The Florida Senate passed a bill 33-3 on Monday that would allow certain correctional probation officers to carry concealed firearms during off-duty hours at the discretion of their superior officers.
The bill would also waive the mandatory three-day waiting period for firearm purchases for law enforcement officers, correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and military service members.
Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) sponsored the bill (SB 490). Sen. Collins specified certain rights for correctional probation officers to conceal carry.
"SB 490 is very straightforward. What this does is add(s) correctional probation officers, being their now included to the members of law enforcement, can now carry concealed firearms off duty," Collins said. "Such carry is at the discretion of their superior officer, and these officers may also perform certain law enforcement functions off duty when necessary."
"If a superior officer should elect to permit those off duty carrying, they must file a formal statement with the governing body of the department outlining policies and conditions," Collins added.
The Senate substituted the House version of the bill (HB 383) without objection. Reps. Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring) and Mike Giallombardo (R-Cape Coral) ran the House bill, which had already passed in the chamber 111-0 earlier this month.
In a previous committee, Holcomb argued that law enforcement officers already held plenty of experience to warrant an exemption.
"All of these patriots, well-meaning law enforcement officers, corrections officers, correctional probation officers, military service members, receive more firearms training, more vetting, than a concealed carry permit holder in all honesty," Holcomb said.
If signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the bill would take effect on July 1.
