Senate Bill sb0496
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 496
By Senator Saunders
37-379-07
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to law enforcement and
3 correctional officers; amending s. 943.13,
4 F.S.; requiring certain applicants for
5 employment to complete a recertification
6 course; amending s. 943.131, F.S.; conforming
7 provisions; reenacting s. 943.1395, F.S.,
8 relating to certification of such officers, to
9 incorporate the amendments made to s. 943.13,
10 F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
11 effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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15 Section 1. Subsection (9) of section 943.13, Florida
16 Statutes, is amended to read:
17 943.13 Officers' minimum qualifications for employment
18 or appointment.--On or after October 1, 1984, any person
19 employed or appointed as a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary
20 law enforcement officer or correctional officer; on or after
21 October 1, 1986, any person employed as a full-time,
22 part-time, or auxiliary correctional probation officer; and on
23 or after October 1, 1986, any person employed as a full-time,
24 part-time, or auxiliary correctional officer by a private
25 entity under contract to the Department of Corrections, to a
26 county commission, or to the Department of Management Services
27 shall:
28 (9) Complete a commission-approved basic recruit
29 training program for the applicable criminal justice
30 discipline, unless exempt under this subsection.
31 (a) An applicant who has:
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 496
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1 1.(a) Completed a comparable basic recruit training
2 program for the applicable criminal justice discipline in
3 another state or for the Federal Government; and
4 2.(b) Served as a full-time sworn officer in another
5 state or for the Federal Government for at least 1 year
6 provided there is no more than an 8-year break in employment,
7 as measured from the separation date of the most recent
8 qualifying employment to the time a complete application is
9 submitted for an exemption under this section,
10
11 is exempt in accordance with s. 943.131(2) from completing the
12 commission-approved basic recruit training program.
13 (b) However, an applicant who has a break in
14 employment of more than 8 years and who otherwise meets the
15 requirements of this section must complete a 120-hour
16 recertification course that emphasizes firearms training and a
17 review of the applicable laws of this state. Such course may
18 be conducted by the hiring agency.
19 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 943.131, Florida
20 Statutes, is amended to read:
21 943.131 Temporary employment or appointment; minimum
22 basic recruit training exemption.--
23 (2)(a) If an applicant seeks an exemption from
24 completing a commission-approved basic recruit training
25 program, the employing agency must verify that the applicant
26 has successfully completed a comparable basic recruit training
27 program for the discipline in which the applicant is seeking
28 certification in another state or for the Federal Government.
29 Further, the employing agency must verify that the applicant
30 has served as a full-time sworn officer in another state or
31 for the Federal Government for at least 1 year provided there
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 496
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1 is no more than an 8-year break in employment, as measured
2 from the separation date of the most recent qualifying
3 employment to the time a complete application is submitted for
4 an exemption under this section. If there has been more than
5 an 8-year break in employment, the applicant must comply with
6 the requirements of s. 943.13(9)(b).
7 (b) When the employing agency obtains written
8 documentation regarding the applicant's criminal justice
9 experience, the documentation must be submitted to the
10 commission. The commission shall adopt rules that establish
11 criteria and procedures to determine if the applicant is
12 exempt from completing the commission-approved basic recruit
13 training program and, upon making a determination, shall
14 notify the employing agency. An applicant who is exempt from
15 completing the commission-approved basic recruit training
16 program must demonstrate proficiency in the high-liability
17 areas, as defined by commission rule, and must complete the
18 requirements of s. 943.13(10) within 1 year after receiving an
19 exemption. If the proficiencies and requirements of s.
20 943.13(10) are not met within the 1 year, the applicant must
21 complete a commission-approved basic recruit training program,
22 as required by the commission by rule. Except as provided in
23 subsection (1), before the employing agency may employ or
24 appoint the applicant as an officer, the applicant must meet
25 the minimum qualifications described in s. 943.13(1)-(8), and
26 must fulfill the requirements of s. 943.13(10).
27 Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the
28 amendments made by this act to section 943.13, Florida
29 Statutes, in a reference thereto, section 943.1395, Florida
30 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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Florida Senate - 2007 SB 496
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1 943.1395 Certification for employment or appointment;
2 concurrent certification; reemployment or reappointment;
3 inactive status; revocation; suspension; investigation.--
4 (3) Any certified officer who has separated from
5 employment or appointment and who is not reemployed or
6 reappointed by an employing agency within 4 years after the
7 date of separation must meet the minimum qualifications
8 described in s. 943.13, except for the requirement found in s.
9 943.13(9). Further, such officer must complete any training
10 required by the commission by rule. Any such officer who is
11 not reemployed or reappointed by an employing agency within 8
12 years after the date of separation must meet the minimum
13 qualifications described in s. 943.13, to include the
14 requirement of s. 943.13(9).
15 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
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18 SENATE SUMMARY
19 Revises provisions relating to training requirements for
applicants for certain law enforcement and correctional
20 officer positions. Requires applicants with prior
experience who have had a break in employment of more
21 than 8 years to complete a recertification course.
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