SB 524 — Department of Law Enforcement

Upon the expiration of the present terms of office, the Governor shall appoint two members for terms of 4 years, two members for terms of 3 years, two members for terms of 2 years, and one member for a term of 1 year.

An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of the term.

suspension of medical examiners.— (1)(a)Page A5 districtof medical21 examinerCODING: shall be appointed by The Medical Examiners Commission shall appoint a district medical examiner, who must be a practicing physician in pathology, Governor for each medical examiner district from nominees who are practicing physicians in pathology, whose nominations are submitted to the Governor by the Medical Examiners Commission.

The term of office of each district medical examiner shall be 3 years.

An appointment to fill a Page 5 of 20 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1(1)(a) vacancyA district medical examiner shall be appointed by The Medical Examiners Commission shall appoint a district medical examiner, who must be a practicing physician in pathology, Governor for theeach unexpiredmedical portionexaminer ofdistrict from nominees who are practicing physicians in pathology, whose nominations are submitted to the term.Governor by the Medical Examiners Commission.

The term of office of each district medical examiner shall be 3 years.

An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of the term.

Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (3) of section 406.135, Florida Statutes, to read:

406.135 Autopsies;

confidentiality of photographs and video and audio recordings;

confidentiality of reports of minor victims of domestic violence;

exemption.— (3) (d) Notwithstanding subsection (2), in order to facilitate an anatomical gift or a transplantation, an eye bank, an organ procurement organization, or a tissue bank as those terms are defined in s.

765.511, pursuant to a written request containing proof of the intent of the deceased, the deceased’s family, or the deceased’s health care surrogate to make an anatomical gift in accordance with chapter 765, may:

1.

View or copy an autopsy report of a minor whose death was related to an act of domestic violence;

and 2.

View or copy an autopsy report of a person whose manner of death was determined by a medical examiner to have been by Page 6 of 21 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 suicide.

Section 5.

(b) “Agent” means a general lines agentagent, life agent, health agent, or title agent, as each type of agent is defined inunder s.

626.015,626.015. a life agent as defined in s.

626.015,The term includes a healthproducer, agentbut asdoes definednot ininclude s.a customer representative, limited customer representative, or service representative.

626.015,(c) “Applicant for licensure” means a surplusperson linesor agentan entity that has applied to the department for a license as definedan inagent, s.an insurance agency, an adjuster, a customer representative, a service representative, or a navigator.

626.914,(d) a“Control professionalperson,” bailwith bondrespect agentto asan definedapplicant infor s.licensure, means any of the following:

648.25, a limited surety agent as defined in s.

648.25, a limited lines agent, a legal expense insurance sales representative who must meet the requirements of s.

642.034, or a title insurance agent as defined in s.

626.841.

The term includes a producer but does not include a customer representative, limited customer representative, or service representative.

(c) “Applicant for licensure” means a person who has applied to the department for a license.

(d) “Control person,” with respect to a licensee or an applicant for licensure, means any of the following:

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 2.

3.Page 7 of 21 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 3.

(e) “License”“Customer meansrepresentative” ahas license issued by the Departmentsame ofmeaning Financial Services to an agent, an insurance agency as defined in s.

626.015,626.015. a title insurance agency as defined in s.

626.841,(f) an“Insurance adjuster,agency” anhas adjustingthe firmsame asmeaning definedas in s.

626.8695,626.015. a customer representative as defined in s.

626.015,(g) “License” means a servicelicense representativeissued asby definedthe inDepartment s.of Financial Services.

626.015,(h) or“Licensee” means a navigatorperson asor definedan inentity s.that has a license.

(i) “Navigator” has the same meaning as in s.

(f)(j) “Licensee”“Producer” means a person whorequired hasto abe license.licensed under the laws of this state to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance.

(g)(k) “Limited“Service linesrepresentative” agent”has meansthe ansame agentmeaning whoseas licensein is issued pursuant to s.

626.321.626.015.

(h)(2) “Person”The hasLegislature thefinds samethat meaningcriminal asactivity inof s.agents, customer representatives, adjusters, service representatives, or navigators poses a particular danger to the residents of this state.

1.01.Floridians rely, in good faith, on the honest conduct of such persons.

(i)To “Producer”safeguard meansthe aresidents personof requiredthis tostate, bethe licensed under Page 78 of 2021 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1Legislature thefinds lawsit ofnecessary thisto stateensure tothat sell,individuals solicit,who are licensees or negotiatecontrol insurance.persons of licensees do not have a criminal record.

