Bills Opposed By The FOP

HB 0049-Relating to Use of Deadly Force
This bill was sponsored by Representative Bendross-Mindingall
This bill requires an overt act to support belief that use of deadly force is necessary, and provides that immunity from civil & criminal liability for certain uses of deadly force does not apply to injuries to children & bystanders who are not affiliated with overt act. We oppose this legislation, due to it’s impact on standard policies of use of force and opens the officer to civil liability. This bill was held up in committee by the Council Chair and we need to thank Representative Kravitz  for continuing his watch dog status for law enforcement officers in Florida.

SB 0368-Relating to Collective Bargaining Impasse/Legislative Body
This bill is sponsored by Senator Oelrich. This bill states that for resolution of a collective bargaining impasse, the sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court shall each be deemed to be the legislative body for their respective employees, etc.  This will allow the Sherriff to be arbiter of his own impasse.This bill has been referred to Community Affairs; Governmental Operations; General Government Appropriations. The beginning steps for us, in the defeat of this legislation is to contact Senator Rudy Garcia and ask him to not hear this bill in his community. As I am certain everyone remembers, our strategy to kill this legislation, was to keep it from being heard in committee and if possible to block it being filed in the House of Representatives. We were successful and have Representative Sandy Adams to thank for the full blockage of this legislation. Senator Paula Dockery blocked this bill in the Senate and we also need to thank her for the foresight in not hearing this legislation her committee.

SB0396-Relating to FRS/Defined Contribution Retirement Program
This billis sponsored by Senator Fasano. This bill changes the name of the Public Employee Optional Retirement Program to the Public Employee Retirement Investment Program, and limits the option of enrolling in the State Retirement System's defined benefit program or defined contribution program to public employees employed prior to January 1, 2009. This will make all new leo’s ineligible for defined benefits. Requires public employees employed on or after such date to enroll in the defined contribution program, etc.
This bill never received any traction in the Florida Senate and there were numerous attempts at filing amendments to other legislation. We have been successful in keeping retirement options open for the new officers in Florida.

HB 0777-Relating to Traffic Stops
This bill is sponsored by Representative Taylor. This bill requires certain data to be collected from each traffic stop & reported to DOT, it also requires an annual report. The bill  provides for a task force to be created if Governor determines that there is evidence of racial profiling. Working with Representative Ron Reagan , we were successful in blocking this legislation.

SB 0968-Relating to Use of Deadly Force
This bill is sponsored by  Senator Joyner. This bill requires an overt act to support a belief that the use of deadly is necessary. Provides that immunity from civil and criminal liability for certain uses of deadly force, does not apply to injuries to children and bystanders who are not affiliated with the overt act, etc. The Chair of our first committee reference was Senator Dockery, and we were successful in working to make certain that this bill was not heard this year.