STORAGE NAME: h0751.GOS
DATE: 3/28/2025
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FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: HB 751
TITLE: Law Enforcement, Correctional, and Correctional
Probation Officer Benefits
SPONSOR(S): Sapp, Bartleman
COMPANION BILL: SB 1160 (Leek)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Government Operations
Budget
State Affairs
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill expands employer-paid health insurance benefits to cover law enforcement, correctional, and correctional
probation officers who are catastrophically injured during an official training exercise or in the line of duty.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
The bill may result in a negative fiscal impact on the state and local governments. The fiscal impact is indeterminate
at this time, as it depends on the number of full-time law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation
officers that sustain a catastrophic injury during an official training exercise or in the line of duty.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
The bill requires public employers to pay the full premium of health insurance coverage for law enforcement,
correctional, and correctional probation officers who sustain a catastrophic injury during an official training
exercise. It also expands eligibility for coverage by removing the current requirement that qualifying injuries occur
as a result of the officer’s response to fresh pursuit, an emergency, or an unlawful act committed by another and,
instead, provides coverage for all qualifying injuries sustained in the line of duty. The coverage includes the injured
full-time officer, his or her spouse, and dependent children. (Section 2)
The bill designates the act as the “Deputy Andy Lahera Act.” (Section 1)
The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2025. (Section 3)
FISCAL OR ECONOMIC IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT:
The bill may result in a negative fiscal impact on the state. The fiscal impact is indeterminate at this time, as it
depends on the number of full-time criminal justice officers who sustain a catastrophic injury during an official
training exercise or in the line of duty.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The bill may result in a negative fiscal impact on local governments. The fiscal impact is indeterminate at this time,
as it depends on the number of full-time criminal justice officers who sustain a catastrophic injury during an
official training exercise or in the line of duty.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Criminal Justice Officer Training
In Florida, law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers must meet specific training
requirements to become certified and maintain their certification. These standards are established by the Criminal
Justice and Training Commission (CJSTC), which operates under the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
1
Before becoming certified, candidates must complete a CJSTC-approved Basic Recruit Training Program specific to
their criminal justice discipline.
2 This program provides foundational knowledge and skills necessary for the
respective roles.
3 After completing the program, candidates must pass the State Officer Certification Examination
for their discipline.
4 The examination assesses the candidate’s knowledge and proficiency in the required
competencies. As part of the certification process, criminal justice agencies conduct background investigations and
submit an Officer Certification Application on the candidate’s behalf.
5 The CJSTC reviews the application to verify
that all minimum qualifications have been met.
Certified officers are required to complete continuing education and training to maintain their certification.
6 This
includes periodic retraining in areas such a legal updates, defensive tactics, firearms proficiency, and other
relevant topics to ensure officers remain knowledgeable and effective in their duties.
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Individuals with prior qualifying experience—former officers from other states, federal agencies, or the military—
may be eligible for an Equivalency of Training process. This process allows candidates to demonstrate that their
prior training and experience meet Florida standards without completing the full Basic Recruit Training Program.
However, they must still demonstrate proficiency and pass the State Officer Certification Examination.
8
Health Insurance Coverage for Criminal Justice Officers Who Sustain a Catastrophic Injury
Current law requires the employer of a full-time criminal justice officer who suffers a catastrophic injury
9 in the
line of duty to pay the full premium of the employer’s health insurance plan
10 for the injured officer, their spouse,
and dependent children.
11 If the officer later dies from his or her injuries, the employer must continue covering the
health insurance premiums for the surviving spouse until remarried, and for the dependent children until they
turn 18 or, if they remain financially dependent, until the end of the calendar year in which they turn 25. In order
1
See 943.11(1)(a), F.S.
2
S. 943.19(9), F.S.
3
R. 11B-35.002(1), F.A.C.
4
See s. 943.19(10), F.S.; r. 11B-30.0062, F.A.C.
5
R. 11B-27.002, F.A.C.; see also FDLE, Officer Requirements How to Become a Certified Officer in Florida (last visited March 27,
2025); s. 943.133(3), F.S.
6
See s. 943.135(1), F.S.
7
See r. 11B-27.00212, F.A.C.
8
S. 943.131(2), (3), and (4), F.S.
9
"Catastrophic injury" means a permanent impairment constituted by: spinal cord injury involving severe paralysis of an arm,
a leg, or the trunk; amputation of an arm, a hand, a foot, or a leg involving the effective loss of use of that appendage; severe
brain or closed-head injury; second-degree or third-degree burns of 25 percent or more of the total body surface or third-
degree burns of 5 percent or more to the face and hands; total or industrial blindness; or any other injury of a nature and
severity that would qualify an employee to receive disability income benefits under Title II or supplemental security income
benefits under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act as the Social Security Act existed on July 1, 1992. S. 440.02(38), F.S.
(2002).
10
Local governments are authorized to provide and fund group insurance, including health, life, accident, and hospitalization
coverage, for their employees and dependents, either through private insurers, self-insurance, or risk management
consortiums, subject to competitive bidding. S. 112.08(2)(a), F.S. The State offers the state group insurance program, which
covers health, life, accident, and hospitalization, for eligible state employees, retirees, and their dependents. S. 110.123, F.S.
The term “health insurance plan” does not include supplemental benefits that are not part of the basic group health insurance
plan. S. 112.19(2)(h)1., F.S.
11
S. 112.19(2)(h)1., F.S. A person who qualifies for such benefit is ineligible to receive the health insurance subsidy provided
in ch. 121, 175, or 185, F.S. In addition, health insurance benefits received from other sources will reduce the amount of
employer-paid benefits available to the firefighter and their dependents. S. 112.19(2)(h)1.a. and 2., F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
to qualify for this benefit, the officer’s catastrophic injury must have resulted from responding in fresh pursuit, to
an emergency, or to an unlawful act committed by another.
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It is a first-degree misdemeanor to knowingly make or assist in the making of false or misleading statements to
obtain the health insurance benefit.
13 In addition to criminal penalties, any criminal justice officer or beneficiary
convicted of such fraud must forfeit the health insurance benefits and reimburse the employer for any benefits
improperly received.
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Deputy Andy Lahera
Deputy Andy Lahera is a 15-year veteran of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office and served as a school resource
officer.
15 On May 23, 2023, while directing traffic after the Lecanto High School graduation ceremony, he was struck
by a vehicle, resulting in severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.
16 As of February 12, 2025, Deputy
Lahera remains in a medical facility, requiring extensive care on his path to recovery.
17 In recognition of his service
and resilience, the Citrus County Commission honored Deputy Lahera with a proclamation acknowledging his
dedication to the community.
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BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Government Operations
Subcommittee
Toliver Villa
Budget Committee
State Affairs Committee
12
S. 112.19(2)(h)2., F.S.
13
S. 112.19(2)(h)1.b., F.S. A first degree misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment not to exceed one year and a fine not to
exceed $1,000. See ss. 775.082 and 775.083, F.S.
14
S. 112.19(2)(h)1.c., F.S.
15
Florida Politics, Deputy’s wife skewers Citrus Sheriff Mike Prendergast over treatment of injured husband (last visited March
27, 2025).
16
Citrus County Chronicle, ‘Not done waiting for our miracle’ – Michelle Lahera gives update on husband Andy, deputy injured in
2023 (last visited March 27, 2025).
17
See id.
18
Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Critically injured Citrus County deputy honored for service amid family’s health care concerns (last visited
March 27, 2025).