11B-27.013. Canine Team Certification

(1) Definitions.

(a) “Canine team” shall refer to a certified officer and a specific canine working together in the performance of law enforcement or correctional duties. “Handler” refers to the certified officer who trains and controls the canine. This definition does not include canines used by certified officers exclusively for tracking and trailing or specific detection, which are excluded from the certification process.

(b) “Canine evaluator” shall refer to a person who is authorized by the Commission to administer the canine team performance evaluation to canine teams and to attest to the proficiency of the canine team pursuant with the performance evaluation. The evaluator shall determine if training submitted by an agency that is requesting certification is equivalent to the 480-hour Canine Team Training Course number 1198. The canine team evaluator applicant requesting approval of the Commission shall be required to possess the minimum training and experience pursuant to subsection (7) of this rule section, and documented in a request to Commission staff. A Commission-approved evaluator shall not verify equivalent training that he or she delivered.

(c) “Equivalent Training” shall refer to the Canine Team Training Course number 1198 not delivered at a Commission-certified training school, or any canine team training course other than the Commission-approved Canine Team Training Course number 1198. Equivalent training shall be a minimum of 480 hours and shall comply with the goals and objectives of the Canine Team Training Course number 1198. For a previously Commission-certified handler assigned a new canine, equivalent training shall refer to the 80-hour minimum training requirement.

(2) Canine team certification requirements. Commission certification of a canine team is not required. If a canine team seeks Commission certification, the canine team shall meet the following requirements:

(a) A canine team shall successfully complete the Canine Team Training Course number 1198, or equivalent training as defined in subsection (1) of this rule section, at a minimum of 480 hours before applying for certification, or

(b) A canine team that has successfully completed the Canine Team Training Course number 1112, or equivalent training, at a minimum of 400 hours prior to the retirement of that course on November 6, 2013, shall become certified by October 31, 2015. Failure to become certified by that date shall require the canine team to successfully complete Canine Team Training Course number 1198, or equivalent training, at a minimum of 480 hours.

(c) A canine team shall successfully demonstrate proficiency skills pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) of this rule section.

(d) A previously Commission-certified handler assigned a new canine shall comply with the training goals and objectives in the Canine Team Training Course number 1198, with the exception of the academic block of instruction. The canine team shall train for a minimum of 80 hours, which shall be verified by a Commission-approved evaluator as equivalent training, and successfully demonstrate the required proficiency skills.

(e) A canine team shall provide documentation of the canine team’s compliance with certification requirements and submit a Canine Team Certification Application, form CJSTC-70, revised August 12, 2021, effective 6/2022, hereby incorporated by reference https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14218. Form CJSTC-70 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at [phone].

(3) Required documentation for certification of a canine team. Documentation of compliance for Commission certification of canine teams shall include:

(a) A completed Canine Team Certification Application form CJSTC-70. Prior to submitting a form CJSTC-70, the agency employing the canine team shall collect, verify, and have on file documents establishing compliance with the requirements of this rule section, regardless of where canine training takes place.

(b) Documentation of successful completion of canine team training shall include the following:

1. Certificate of successful completion of the Canine Team Training Course number 1198 delivered at a Commission-certified training school and taught by Commission-certified Canine Instructors; or

2. Successful completion of the equivalent training shall be documented on the Canine Course Equivalency Checklist form CJSTC-70A, revised November 5, 2015, effective 9/2016, hereby incorporated by reference http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07378. Form CJSTC-70A can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at [phone].

a. Canine Team Training Course number 1198 not delivered at a Commission-certified training school shall be deemed as equivalent training by a Commission-approved evaluator.

b. Any canine team training course other than the Commission-approved Canine Team Training Course number 1198 shall be deemed equivalent training by a Commission-approved evaluator if the course is a minimum of 480 hours and complies with the objectives of the Canine Team Training Course number 1198.

3. The employing agency submitting form CJSTC-70 shall provide documentation of training to the Commission-approved evaluator. The evaluator shall review and document of the training on form CJSTC-70A.