(2)(3) The Department of Law Enforcement shall may accept and process fingerprints taken of an individual who is a licensee,natural anperson applicantwho foris licensure, or a control person of a licensee or an applicant for licensure organizers, incorporators, subscribers, officers, stockholders, directors, or any other persons involved, directly or indirectly, in the organization, operation, or management of:

(3)(4) A full set of fingerprints of ana individualnatural person described in subsection (2)(3) must be submitted to the Department of Financial Services or to a vendor, an entity, or an agency authorized under s.

The Department of Financial Services, vendor, entity, or agency shall forward the fingerprints to the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing, and the Department of Law Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nationalPage processing9 pursuantof to21 s.CODING:

624.34(5).

Fees for state and Page 8 of 20 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1national federal fingerprint processing mustpursuant beto bornes. by the person submitting them.

624.34(5).

Fees for state and federal fingerprint processing must be borne by the person submitting them.

(4)(3)(5)(3) The Department of Law Enforcement may, to the extent authorized provided for by federal law, exchange state, national multistate, and federal criminal history records with the Department of Financial Services department or office for the purpose of the issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of a certificate of authority, certification, or license to operate in this state.

(5)(6) The full set of fingerprints for each individualnatural person described in subsection (2)(3) must be submitted in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Financial Services.

(c) TheAll Departmentfingerprints ofsubmitted Financialto Services shall review the resultsDepartment of theLaw stateEnforcement andmust federalbe criminalsubmitted history background checks and determineentered whetherinto the applicantstatewide forautomated licensurebiometric oridentification licenseesystem meetsestablished the requirements for a license to operate in thiss. state.

(4)943.05(2)(b) Theand Departmentbe ofavailable Lawfor Enforcementuse mayin acceptaccordance fingerprintswith ofs. any other person required by statute or rule to submit fingerprints to the department or office or any applicant or licensee regulated by the department or office who is required to demonstrate that he or she has not been convicted of Page 9 of 20 CODING:

943.05(2)(g) and (h).

The Department of Financial Services shall inform the Department of Law Enforcement of the name of any person whose fingerprints no longer need to be retained.

(d) The costs of fingerprint processing, including the cost of retaining the fingerprints, must be borne by the natural Page 10 of 21 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1person orsubject pled guilty or nolo contendere to athe felonybackground orcheck. a misdemeanor.

(e) The Department of Financial Services shall review the results of the state and federal criminal history background checks and determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for a license to operate in this state.

(4) The Department of Law Enforcement may accept fingerprints of any other person required by statute or rule to submit fingerprints to the department or office or any applicant or licensee regulated by the department or office who is required to demonstrate that he or she has not been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a misdemeanor.

(6)(7)(6) The Department of Financial Services shall use the statewide criminal records obtained through the Department of Law Enforcement, the federal criminal records obtained through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the local criminal records obtained through local law enforcement agencies shall be used by the department and office for the purpose of issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of certificates of authority, certifications, or licenses issued to operate in this state.

Section 5.6.

624.341 Authority of Department of Law Enforcement to accept fingerprints of, and exchange criminal history records with respect to, certain persons applying to the Office of Insurance Regulation.— (1)Page As11 usedof in21 thisCODING: section, the term:

(a) “Applicant for licensure” means a person who has applied to the office for a license.

(b) “Control person,” with respect to a licensee or an applicant for licensure, means key managerial personnel with authority over the financial and operational decisions of the entities licensed, certified, registered, or holding a certificate of authority under the Florida Insurance Code, and includes any of the following as required by the office:

1.

Incorporators, stockholders, officers, directors, and Page 10 of 20 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1(1) attorneysAs used in factthis capturedsection, underthe s.term:

624.404(3)(c),(a) s.“Applicant for licensure” means a person or an entity that has applied to the office for a license.

628.071(1)(c),(b) s.“Control person,” with respect to a licensee or applicant for licensure, means any of the following:

629.091(2),1. s.

632.638(3),A person who holds the title of president, treasurer, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operations officer, chief legal officer, chief risk officer, chief underwriting officer, chief actuary, chief compliance officer, claims manager, director of claims, director of underwriting, underwriting manager, or s.attorney in fact.

641.22(6)(c).

Trustees,A officers,person directors,who andholds individualsany responsibleof for the managementofficer, ofgeneral andpartner, conductmanager, ofor themanaging managementmember ofpositions anamed multiple-employerin welfarethe arrangementgoverning underdocuments. s.

624.439(2).As used in this subparagraph, the term “governing documents” includes bylaws, articles of incorporation or organization, partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, and management or operating agreements.

IndividualsA employeddirector oron retained by an administrator who are responsible for the conduct of the affairs of an administrator, including all members of the board of directors,directors. board of trustees, executive committee, or other governing board or committee, and the principal officers in the case of a corporation or the partners or members in the case of a partnership or an association of an administrator under s.

