Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 936
       
       
        
       By Senator Ring
       
       
       
       
       
       29-00362B-16                                           2016936__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to criminal justice system interviews
    3         of persons with autism, an autism spectrum disorder,
    4         or a related developmental disability; providing a
    5         short title; encouraging the use of certain state-of
    6         the-art digital devices for the purposes of
    7         identification and notification; requiring that
    8         certain professionals with experience in treating,
    9         teaching, or assisting persons with autism, an autism
   10         spectrum disorder, or a related developmental
   11         disability be present during an interview of a person
   12         with autism, an autism spectrum disorder, or a related
   13         developmental disability conducted by specified
   14         persons; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. This act may be cited as “The Wes Kleinert Fair
   19  Interview Act.”
   20         Section 2. (1) The Legislature encourages the use of state
   21  of-the-art digital devices, such as bracelets, necklaces, and
   22  pocket cards that are similar to those kept upon the person of
   23  individuals who have certain medical conditions or age-related
   24  disabilities, to assist law enforcement, correctional, or other
   25  public safety officials and other concerned persons in quickly
   26  identifying individuals who have been diagnosed with autism, an
   27  autism spectrum disorder, or a related developmental disability
   28  and notifying the family members, caregivers, and primary
   29  intervention professionals of such individuals when a crisis
   30  occurs.
   31         (2) A psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health counselor,
   32  special education instructor, clinical social worker, or related
   33  professional, each of whom must have experience treating,
   34  teaching, or assisting patients or clients who have been
   35  diagnosed with autism, an autism spectrum disorder, or a related
   36  developmental disability, or must be certified in special
   37  education with a concentration focused on persons with autism,
   38  an autism spectrum disorder, or a related developmental
   39  disability, must be present to assist a law enforcement officer,
   40  a correctional officer, or another public safety official during
   41  all interviews of an individual with autism, an autism spectrum
   42  disorder, or a related developmental disability, whether the
   43  individual being interviewed is the victim of a crime, the
   44  suspect in a crime, or the defendant formally accused of a crime
   45  or is otherwise involved in the criminal justice system.
   46         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.