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: CS/SB 86
INTRODUCER: Criminal Justice Committee and Senator Burgess
SUBJECT: Peer Support for First Responders
DATE: March 5, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Vaughan Stokes CJ Fav/CS
2. AEG
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 86 amends s. 111.09, F.S., to expand the definition of “first responder” to include support
personnel as defined in s. 943.10(11), F.S.,
1
who are involved in investigating a crime scene or
collecting or processing evidence. Section 111.09. F.S., ensures that first responders receive the
necessary emotional and moral support from peers who have relevant experience and training, while
also protecting the privacy of these communications.
The bill is not expected to have a fiscal impact on state or local governments. See Section V. Fiscal
Impact Statement.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
First Responders
First responders frequently face challenging and traumatic experiences in their daily duties. They
routinely witness fatalities, injuries, and suffering that can take a toll on their emotional wellbeing.
1
Section 943.10(11), F.S., defines “support personnel” as any person employed or appointed by an employing agency who is
not an officer or, as specified by the commission, other professional employee in the criminal justice system.
REVISED: 3/4/25 BILL: CS/SB 86 Page 2
Critical circumstances surrounding their duties often lead to the onset of conditions such as Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Secondary PTSD, compression fatigue, and vicarious trauma.
2
A “first responder”
3
is a law enforcement officer,
4
a correctional officer,
5
a correctional probation
officer,
6
a firefighter,
7
or an emergency medical technician
8
or paramedic,
9
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 for purposes of this section.
Peer Support for First Responders
Peer support is based on the notion that those who have overcome the impact of stressful and
traumatic events are uniquely qualified to assist others dealing with similar experiences through
increased awareness and vigilance, empathic responses, and personal validation.
10
Peer support
programs can assist individuals facing post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep deprivation, suicide
ideations, substance abuse, and depression. Statistics show nearly 30 percent of first responders will
develop a behavioral health condition, including but not limited to depression and post-traumatic
stress disorder, during the course of their career.
11
2
The Effects of Trauma on First Responders, https://www.w-z.com/2024/03/26/the-effects-of-trauma-on-first-responders/
(last visited February 24, 2025).
3
Section 112.1815, F.S.
4
Section 943.10(1), F.S., defines “law enforcement officer” as any person any person who is elected, appointed, or employed
full time by any municipality or the state or any political subdivision thereof; who is vested with authority to bear arms and
make arrests; and whose primary responsibility is the prevention and detection of crime or the enforcement of the penal,
criminal, traffic, or highway laws of the state. The term includes all certified supervisory and command personnel whose
duties include, in whole or in part, the supervision, training, guidance, and management responsibilities of full-time law
enforcement officers, part-time law enforcement officers, or auxiliary law enforcement officers but does not include support
personnel employed by the employing agency. The term also includes a special officer employed by a Class I, Class II, or
Class III railroad pursuant to s. 354.01, F.S.
5
Section 943.10(2), F.S., defines “correctional officer” as any person who is appointed or employed full time by the state or
any political subdivision thereof, or by any private entity which has contracted with the state or county, and whose primary
responsibility is the supervision, protection, care, custody, and control, or investigation, of inmates within a correctional
institution; however, the term “correctional officer” does not include any secretarial, clerical, or professionally trained
personnel.
6
Section 943.10(3), F.S., defines “correctional probation officer” as any person who is employed full time by the state whose
primary responsibility is the supervised custody, surveillance, and control of assigned inmates, probationers, parolees, or
community controlees within institutions of the Department of Corrections or within the community. The term includes
supervisory personnel whose duties include, in whole or in part, the supervision, training, and guidance of correctional
probation officers, but excludes management and administrative personnel above, but not including, the probation and parole
regional administrator level.
7
Section 633.102(9), F.S., defines “firefighter” as an individual who holds a current and valid Firefighter Certificate of
Compliance or Special Certificate of Compliance issued by the division under s. 633.408, F.S.
8
Section 401.23(12), F.S., defines “emergency medical technician” as a person who is certified by the department to perform
basic life support pursuant to this part.
9
Section 401.23(18), F.S., defines “paramedic” as a person who is certified by the department to perform basic and advanced
life support pursuant to this part.
10
Journal of Mental Health, A Review of the Literature on Peer Support in Mental Health Services, Julie Repper and Tim
Carter, (August 2011): 20, no. 4: 392-411, available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21770786/ (last visited February 24,
2025).
11
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Disaster Technical Assistance Center Supplemental
Research Bulletin, First Responders: Behavioral Health Concerns, Emergency Response, and Trauma (May 2018), available
at https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/supplementalresearchbulletinfirstresponders-may2018.pdf (last visited
February 24, 2025). BILL: CS/SB 86 Page 3
The Orlando Firefighters Peer Support Team provides support and wellness to fellow firefighters
and their families through the process of listening, providing referrals, and support. None of the
members are professional counselors, but they receive extensive training to guide and support
individuals through various situations.
