Senate Bill 364 (2023) — Bereavement benefits for law enforcement officers
SB 364
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2023 SB By Senator Avila 39-00570-23 2023364__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled
An act relating to bereavement benefits for law enforcement officers; providing a
short title; 3 creating s. 110.1205, F.S.; authorizing the head of a law enforcement agency to grant administrative leave to law enforcement officers under certain circumstances; creating s. 112.0615, F.S.; authorizing the head of a law enforcement agency to designate specified travel as official state business; providing for the reimbursement of such travel; amending s. 10 112.19, F.S.; revising the sum paid on the behalf of specified law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty for funeral and burial expenses; amending s. 13 287.17, F.S.; authorizing the use of a state vehicle by specified law enforcement officers if certain conditions exist; declaring that the act fulfills an important state interest; providing an effective date. 17
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 19
Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Respecting the Sacrifice of Law Enforcement Officers Act.” 22
Section
Section 110.1205, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 24 110.1205 Bereavement leave for law enforcement officers.—25 The head of a law enforcement agency may grant administrative leave not to exceed hours to a law enforcement officer from the agency to attend the funeral service of a law enforcement officer from the agency who was killed in the line of duty. Law Florida Senate - 2023 SB 364 39-00570-23 2023364__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. enforcement agency heads may deny such use of administrative leave to maintain adequate staffing levels. 31
Section
Section 112.0615, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 33 112.0615 Bereavement travel.—The head of a law enforcement agency may designate as official state business the travel of a law enforcement officer from the agency to attend the funeral services of a law enforcement officer from the agency who was killed in the line of duty. The law enforcement officer must be reimbursed by the agency as provided in s. 112.061 for the expenses incurred traveling to and returning from the funeral service. 41
Section 4. Paragraph
(
f) of subsection (2) of
section 42 112.19, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 43 112.19 Law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers; death benefits.— 45 (2) 46
(
f) If a full-time law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer who is certified pursuant to
chapter and employed by a state agency is killed in the line of duty while the officer is engaged in the performance of law enforcement duties or as a result of an assault against the officer under riot conditions: 52 1. The sum of $10,000 $1,000 must be paid, as provided for in paragraph (d), toward the funeral and burial expenses of such officer.
Such benefits are in addition to any other benefits to which employee beneficiaries and dependents are entitled under the Workers’ Compensation Law or any other state or federal statutes; and Florida Senate - 2023 SB 364 39-00570-23 2023364__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 2. The officer’s employing agency may pay up to $5,000 directly toward the venue expenses associated with the funeral and burial services of such officer. 61
Section 5. Paragraph
(
c) is added to subsection (3) of
section 287.17, Florida Statutes, to read: 63 287.17 Limitation on use of motor vehicles and aircraft.— 64 (3) 65
(
c) For motor vehicles used by a state employee whose duties are those of a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 67 943.10, the employee may use a state vehicle to attend the funeral of a law enforcement officer from his or her agency who was killed in the line of duty. 70