SB 500 — Spectrum Alert
Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 711 (Ch. 2025-123)
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Spectrum Alert; Requiring the Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of the Lottery, and local law enforcement agencies, to establish and implement the Spectrum Alert by a specified date; requiring the department, in cooperation with specified entities, to develop a training program and alert system for missing children with autism spectrum disorder which is compatible with existing alert systems by a certain date, etc. APPROPRIATION: $190,000
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
86 added · 87 removed86 line(s) added, 87 removed.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 500 By the Appropriations Committee on FiscalCriminal Policy;and Civil Justice;
theand AppropriationsSenator CommitteeAvila on604-03474-25 Criminal2025500c1 andA Civilbill Justice;to be entitled An act relating to the Spectrum Alert;
and Senators Avila and Arrington 594-03847-25 2025500c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to the Spectrum Alert;
requiring the Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of the Lottery, and local law enforcement agencies, to establish and implement the Spectrum AlertAlert; by a specified date;
requiring the department, in cooperation with specified entities, to develop a training program and alert system for missing children with autism spectrum disorder which is compatible with existing alert systemssystems; by a certain date;
937.0401 Spectrum Alert.— (1) The Legislature finds that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) significantly affects children in this country, creating unique challenges that can lead to critical safety risks, suchnotably as elopement or wandering behaviors in children.
Children with ASD are prone to wander from safe environmentsenvironments, at a higher rate Pagethan 1their ofnon-autistic 3peers. CODING:
Elopement frequently results Page 1 of 3 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 500 594-03847-25604-03474-25 2025500c22025500c1 thanin theirsevere non-autisticconsequences, peers.including fatal traffic accidents and drownings.
Elopement frequently results in severe consequences, including fatal traffic accidents and drownings.
The high propensity for elopement and the ineffectiveness of traditional search and response methods necessitatenecessitates a robust system that will swiftly locate and ensure the safety of missing children with ASD.
(2) ByThe July 1, 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of the Lottery, and local law enforcement agencies, shall establish and implement the Spectrum Alert to enhance the safety and well-being of children with ASD through immediate and effective community and emergency response.
(3) ByThe July 1, 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of the Lottery, and local law enforcement agencies, shall:
(b) Establish policies and procedures for responding to a Page 2 of 3 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 500 594-03847-25604-03474-25 2025500c22025500c1 (b) Establish policies and procedures for responding to a reported missing child emergency when the child has ASD.
(c) Require a law enforcement agency, at a minimum, to do all of the following uponwhen receiving such a report:
Section 3.2.
Section 4.3.
View plain text versions (3)
- S 500 c1 View text pdf
- S 500 c2 View text Current pdf
- Introduced S 500 Filed pdf
Action History
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Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 711 (Ch. 2025-123)
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Substituted HB 711
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Read 2nd time
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CS/CS by Fiscal Policy read 1st time
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Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/29/25
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Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
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Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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CS/CS by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/22/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building
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CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice read 1st time
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Now in Fiscal Policy
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Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 04/10/25, 11:00 am, 37 Senate Building
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Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
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Favorable by Criminal Justice; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 03/25/25, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building
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Introduced
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Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Fiscal Policy
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Filed
Sponsors
- Kristen Aston Arrington · Cosponsor
- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice · Primary
- Fiscal Policy · Primary
- Vacant · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 160 not signed on
Sponsors (3)
- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
- Fiscal Policy
- Vacant Republican
Co-sponsors (1)
- Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat
Not signed on (160)
160 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 160 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (19)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Ingoglia | — | Yea |
| Arrington, Kristen Aston | Democrat | Yea |
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Davis, Tracie | Democrat | Yea |
| Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" | Democrat | Yea |
| Osgood, Rosalind | Democrat | Yea |
| Boyd, Jim | Republican | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Burton, Colleen | Republican | Yea |
| Calatayud, Alexis | Republican | Yea |
| Gaetz, Don | Republican | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" | Republican | Yea |
| Passidomo, Kathleen | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Ana Maria | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Truenow, Keith L. | Republican | Yea |
| Vacant | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Ingoglia | — | Yea |
| Osgood, Rosalind | Democrat | Yea |
| Polsky, Tina Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Rouson, Darryl Ervin | Democrat | Yea |
| Garcia, Ileana | Republican | Not Voting |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Wright, Tom A. | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No Party Affiliation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Smith, Carlos Guillermo | Democrat | Yea |
| Pizzo, Jason W. B. | No Party Affiliation | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Garcia, Ileana | Republican | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 500 do?
- Spectrum Alert; Requiring the Department of Law Enforcement, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of the Lottery, and local law enforcement agencies, to establish and implement the Spectrum Alert by a specified date; requiring the department, in cooperation with specified entities, to develop a training program and alert system for missing children with autism spectrum disorder which is compatible with existing alert systems by a certain date, etc. APPROPRIATION: $190,000
- Who sponsors SB 500?
- SB 500 is sponsored by Arrington, Kristen Aston (Democrat), Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Fiscal Policy, and Vacant (Republican).
- What is the current status of SB 500?
- This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 500?
- Track SB 500 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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