The proposed bill, titled the "Florida First Responder and Florida Public Safety Act," aims to enhance public safety measures in Florida by establishing a Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit within the Department of Law Enforcement. This unit will focus on proactively addressing terrorist threats and foreign intelligence efforts, consisting of seven teams located regionally throughout the state. Additionally, the bill revises definitions related to first responders to include prosecutors and crime scene technicians, expands peer support provisions, and updates requirements for reporting missing persons. It also mandates that law enforcement agencies adopt policies for investigating missing persons and establishes standards for maintaining related data in various databases.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new training requirements for law enforcement officers, including basic skills training in resilience, and allows first responder amputees to continue serving without accommodations if they meet certification requirements. It creates the Florida Medal of Valor and the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal to honor first responders who demonstrate exceptional service or are injured in the line of duty. The bill outlines the application process for these awards and establishes a board to evaluate applications. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1211 Filed: 365.171, 937.022, 943.131
H 1211 c1: 937.022, 943.131