Florida Florida Statutes

§ 112.19 — Law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers; death benefits

FS § 112.19Ch. 112

Statute text

(1)As used in this section, the term:(a) “Employer” means a state board, commission, department, division, bureau, or agency, or a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state, which employs, appoints, or otherwise engages the services of law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officers.

(b)“Fresh pursuit” means the pursuit of a person who has committed or is reasonably suspected of having committed a felony, misdemeanor, traffic infraction, or violation of a county or municipal ordinance. The term does not imply instant pursuit, but pursuit without unreasonable delay.

(c)“Insurance” means insurance procured from a stock company or mutual company or association or exchange authorized to do business as an insurer in this state.

(d)“Law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer” means any officer as defined in s. 943.10(14) or employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state, including any law enforcement officer, correctional officer, correctional probation officer, state attorney investigator, public defender investigator, or criminal conflict and civil regional counsel investigator, whose duties require such officer or employee to investigate, pursue, apprehend, arrest, transport, or maintain custody of persons who are charged with, suspected of committing, or convicted of a crime; and the term includes any member of a bomb disposal unit whose primary responsibility is the location, handling, and disposal of explosive devices. The term also includes any full-time officer or employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state, certified pursuant to chapter 943, whose duties require such officer to serve process or to attend a session of a circuit or county court as bailiff. (2)(a) The sum of $75,000 must be paid as provided in this section when a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer, while engaged in the performance of the officer's law enforcement duties, is accidentally killed or receives accidental bodily injury which results in the loss of the officer's life, provided that such killing is not the result of suicide and that such bodily injury is not intentionally self-inflicted.

(b)The sum of $75,000 must be paid as provided in this section if a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer is accidentally killed as specified in paragraph (a) and the accidental death occurs:1. As a result of the officer's response to fresh pursuit; 2. As a result of the officer's response to what is reasonably believed to be an emergency; 3. At the scene of a traffic accident to which the officer has responded; or 4. While the officer is enforcing what is reasonably believed to be a traffic law or ordinance. This sum is in addition to any sum provided for in paragraph (a).

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Legislative history

ss. 1, 2, ch. 67-408; ss. 1, 3, ch. 71-301; s. 52, ch. 79-40; s. 1, ch. 87-143; s. 2, ch. 89-22; s. 1, ch. 90-138; s. 1, ch. 92-59; s. 3, ch. 93-149; s. 2, ch. 94-171; s. 1404, ch. 95-147; s. 3, ch. 95-283; s. 3, ch. 96-198; s. 38, ch. 99-2; s. 1, ch. 2002-191; s. 5, ch. 2002-194; s. 1, ch. 2002-232; s. 9, ch. 2003-1; s. 46, ch. 2003-412; ss. 14, 15, ch. 2004-357; ss. 2, 5, 6, ch. 2005-100; s. 8, ch. <a h