Fla. Stat. § 943.131 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 943 / Section 943.131
943.131 Temporary employment or appointment; minimum basic recruit training exemptions.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) An employing agency may temporarily employ or appoint a person who complies with the qualifications for employment in s. 943.13(1)-(8), but has not fulfilled the requirements of s. 943.13(9) and (10), if a critical need exists to employ or appoint the person and such person is or will be enrolled in the next approved basic recruit training program available in the geographic area or that no assigned state training program for state officers is available within a reasonable time. The employing agency must maintain documentation which demonstrates that a critical need exists to employ a person pursuant to this section. Prior to the employment or appointment of any person other than a correctional probation officer under this subsection, the person shall comply with the firearms provisions established pursuant to s. 943.17(1)(a). Any person temporarily employed or appointed as an officer under this subsection must attend the first training program offered in the geographic area, or the first assigned state training program for a state officer, subsequent to his or her employment or appointment. A person temporarily employed or appointed as an officer under this subsection must begin basic recruit training within 180 consecutive days after employment. Such person must fulfill the requirements of s. 943.13(9) within 18 months after beginning basic recruit training and must fulfill the certification examination requirements of s. 943.13(10) within 180 consecutive days after completing basic recruit training. A person hired after he or she has commenced basic recruit training or after completion of basic recruit training must fulfill the certification examination requirements of s. 943.13(10) within 180 consecutive days after completion of basic recruit training or the commencement of employment, whichever occurs later. (b) In no case may the person be temporarily employed or appointed for more than 30 months. A person shall not be eligible to transfer to another employer while employed pursuant to this subsection. However, a person who is temporarily employed or appointed and is attending the first training program offered in the geographic area, or has been assigned to a state training program, may continue to be temporarily employed or appointed until the person: 1. Fails or withdraws from a basic recruit training program within the time limits specified in this subsection; 2. Fails to achieve an acceptable score on the officer certification examination within 180 consecutive days after the successful completion of the basic recruit training program within the time limits specified in this subsection; or 3. Is separated from employment or appointment by the employing agency within the time limits specified in this subsection. (c) No person temporarily employed or appointed under the provisions of this subsection may perform the duties of an officer unless he or she is adequately supervised by another officer of the same discipline. The supervising officer must be in full compliance with the provisions of s. 943.13 and must be employed or appointed by the employing agency. (d) Persons employed under this subsection are subject to the provisions of s. 943.1395. (e) Persons who have had a certification administered pursuant to s. 943.1395 revoked by the commission or have voluntarily relinquished such certification shall be ineligible for employment pursuant to this subsection.

(2) If an applicant seeks an exemption from completing a commission-approved basic recruit training program, the employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center must verify and document that the applicant has: (a) Successfully completed a comparable basic recruit training program for the discipline in which the applicant is seeking certification in another state or for the Federal Government or a previous Florida basic recruit training program. Further, the employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center must verify that the applicant has served as a full-time sworn officer in another state or for the Federal Government for at least 1 year provided there is no more than an 8-year break in employment or was a previously certified Florida officer provided there is no more than an 8-year break in employment, as measured from the separation date of the most recent qualifying employment to the time a complete application is submitted for an exemption under this section. The employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center shall submit documentation of satisfaction of this requirement to the commission; or (b) Served in the special operation forces for a minimum of 5 years, provided there is no more than a 4-year break from the applicant’s special operations forces experience, as measured from the separation date from the special operations forces to the time a complete application for an exemption under this subsection is submitted. The employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center shall further verify and document the specific training and experience the applicant received during his or her special operations forces service that is relevant to law enforcement. The employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center shall submit documentation of satisfaction of these requirements to the commission.

(3) The commission shall adopt rules that establish criteria and procedures to determine if the applicant is exempt from completing the commission-approved basic recruit training program and, upon making a determination, shall notify the employing agency, training center, or criminal justice selection center. The commission may require an exempt applicant to complete additional training as it deems appropriate based on the applicant’s prior training and experience.

(4) Within 1 year after receiving an exemption, an applicant who is exempt from completing the commission-approved basic recruit training program must: (a) Complete all additional required training as required by the commission. (b) Demonstrate proficiency in the high-liability areas as defined by commission rule. (c) Complete the requirements of s. 943.13(10). If the proficiencies and requirements of s. 943.13(10) are not met within the 1-year period, the applicant must seek an additional exemption as provided in this subsection. Except as provided in subsection (1), before the employing agency may employ or appoint the applicant as an officer, the applicant must meet the minimum qualifications described in s. 943.13(1)-(8) and must fulfill the requirements of s. 943.13(10).

History: s. 7, ch. 84-258; s. 72, ch. 85-62; s. 7, ch. 85-224; s. 42, ch. 86-183; s. 2, ch. 86-286; ss. 5, 6, ch. 87-186; s. 5, ch. 91-429; s. 7, ch. 93-252; s. 1630, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 97-225; s. 5, ch. 2000-226; s. 3, ch. 2002-205; s. 3, ch. 2003-278; s. 5, ch. 2010-62; s. 3, ch. 2018-46; s. 3, ch. 2019-113; s. 9, ch. 2021-241.