626.8805.

IndividualsA responsibleshareholder forin whose name shares are registered in the affairsrecords of a viaticalcorporation settlementfor provider,profit, memberswhether ofincorporated under the boardlaws of directors,this boardstate ofor trustees,organized executiveunder committee,the orlaws otherof governingany boardother orjurisdiction committee, and anyexisting personin orthat entitylegal owningform, who directly or havingindirectly has the rightpower to acquirevote 10 percent or more of thea class of voting securitiessecurities, or to sell or direct the sale of a10 viaticalpercent settlementor providermore underof s.a class of voting securities.

626.9912.As used in this subparagraph, the term “shareholder” means a person who owns at least one share of a corporation and whose ownership is reflected in the records of the corporation.

5.(c) “License” means a certificate of authority, Page 12 of 21 CODING:

Management of a premium finance company under ss.

627.829(1) and 627.832(1)(g) and (j).

6.

Directors, officers, trustees, and other individuals performing duties similar to those of a director, an officer or a trustee of a corporation, an association, or a trust under s.

628.461(3)(a).

7.

Directors, officers, and trustees if a corporation, and partners, owners, managers, joint venturers, and others performing functions similar to those of a director, an officer, or a trustee, if not a corporation, of a specialty insurer under Page 11 of 20 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1certification, s.registration, or license issued by the office.

628.4615(5)(a)7.(d) “Licensee” means a person or an entity that has a license.

8.(2) The Legislature finds that criminal activity of insurers poses a particular danger to the residents of this state.

ManagersFloridians rely, in good faith, on the honest conduct of athose motorwho vehicleissue serviceand agreementmanage companyinsurance underpolicies s.and other insurance instruments in this state.

634.041(2),To asafeguard homethe warrantyresidents associationof underthis s.state, the Legislature finds it necessary to ensure that natural persons who are licensees or control persons of licensees do not have a criminal record.

634.304(2),(3) orThe Department of Law Enforcement shall accept and process fingerprints taken of a servicenatural warrantyperson associationwho underis s.a control person of a licensee of the office or an applicant for licensure with the office.

634.404(2).(4) A full set of fingerprints of a natural person described in subsection (3) must be submitted to the office or to a vendor, an entity, or an agency authorized under s.

9.

Members of the board of directors, board of trustees, executive committee, or other governing board or committee, the officers, contracted management company personnel, and any person or entity owning or having the right to acquire 10 percent or more of the voting securities of a prepaid limit health service organization under s.

636.008 or a discount plan organization under s.

636.204(2)(c).

10.

Persons responsible for the conduct of the affairs of a prepaid health clinic under s.

641.405(2)(c), including all members of the governing body, the officers and directors in the case of a corporation, and the partners or associates in the case of a partnership or an association.

11.

Individuals who are directors and officers, and each shareholder who owns or controls 10 percent or more of the shares of the corporation, of a legal expense insurance business under ss.

642.021 and 642.032.

12.

Members, shareholders, and persons in charge of providing care under a certificate of authority subject to s.

651.022(2)(c).

(c) “License” means a certificate of authority, certification, registration, or license issued by the office.

(d) “Licensee” means a person who has a license.

(e) “Person” has the same meaning as in s.

1.01.

(2) The Department of Law Enforcement shall accept and Page 12 of 20 CODING:

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 process fingerprints taken of an individual who is a licensee, an applicant for licensure, or a control person of a licensee or an applicant for licensure.

(3) A full set of fingerprints of an individual described in subsection (2) must be submitted to the office or to a vendor, an entity, or an agency authorized under s.

(4)(5) The Department of Law Enforcement may, to the extent authorized by federal law, exchange state, national,multistate, and federal criminal history records with the office for the purpose ofPage the13 issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of a21 certificateCODING: of authority, certification, registration, or license to operate in this state.

(5)Words Thestricken fullare setdeletions; of fingerprints for each individual described in subsection (2) must be submitted in accordance with rules adopted by the commission.

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 of the issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of a certificate of authority, certification, registration, or license to operate in this state.

(6) The full set of fingerprints for each natural person described in subsection (3) must be submitted in accordance with rules adopted by the commission.

Page(c) 13All fingerprints submitted to the Department of 20Law CODING:Enforcement must be submitted and entered into the statewide automated biometric identification system established in s.

943.05(2)(b) and be available for use in accordance with s.

943.05(2)(g) and (h).

The office shall inform the Department of Law Enforcement of the name of any person whose fingerprints no longer need to be retained.

