Florida Police Chiefs Association - 2002 Legislative Report

2002 FPCA Legislative Report

The 2002 Regular Legislative Session ended on March, 22, 2002, concluding all of the Association's legislative issues as reflected in the 2002 Legislative Issues document posted on the Florida Police Chiefs Association website. The end results for the Association were rather successful. The Legislative Initiative, to increase the educational benefit available to the surviving children of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, passed. In total, there were 20 issues posted, of which 12 passed, 2 died at some stage of the legislative process, and 6 did not result in any legislation being filed. Brief summaries of the issues and resulting actions are listed below.

FPCA LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES

EDUCATION BENEFIT FOR CHILDREN OF SLAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS - FPCA sought enactment of legislation to extend the educational benefit for the children of slain law enforcement officers to provide for completion of graduate level degree programs by authorizing tuition waivers. FPCA supports the enactment of such legislation. (SB 176 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-232, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 7-1-02)

FPCA SUPPORTED

PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR FLOORPLAN, SECURITY PLAN, OTHER CRITICAL RECORDS - FPCA supported legislation which exempt from inspection and copying under the public records law items such as floor plans, security plans and surveys, blueprints and other similar information about public buildings or facilities which could jeopardize the security of the building or facility. (HB 735 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-67, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 4-22-02)

RESTRICTION ON CONCEALED FIREARMS AT SEAPORTS - FPCA supported legislation which would impose the same restrictions on carrying concealed firearms in restricted areas of seaports as are imposed at airports. (No bills filed)

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR APPLICANTS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT - FPCA supported legislation authorizing local governments to obtain national criminal history checks for applicants for employment in positions critical to safety and security. (SB 954 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-169, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 4-24-02)

PAYMENT OF RESTITUTION BY PERSONS COMMITTING HOAX ACT OF TERRORISM - Responses to hoax acts of terrorism cause public agencies and private organizations to incur tremendous costs. Persons or groups perpetrating these hoaxes should be required to pay restitution to help defray these costs. FPCA supported legislation that would require payment of restitution in such cases. (SB 998 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-25, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 7-1-02)

STANDARDS FOR SECURE STORAGE OF FIREARMS BY FIREARMS DEALERS - FPCA supported legislation providing for statewide minimum security standards for the storage of firearms and ammunition by firearms dealers. (No bills filed)

BLOCKING UNSOLICITED SALES OR PROMOTIONAL CALLS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES - FPCA supported legislation allowing public safety agencies to have public safety telephone lines placed on "no solicitation lists" maintained by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in order to prevent unnecessary calls to those numbers. (No bills filed)

UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION OF MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION - FPCA supported legislation prohibiting the acquisition of a means of transportation such as aircraft, vessel or commercial vehicle with the intent to commit a felony.(SB 622 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-79, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 7-1-02)

PRESUMPTION OF DISABILITY - FPCA supported legislation creating a presumption that a heart or blood pressure related disability incurred by any law enforcement officer is a line of duty disability. (SB 108 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-236, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 7-1-02)

PAWNBROKER DATABASE - FPCA supported legislation implementing a statewide pawnbroker database to provide access to information about pawned items to all law enforcement agencies. (No bills filed)

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS - FPCA supported the concept of raising the minimum educational level of law enforcement officers to at least that of a two year college degree, as long as the employment of currently certified officers is not affected. (No bills filed)

AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR FIREFIGHTER - FPCA supported legislation providing for enhancement of penalties for persons found guilty of a negligent homicide of a law enforcement officer or firefighter. (SB 188 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-74, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 7-1-02)

PRIMARY SEATBELT ENFORCEMENT - FPCA supported legislation authorizing primary enforcement of seatbelt violations. (Died in committee)

EXCLUSIONARY RULE - FPCA supported legislation providing that officers relying in good faith on information from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may make arrests based on that information and that evidence seized as a result of such actions will be admissible in evidence. This was necessary to correct a court case that held evidence so seized to be inadmissible. (SB 196 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-215, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 7-1-02)

DUI - FPCA supported legislation providing that a third conviction for DUI would be punishable as a third degree felony and providing that refusal to submit to a breath test constitutes a criminal offense. (HB 1057 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-263, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date - 7-1-02)

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS INSPECTOR GENERAL - FPCA supported legislation authorizing law enforcement authority for certain investigators employed by the DOC Inspector General's Office. (SB 408 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-75, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 4-23-02)

JUVENILE ASSESSMENT CENTERS - FPCA supported continued state funding for Juvenile Assessment Centers at least at the current level of funding. (Funding was continued)

ANIMAL BAITING OR FIGHTING - FPCA supported legislation prohibiting the breeding, training, transportation or possession of fighting animals in the state. (SB 1002 Passed - approved by Governor - Ch. 2002-51, Laws of Florida. - Effective Date: 4-18-02)
MEDAL OF HEROISM - FPCA supported legislation establishing a Medal of Heroism, to be awarded by the Governor, to a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician for heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty. (Died in messages to the Senate)

FPCA OPPOSED

LEGALIZATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES - FPCA opposed a constitutional initiative calling for the legalization of controlled substances. (No bill filed)