CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 1 of 15
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 Leon County; amending ch. 83 -456, 2
Laws of Florida; providing applicability; providing 3
for permanent status; providing cause for demotion or 4
dismissal; authorizing the Sheriff to promote, demote, 5
transfer, and determine disciplinary measures, 6
including dismissal; providing for transition to new 7
sheriff; providing beginning date of employees; 8
revising procedures of Career Service Appeals Boards; 9
requiring the Sheriff to be represented by the 10
Sheriff's General Counsel or other specified 11
representative; prohibiting certain evidence from 12
inclusion; authorizing the chairperson to rule on the 13
admissibility of evidence; exempting the actions of 14
the board and the Sheriff from the provisions of the 15
Administrative Procedures Act; deleting provisions 16
relating to complaints against employees, complaint 17
review boards, and employment status of commissioned 18
and noncommissioned employees; providing severability; 19
providing an effective date. 20
21
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22
23
Section 1. Chapter 83 -456, Laws of Florida, is amended to 24
read: 25
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 2 of 15
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
Section 1. Employees of Leon County Sheriff's Office 26
Career Service Employees' Sheriff; applicability of Act; 27
permanent status of employees; administration .— 28
(1) APPLICABILITY.—The transition provisions of this act 29
shall apply to all full-time sworn commissioned and civilian 30
employees noncommissioned persons in the employ of the Office of 31
the Leon County Sheriff's Office Sheriff, including deputy 32
sheriffs. The provisions of this act shall not apply to the 33
following: Sheriff, sworn personnel of the rank of captain or 34
higher, civilian personnel of the rank of director or higher ; or 35
to special deputy sheriffs appointed pursuant to s. 30.09(4), 36
Florida Statutes, members of the Sheriff's Posse or Reserve 37
Unit, and individuals appointed as part -time deputy sheriffs, as 38
defined by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training 39
Commission, unless any such person is also employed full-time by 40
the Leon County Sheriff's Office of the Sheriff. As used in this 41
act, the terms "employee," "employ," and "employment," and 42
"member" shall refer to all persons , whether employed or 43
appointed, to whom the act applies. I t is not, however, the 44
intent of this act to grant the right to of collective 45
bargaining to persons in the employ of the Office of the Leon 46
County Sheriff's Office Sheriff who do not otherwise have that 47
right pursuant to law. 48
(2) PERMANENT STATUS; CAUSE FOR DEMOTION SUSPENSION OR 49
DISMISSAL.— 50
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 3 of 15
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) After an employee of the Sheriff to whom the 51
provisions of this act apply has served in such employment for a 52
period of 1 calendar year, such employee shall have attained 53
permanent status with in the Leon County Sheriff's Office of the 54
Sheriff; provided that if such an employee is placed on 55
disciplinary probation for a period of 6 months or more or is 56
terminated and rehired at a later date, said employee shall be 57
required to complete 1 calendar year of service fr om the date of 58
the action before being granted permanent status and the right 59
to of appeal, regardless of the reason for the disciplinary 60
probation or termination provided in Section 2 . Any employee who 61
is required to serve a probationary period attendant to a 62
promotion shall retain permanent status in the Office of the 63
Sheriff, but may be demoted to his or her prior rank during such 64
probationary period without the right of appeal as pr ovided in 65
Section 3 Section 2. 66
(b) Any employee who has achieved permanent status is not 67
exempt from the disciplinary provisions outlined in the Leon 68
County Sheriff's Office general orders. It is not a demotion 69
under this act or the Leon County Sheriff's Office policy to be 70
reassigned from special duties or from one shift or zone 71
assignment to another or to be transferred from one division to 72
another for the betterment of the Leon County Sheriff's Office, 73
even if a reduction in pay results of the Sheriff may only be 74
suspended or dismissed for cause; provided that prior to such 75
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 4 of 15
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
action, the employee must be furnished written notice of the 76
proposed action and offered an opportunity to respond to the 77
reasons for the suspension or dismissal. However, in 78
extraordinary situations, such as when delay could result in 79
damage or injury, an employee may be suspended or dismissed for 80
cause immediately and provided notice thereof and reasons 81
therefor within 24 hours afterwards. Cause for suspension or 82
dismissal shall include, but not be limited to, negligence, 83
inefficiency or inability to perform assigned duties, 84
insubordination, willful violation of the provisions of law or 85
Office rules, conduct unbecoming a public employee, misconduct, 86
or habitual drug abuse. Cause for suspension or dismissal shall 87
also include adjudication of guilt by a court of competent 88
jurisdiction, a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or a jury 89
verdict of guilty when adjudication of guilt is withheld and the 90
accused is placed on probation, with r espect to any felony, 91
misdemeanor or major traffic infraction. The filing of felony, 92
misdemeanor, or major traffic infraction charges against an 93
employee shall constitute cause for suspension . 94
(c) The Sheriff shall hold the authority to promote, 95
