Florida HB 1405: Statewide Project for Missing Persons with Special Needs

Bill Text

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HB 1405 2026 Legislature

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An act relating to a statewide project for missing 2
persons with special needs; reviving, readopting, and 3
amending s. 937.041, F.S., relating to the missing 4
persons with special needs statewide project; 5
providing that the project is created through the 6
centers for autism and related disabilities; providing 7
that the participants for the project shall be 8
selected based on certain criteria; deleting obsolete 9
language; providing appropriations; providing an 10
effective date. 11
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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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

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HB 1405 2026 Legislature

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

in the case of elopement. 26
(2) Participants for the project shall be selected based 27
on 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

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HB 1405 2026 Legislature

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

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. 62