STORAGE NAME: h1371d.JDC
DATE: 4/17/2025
1
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 #: CS/CS/CS/HB 1371
TITLE: Law Enforcement Officers and Other Personnel
SPONSOR(S): Nix and Alvarez, D.
COMPANION BILL: CS/SB 1444 (Collins)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Criminal Justice
18 Y, 0 N, As CS
Budget
29 Y, 0 N, As CS
Judiciary
20 Y, 0 N, As CS
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
CS/CS/CS/HB 1371 makes several changes related to law enforcement officers and other personnel, including:
Authorizing a first responder who has a physical disability resulting from an amputation to continue to serve
as a first responder if he or she meets specified requirements without an accommodation.
Creating the Florida Medal of Valor and the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal.
Prohibiting the use of vehicle kill switches, except in specified circumstances.
Requiring a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years if a person is convicted of committing
attempted first degree murder of specified justice system personnel.
Encouraging a pro-prosecution policy if a person is arrested for making a false report of a crime.
Prohibiting a person from depriving specified officers of digital recording devices or restraints and prohibiting
a person from rendering such officers’ weapons, radios, digital recording devices, or restraints useless.
Revising reporting and review requirements in missing persons cases.
Creating the Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program within the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, subject to appropriation, and providing eligibility for receiving a grant under the Program.
Requiring first responders and other specified employees who were exposed to an arrestee’s bodily fluids or
potential bloodborne pathogens to provide a notice of such exposure and requiring an immediate blood test of
the arrestee and the reporting of the blood test results to specified persons.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state and local governments.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
First Responder Certification
CS/CS/CS/HB 1371 authorizes an individual who is certified as a first responder
1 and who has a physical disability
resulting from an amputation to continue to serve as a first responder if he or she meets the applicable first
responder certification requirements without an accommodation. (Section 1)
Florida Medal of Valor and Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal
The bill creates two honorary medals: the Florida Medal of Valor, which may be awarded only to a first responder
2
or related personnel who goes above and beyond the call of duty to save the life of an individual, and the Florida
1 “First responder” means a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10, F.S., a firefighter as defined in s. 633.102, F.S., or an emergency
medical technician or paramedic as defined in s. 401.23, F.S., employed by state or local government. A volunteer law enforcement officer,
firefighter, or emergency medical technician or paramedic engaged by the state or a local government is also considered a first responder of
the state or local government. S. 112.1815(1), F.S.
2 Supra note 1. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
2
Blue/Red Heart Medal, which must be awarded to a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, correctional
probation officer, or firefighter who is injured in the line of duty. The bill requires the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement (FDLE) to issue and administer the application process for these awards. Under the bill, such an
application may be made by a resident of Florida or an employing agency. The bill specifies that an application for
these awards must be considered by a five-member board, at least three of whom must be active, retired, or former
law enforcement officers or firefighters, and requires three members to be appointed by the Governor, one
member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member to be appointed by the
President of the Senate. The bill specifies that the board members must serve two year terms and requires any
board vacancy to be filled within three months. (Section 2)
Vehicle Kill Switches
The bill prohibits a person from using any device that can be remotely activated to disable a vehicle’s engine or to
prevent a vehicle’s engine from starting unless he or she is:
The owner of the vehicle;
A law enforcement officer acting in the course and scope of his or her duties to prevent the commission of a
felony; or
Acting for or on behalf of a company that offers a subscription, recurring payment program, or lease in
connection with the vehicle.
The bill specifies that the prohibition does not apply to the manufacturer of a vehicle. A violation of the prohibition
is punishable as a second degree misdemeanor.
3 (Section 3)
Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Attempted Murder of Specified Justice System Personnel
The bill requires a court to impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years if a person is
convicted of committing attempted first degree murder of the following persons if the offense arises out of, or in
the scope of, his or her official duties, including a:
Law enforcement officer or correctional officer;
4
State Attorney or assistant state attorney;
Public Defender;
Regional Counsel;
Court-appointed counsel;
Defense attorney in a criminal proceeding; or
Judge or justice. (Section 4)
False Reports of Crimes
The bill provides a Legislative finding that a violation of s. 817.49, F.S., for making a false report of a crime is a
threat to public safety and a threat to the safety of law enforcement officers and other first responders. The bill
specifies that the Legislature encourages each State Attorney to adopt a pro-prosecution policy if a person is
arrested for making a false report of a crime. (Section 5)
Depriving an Officer of Means of Protection or Communication
The bill amends the existing prohibition against depriving a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or
correctional probation officer of his or her weapon or radio to also prohibit a person from depriving such an officer
of his or her digital recording device, including a body camera, or a restraint device, including handcuffs. The bill
also prohibits a person from rendering an officer’s weapon; radio; digital recording device, including a body
camera; or restraint device, including handcuffs, useless, or otherwise preventing the officer from defending
herself or himself or from summoning assistance. A violation is punishable as a third degree felony.
