11B-27.014. Implementation of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004

(1) Requirements to demonstrate the firearms proficiency requirements under the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (18 U.S.C.A. §926C) in Florida.

(a) To carry a concealed firearm under the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (“Act”), a qualified retired law enforcement officer (“retiree”), as defined in 18 U.S.C.A. §926C, shall show that he or she has demonstrated the firearms proficiency required by the Act within the past twelve months of the time he or she possesses a concealed firearm.

(b) The Act provides the following two methods for a retiree to demonstrate firearms proficiency:

1. One method allows the retiree to return to the agency from which he or she retired to meet the agency’s firearms proficiency standards as applied to the agency’s active officers. Under the Act, an agency has the option to offer this alternative.

2. The second method allows the retiree to meet the minimum firearms standards applied to active law enforcement officers by the state of the retiree’s residence.

(c) For retirees who reside in Florida, the option to meet the state’s minimum firearms standards shall be demonstrated using the Commission’s approved minimum firearms proficiency course of fire (“course of fire”), conducted in a manner specified in paragraph (2)(c) of this rule section, pursuant to the Law Enforcement Officer Firearms Qualification Standard on form CJSTC-86A, incorporated by reference in subsection 11B-27.00212(14), F.A.C.

(d) Pursuant to Sections 790.052(1)(b) and (c), F.S., all persons holding an active certification or who held an active certification before separating from service under the conditions set forth in 18 U.S.C.A. 926C(c), as a law enforcement or correctional officer as defined in Section 943.10(1), (2), (6), (7), (8), or (9), F.S., meet the definition of “qualified law enforcement officer” or “qualified retired law enforcement officer.”

(2) Requirements for administering the course of fire are as follows:

(a) The range master conducting the course of fire shall be an active Commission-certified firearms instructor pursuant to subsection 11B-20.0014(2)(c) or (d), F.A.C.

(b) The range master shall issue a Commission-approved Firearms Proficiency Verification Card, form CJSTC-600, created on July 9, 2007, and revised on August 8, 2019, effective 4/2020, hereby incorporated by reference http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11907, to each retiree who successfully completes the course of fire as required on form CJSTC-86A using a revolver or a semi-automatic handgun.

(c) The range master shall maintain the following documentation that is related to the completion of the course of fire for each retiree who successfully completes the course, and the retained documentation shall be subject to audit during regular business hours upon a two-day written notice by Commission staff:

1. Full name of the retiree completing the course of fire.

2. Address of the retiree completing the course of fire.

3. The Course of Fire Proficiency Score. A passing score is a minimum score of 33 of 38 rounds in the scoring area using a commercially produced B-21E target or equivalent Pride Enterprises (P.R.I.D.E.) target. The scoring area shall be any hit that is inside or touches the exterior scoring line of the four and five zone of the B-21E target.

4. Date the course of fire was completed.

5. Location where the course of fire was conducted.

6. The specific number imprinted on the CJSTC-600 form issued to the retiree who completed the course of fire.

7. Type(s) of firearm(s).

(3) Firearms Range Requirements.

(a) The course of fire shall be conducted on any public or private range that meets the shooting distance requirements on form CJSTC-86A.

(b) The owner of a firearms range is not required to administer the course of fire on the owner’s firearms range.

(c) The retiree shall be responsible for any fee associated with the course of fire.

(4) Issuance and Maintenance of form CJSTC-600.

(a) A request for form CJSTC-600 shall be made in writing to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Professionalism Program, Post Office Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, Attention: Officer Records Section.

1. A Commission-certified firearms instructor is allowed to receive up to 50 each of the CJSTC-600 form with each written request, and the request shall include the firearm instructor’s full name, mailing address and physical address if different from the mailing address, telephone number, and the name of the Commission-certified training school, defined as “training school” in subsection 11B-18.003(23), F.A.C., affiliation or criminal justice agency affiliation.

2. A training school is allowed to receive up to 200 each of the CJSTC-600 form one time a month with each written request, and the request shall be made on the training school’s letterhead signed by the training center director or designee.

3. If a retiree loses form CJSTC-600, a replacement card shall not be reissued. The retiree shall be required to complete the course of fire, again, and be issued a new CJSTC-600 form.

(b) A Commission-certified firearms instructor shall only issue a CJSTC-600 form for successful completion of the course of fire. Each CJSTC-600 form shall be issued with a specific number imprinted on the form and the firearms instructor shall maintain documentation for a period of two years indicating to whom the CJSTC-600 was issued, which shall be subject to audit by Commission staff during regular business hours upon a two-day written notice by Commission staff.

(c) The CJSTC-600 form shall expire one year from the date the retiree completed the course of fire.

(5) Admission to a range to attempt to complete the course of fire shall be under the terms and conditions of the range master, and solely at the range master’s discretion. Neither state law nor the Act provide a retiree with a right to demand access to a range or an opportunity to attempt the course of fire.

(6) It is not the responsibility of the Commission, any Commission certified firearms instructor, a training school, or any other entity operating a firearms range, at the time of the firearms qualification, to verify or certify that a retiree meets any of the additional requirements of a “qualified retired law enforcement officer” under the Act. Meeting the Act’s qualifications is solely the responsibility of the retiree. The range master is not required to otherwise verify a retiree’s status under the Act at the time of the firearms qualification.

Rulemaking Authority 943.03(4), 943.12(1) FS. Law Implemented 943.12, 943.132 FS. History–New 3-3-08, Amended 6-3-10, 3-13-13, 7-9-19, 5-5-20, 6-25-24.