Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday to protect some of Florida's bravest heroes, its firefighters.
Speaking at the 81st Annual Convention of the Florida Professional Firefighters in Palm Beach Gardens, DeSantis approved HB 929. The bill aims to boost the health and safety of firefighters by addressing key major issues.
Reps. Erika Booth (R-St. Cloud) and Danny Alvarez (R-Hillsborough) sponsored HB 929. Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach) carried a similar Senate bill.
"We appreciate your service to your communities. We appreciate your service to the state. We recognize the fact that you have a duty that you discharge to run into the danger to protect others, to save family members, friends, pets, whatever may be in harm's way," DeSantis said at the event. "That's a noble calling. That's very meaningful for the communities that you serve."
Specifically, HB 929 revises the Florida Firefighters’ Occupational Safety and Health Act to include occupational diseases and mental health ramifications in response to the everyday risks firefighters face.
Among its details, the bill creates work schedules to limit work hours to 42 per week. DeSantis said it should reduce firefighter burnout and fatigue.
It also addresses a major problem in the high-stress field, possible suicide.
"And importantly, it means adding suicide prevention to our safety protocols, treating it with the seriousness it deserves, and taking real steps to prevent those tragedies," DeSantis said. "So with HB 929, we’re providing our firefighters with the additional tools, support and protection that they deserve.”
DeSantis signed a similar firefighter protection bill into law in May. Like that bill, HB 929 goes into effect on July 1.
