(1) As used in this section:(a) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as provided in s. 943.10(1). (b) “Law enforcement training and experience” means training courses, specialized assignments or work experience, and other similar activities performed by a person during his or her service as a law enforcement officer that require education beyond the basic skills of an officer.
(2) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations and the State Board of Education shall adopt rules that create a process that enables eligible law enforcement officers or former law enforcement officers to earn uniform postsecondary credit across all Florida public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level training and education acquired while serving as a law enforcement officer. The regulations and rules shall include procedures for credential evaluation and the uniform award of postsecondary credit or career education clock hours, including, but not limited to, equivalency and alignment of law enforcement training with appropriate postsecondary courses and course descriptions.
(3) The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall convene a workgroup by September 1, 2022, which is responsible for developing a process for determining postsecondary course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock hours that must be awarded for law enforcement training and experience.(a) The workgroup shall be composed of the following 14 members:1. The chair of the Articulation Coordinating Committee, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair.
2. Four members representing academic affairs administrators and faculty from state universities, appointed by the chair of the Board of Governors.
3. Four members representing academic affairs administrators and faculty from Florida College System institutions, appointed by the chair of the State Board of Education.
4. Two members representing faculty from career centers, appointed by the State Board of Education.
5. A representative from the Florida Sheriffs Association.
6. A representative from the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
7. A representative from the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
(b) The Office of K-20 Articulation shall provide administrative support for the workgroup.
(c) The workgroup shall establish a process for prioritizing and determining postsecondary course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock hours that must be awarded for law enforcement training and experience. The workgroup shall provide recommendations to the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education by March 1, 2023, for approval at the next meeting of each board to allow for adequate public notice. The workgroup shall terminate upon submission of its recommendations.
(d) Upon approval of the workgroup’s recommendations by the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education, the Articulation Coordinating Committee shall facilitate the review of law enforcement training and experience for postsecondary course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock hours that must be awarded in accordance with the approved process.
(e) Within 1 year after approval of the workgroup’s recommendations by the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education pursuant to paragraph (c), the Articulation Coordinating Committee shall approve a prioritized list of postsecondary course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock hours that must be awarded for law enforcement training and experience. The list must be updated annually. The Board of Governors and the State Board of Education shall timely adopt the list approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee at the next meeting of each board to allow for adequate public notice. For the purpose of statewide application, postsecondary course equivalencies and the minimum postsecondary credit or career education clock hours that must be awarded for law enforcement training and experience shall be delineated by the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors in the statewide articulation agreement required by s. 1007.23(1). (f) State universities, Florida College System institutions, and career centers must award postsecondary credit or career education clock hours for law enforcement training and experience based on the list adopted by the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education pursuant to paragraph (e) if the credit or career education clock hours are applicable toward the student’s degree or certificate. Institutions may award additional postsecondary credit or career education clock hours if appropriate. Credit or career education clock hours awarded in accordance with minimum postsecondary credit and clock hour requirements, respectively, are guaranteed to transfer to other state universities, Florida College System institutions, and career centers.
