As some of you may or may not know, last year APCO pushed very hard to have legislation passed that would put all telecommunicators in the Special Risk Category for retirement.  Unfortunately we faced opposition from the Association of Counties because the counties themselves did not support our bill.  Because of this (and partially because of the property tax issues) our bill died without passing through all of the required committees. 

 

 

Standards and Certification endeavor.

Florida 9-1-1 dispatchers currently have no standardized training or certification process.  We are not viewed as ‘professionals’ because we have no way to show that we are.

 

Firefighters, police officers, corrections officers, massage therapists, hair stylists all have State Certification.  They are required to attend standardized training that is State recognized before receiving their certification.

 

The proposed change will give dispatchers, call takers and teletype operators

the same certification and recognition as these other professions.

 

The change will require passage of a bill through both the

Florida House and the Florida Senate.

 

This effort is supported by Florida APCO, the Florida Firefighters Union and the

Florida Sheriff’s Association and many other organizations.

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION FLYER

 

 

The Regional Representatives are as follows:

 

·        Northwest - Leigh Brandt:  Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, Bay, Gulf, Gadsen, Liberty, Leon, Wakulla, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette and Dixie.

 

·        Northeast - Sharon Falcone & Lisa Cahill: Columbia, Gilchrist, Baker, Union, Bradford, Alachua, Levy, Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. John's, Putnam, Flagler, Marion and Volusia.

 

·        Central - Amy Campbell and Robert Jeffrey; Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Osceola, Polk, Pasco and Indian River.

 

·        Southeast - Natalie Heneks, Lisa Figueredo; Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martine, Palm Beach, Broward, Monroe and Dade.

 

·        Southwest - Margaret Hamrick; Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, Desoto, Highlands, Glades, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry and Collier.