Florida SB 1570: Information Technology Reorganization

Bill Text

1570 
Statewide Project for Missing Persons with Special Needs 
2026-01-09T05:16:55Z 
Amending a provision relating to the missing persons with special needs statewide project; providing that the project is created through the centers for autism and related disabilities; requiring that participants for the project be selected based on certain criteria, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1570 

 By Senator Gaetz 

 1-01335A-26 20261570__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to a statewide project for missing 
 3 persons with special needs; reviving, readopting, and 
 4 amending s. 937.041, F.S., relating to the missing 
 5 persons with special needs statewide project; 
 6 providing that the project is created through the 
 7 centers for autism and related disabilities; requiring 
 8 that participants for the project be selected based on 
 9 certain criteria; deleting obsolete language; 
 10 providing appropriations; providing an effective date. 
 11 
 12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 13 
 14 Section 1. Notwithstanding the repeal of section 937.041, 
 15 Florida Statutes, in section 13 of chapter 2020-3, Laws of 
 16 Florida, section 937.041, Florida Statutes, is revived, 
 17 readopted, and amended to read: 
 18 937.041 Missing persons with special needs statewide 
 19 project.— 
 20 (1) There is created a statewide project, to be known as 
 21 “Project Leo,” through the centers a center for autism and 
 22 related disabilities established under s. 1004.55. Each center 
 23 that opts to join the project shall distribute personal devices 
 24 to aid search-and-rescue efforts for persons with special needs 
 25 in the case of elopement. 
 26 (2) Participants for the project shall be selected based on 
 27 criteria developed by the respective center for autism and 
 28 related disabilities based on the specific needs of the 
 29 respective each center’s service area counties prescribed under 
 30 s. 1004.55. Criteria for participation in the project must 
 31 include, at a minimum, the person’s risk of elopement. The 
 32 qualifying participants shall be selected on a first-come, 
 33 first-served basis by the respective centers to the extent of 
 34 available funding within their existing resources. The project 
 35 must be voluntary and free of charge to participants. 
 36 (3) Under the project, personal devices to aid search-and 
 37 rescue efforts shall be provided by the respective center to the 
 38 sheriff’s offices of the participating counties. The devices 
 39 shall be distributed to project participants by the county 
 40 sheriff’s offices in conjunction with the respective center. The 
 41 respective center shall fund any costs associated with 
 42 monitoring the devices. 
 43 (4) The project shall operate to the extent of available 
 44 funding within the respective center’s existing resources. 
 45 (5) This section expires June 30, 2019. 
 46 Section 2. For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of 
 47 $250,000 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General 
 48 Revenue Fund to the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities 
 49 at the University of Florida, the sum of $250,000 in 
 50 nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund 
 51 to the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida 
 52 Atlantic University, the sum of $250,000 in nonrecurring funds 
 53 is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Center for 
 54 Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South 
 55 Florida, and the sum of $250,000 in nonrecurring funds is 
 56 appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Center for 
 57 Autism and Related Disabilities at Florida State University. The 
 58 funds provided to each center shall be used solely for the 
 59 purchase of personal devices to aid search-and-rescue efforts 
 60 for persons with special needs in the case of elopement. 
 61 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.