On Thursday November 5, 2015, Chief Mark Weeks attended a press conference at the State Capitol in Tallahassee to show his support for three pending bills that would aid in the protection of first responders.
Representative Elizabeth Porter and Representative Jimmie T. Smith announced the three bills entitled, “Putting Florida’s First Responders First”. House Bill 309 will make it a hate crime if someone assaults, kills, or maims a law enforcement officer. House Bill 257 will make it an act of terrorism to threaten a law enforcement officer’s life. House Bill 87 will increase the monthly surviving benefits of the surviving spouse of a law enforcement officer if killed in the line of duty. It also makes Florida State Retirement available to them. There are similar Bills currently in the Senate.
Chief Weeks spoke with State Senator Greg Evers to ask for his support of these Bills and ask that citizens contact their State Representatives and Senators to show their support for these pending Bills.