*Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that state statutes already prevented smoking a year before hiring of firefighters, and that the newly-signed bill is focused on records retention.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed multiple bills into law on Thursday, one of which makes changes to the way physical exam records for Florida officers and firefighters are kept.
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, and that the records are kept for five years after any separation from a fire department.
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 says it makes changes to record-keeping practices for firefighters in the state.
The analysis included details of the enrollment process for firefighting training courses, which are set by state statute 633.412.
Those requirements include:
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