FloridaFlorida requires autism training and offers officers communication cards
Florida requires the state to provide communication cards and envelopes for autistic people and sets deadlines for officers to complete autism training.
What it does
The state must make blue envelopes and cards available for autistic people to share with officers. The envelope can hold key driving and emergency contact details, and both items provide communication guidance.
Officer training covers recognizing autism, protecting people’s rights, and responding safely to dangerous situations. It also teaches officers how to find and return a person who has run away and is in danger while causing as little stress as possible.
Argument forCommunication guidance and officer training could help people and officers handle encounters more safely and protect people’s rights.
Argument againstPeople may worry that sharing a card or envelope that identifies them as autistic could reveal personal information during an officer interaction.
More detail
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must develop a blue envelope and blue card for autistic people to share with officers. The envelope is meant to hold copies of a driver license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and emergency contact information. Both items identify the person as autistic and give officers communication guidance. The card may be digital or a durable, wallet-sized card. The department must develop the items by January 1, 2027. People may request them from the department or a tax collector’s office beginning that day.
The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission must establish training for officers on interacting with autistic people. Training covers autism, protecting people’s rights during interviews, finding and returning a person who has run away and is in danger, recognizing a person’s ability to make independent choices, and responding safely to dangerous situations. It also covers the Baker Act and the blue envelope and card program. Initial certification training must be in person; continued training or education must be online. Basic skills courses for initial certification must include the training by July 1, 2028. Each certified officer must complete it by July 1, 2030.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 17Chapter No. 2026-147Latest
- Jun 16Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 12Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Ordered engrossed, then enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Returning Messages. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0Major
- Mar 11Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (376741)
- Mar 10In returning messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Passed as amended; YEAS 111, NAYS 0Passed House
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 10Amendment 376741 adopted
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 91st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Mar 9Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
- Mar 9Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 19In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Immediately certified
- Feb 19Passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 19Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 19Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 17Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26
- Feb 12Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0Minor
- Feb 9On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 110 Senate Building
- Feb 4Now in Fiscal Policy
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0Minor
- Jan 30On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 02/04/26, 3:45 pm, 37 Senate Building
- Jan 27Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
- Jan 26Favorable by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 21On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 37 Senate Building
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- 2025
- Nov 17Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Fiscal PolicyMinor
- Nov 6FiledIntroduced
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