5 (Section 6)
3 A second degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Ss. 775.082 or 775.083, F.S.
4 Section 782.065, F.S., requires a court, notwithstanding s. 775.0823, F.S., to impose a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for a person
who is convicted of committing first, second or third degree murder; first or second degree attempted murder; or attempted felony murder
against a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional probation officer engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty. As
such, the minimum mandatory term of imprisonment provided in the bill would not apply to a conviction for the attempted murder of a law
enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional probation officer that was committed in the course of his or her official duties since
a defendant who is convicted of committing such an offense is already required to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
5 A third degree felony is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. Ss. 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084, F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
Missing Persons Reports
The bill revises procedures for handling missing persons reports by changing the required review from monthly to
annually of cases in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). It also extends the reporting
deadline for missing persons reports by requiring that such reports be submitted to NamUs within 90 days of
being filed, rather than within two hours. The current review and reporting timeframes relating to the Florida
Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center remain unchanged. (Sections 7 and 8)
Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program
The bill creates the Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program (Grant Program), subject to Legislative
appropriation, within the FDLE to support the ongoing assessment of the state’s vulnerability to, and ability to
recover from, acts of terrorism. Funding under the Grant Program is available to the state, or any law enforcement
agency, county, municipality or other political subdivision, or any agent of such governmental entities, that has
constitutional or statutory authority to employ or appoint law enforcement officers. Funds received from the Grant
Program may be used to map critical infrastructure, public gathering places, places of worship, and any other
location for which a map would be deemed of high value for facilitating an emergency response.
The bill specifies that each map created using funds received from the Grant Program must be created in an
electronic or digital format and must be provided to all local, state, and federal responding agencies upon request,
and must:
Be compatible with and integrate into FDLE’s statewide database and be compatible with software
platforms used by local, state, and federal public safety agencies that provide emergency services without
requiring such agencies to purchase additional software or requiring a fee to access the map.
Be in printable format and, if requested, a digital file format that can be integrated into interactive mobile
platforms.
Be verified for accuracy, which must include a walk-through of the building or grounds depicted in the map.
Be oriented to true north.
Be overlaid on current aerial imagery.
Contain site-specific labeling that matches the structure of the building and the grounds surrounding the
building.
Be overlaid with gridded x and y coordinates.
The bill authorizes FDLE to adopt rules to implement the Grant Program. (Section 9)
Blood Tests of Inmates
The bill requires any first responder
6 or any employee or officer of the sheriff or chief correctional officer of a
county or municipal detention facility (detention facility) who, in the performance of his or her official duties, is
exposed to a bodily fluid or a potential bloodborne pathogen by a person who has been arrested to provide a notice
of exposure as soon as possible after the exposure, but no later than 24 hours after an exposure. The bill specifies
that if the first responder, employee, or officer is incapacitated and cannot provide a notice of exposure, his or her
employing agency must provide such notice.
The bill requires a detention facility, upon receipt of a notice of exposure, to immediately test the inmate who was
the cause of the exposure unless such a test has already been performed. The bill requires each detention facility to
update its written procedures regarding the blood testing of inmates for infectious diseases to:
Specify the conditions that require the immediate testing of an inmate, including upon receipt of a notice of
exposure.
Require the test results from an inmate’s blood test to be provided to:
o The sheriff or chief correctional officer of the detention facility.
o Employees or officers of the sheriff or chief correctional officer who are responsible for the care
and custody of the affected inmate.
o Any employees, officers, or first responders who provided a notice of exposure to the detention
facility. (Section 10)
6 Supra, note 1. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
4
The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2025. (Section 11)
RULEMAKING:
Current law authorizes the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to adopt rules to implement provisions
of law that confer power or duties upon it. The bill specifies that FDLE may adopt rules to administer the Critical
Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program.
Lawmaking is a legislative power; however, the Legislature may delegate a portion of such power to executive
branch agencies to create rules that have the force of law. To exercise this delegated power, an agency must
have a grant of rulemaking authority and a law to implement.
FISCAL OR ECONOMIC IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT:
The bill may have a positive indeterminate impact on prison beds by requiring a court to impose a minimum
mandatory sentence of 25 years if a person is convicted of committing attempted first degree murder of specified
justice system personnel and creating criminal penalties for depriving specified officers of digital recording devices
or restraints or rendering such officers’ weapons, radios, digital recording devices, or restraints useless. The bill
may also have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on a state government entity that is awarded grant funds
under the Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program created by the bill.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The bill may have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on local governments by creating a new misdemeanor
offense prohibiting the use of vehicle kill switches and requiring immediate blood testing of inmates under
specified circumstances. The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on a local government that is
awarded grant funds under the Critical Infrastructure Mapping Grant Program created by the bill.