(c) A completed Canine Team Performance Evaluation form CJSTC-83, revised November 6, 2014, effective 7/2015, hereby incorporated by reference http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05655, shall be verified by evaluator(s) to ensure the canine team completed the proficiency requirements. Form CJSTC-83 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at [phone].

1. Successful completion of the canine team performance evaluation shall be administered by two Commission-approved canine team evaluators and documented on form CJSTC-83. A Commission-approved canine team evaluator conducting the initial training of a canine team shall not participate in the initial certification of that team. One of the Commission-approved canine team evaluators shall not be affiliated with the employing agency of the canine team being examined for certification. A Commission-approved canine team evaluator shall not administer a performance evaluation to a canine that is assigned as the evaluator’s work partner.

2. The canine team proficiency topics are permitted to be administered in random order by the evaluator or concurrently by the evaluator.

3. During the initial evaluation the canine team shall test in all topics of the performance evaluation. If a canine team fails to successfully demonstrate proficiency on one specific topic during the initial evaluation, one re-evaluation is permitted to be given for the specific topic during the initial evaluation. The handler shall be allowed to remediate with the canine prior to declaring intent to repeat the specific topic. If a canine team fails to complete the specific topic or any additional topics, the canine team shall be deemed to have failed the performance evaluation. Remediation is defined as the handler working with the canine to resolve the topic of deficiency specified in form CJSTC-83 in the “Re-examination and Remediation Process” section.

4. If a canine team fails to successfully demonstrate proficiency for any topic(s) during the first performance evaluation, the handler shall remediate the canine team in the topic(s). The canine team shall retest after a minimum of 24 hours from the date of the first failure and successfully demonstrate proficiency in the specific failed topic(s) under the supervision of two Commission-approved evaluators. One evaluator shall be an original evaluator involved in the initial proficiency failure. The handler shall provide documentation, to include lesson plans and signed attendance rosters, of the remedial training to the Commission-approved evaluators prior to the administration of the re-evaluation.

5. If a canine team fails to successfully demonstrate proficiency in the specific failed topic(s) during the second attempt, the handler shall remediate with the same canine in the specific failed topic outlined in the Canine Team Training Course number 1198. The canine team shall retest after a minimum of 30 days from the date of the second failure. The canine team shall repeat the performance evaluation in its entirety under the supervision of two Commission-approved evaluators. One evaluator shall be an evaluator who was involved in the initial proficiency failure for that canine team. The handler shall provide documentation, to include lesson plans and signed attendance rosters, of the remedial training to the Commission-approved evaluators prior to the administration of the re-evaluation.

6. A canine team that has failed a third attempt to pass a Canine Team Performance Evaluation shall be deemed to have failed the certification process, and shall complete the Canine Team Training Course number 1198 or equivalent training prior to submitting an application for certification. Form CJSTC-83 shall be used to document the third failure of the canine team and submitted by one of the canine team evaluators to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Professionalism Program, Post Office Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302.

7. Documentation of the training shall be made available to the Commission-approved evaluators prior to the administration of a subsequent canine team performance evaluation.

(4) Renewal of Certification.

(a) A Canine Team Certification shall lapse if it is not renewed on or before October 31 of the year following the initial certification.

(b) If the canine team handler applying for recertification has not changed canines or the canine team certification has not expired, the employing agency requesting renewal of the certification shall complete the applicable sections and submit form CJSTC-70 marked “Renewal,” and document the canine team proficiency on form CJSTC-83 in compliance with the requirements of subsection (3) of this rule section.

(c) If the canine team certification has expired, the employing agency requesting renewal of the certification shall complete the applicable sections and submit form CJSTC-70 marked “Renewal,” and document the canine team proficiency on form CJSTC-83, in compliance with the requirements of subsection (3) of this rule section.

(5) Change of assigned canine team. If a Commission-certified canine handler or canine ceases to be assigned as part of a canine team by the employing agency, the certification shall lapse.