(d) The costs of fingerprint processing, including the cost of retaining the fingerprints, must be borne by the natural person subject to the background check.

(e) The office shall review the results of the state and federal criminal history background checks and determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for a certificate of authority, certification, registration, or license to operate in this state.

(7) The office shall use the statewide criminal records obtained through the Department of Law Enforcement, the federal Page 14 of 21 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1criminal (c)records Theobtained officethrough shall review the resultsFederal Bureau of theInvestigation, state and federalthe local criminal historyrecords backgroundobtained checksthrough andlocal determinelaw whetherenforcement agencies for the applicantpurpose forof licensureissuance, denial, suspension, or licenseerevocation meetsof thecertificates requirementsof forauthority, acertifications, licenseregistrations, or licenses required to operate in this state.

(6)Section The7. office shall use the statewide criminal records obtained through the Department of Law Enforcement, the federal criminal records obtained through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the local criminal records obtained through local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of certificates of authority, certifications, registrations, or licenses required to operate in this state.

Section 6.

Section 7.8.

fingerprinting.— (1) As used in this section, the terms “immigration detainer” and “law enforcement agency” have the same meaning as Pagein 14s. of 20 CODING:

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 in s.

(3)(a) Each law enforcement agency shall capture and electronicallyPage submit15 to the department, in the manner prescribed by rule, the fingerprints of a21 qualifyingCODING: offender as defined in s.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 electronically submit to the department, in the manner prescribed by rule, the fingerprints of a qualifying offender as defined in s.

Section 8.9.

(2) A law enforcement agency shall apply to the department in the manner prescribed by rule for the administrative expunction of any nonjudicial record of any arrest or record Pagecontaining 15immigration ofdetainer 20information CODING:described in s.

943.0536 of a minor or an adult who is subsequently determined by the agency, at its discretion, or by the final order of a court of competent jurisdiction, to have been arrested or detained contrary to law or by mistake.

(3) An adult or, in the case of a minor child, the parent Page 16 of 21 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 First594-03158-26 Engrossed2026524c1 2026524e1or legal guardian of the minor child, may apply to the department in the manner prescribed by rule for the administrative expunction of any nonjudicial record of an arrest or record containing immigration detainer information described in s.

943.0536 of a minor or an adult who is subsequently determined by the agency, at its discretion, or by the final order of a court of competent jurisdiction, to have been arrested or detained contrary to law or by mistake.

(3) An adult or, in the case of a minor child, the parent or legal guardian of the minor child, may apply to the department in the manner prescribed by rule for the administrative expunction of any nonjudicial record of an arrest or record containing immigration detainer information described in s.

(6) An application for an administrative expunction of a Pagerecord 16containing ofimmigration 20detainer CODING:information as described in s.

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 record containing immigration detainer information as described in s.

(7)Page An17 application or endorsement under this section is not admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding and may not be construed in any way as an admission of liability21 inCODING: connection with an arrest or detention.

SectionWords 9.stricken are deletions;

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 (7) An application or endorsement under this section is not admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding and may not be construed in any way as an admission of liability in connection with an arrest.

Section 10.

1 Pageperson 17who is in charge of 20a CODING:county correctional institution;

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 person who is in charge of a county correctional institution;

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 Section 11.

120.60(5), whenif an administrative complaint is served on a certified law enforcement officer, a correctional officer, a correctional probation officer, or an instructor, commission staff shallmust provide service by certified mail to the certifiedlicensee’s officer’s or instructor’s last known address of record and, if possible, by e-mail.

If the person providing service does not provide commission staff with proof of service, commission staff must call the last known telephone number of record and cause a short, plain notice to the certifiedlicensee officer or instructor to be posted on the front page of the commission’s website.

Section 11.12.

The training component shall include, but need not Pagebe 18limited to, instruction on the recognition of 20symptoms CODING:of such an emergency, distinguishing such an emergency from alcohol intoxication or drug overdose, and appropriate first aid for such an emergency.

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 be limited to, instruction on the recognition of symptoms of such an emergency, distinguishing such an emergency from alcohol intoxication or drug overdose, and appropriate first aid for such an emergency.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 Section 13.

Section 13.14.

Completion of the training component may count toward the 40 hours of instruction for continued employment or Pageappointment 19as ofa 20law CODING:enforcement officer required under s.

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CS for SB 524 First Engrossed 2026524e1 appointment as a law enforcement officer required under s.

Section 14.15.

943.17299 Continued employment training relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.—The commission department shall establish an online, continued employmentPage training20 component relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.21 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 524 594-03158-26 2026524c1 employment training component relating to Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.

Section 15.16.

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