Fla. Training Exemption Passes Legislature

The Florida state senate has unanimously passed a bill that would modify the current dispatcher training certification law, exempting law enforcement officers from certain requirements, including hands-on training, before they can handle dispatching duties. House Bill 1227 previously passed the House on a 130-0 vote, and the bill now goes to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature. The bill was opposed by the Florida chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), who says it will “greatly compromise” the training certification law, which the legislature passed in April 2008 after years of lobbying by the APCO chapter. In an email to APCO members, chapter president Robert Scott said the bill passed because, “They did not hear from enough of us who were opposed to the Bill.” He claimed that Gov. Scott would consider a veto, “because the Bill will cost money and it will ultimately reduce the need for a minimum level of certification.” Scott urged members to write the governor to express their opposition to the bill. Check legislative action on the bill here.