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Vehicle Kill Switches
A vehicle kill switch is a device that can be attached to a vehicle that either prevents a vehicle from starting or
disables a vehicle’s engine after it has started.
7 Generally, kill switches interrupt a vehicle’s electrical or fuel system
to prevent the vehicle from operating.
8 Vehicle owners typically install such kill switches to prevent vehicle theft or
to ensure people with access to the keys to the vehicle do not operate the vehicle without the owner’s permission
(i.e. teenagers, employees, or elderly relatives).
9
Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Attempted Murder of Specified Justice System Personnel
Attempted First Degree Murder
First degree murder is the unlawful killing of a human being when perpetrated from a premeditated design to
effect the death of the person killed or any human being.
10 First degree murder is a capital felony.
11
To convict a person for committing attempted first degree murder, the State Attorney must prove that a defendant:
Intended to commit first degree murder.
7 WREG, Can a kill switch protect your car from theft? We take a look, https://wreg.com/news/investigations/can-a-kill-switch-protect-your-
car-from-theft-we-take-a-look/ (last visited Apr. 17, 2025). Western Financial Group, Can a Kill Switch Prevent Car Theft?,
https://westernfinancialgroup.ca/Can-A-Kill-Switch-Prevent-Car-Theft (last visited Apr. 17, 2025).
8 Id.
9 Id.
10 S. 782.04(1)(a), F.S. First degree murder also includes the unlawful killing of a human being:
When committed by a person engaged in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate specified crimes; or
Which resulted from the unlawful distribution of specified controlled substances. S. 782.04(1), F.S.
11 A capital felony is a crime that is punishable by death or, if the death penalty is not imposed, mandatory life imprisonment. S.
775.082(1)(a), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
5
Committed an overt act toward the commission of first degree murder that went beyond mere preparation.
Failed to complete the first degree murder.
12
A conviction for attempted first degree murder is punishable as a first degree felony.
13
False Report of a Crime
Section 817.49, F.S., prohibits a person from willfully imparting, conveying, or causing to be imparted or conveyed
to any law enforcement officer or employee of a public safety agency, false information or reports concerning the
commission of any crime when the person knows the report is false and that no such crime has been committed. A
violation is punishable as a first degree misdemeanor.
14 If person willfully makes a false report of a crime and the
response by a public safety agency results in:
Great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability to any person as a proximate result
of lawful conduct arising out of a response, the person making such a false report commits a third degree
felony.
Death to any person as a proximate result of lawful conduct arising out of a response, the person making
such a false report commits a second degree felony.
15
A court must order a person who is convicted of making a false report of a crime to pay restitution, which must
include full payment for any cost incurred by a responding public safety agency.
16
Depriving an Officer of Means of Protection or Communication
Section 843.025, F.S., prohibits a person from depriving a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or a
correctional probation officer of his or her weapon or radio or otherwise depriving such an officer of the means to
defend herself or himself or to summon assistance. A violation is punishable as a third degree felony.
Missing Persons Reports
Section 937.021, F.S., requires law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies for investigating reports of
missing children and missing adults. Such policies must ensure timely and thorough investigations and outline
procedures for handling such cases, including accepting reports, managing investigations, and maintaining records
stored in the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC),
17 the National Crime Information Center (NCIC),
18 and the
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
19 Law enforcement agencies must review these cases
at least monthly and determine whether to maintain them in the database.
20
Law enforcement agencies must accept missing child and adult reports in the jurisdiction where the person was
last seen.
21 Once a report is filed, law enforcement must notify other relevant agencies and input the information
into the state and national databases within two hours.
22
Critical Infrastructure
Section 812.141, F.S., prohibits a person from knowingly and intentionally improperly tampering with critical
infrastructure, trespassing on critical infrastructure, and committing offenses relating to computers and computer
networks that are used by critical infrastructure entities. “Critical infrastructure” means any of the following:
12 Ss. 782.04(1) and 777.04, F.S.
13 S. 777.04(4)(b), F.S. A first degree felony is punishable by up to 30 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Ss. 775.082, 775.083, or
775.084, F.S.
14 S. 817.49(1), F.S.
15 A second degree felony is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Ss. 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084, F.S.
16 S. 817.49(3), F.S.
17 The FCIC is a statewide system that provides law enforcement agencies with real-time access to various criminal justice information. See
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Florida Crime Information Center (last visited Apr. 17, 2025).
18 The NCIC is a centralized criminal justice database operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that provides law enforcement
agencies across the U.S. with real-time access to critical criminal justice information. See FBI, PIA: National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
(last visited Apr. 17, 2025).
19 NamUs is a national database designed to help law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and the public track and solve cases of
missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons. See NamUs, What is NamUs? (last visited Apr. 17, 2025).