(a) Notification of changes in a canine team assignment shall be submitted to Commission staff in writing to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Professionalism Program, Post Office Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, provided the handler is not assigned a new canine.

(b) A Commission-certified canine handler who has been assigned a new canine, shall submit form CJSTC-70, marked “New” and “Canine Team Change” after complying with the requirements of this rule section.

(6) Inspection of canine team applicant files.

(a) Upon determination of an unfavorable inspection by Commission staff, the deficiencies shall be documented on a Canine Team Certification Deficiency Notification form CJSTC-270, revised November 6, 2014, effective 7/2015, hereby incorporated by reference https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05660. Form CJSTC-270 can be obtained at the following FDLE Internet address: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Publications/Forms.aspx, or by contacting Commission staff at [phone].

(b) The employing agency shall satisfy the deficiency(ies) by submitting the required documentation to Commission staff within 90 days of the receipt of the Canine Team Certification Deficiency Notification form CJSTC-270. The Commission has the authority to deny the employing agency’s request for canine team certification for failure to meet the 90-day requirement. Upon denial of the application, the employing agency may reapply for canine team certification.

(7) Canine Team Evaluators.

(a) Prior to being approved by the Commission as a canine team evaluator, the evaluator applicant shall provide documentation verifying the evaluator applicant has complied with the following requirements:

1. Documentation of one year experience as a Commission-certified canine team instructor.

2. Documentation on form CJSTC-70 that the evaluator applicant has taught the Canine Team Training Course number 1198; or the Canine Team Training Course number 1112 (retired 11/6/2013); or equivalent training in its entirety to a minimum of six canine teams that have successfully completed the canine team certification process. Canine teams trained exclusively for tracking and trailing or specific detection shall not be included in this total.

3. Verification that the evaluator applicant has evaluated a minimum of twelve canine teams under the supervision of Commission-approved evaluators, which shall be documented on form CJSTC-83. Canine teams trained exclusively for tracking and trailing or specific detection shall not be included in this total.

4. A letter of recommendation for the evaluator applicant from a training center director, agency administrator, or designee.

5. Request for evaluator status. A letter from the evaluator applicant requesting approval from the Commission as a “canine team evaluator” shall be forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Professionalism Program, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, Attention Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Standards, for the initial request for approval as a canine team evaluator. The letter shall include the evaluator’s full name, the last four digits of the evaluator’s social security number, complete address, and documentation of compliance with the standards set forth in this rule section.

(b) Approval of canine team evaluator status. Upon a review of the documents and determination that the evaluator applicant has complied with the requirements set forth in this rule section, a letter acknowledging approval by the Commission shall be forwarded to the evaluator applicant.

(c) Maintenance of canine team evaluator status. Commission-approved evaluators shall be required to submit a request for continuance as an evaluator, to the address in paragraph (7)(a) of this rule section, within four years of the date of approval, with documentation that verifies the evaluator has completed a minimum of four canine team performance evaluations within the four-year period. The verifying documentation shall be copies of form CJSTC-70, attesting that the performance evaluation was administered by the evaluator. A canine team evaluator’s “approval status” shall expire four years following the date approved by the Commission. If the Commission-approved evaluator’s “approval status” expires, the evaluator shall comply with the maintenance requirements in this rule section as an evaluator applicant under the supervision of two Commission-approved canine team evaluators and shall document the evaluation skills on form CJSTC-83. Canine team evaluators with an expired status shall submit for approval a “request for evaluator status” and comply with the requirements in paragraph (7)(a) of this rule section.

Rulemaking Authority 943.03(4), 943.12(1) FS. Law Implemented 943.12(16) FS. History–New 3-29-89, Amended 12-13-92, 1-2-97, 7-7-99, 8-22-00, 7-29-01, 11-5-02, 11-30-04, 3-27-06, 3-21-07, 6-9-08, 9-28-09, 6-3-10, 3-13-13, 5-29-14, 7-29-15, 9-4-16, 6-26-22.