The bill seeks to improve public safety in Florida by establishing a unified 911 system across all counties. It mandates that each county, along with its public agencies, must provide 911, emergency call, and dispatch services from a centralized call center, which can be operated by the county or a regional entity. To incentivize compliance, state funds for emergency services will be redirected to counties that establish these unified call centers, while those that do not will be barred from receiving such funds. The bill also requires the formation of executive boards to oversee the operation of these call centers, with key decisions requiring unanimous votes.
Additionally, the legislation emphasizes the integration of existing 911 operations under the sheriff's office if a county fails to establish a unified call center by a specified deadline. It includes provisions for maintaining interoperability among emergency communication centers, ensuring adherence to cybersecurity standards, and designating 911 call centers as critical infrastructure. The bill also sets requirements for vendors of computer-aided dispatch systems to provide integration capabilities at no extra cost and establishes a compliance timeline, with penalties for non-compliance that could result in a 25% reduction in emergency funding for counties that do not meet the regulations by January 1, 2029. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency services across Florida.