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HB 165 2026
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hb165-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to law enforcement, correctional, and 2
institutional security specialist officers; providing 3
a short title; providing legislative findings and 4
intent; requiring the average salary of a correctional 5
officer, correctional probation officer, or 6
institutional security specialist to be no less than a 7
certain percentage of the average salaries of sworn 8
law enforcement officers; requiring the Department of 9
Management Services to submit an annual compensation 10
analysis report to the Governor, the President of the 11
Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 12
Representatives; requiring an annual salary increase 13
for sworn law enforcement officers, correctional 14
officers, correctional probation officers, and 15
institutional security specialists; amending s. 16
252.36, F.S.; providing that the Governor may 17
authorize certain correctional officers, correctional 18
probation officers, and institutional security 19
specialists to assist with law enforcement operations 20
during a declared state or federal emergency; 21
providing an effective date. 22
23
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 24
25
HB 165 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Correctional and 26
Probation Officer Fairness Act." 27
Section 2. Compensation of correctional officers, 28
correctional probation officers, and institutional security 29
specialists.— 30
(1) The Legislature finds that: 31
(a) Correctional officers, correctional probation 32
officers, and institutional security specialists are certified 33
by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission and 34
are held to the same professional standards as state law 35
enforcement officers. 36
(b) Correctional officers, correctional probation 37
officers, and institutional security specialists work in high-38
risk environments and serve a vital role in public safety, 39
security, and offender supervision. 40
(c) There are disparities in compensation among 41
correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and 42
institutional security specialists and state law enforcement 43
officers. 44
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to: 45
(a) Ensure that correctional officers, correctional 46
probation officers, and institutional security specialists 47
receive compensation consistent with that of state law 48
enforcement officers. 49
(b) Provide that the Governor may authorize emergency 50
HB 165 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
response roles for qualified correctional officers, correctional 51
probation officers, and institutional security specialists 52
during state or federal emergencies. 53
(c) Establish fair and consistent annual pay raises that 54
reflect economic realities. 55
(d) Guarantee permanent pay equity protection for 56
correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and 57
institutional security specialists. 58
(3)(a) Beginning July 1, 2030, the average salary for 59
correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and 60
institutional security specialists may not be less than 97 61
percent of the average salary of sworn officers employed by law 62
enforcement agencies of this state, including the Florida 63
Highway Patrol, the Department of Law Enforcement, and the Fish 64
and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 65
(b) By July 1 of each year beginning in 2027, the 66
Department of Management Services shall submit an annual 67
compensation analysis report to the Governor, the President of 68
the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to 69
measure progress toward the goal of this section and continued 70
compliance with this section. 71
(4)(a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year, and each 72
fiscal year thereafter, sworn law enforcement officers, 73
correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and 74
institutional security specialists shall receive an annual 75
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
salary increase of at least 3 percent. 76
(b) The salary increase in paragraph (a) shall be made in 77
addition to any bonuses and merit, retention, or parity 78
increases separately authorized by law or policy. 79
Section 3. Subsections (9) through (12) of section 252.36, 80
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (10) through 81
(13), respectively, and new subsection (9) is added to that 82
section to read: 83
252.36 Emergency management powers of the Governor.— 84
(9)(a) In the event of a declared state or federal 85
emergency, the Governor may issue an executive order for up to 86
60 days which authorizes correctional officers, correctional 87
probation officers, and institutional security specialists to 88
assist state or federal agencies, including, but not limited to, 89
the United States Department of Homeland Security and United 90
States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in enforcement or 91
support operations. 92
(b) To be eligible for the authorization in paragraph (a), 93
a correctional officer, correctional probation officer, or 94
institutional security specialist must: 95
1. Be actively employed by the state. 96
2. Be certified by the Criminal Justice Standards and 97
Training Commission. 98
3. Have at least 5 years of continuous service in a full-99
time capacity as a correctional officer, correctional probation 100
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
officer, institutional security specialist, or sworn law 101
enforcement officer of this state. 102
(c) The Governor may renew an executive order issued under 103
this subsection in 30-day increments as necessary. 104
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 105