Fla. Stat. § 493.631 — Florida Code / Title XXXII / Chapter 493 / Part III / Section 493.631
493.631 Temporary detention by a licensed security officer or licensed security agency manager at critical infrastructure facilities.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section, the term “critical infrastructure facility” means any of the following, if it employs measures such as fences, barriers, or guard posts that are designed to exclude unauthorized persons: (a) A chemical manufacturing facility. (b) A refinery. (c) An electrical power plant as defined in s. 403.031, including a substation, switching station, electrical control center, or electric transmission or distribution facility. (d) A water intake structure, water treatment facility, wastewater treatment plant, or pump station. (e) A natural gas transmission compressor station. (f) A liquid natural gas terminal or storage facility. (g) A telecommunications central switching office. (h) A deepwater port or railroad switching yard. (i) A gas processing plant, including a plant used in the processing, treatment, or fractionation of natural gas.

(2) As used in this section, the terms “security officer” and “security agency manager” mean a security officer or security agency manager who possess a valid Class “D” or Class “MB” license pursuant to s. 493.6301 and a valid Class “G” license pursuant to s. 493.6115.

(3) A security officer or security agency manager who is on duty, in uniform, and on the premises of a critical infrastructure facility, and who has probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a crime against the client operating the premises or the client’s patron may temporarily detain the person to ascertain his or her identity and the circumstances of the person’s activity.

(4) When temporarily detaining a person, the security officer or security agency manager shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency of the detention as soon as reasonably possible. A security officer or security agency manager may temporarily detain a person only until a law enforcement officer arrives at the premises of the client and is in the presence of the detainee. Upon arrival of the law enforcement officer, the security officer or security agency manager shall immediately transfer custody of a person being temporarily detained to the responding law enforcement officer.

(5) A security officer or security agency manager may not detain a person under this section after the arrival of a law enforcement officer unless the law enforcement officer requests that the security officer or security agency manager continue detaining the person. The authority of the security officer or security agency manager to continue detaining a person after the arrival of a law enforcement officer under this subsection does not extend beyond the place where the person was first detained or in the immediate vicinity of that place.

(6) A security officer or security agency manager may not temporarily detain a person under this section longer than is reasonably necessary to affect the purposes of this section.

(7) While detaining a person under this section, if a security officer or security agency manager observes that the person temporarily detained is armed with a firearm, concealed weapon, or destructive device that poses a threat to the safety of the security officer, the security agency manager, or any person for whom the security officer or security agency manager is responsible for providing protection, or if the detainee admits to having a weapon in his or her possession, the security officer or security agency manager may conduct a search of the person and his or her belongings only to the extent necessary to disclose the presence of a weapon. If the security officer or security agency manager finds a weapon during the search, he or she shall seize and transfer the weapon to the responding law enforcement officer.

(8) A security officer or security agency manager who possesses a valid Class “G” license shall perform duties regulated under this section in a uniform with at least one patch or emblem visible at all times clearly identifying the agency employing the security officer or security agency manager.

(9) A law enforcement officer, security officer, or security agency manager is not criminally or civilly liable for false arrest, false imprisonment, or unlawful detention due to his or her custody and detention of a person if done in compliance with this section.

History: s. 2, ch. 2013-221.