The "Florida First Responder and Florida Public Safety Act," also known as House Bill 1211, aims to enhance public safety in Florida by establishing a Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence Unit within the Department of Law Enforcement and broadening the definitions of "first responders" to include prosecutors and crime scene technicians. The bill introduces provisions to prohibit employment discrimination against first responders, allowing civil actions for victims and outlining potential damages for denied promotions. Additionally, it mandates the consolidation of 911 systems under county sheriffs, with requirements for unified call centers to improve emergency response efficiency, while allowing sheriffs to opt out under certain conditions.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new training requirements for law enforcement officers, including resilience training, and introduces the Florida Medal of Valor and the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal to honor first responders for exceptional bravery or injuries sustained in the line of duty. It also calls for a study on hurricane-hardened public safety operations centers and mandates that 911 call centers dispatch the closest available unit to emergencies, regardless of jurisdiction. The bill outlines the formation of a task force to oversee the consolidation of law enforcement agencies into a new Florida Department of Public Safety, which will be administered by a director appointed by the Governor. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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