Florida Senate - 2016                                    SB 1580
       
       
        
       By Senator Legg
       
       17-01197-16                                           20161580__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to first responders; amending s.
    3         110.2035, F.S.; requiring state agencies to establish
    4         a first responder career development plan for certain
    5         purposes; providing duties of the agencies relating to
    6         the implementation of the plan; providing an effective
    7         date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Subsection (9) is added to section 110.2035,
   12  Florida Statutes, to read:
   13         110.2035 Classification and compensation program.—
   14         (9)(a) In order to strengthen the ability of state agencies
   15  to provide career development for law enforcement officers,
   16  correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and
   17  firefighters and retain well-qualified and experienced officers
   18  and firefighters, all state agencies employing law enforcement
   19  officers, correctional officers, correctional probation
   20  officers, and firefighters shall establish a first responder
   21  career development plan. The plan shall be voluntary for law
   22  enforcement officers, correctional officers, correctional
   23  probation officers, and firefighters and shall provide salary
   24  increases for officer and firefighter achievements that exceed
   25  the minimum requirements for employment.
   26         (b) Salary increases shall be awarded to an officer or a
   27  firefighter in good standing who achieves and maintains
   28  specified levels of achievement as determined by the agency.
   29         (c)1. Each state agency shall provide levels of achievement
   30  for law enforcement officers, correctional officers,
   31  correctional probation officers, and firefighters and develop
   32  standards, through collective bargaining, if applicable, that
   33  provide approved activities recognized for attaining the levels.
   34  The achievement of each level must be documented by the
   35  attainment of specific achievements and the completion of a
   36  specified number of years of service.
   37         2. Achievements may include the earning of postsecondary
   38  education credits and the completion of leadership or advanced
   39  training. Officers and firefighters may attain specified levels
   40  by participating in approved activities that advance the
   41  officer’s or firefighter’s professional interests as specified
   42  in the officer’s or firefighter’s job description.
   43         (d) The plan shall be made available to law enforcement
   44  officers as defined in s. 943.10, correctional officers as
   45  defined in s. 943.10, correctional probation officers as defined
   46  in s. 943.10, and firefighters as defined in s. 633.102, in all
   47  career service positions. The number of officers or firefighters
   48  who may qualify for each level may not exceed the number of
   49  officers or firefighters covered by the bargaining unit covering
   50  such classes of employees in the agency.
   51         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.