1009.896 Florida First Responder Scholarship Program.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Commission” means the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission within the Department of Law Enforcement.
(b) “Department” means the Department of Education.
(c) “Emergency medical technician” has the same meaning as provided in s. 401.23(12).
(d) “Firefighter” has the same meaning as provided in s. 633.102(9).
(e) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as provided in s. 943.10(1).
(f) “Paramedic” has the same meaning as provided in s. 401.23(18).
(g) “Postsecondary institution” means a Florida College System institution under s. 1000.21(5) or a career center under s. 1001.44.
(h) “Scholarship program” means the Florida First Responder Scholarship Program.
(2) ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION.—
(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Florida First Responder Scholarship Program is created to assist in the recruitment of law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters within the state by providing financial assistance to trainees who enroll in an approved training program.
(b) The department shall administer the scholarship program, in consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Health, and the Department of Financial Services, as applicable, according to the rules and procedures established by the State Board of Education.
(c) The scholarship shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date the department receives each completed application, and is contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.
(3) LAW ENFORCEMENT.—
(a) To be eligible for the scholarship award, a law enforcement trainee must:
1. Be enrolled in a commission-approved basic recruit training program at a postsecondary institution for the purposes of meeting the minimum qualifications under s. 943.13(9) for employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer.
2. Not be sponsored by an employing agency under s. 943.10(4) that is already covering the cost of a basic recruit training program.
(b) The award to eligible trainees shall be an amount equal to any costs and fees described in this subsection which are necessary to complete the basic recruit training program, less any state financial aid received by the trainee. The award to trainees shall cover:
1. The cost of tuition.
2. Any applicable fees required by ss. 1009.22(3) and (6)-(8) and 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); however, any award for a nonresident trainee may not include the out-of-state fee.
3. Up to $1,000 for eligible expenses, including:
a. The officer certification examination fee established pursuant to s. 943.1397.
b. Textbooks.
c. Uniforms.
d. Ammunition.
e. Required insurance.
f. Any other costs or fees for necessary consumable materials required to complete the basic recruit training program.
(4) EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS.—
(a) To be eligible for the scholarship award, an emergency medical technician trainee must:
1. Be enrolled in an emergency medical technician training program under s. 401.2701 that is approved by the Department of Health as equivalent to the most recent Emergency Medical Technician-Basic National Standard Curriculum or the National EMS Education Standards of the United States Department of Transportation.
2. Not be sponsored by an employer that is already covering the cost of the training program.
(b) The award to eligible trainees shall be an amount equal to any costs and fees described in this subsection which are necessary to complete the emergency medical technician training program, less any state financial aid received by the trainee. The award to trainees shall cover:
1. The cost of tuition.
2. Any applicable fees required by ss. 1009.22(3) and (6)-(8) and 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); however, any award for a nonresident trainee may not include the out-of-state fee.
3. Up to $1,000 for eligible expenses, including:
a. The National Registry Emergency Medical Test (NREMT).
b. Textbooks.
c. Uniforms.
d. Required equipment, such as a stethoscope.
e. Required insurance.
f. Any other costs or fees for necessary consumable materials required to complete the emergency medical technician training program.
(5) PARAMEDICS.—
(a) To be eligible for the scholarship award, a paramedic trainee must:
1. Be enrolled in a paramedic training program under s. 401.2701 that is approved by the Department of Health as equivalent to the most recent EMT-Paramedic National Standard Curriculum or the National EMS Education Standards of the United States Department of Transportation.
2. Not be sponsored by an employer that is already covering the cost of the training program.
(b) The award to eligible trainees shall be an amount equal to any costs and fees described in this subsection which are necessary to complete the paramedic training program, less any state financial aid received by the trainee. The award to trainees shall cover:
1. The cost of tuition.
2. Any applicable fees required by ss. 1009.22(3) and (6)-(8) and 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); however, any award for a nonresident trainee may not include the out-of-state fee.
3. Up to $1,000 for eligible expenses including:
a. The National Registry Emergency Medical Test (NREMT).
b. Textbooks.
c. Uniforms.
d. Required equipment, such as a stethoscope.
e. Required insurance.
f. Any other costs or fees for necessary consumable materials required to complete the paramedic training program.
(6) FIREFIGHTERS.—
(a) To be eligible for the scholarship award, a firefighter trainee must:
1. Be enrolled in a Firefighter Minimum Standards Course training program at a Florida Certified Training Center approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal for the purpose of meeting the minimum qualifications under s. 633.408.
2. Not be sponsored by an employer that is already covering the cost of the training program.
(b) The award to eligible trainees shall be an amount equal to any costs and fees described in this subsection which are necessary to complete the Firefighter Minimum Standards Course training program, less any state financial aid received by the trainee. The award to trainees shall cover:
1. The cost of tuition.
2. Any applicable fees required by ss. 1009.22(3) and (6)-(8) and 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); however, any award for a nonresident trainee may not include the out-of-state fee.
3. Up to $1,000 for eligible expenses, including:
a. The Firefighter Minimum Standards Course examinations required under s. 633.408(4)(b) for certification as a firefighter.
b. Textbooks.
c. Uniforms.
d. Required equipment and gear.
e. Required insurance.
f. Any other costs or fees for necessary consumable materials required to complete the Firefighter Minimum Standards Course training program.
(7) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.
History.—s. 12, ch. 2022-23; s. 48, ch. 2023-81; s. 21, ch. 2024-230.
