THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1427
Public Safety
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to public safety; amending s. 365.171,
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F.S.; revising legislative intent relating to 911
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systems; requiring each county, and every public
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agency within such county, to provide specified 911,
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emergency call, and dispatch services from a
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centralized 911 call center operated by the county or
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a regional entity as decided by specified boards;
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requiring state funds for emergency services be
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redirected to each county that operates such centers;
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prohibiting certain counties from receiving state
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funds; requiring the board of county commissioners of
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each county to convene a specified board within a
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certain time period; providing membership requirements
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of such board; requiring the board to decide by a
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unanimous vote the entity for the county that will
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operate its centralized 911 call center and funding
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for such entity; prohibiting funding from exceeding a
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specified dollar amount; requiring a certain board of
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county commissioners to convene a specified board
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within a certain time period in order for the county
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to establish a regional centralized 911 call center;
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providing membership requirements of such board;
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requiring the responsibilities and requirements of the
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board to be identical to another board; requiring the
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board to decide by a unanimous vote the entity for the
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region that will operate its centralized 911 call
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center and funding for such entity; prohibiting
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funding from exceeding a specified dollar amount
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unless agreed to by a specified vote of the board;
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requiring certain counties to convene a specified
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board for a specific purpose; providing
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responsibilities of specified boards following the
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establishment of a centralized 911 call center;
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providing membership composition of such boards;
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requiring an entity that operates a centralized 911
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call center to maintain its headquarters in a
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specified location for a specific purpose; authorizing
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the entity an alternate locations in certain
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circumstances; providing the sheriff shall be deemed
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the entity to provide 911, emergency call, and
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dispatch services in a county in certain
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circumstances; requiring all existing 911 operations
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within such county to be integrated under the sheriff
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and every public agency within such county to
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participate; requiring state funds to be redirected to
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the sheriff for a specified purpose; prohibiting
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certain expenditures from being included in the
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sheriff's budget; prohibiting entities from
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transferring certain emergency calls; requiring
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entities to maintain interoperability with other
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emergency communications centers; requiring such
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entities to maintain certain cybersecurity standards;
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requiring vendors of certain systems to provide, at no
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additional cost, specified capabilities to 911 call
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centers; prohibiting such vendors from imposing any
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additional licensing or integration fee for any system
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that enables integration of systems used by 911 call
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centers; requiring every 911 call center and public
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safety answering point, and any related system, to be
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deemed critical infrastructure; providing definitions;
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requiring specified boards or the sheriff to make a
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certain certification in writing to the office by
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specified dates; providing a reporting requirement;
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providing penalties for noncompliance; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsections (2) and (4) of section 365.171,
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Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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365.171 Emergency communications state plan.—
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(2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the
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Legislature that the communications number "911" be the
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designated emergency communications number. A public safety
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agency may not advertise or otherwise promote the use of any
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communications number for emergency response services other than
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"911." It is further the intent of the Legislature to implement
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and continually update a cohesive statewide emergency
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communications plan for enhanced 911 services which will provide
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citizens with rapid direct access to public safety agencies by
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accessing "911" with the objective of reducing the response time
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to situations requiring law enforcement, fire, medical, rescue,
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and other emergency services. It is further the intent of the
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Legislature to create a unified 911 system within each county or
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region to serve as a single point of contact for all emergency
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services in order to maximize efficiency of emergency services.
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It is further the intent of the Legislature to prohibit the
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transfer of calls between 911 call centers or other law
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enforcement, fire, or EMS dispatch centers in the same county,
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to maximize the efficiency of the statewide emergency
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communications plan for residents dialing "911" for emergency
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services. It is further the intent of the Legislature to
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maximize interoperability of public safety agencies within each
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county and statewide to maximize the efficiency of emergency
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communications for residents dialing "911" for emergency
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services. The goal of interoperability is to ensure that 911
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calls for emergency services, as well as communication and
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responses to catastrophic events, are connected directly so that
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critical information and resources across multiple disciplines
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and agencies are coordinated.
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(4) STATE PLAN.—The office shall develop, maintain, and
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implement appropriate modifications for a statewide emergency
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communications plan. The plan shall provide for:
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(a) The public agency emergency communications
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requirements for each entity of local government in the state.
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(b) A system to meet specific local government
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requirements. Such system shall include law enforcement,
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firefighting, and emergency medical services and may include
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other emergency services such as poison control, suicide
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prevention, and emergency management services.
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(c) Identification of the mutual aid agreements necessary
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to obtain an effective emergency communications system.
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(d) A funding provision that identifies the cost necessary
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to implement the emergency communications system.
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(e)1.a. By January 1, 2029, each county, and every public
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agency within such county, shall provide 911, emergency call,
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and dispatch services from a unified 911 call center, operated
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by the county or a regional entity created by an interlocal
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agreement or other memorandum of agreement, decided by a
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unanimous vote of the Emergency Communication Center (ECC)
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Executive Board or the Regional Emergency Communication Center
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(RECC) Executive Board, as applicable, pursuant to this
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paragraph.
