FL APCO, FL NENA and FL 911 Coordinators’ Association are getting ready for the upcoming Legislative Session in Tallahassee. The session starts early on January 9, 2024. We are still committed to getting the recognition for 911 Public Safety Telecommunicators as First Responders.

We will be looking for our members’ assistance to attend County Legislative Delegation Meetings and contact their Representatives when the time is right. The Legislative Delegation Meetings have already begun. We are looking for volunteers to speak at these meetings. Here is what presenting at the Legislative Delegation Meetings entails.

• Plan to attend your County Legislative Delegation Meeting by requesting, in advance, a 3-minute time slot. If you do not request a speaking slot in advance, you must complete a speaker's request form at the meeting. You will be recognized on a first come-first serve basis after the advanced speaking requests are through

• Arrive early and if necessary, complete a Speaker's Request Form. Use the early arrival to meet staff, aides and lawmakers.

• Once the meeting begins, and it is your turn, you will have 3 minutes to speak

• Introduce yourself, the name of your agency, your title and how long you have been a 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatcher

• Briefly describe what you do on the job every day, by referring to 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatchers as the "first responders" to the first responders

• Present retention of qualified, certified Telecommunicators as the number one issue facing first responder agencies statewide.

• Recognizing 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatchers as First Responders by adding certified Telecommunicators into the statute definition of a "First Responder", will go a long way towards helping an agency's retention crisis.

• Thank the delegation members for listening and let them know you and other dispatchers from around the state plan on traveling to Tallahassee during the upcoming 2024 Session.

A listing of the County Legislation Delegation Meetings can be found at: Legislative Delegation Committee Meetings, or by reaching out to your organizations’ representative.

Please remember to check your agency’s policies on attending and speaking at the meetings.