Mandatory Training Bill Passes Key Committee

A Florida state legislative committee has approved a proposal to establish mandatory training for the state’s dispatchers, part of the aftermath of the kidnap and murder of Denise Lee last year. All five city commissioners of North Port, where Lee lived, appeared before the House Health Care Regulation Committee to urge passage of HB 769, updating the current optional training requirements for dispatchers. An audience of about 200 attended the committee hearing on Wednesday, where Representatives heard North Port commissioner David Garofalo tell the story of Lee’s murder. Afterwards, the committee members unanimously voted to move the bill forward. The bill now heads to the full House for debate. If passed by both houses of the legislature, the training requirement would become effective on Oct. 1st. Listen (mp3) to a podcast of the House committee’s debate over HB 769 here.