demote, transfer, and determine disciplinary measures, including 96
dismissal. 97
(3) TRANSITION OF CAREER SERVICE EMPLOYEES.—When a newly 98
elected or appointed Sheriff assumes office, the new Sheriff 99
shall continue the employment of all currently employed 100
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 5 of 15
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
permanent personnel with the exceptions of those positions 101
defined in subsection (1), unless there is just cause for 102
dismissal, as set forth in Leon County Sheriff's Office general 103
orders provided herein, exists . However, The new incoming 104
Sheriff shall have the option of maintaining the current 105
employees personnel assigned to exempt the positions of 106
Executive Secretary, Administrative Major, and Operations Major . 107
If the new incoming Sheriff fills the exempt sworn staff Major 108
positions with new members personnel, the new Sheriff has the 109
option of dismissing the prior current occupants of those 110
positions from employment, demoting the prior occupant to a 111
prior permanent non-exempt position or shall be reduced to the 112
rank held prior to appointment to exempt status, reducing the 113
person in of Captain, which rank to the rank of deputy sheriff, 114
or offering the prior occupant a transfer to any position for 115
which they may be qualified and paid at a rate commensurate 116
therewith shall be permanent unless later reduced by 117
disciplinary demotion, and their salaries may be reduced 118
accordingly. If the new incoming Sheriff so desires, exempt non -119
sworn civilian employees may fills the Executive Secretary 120
position with a new employee, the current occupant of the 121
position shall be transferred to positions another position for 122
which they may be the employee is qualified and paid at a rate 123
commensurate therewith within the Office of the Sheriff . Actions 124
taken pursuant to this section subsection affecting the exempt 125
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 6 of 15
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
Major positions are and the Executive Secretary position shall 126
not be appealable under Section 2. 127
(4) ADMINISTRATION. —The Sheriff shall have the authority 128
to adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the 129
implementation and administration of this act; however , nothing 130
in this act shall be construed as affecting the budget -making 131
powers of the Board of County Commissioners of Leon County. 132
Section 2. Beginning date. — 133
(1) All sworn and civilian persons in the employ of the 134
Leon County Sheriff's Office on the effective date of this act 135
who have served for a period of 1 calendar year or more as of 136
such date shall be permanent employees subject to the provisions 137
of this act. All other employees shall become permanent 138
employees subject to the provisions of this act upon rea ching 139
their 1 calendar year service anniversary date. Promotions, 140
probationary service periods, demotions, transfers, and 141
suspensions will not and do not affect the determination of the 142
original career service beginning date (anniversary date) of 143
employment for Leon County Sheriff's Office employees. The 144
beginning date (anniversary date) of employment for sworn 145
employees is and will be the date the Sheriff swears the 146
officers in as law enforcement officers. The beginning of 147
service for civilian employees wi ll be the beginning date 148
(anniversary date) as indicated by personnel and payroll 149
records. 150
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 7 of 15
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
(2) Any provisions of this act shall not add to or detract 151
from the constitutional authority of the Sheriff. 152
Section 3. Section 2. Career Service Appeals Board Boards; 153
creation; membership; procedures duties.— 154
(1) FUNCTION OF BOARDS. —Ad hoc Career Service Appeals 155
Boards shall be appointed as provided herein for the purpose of 156
hearing appeals of permanent employees arising from personnel 157
actions brought under O ffice rules or policies which result in 158
dismissal, suspension, demotion, or reduction in pay; provided 159
that reprimands, oral or written, and suspensions of 3 5 working 160
days or less shall not be appealable to a Board. Any such Board 161
may also provide assista nce and advice to the Sheriff in matters 162
concerning disciplinary actions, and may take any other action 163
authorized by the Sheriff. 164
(2) MEMBERSHIP OF BOARDS. —When needed upon the call of the 165
Sheriff, or upon the filing of an appeal, an ad hoc Career 166
Service Appeals Board shall be appointed. The membership of each 167
such Board shall consist of five employees of the Office of the 168
Sheriff. Two members shall be selected by the Sheriff, two 169
members shall be selected by the employee filing the appeal, and 170
the fifth member, who shall serve as chairperson chairman of the 171
Board, shall be selected by the other four members. The ranking 172
officer in charge of personnel shall serve as an ex officio 173
member of the Board, but shall have no vote. Any employee shall 174
have the right to decline to serve as a member of a Board, and 175
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 8 of 15
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
employees selected to serve on a Board shall serve without 176
additional compensation or overtime compensation with respect to 177
such service. Once selected to a board, the members thereof 178
shall serve until fi nal action is taken by the Board with 179
respect to the purpose for which the Board was selected, at 180
which time the Board shall be dissolved. 181
(3) PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO APPEALS. — 182
(a) An appeal of an action specified in (1) shall be made 183
