HB 537 2025
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hb537-00
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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 offenses committed against 2
contractors performing state functions; amending s. 3
784.07, F.S.; defining the term "contractor performing 4
state functions"; providing for reclassification of 5
certain offenses committed against a contractor 6
performing state functions; providing an effective 7
date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
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Section 1. Paragraphs (a) through (g) of subsection (1) of 12
section 784.07, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 13
(b) through (h), respectively, a new paragraph (a) is added to 14
that subsection, and subsection (2) of that section is amended, 15
to read: 16
784.07 Assault or battery of la w enforcement officers and 17
other specified personnel; reclassification of offenses; minimum 18
sentences.— 19
(1) As used in this section, the term: 20
(a) "Contractor performing state functions" means a person 21
employed by a business entity that has a contract with the state 22
or a state agency to perform a function on behalf of the state 23
government or a state agency. The term includes, but is not 24
limited to, functions related to construction, debris removal, 25
HB 537 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb537-00
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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
landscaping, and infrastructure maintenance. 26
(2) Whenever any person is charged with knowingly 27
committing an assault or battery upon a law enforcement officer, 28
a firefighter, an emergency medical care provider, hospital 29
personnel, a railroad special officer, a traffic accident 30
investigation officer as descri bed in s. 316.640, a nonsworn law 31
enforcement agency employee who is certified as an agency 32
inspector, a blood alcohol analyst, or a breath test operator 33
while such employee is in uniform and engaged in processing, 34
testing, evaluating, analyzing, or transp orting a person who is 35
detained or under arrest for DUI, a law enforcement explorer, a 36
traffic infraction enforcement officer as described in s. 37
316.640, a parking enforcement specialist as defined in s. 38
316.640, a person licensed as a security officer as defined in 39
s. 493.6101 and wearing a uniform that bears at least one patch 40
or emblem that is visible at all times that clearly identifies 41
the employing agency and that clearly identifies the person as a 42
licensed security officer, or a security officer empl oyed by the 43
board of trustees of a community college, or a contractor 44
performing state functions, while the officer, firefighter, 45
emergency medical care provider, hospital personnel, railroad 46
special officer, traffic accident investigation officer, traffic 47
infraction enforcement officer, inspector, analyst, operator, 48
law enforcement explorer, parking enforcement specialist, public 49
transit employee or agent, or security officer, or contractor 50
HB 537 2025
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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
performing state functions is engaged in the lawful performance 51
of his or her duties, the offense for which the person is 52
charged shall be reclassified as follows: 53
(a) In the case of assault, from a misdemeanor of the 54
second degree to a misdemeanor of the first degree. 55
(b) In the case of battery, from a misdemeanor o f the 56
first degree to a felony of the third degree. Notwithstanding 57
any other provision of law, a person convicted of battery upon a 58
law enforcement officer committed in furtherance of a riot or an 59
aggravated riot prohibited under s. 870.01 shall be senten ced to 60
a minimum term of imprisonment of 6 months. 61
(c) In the case of aggravated assault, from a felony of 62
the third degree to a felony of the second degree. 63
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person convicted 64
of aggravated assault upon a la w enforcement officer shall be 65
sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of 3 years. 66
(d) In the case of aggravated battery, from a felony of 67
the second degree to a felony of the first degree. 68
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person convi cted 69
of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer shall be 70
sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years. 71
Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2025. 72