TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed multiple bills into law on Thursday, one of which makes changes to the physical exam requirements for Florida officers and firefighters. One of the biggest effects of the law will be a ban on smoking for applicants a year before being hired as a firefighter.
Going forward, House Bill 453 makes it so Florida’s first responders and law enforcement officers will have to be medically cleared before serving the public.
The requirement includes correctional officers in the state, as well. Under the newly signed law, all firefighters and officers must “undergo a pre-employment physical examination,” and must undergo additional medical exam if previous checks “failed to reveal any evidence of tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension.”
Legislative analysis of the bill said it will also include requirements that firefighter job applicants stop smoking for at least one year before attempting to work for a fire department.
The analysis also found that the enrollment process for firefighting training courses will have multiple updated requirements.
According to the analysis, “To enroll in firefighting training courses and be certified as a firefighter, an applicant must”:
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