to the Sheriff in writing, and must be received within by the 184
Sheriff no later than 3 business working days after the employee 185
is notified of the action on which the appeal is based. Business 186
days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays recognized by 187
the Leon County Sheriff's Office. 188
(b) A Career Service Appeals Board shall be selected and 189
must meet for purposes of hearing the appeal no later than 15 190
business working days after receipt of an appeal by the Sheriff. 191
The ranking officer in charge of personnel is resp onsible for 192
scheduling the date, time, and location of meetings; notifying 193
members of the Career Service Appeals Board; and posting such 194
notice as may be required by law. In the case of an unpaid 195
suspension, the disciplinary action shall be stayed pending the 196
completion of the review process. 197
(c) During any hearing, the employee filing the appeal 198
shall have the right to be heard publicly, to be represented by 199
a person of his or her choice, and to present any evidential 200
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 9 of 15
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
facts on in his or her behalf. The Sheriff will be represented 201
by the Sheriff's General Counsel or other representative 202
designated by the Sheriff. , and During such hearings the 203
technical rules of evidence shall not apply. However, 204
irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence shall be 205
excluded. All other evidence as would be admissible in the 206
courts of Florida shall be admissible. Hearsay evidence may be 207
introduced and used. The chairperson will rule on the 208
admissibility of evidence if objections are raised. The Board 209
shall, in the conduct of such hearings, have the power to 210
administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of 211
witnesses, and require the production of books, records, 212
accounts, papers, documents, and testimony. In case of 213
disobedience of any person to comply with an order of the Board 214
or a subpoena issued by the Board, or upon the refusal of a 215
witness to testify on any matter regarding which he or she may 216
be lawfully interrogated, a County Judge of the county in which 217
a person resides, upon application of the chairperson any member 218
of the Board, shall compel obedience by proceeding as for 219
contempt. Each witness who appears in obedience to a subpoena 220
before the Board shall receive compensation for attendance fees 221
and mileage as provided for witnesses in civil ca ses in the 222
courts of this state. Such payments shall be made by the party 223
calling the witness; except that with respect to any witnesses 224
called by the Board, payments shall be made by the Sheriff upon 225
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 10 of 15
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
presentation of proper vouchers and approval by three m embers of 226
the Board. 227
(d) A Board shall by majority vote dispose of the appeal 228
for which it was appointed by making findings of fact and 229
issuing a written decision. Such decision shall either sustain 230
or not sustain the disciplinary action being appealed. If an 231
action by the Sheriff is not sustained by a Board, the Board 232
shall order such remedial action as is appropriate, which may 233
include reinstatement with back pay, and may modify any 234
personnel action which was the subject of the appeal. No Board 235
shall have the authority to impose on any employee any penalty 236
which is more harsh than that which formed the basis of the 237
appeal. 238
(e) The decision of the Board shall be final and binding 239
on the employee and the Sheriff. 240
(f) The actions of the Board and the Sh eriff shall be 241
exempt from the provisions of chapter 120, Florida Statutes. 242
Section 3. Complaints against employees; procedure; 243
Complaint Review Board. — 244
(1) COMPLAINTS AGAINST EMPLOYEES. —A complaint receipt and 245
processing procedure shall be establish ed in order to provide 246
adequately for the prompt receipt, investigation, and 247
disposition of complaints against employees of the Office of the 248
Leon County Sheriff. 249
(2) PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO COMPLAINTS. — 250
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 11 of 15
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) Any employee of the Sheriff is authorized to receive a 251
complaint against any other employee of the Sheriff. All 252
complaints shall be reduced to writing and shall be resolved as 253
provided herein: 254
1. If a complaint is received by an employee during normal 255
working hours, the complaint shall be referr ed to the 256
appropriate Division Commander unless the receiving employee is 257
able to resolve the complaint, in which case the complaint and 258
resolution shall be reported in writing to the Division 259
Commander. If the complainant wishes to see the Sheriff, he 260
shall be accommodated. 261
2. If a complaint is received after normal working hours, 262
it shall be referred to the Watch Commander unless the receiving 263
employee is able to resolve the complaint, in which case the 264
complaint and resolution shall be reported in writ ing to the 265
Watch Commander. The Watch Commander, in his discretion, shall 266
conduct an investigation to determine if immediate action is 267
needed to preserve the integrity of the Office of the Sheriff. 268
If immediate action is not required, the complaint shall b e 269
referred to the appropriate Division Commander at the beginning 270
of the next working day, or sooner if required. 271
(b) All complaints shall be reviewed by the Sheriff. If 272
the Sheriff has reason to believe that the complaint is well 273
founded, he shall revie w the complaint with the employee's 274
