Downloads
CS/CS/HB 935 — Chiefs of Police
by Judiciary Committee; Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law and Government Operations Subcommittee; and Reps. Jacques, Giallombardo, and others (CS/SB 998 by Criminal Justice Committee and Senators Burgess and Perry)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Criminal Justice Committee (CJ)
The bill creates s. 166.0494, F.S., which prohibits a municipality from terminating a chief of police without providing the chief written notice of his or her termination.
After the chief of police receives written notice of his or her termination, a municipality must allow the chief to appear at the next regularly scheduled public meeting of the governing body of the municipality and allow the chief to provide a full and complete response to his or her termination.
The bill prohibits an employment contract between a municipality and a chief of police from:
- Waiving or modifying any requirements of the bill; or
- Including a nondisclosure clause that prohibits a chief of police from responding to his or her termination at a public meeting.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 115-0