction on techniques for recognizing behavioral symptoms and characteristics.
Effective communication.
Employing the use of alternatives to physical restraints.
Identifying signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Completion of the training component may count toward the 40 hours of instruction for
continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer.
This bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the FDLE. See Section V. Fiscal Impact
Statement.
The bill is effective July 1, 2024.
REVISED: BILL: SB 208 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Chapter 943, F.S., contains a number of specific requirements relevant to law enforcement
officer training including training in subjects such as victims assistance,
1
sexual assault
investigation,
2
autism spectrum disorder,
3
and others.
Section 943.17296, F.S., requires each certified law enforcement officer to successfully complete
training on identifying and investigating elder abuse and neglect as part of the basic recruit
training,
4
or continuing education.
5
The training is required to be developed in consultation with
the Department of Elder Affairs and the Department of Children and Families and must
incorporate instruction on the identification of and appropriate responses for persons suffering
from dementia and on identifying and investigating elder abuse and neglect.
Elder abuse training must include instruction of and appropriate responses for persons suffering
from dementia and on identifying and investigating elder abuse and neglect.
6
An officer who
fails to comply with the elder abuse and neglect training requirements must become an inactive
officer. The officer’s certification is reactivated when the officer’s employing agency provides
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) staff with verification that the
officer has met the continuing education or training requirement.
Full time, part time, or auxiliary officers must successfully complete 40 hours of continuing
education or training every four years.
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 943.17299, F.S., which establishes a continued employment training
component related to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. The FDLE shall
establish an online training in consultation with the Department of Elder Affairs. The training
must include, but is not limited to:
Instruction on interacting with persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of
dementia.
Instruction on techniques for recognizing behavioral symptoms and characteristics.
1
Section 943.172, F.S., requires every basic skills course required in order for law enforcement officers, probation officers,
and other appropriate correctional staff to obtain initial certification to include a minimum of 4 hours of training in victims’
assistance and rights.
2
Section 943.1724, F.S., requires each basic skills course required for a law enforcement office to obtain initial certification
must incorporate culturally responsive, trauma-informed training on interviewing sexual assault victims and investigation of
incidents of sexual assault.
3
Section 943.1727, F.S., requires 40 hours of instruction for continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement
officer on training related to autism spectrum disorder, including but not limited to, instruction on the recognition of the
symptoms and characteristics of an individual on the autism disorder spectrum and appropriate responses to a person
exhibiting such symptoms and characteristics.
4
Section 943.13(9), F.S., requires any person employed or appointed as a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary law enforcement
officer or correctional officer or auxiliary correctional probation officer to complete a commission-approved basic recruit
training program.
5
Section 943.135(1), F.S., requires all officers, as a condition of continued employment, to receive periodic commission-
approved continuing training or education. Such continuing training or education is required at the rate of 40 hours every
4 years.
6
Rule 11B-27.00212 (15) (b), F.A.C. BILL: SB 208 Page 3
Effective communication.
Employing the use of alternatives to physical restraints.
Identifying signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Completion of the training component may count toward the 40 hours of instruction for
continued employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill requires the CJSTC to develop additional instruction on Alzheimer’s disease and
related forms of dementia. Development of the training curricula will cost approximately
$11,000.
7
7
Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 2024 Agency Analysis of SB 208, October 23, 2023 (on file with the Senate
committee on Criminal Justice). BILL: SB 208 Page 4
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
The FDLE has stated the effective date of July 1, 2024, is not enough time to host workshops,
compile research, develop the course, and receive approval from the CJSTC.
8
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 934.17299 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
8
Id.