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b. Upon establishment of a unified 911 call center, all
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state funds for emergency services shall be redirected to each
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county that operates the unified 911 call center. A county that
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provides or receives 911, emergency call, and dispatch services,
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but does not establish a unified 911 call center pursuant to
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this paragraph, may not receive state funds for emergency
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services.
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2.a. Within 90 days after July 1, 2026, in order for a
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county to establish a unified 911 call center pursuant to this
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paragraph, the board of county commissioners shall convene an
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ECC executive board. The chair of the board of county
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commissioners or his or her designee shall serve as the chair of
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the ECC executive board. The membership of the ECC executive
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board shall consist of the city manager or strong mayor, as
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applicable, of the largest municipality in each county by
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population size that provides law enforcement, fire, and EMS
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services, and each agency head that provides law enforcement,
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fire, and EMS services operating in the county as of July 1,
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2026.
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b. By January 1, 2027, the ECC executive board must decide
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by a unanimous vote, the entity for the county that will operate
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its unified 911 call center. Funding for such entity must also
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be decided by a unanimous vote of the ECC executive board and
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the funding shall be provided by the county and participating
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municipalities and agencies or any combination thereof. Any
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funding after the establishment of a unified 911 call center
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required by this paragraph may not exceed any net increase in
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the annual purchasing power of the dollar, as reflected in the
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Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, unless agreed to
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by a unanimous vote of the ECC executive board.
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3.a Within 90 days after July 1, 2026, in order for a
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county to establish a regional unified 911 call center pursuant
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to this paragraph, the board of county commissioners of the
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county with the largest population participating in the regional
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unified 911 call center shall convene an RECC executive board.
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The chair of the board of county commissioners or his or her
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designee shall serve as the chair of the RECC executive board.
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The membership of the RECC executive board shall consist of:
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(I) The chair of the board of county commissioners, or his
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or her designee, from each participating county.
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(II) The city manager or strong mayor, as applicable, of
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the largest municipality in each participating county by
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population size.
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(III) Every agency head within each participating county
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that provides law enforcement, fire, and EMS services operating
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in the participating counties as of July 1, 2026.
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Notwithstanding membership requirements in this subparagraph,
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RECC executive board responsibilities and requirements shall
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mirror the ECC executive board responsibilities and requirements
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pursuant to this paragraph.
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b. By January 1, 2027, the RECC executive board must
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decide by a unanimous vote, the entity for the region that will
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operate its unified 911 call center for the participating
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counties. Funding for such entity must also be decided by a
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unanimous vote of the RECC executive board and the funding shall
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be provided by the participating counties, municipalities,
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agencies, or any combination thereof. Any funding after the
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establishment of a unified 911 call center required by this
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paragraph may not exceed any net increase in the annual
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purchasing power of the dollar, as reflected in the Consumer
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Price Index for All Urban Consumers, unless agreed to by three-
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fourths vote of the RECC executive board.
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4. A county that has an established entity, as of July 1,
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2026, that provides law enforcement, fire, and EMS services to
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all government provided first responder agencies in the county
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shall convene an ECC executive board pursuant to subparagraph 2.
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to ensure that the requirements of this paragraph are met.
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5.a. Following the establishment of a unified 911 call
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center by a county pursuant to this paragraph, the ECC executive
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board shall serve as an advisor to the entity that operates the
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unified 911 call center. The ECC executive board may convene at
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a time and place as determined by the chair of the board.
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Membership of the ECC executive board shall consist of:
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(I) One member of the board of county commissioners or his
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or her designee.
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(II) One representative from the county's city council, or
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his or her designee.
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(III) The sheriff or his or her designee.
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(IV) The police chief and the fire chief of the county.
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Members may serve on a rotating basis within their respective
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category of representation as established by the implementing
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rules created by the ECC executive board.
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b. Following the establishment of a regional unified 911
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call center pursuant to this paragraph, the RECC executive board
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shall serve as an advisor to the entity that operates the
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regional unified 911 call center. The RECC executive board may
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convene at a time and place as determined by the chair of the
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board. Membership of the RECC executive board shall consist of:
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(I) One member of the board of county commissioners, or
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his or her designee, from each participating county.
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(II) One representative, or his or her designee, from the
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city council of each participating county.
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(III) The sheriff, or his or her designee, from each
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participating county.
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(IV) The police chief and the fire chief from each
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participating county.
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Members may serve on a rotating basis within their respective
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category of representation as established by the implementing
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rules created by the RECC executive board.
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6.a. An entity that operates a unified 911 call center
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shall maintain its headquarters in one location to serve as the
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primary public safety answering point (PSAP). However, an entity
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may maintain offices or answering points at various other
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locations throughout this state, as required and determined by a
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public agency. An entity shall designate an alternate center to
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the PSAP. Such center may only receive emergency calls when the
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PSAP is unable to receive emergency calls.