appropriate chain of command. 275
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 12 of 15
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
(c) If the Sheriff finds the complaint to be unfounded, a 276
written report shall be filed for information only, and a copy 277
of the report shall be given to the employee. 278
(d) If the Sheriff finds that a complaint is well founded 279
and that a violation has occurred, the Sheriff shall decide upon 280
appropriate disciplinary action, and the employee shall be 281
notified of the proposed disciplinary action as provided in 282
Section 1. 283
(e) If a nonsworn em ployee is dissatisfied with the 284
decision of the Sheriff regarding disciplinary action resulting 285
from a complaint, he may appeal the action to a Career Service 286
Appeals Board. 287
(f) If an employee who is subject to the provisions of s. 288
112.532, Florida Statu tes, is dissatisfied with the decision of 289
the Sheriff regarding disciplinary action resulting from a 290
complaint, he may appeal the action to a Career Service Appeals 291
Board, or he may first request a Complaint Review Board under 292
the provisions of s. 112.532, Florida Statutes, as provided in 293
Section 4. 294
Section 4. Complaint Review Boards; membership; 295
procedure.— 296
(1) BOARDS; MEMBERSHIP. —If any employee who is subject to 297
the provisions of s. 112.532, Florida Statutes, requests a 298
Complaint Review Board as pr ovided in Section 3, the Sheriff 299
shall so call. Such a board shall be composed of the following 300
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 13 of 15
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
personnel, all of whom shall be law enforcement officers as 301
defined by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training 302
Commission, and who may be selected from any state, county, or 303
municipal agency within Leon County: 304
(a) Two members selected by the Sheriff, not from the 305
employee's chain of command; 306
(b) Two members selected by the employee; and 307
(c) A fifth member mutually selected by the other four 308
members, provided that the fifth member shall serve as chairman 309
of the Board and may be selected from the employee's chain of 310
command. 311
(d) The ranking officer in charge of personnel shall serve 312
as an ex officio member of the Board, but shall have no vote. 313
(2) PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO COMPLAINTS. — 314
(a) A Complaint Review Board shall hear all of the facts 315
contained in the accusation against the employee. The accused 316
shall be present during the presentation of all allegations, 317
witnesses, and evidence and shall have the right to question the 318
accuser and all witnesses and to present any witnesses in his 319
own behalf. The Board shall also have the right to question the 320
accuser and all witnesses. 321
(b) A Complaint Review Board, based upon its 322
investigations and deliberations, shall determine by majority 323
vote whether the complaint is: 324
1. "Unfounded," if the complaint is conclusively proved to 325
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 14 of 15
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
be unfounded. 326
2. "Not Sustained," if the evidence is insufficient to 327
clearly prove or disprove the allegation; 328
3. "Sustained," if there is sufficient evidence to clearly 329
prove the complaint; or 330
4. That the accused is "exonerated" if the acts which were 331
the basis of the complaint occurred, but were justified, proper, 332
and lawful. 333
(c) If a Board finds that an accused is "exonerated," or 334
that a complaint is "unfounded" or "not sustained," it shall 335
forward written notice thereof to the Sheriff and to the 336
employee within 24 hours after the decision is reached. 337
(d)1. If a Board finds that a complaint is "sustained," it 338
shall submit to the Sheriff and to the employee within 24 hours 339
after reaching the decision written findings stating the law, 340
rule, regulation or policy violated, as well as any 341
recommendations regarding disciplinary action to be taken 342
against the accused. 343
2. The Sheriff, after notification of a finding of 344
"sustained," shall consult with the employee's chain of command 345
to review the findings and recommendations of the Board, and the 346
Sheriff may take such disciplinary action as he deems 347
appropriate. 348
3. The decision of the Sheriff with respect to the 349
findings of a Board and resulting disciplinary action may be 350
CS/HB 4073 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb4073-01-c1
Page 15 of 15
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
appealed to a Career Service Appeals Board pursuant to Section 351
2. If such an appeal is taken, no findings or recommendations by 352
the Complaint Review Bo ard with respect to the case shall be 353
considered by the Career Service Appeals Board in its 354
proceedings. 355
Section 5. All commissioned and noncommissioned persons in 356
the employ of the Office of the Sheriff of Leon County on the 357
effective date of this act who have served for a period of 1 358
calendar year or more as of such date shall be permanent 359
employees subject to the provisions of this act. All other 360
employees shall become permanent employees subject to the 361
provisions of this act upon reaching their 1 ca lendar year 362
service anniversary date. 363
Section 2. The provisions of this act are severable and if 364
any provision is held unconstitutional, the decision of the 365
court regarding that provision shall not affect the validity of 366
the remaining provisions. It is hereby declared to be the intent 367
of the Legislature that the remaining provisions of the act 368
would have been adopted had such unconstitutional provisions not 369
been included herein. 370
Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 371