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A first responder’s employing agency or affiliated first responder organization may designate a first
responder peer
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for the purpose of providing peer support. “Peer support”
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means the provision of
physical, moral, or emotional support to a first responder
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by a first responder peer for the purpose
of addressing physical or emotional conditions or other issues associated with being a first
responder. A “first responder peer”
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is a person who:
• Is not a health care practitioner as defined in s. 456.001, F.S.
• Has experience working as or with a first responder, including active, volunteer, and retired
first responders, regarding any physical or emotional conditions or issues associated with the
first responder’s employment.
• Has been designated by the first responder’s employing agency or affiliated first responder
organization to provide peer support as provided in this section and has received training for
this purpose.
Peer support is generally confidential. Section 111.09, F.S., provides that the term “peer support
communication” means electronic, oral, or written communication, made with a mutual expectation
of confidentiality while a first responder peer is providing peer support in his or her official capacity.
First responder peers are prohibited from divulging information from, or testifying about, a peer
support communication in a civil, criminal, administrative, or disciplinary proceeding, unless:
• The first responder peer is a defendant in a civil, criminal, administrative, or disciplinary
proceeding arising from a complaint filed by the first responder who was a party to the peer
support communication, in which case such information may be divulged but is limited to the
scope of the proceeding;
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o The first responder who was a party to the peer support communication agrees, in
writing, to allow the first responder peer to testify about or divulge information related to
the peer support communications;
18
12
Orlando Professional Firefighters Local 1365, Our Team, available at https://www.orlandolocal1365.org/peer-support-3/
(last visited February 24, 2025).
13
Section 111.09(1)(c), F.S., defines “peer support peer” as a person who is not a health care practitioner as defined in
s. 456.001, F.S.; as experience working as or with a first responder, including active, volunteer, and retired first responders,
regarding any physical or emotional conditions or issues associated with the first responder’s employment; Has been
designated by the first responder’s employing agency or affiliated first responder organization to provide peer support as
provided in this section and has received training for this purpose.
14
Section 111.09(1)(d), F.S.
15
Section 111.09(1)(b), F.S., defines “first responder” as having the same meaning as provided in s. 112.1815, F.S. and
includes 911 public safety telecommunicators as defined in s. 401.465,F.S., correctional officers as defined in s. 943.10(2),
F.S., and correctional probation officers as defined in s. 943.10(3)F.S.
16
Section 111.09(1)(b), F.S.
17
Section 111.09(2)(a), F.S.
18
Section 111.09(2)(b), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 86 Page 4
o Based on the peer support communications, the first responder peer suspects that the first
responder who was a party to the peer support communications has committed a criminal
act or intends to commit a criminal act; or
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o There are articulable facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable, prudent person
to fear for the safety of the first responder who was a party to the peer support
communication, another person, or society, and the first responder peer communicates the
information only to a potential victim and law enforcement or other appropriate
authorities.
20
Section 111.09, F.S., does not prevent the disclosure, discovery, or admissibility of information,
testimony, or evidence that is obtained by a first responder peer from a source other than a first
responder through a peer support communication.
Current law provides this confidential peer support communication to first responders, however
support personnel is not included in the definition of first responder, and therefore are not
entitled to the same peer support. “Support personnel”
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is any person employed or appointed by
an employing agency who is not an officer or, as specified by the commission, other professional
employee in the criminal justice system.
Support positions may include, but are not limited to forensic technicians, crime scene analysts,
victim advocates and crime lab technicians. Support positions process traumatic investigations,
including death, child abuse, disasters and mass casualty incidents.
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III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends s. 111.09, F.S., to expand the definition of “first responder” to include “support
personnel” as defined in s. 943.10(11), F.S. Section 111.09. F.S., ensures that first responders
receive the necessary emotional and moral support from peers who have relevant experience and
training, while also protecting the privacy of these communications. Support personnel must be
involved in investigating a crime scene or collecting or processing evidence, to be eligible for
peer support.
This expansion affords support personnel the same protection for peer support communications,
especially regarding the confidentiality of the communication between a first responder peer and
fellow first responder.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
19
Section 111.09(2)(c), F.S.
20
Section 111.09(2)(d), F.S.
21
Section 943.10(11), F.S.
22
Email from Chase Daniels, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, (February 3, 2025) (on file with the Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice). BILL: CS/SB 86 Page 5
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
The bill does not appear to require cities and counties to expend funds or limit their
authority to raise revenue or receive state-shared revenues as specified by Article VII, s.
18, of the State Constitution.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill is not expected to impact state or local government revenues and expenditures.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 111.09
BILL: CS/SB 86 Page 6
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
The amendment limits support personnel eligible for peer support to such personnel who
are involved in investigating a crime scene or collecting or processing evidence.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.