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b. An entity that operates a regional unified 911 call
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center shall maintain its headquarters in one location to serve
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as the PSAP, but may maintain offices or answering points at
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various locations, as required and determined by the public
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agencies. However, the entity must designate an alternate center
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to the PSAP. Such center may only receive emergency calls when
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the PSAP is unable to receive emergency calls.
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7.a. By January 1, 2027, if a county has not established
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the operation of a unified 911 call center pursuant to this
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paragraph, the sheriff of the county shall be deemed the entity
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to provide 911, emergency call, and dispatch services in the
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county. All existing 911 operations within a county shall be
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integrated under the sheriff to create a 911 call center, and
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every public agency within the county shall participate in the
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911 call center to provide such services.
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b. If the sheriff provides 911, emergency call, and
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dispatch services, the state funds for emergency services shall
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be redirected to the sheriff for the sole purpose of operating
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the unified 911 call center and may not be distributed to the
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county. The county shall provide total funding for the 911 call
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center, as determined by the annual needs assessment and as
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requested by the sheriff, but the county does not have any right
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or control over the funds or equipment of the center.
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Expenditures for operating the 911 call center may not be
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included in the sheriff's budget under s. 30.49. Such
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expenditures shall be included in the county's budget in
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accordance with the provisions of chapter 129.
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8.a. An entity or regional entity that provides 911,
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emergency call, and dispatch services from a 911 call center may
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not transfer any emergency call received by the entity to any
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other PSAP or call center, unless at least one firefighting, law
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enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services
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professional, as applicable, has been dispatched in response to
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the emergency call received by the entity.
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b. This subparagraph does not prohibit the transfer of an
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emergency call to another PSAP or emergency communications
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center if the reported emergency occurs outside the
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jurisdictional boundaries of the local government where the
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headquarters of the 911 call center is located. In such cases,
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the emergency call shall be promptly transferred to the
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appropriate jurisdiction, consistent with established
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interagency protocols and mutual-aid agreements.
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9.a. An entity or regional entity that provides 911,
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emergency call, and dispatch services from a 911 call center
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shall maintain interoperability with other emergency
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communications centers in this state. Such entities shall
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maintain proactive cybersecurity standards adopted by the
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National Institute of Standards and Technology, as outlined in
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the Task Force on Optimal Public Safety Answering Point
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Architecture Guidelines. Such entities shall include
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cryptographic inventory and ongoing cryptographic monitoring
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services, and incorporate behavioral-based, packet-level
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monitoring at all times from a Security Operations Center
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located in the United States.
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b. To aid in interoperability and public safety, a vendor
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of computer-aided dispatch systems and interoperable radio
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communications systems must provide, at no additional cost, the
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built-in capability to interface with different PASP CAD systems
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and other radio communications systems that, although not
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operated or maintained by the vendor, are used in this state by
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911 call centers. In addition, a vendor may not impose any
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additional licensing or integration fee for any system that
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enables integration of such systems, including, but not limited
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to, radio communications systems, CAD systems, cyber security
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systems, telephone communication systems, interoperability
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gateway systems, and Radio over Internet-Protocol (RoIP) gateway
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systems, used in this state by a 911 call center.
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c. Every 911 call center and PSAP, and any related system,
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including, but not limited to, interoperability gateway systems
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and secure IP communications systems that enable cross-system
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radio communications, shall be deemed critical infrastructure in
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this state.
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d. As used in this subparagraph:
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(I) "Critical infrastructure" has the same meaning as in
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s. 119.0725(1).
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(II) "Interoperability" means the technical ability to
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communicate across disciplines and jurisdictions statewide.
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(III) "Interoperability gateway" system means a network
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device or platform that provides protocol translation, audio
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transcoding, routing, and talk-group management between
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otherwise incompatible radio systems, Voice over Internet
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Protocol (VoIP) systems, public safety LTE network systems,
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mission critical push-to-X services systems, satellite systems,
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and IP-based communications systems.
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(IV) "Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) Gateway" system
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means hardware or software that enables radio communications to
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be transmitted, received, patched, or controlled across IP
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networks.
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10.a. By January 1 2027, and by January 1, 2029, the chair
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of the ECC executive board, the chair of the RECC executive
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board, or the sheriff, as applicable, shall certify in writing
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to the office that the county or each participating county, as
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applicable, has taken the required action to comply this
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paragraph and has established an entity or regional entity to
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provide 911, emergency call, and dispatch services.
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b. By January 30, 2027, and by January 1, 2029, the office
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shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the
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Senate, and the Speaker of House of Representatives, describing
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the results of establishing 911 call centers in this state,
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identifying any county that has not established such a center in
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violation of this paragraph.
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11. A county that does not comply with this paragraph by
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January 1, 2029, shall have its emergency funding reduced by 25
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percent for each year the county does not comply.
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The office shall be responsible for the implementation and
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coordination of such plan. The office shall adopt any necessary
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rules and schedules related to public agencies for implementing
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and coordinating the plan, pursuant to chapter 120.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.