FloridaFour Florida centers receive funds for missing-person search devices
Starting July 1, 2026, four university centers receive one-time state funds to buy devices for searches when people with special needs wander off.
What it does
Four university centers receive $250,000 each to buy devices for searches when people with special needs wander off.
Centers that join Project Leo provide free devices to help search for people with special needs who wander off. Local centers select participants based on risk and available funding.
Argument forDevices distributed by county sheriffs could help search teams find people with special needs who wander off.
Argument againstBecause centers choose participants based on risk and available funding, some people who may wander off could wait or miss out on a device.
More detail
Four university centers receive one-time state funds to buy search devices. The funds go to centers at the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, the University of South Florida, and Florida State University. Each center must use its funds only to buy personal devices to help search for people with special needs who wander off. The one-time funds are for fiscal year 2026–2027. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Centers that join Project Leo provide personal devices to help search for people who wander off. The project operates through centers for autism and related disabilities and sheriffs in participating counties. Taking part is voluntary and free. Centers set local selection rules that must include a person's risk of wandering off, then choose participants in first-come, first-served order as far as available funding allows. County sheriffs distribute devices with the centers, which pay monitoring costs. The text says the section expires June 30, 2019, but does not explain how that date applies after the act takes effect. The act takes effect July 1, 2026. The project section also states an expiration date of June 30, 2019.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 26Chapter No. 2026-172Latest
- Jun 25Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 12Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 10Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10In Messages
- Mar 10Passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 10Substituted for SB 1570
- Mar 10Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 10Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 3ReceivedMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Referred to RulesMinor
- Mar 3In Messages
- Mar 3Passed; YEAS 109, NAYS 0Passed House
- Mar 3Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 3Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 26Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
- Feb 24Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 24Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Feb 24Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Feb 20Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Feb 17Now in State Affairs Committee
- Feb 17Reported out of Budget Committee
- Feb 16Favorable by Budget CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable (Budget Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Added to Budget Committee agenda
- Feb 11Now in Budget Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Government Operations Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
- Feb 11Favorable by Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 9Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 15Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
- Jan 15Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Referred to Budget CommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Referred to Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 9FiledIntroduced
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