20 S. 937.021(1)(c), F.S.
21 S. 937.021(3), F.S.
22 See s. 937.021(4), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
6
Any linear asset;
23 or
Any of the following for which the owner or operator thereof has employed measures designed to exclude
unauthorized persons, including, but not limited to, fences, barriers, guard posts, or signs prohibiting
trespass:
o An electric power generation, transmission, or distribution facility, or a substation, a switching
station, or an electrical control center.
o A chemical or rubber manufacturing or storage facility.
o A mining facility.
o A natural gas or compressed gas compressor station, or storage facility.
o A gas processing plant, including a plant used in the processing, treatment, or fractionation of
natural gas.
o A liquid natural gas or propane gas terminal or storage facility with a capacity of 4,000 gallons or
more.
o A wireless or wired communications facility, including the tower, antennae, support structures, and
all associated ground-based equipment.
o A water intake structure, water treatment facility, wastewater treatment plant, pump station, or lift
station.
o A seaport listed in s. 311.09, F.S.
24
o A railroad switching yard, trucking terminal, or other freight transportation facility.
o An airport as defined in s. 330.27, F.S.
o A spaceport territory as defined in s. 331.303, F.S.
o A transmission facility used by a federally licensed radio or television station.
o A military base or facility or a civilian defense industrial base conducting research and development
of military weapons systems, subsystems, components, or parts.
o A dam as defined in s. 373.403, F.S., or other water control structures such as locks, floodgates, or
dikes, that are designed to maintain or control the level of navigable waterways.
Blood Test of Inmates in a Detention Facility
Section 951.27, F.S., requires each county detention facility and each municipal detention facility to develop
written procedures with the facility medical provider to establish the conditions under which an inmate will be
tested for infectious diseases by a blood test. The results for such a blood test are generally confidential and
exempt from disclosure, but may be disclosed to the sheriff or chief correctional officer and employees or officers
of the sheriff or chief correctional officer who are responsible for the care and custody of the inmate.
25 The results
must also be provided to a victim if the inmate was arrested for committing specified offenses.
26 The blood test
results must be made part of an inmate’s permanent medical file and must be transferred to any other correctional
facility to which the inmate is transferred.
27
23 “Linear asset” means any electric distribution or transmission asset, oil or gas distribution or transmission pipeline, communication
wirelines, or railway, and any attachments thereto. Section 812.141(1)(c), F.S.
24 The seaports listed in s. 311.09(1), F.S., include the ports of Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Port Citrus, Fort Pierce, Palm Beach, Port
Everglades, Miami, Port Manatee, St. Petersburg, Putnam County, Tampa, Port St. Joe, Panama City, Pensacola, Key West, and Fernandina.
25 Ss. 951.27(1) and (2), F.S.
26 S. 951.27(2), F.S.
27 S. 951.27(3), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Criminal Justice Subcommittee 18 Y, 0 N, As CS 3/26/2025 Hall Padgett
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Narrowed the prohibition against using artificial intelligence to review
or enhance video or audio from a law enforcement officer’s body
camera to apply only in circumstances relating to officer discipline.
Encouraged state attorneys to adopt a pro-prosecution policy if a
person is arrested for making a false report of a crime.
Removed provisions that:
o Required a court to sentence a defendant who is convicted of
manslaughter of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer,
or correctional probation officer to life imprisonment.
o Exempted correctional probation officers from the licensing and
penal provisions of ch. 790, F.S., relating to firearms.
o Authorized judges, state attorneys, and assistant state attorneys
to carry concealed firearms during off-duty hours under specified
circumstances.
o Increased the penalties for a person convicted of making a false
report of a crime.
o Required state attorneys to file charges if there was probable
cause that a person made a false report of a crime.
o Authorized a law enforcement officer to retain his or her
certification as a law enforcement officer even if he or she is not
employed by a law enforcement agency.
Made technical changes to clarify provisions of the bill and to conform
with existing statutes.
Budget Committee 29 Y, 0 N, As CS 4/8/2025 Pridgeon DiCola
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Removed a provision that authorized the Florida Highway Patrol to
retain funds received from patrol officers for repayment of off duty
uses of official state vehicles.
Judiciary Committee 20 Y, 0 N, As CS 4/17/2025 Kramer Padgett
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Authorized a first responder who has a physical disability resulting
from an amputation to continue serving as as first responder if he or
she meets specified requirements.
Created the Florida Medal of Valor and Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal.
Revised the prohibition against the use of a vehicle kill switch.
Prohibited depriving specified officers of digital recording devices or
restraints, and prohibited a person from rendering specified officers’
weapons, radios, digital recording devices, or restraints useless or
otherwise preventing specified officers from defending themselves or
from summoning assistance.
Revised reporting and review requirements for missing persons cases.
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THIS BILL ANALYSIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE CHANGES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
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