Riverview Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez wants to create a statewide counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Alvarez has filed a bill (HB 945) that would require FDLE to establish and administer a Statewide Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit to “detect, identify, neutralize, and exploit” adversary intelligence entities, terrorists, insider threats, corporate threats and other foreign adversaries.
The bill directs FDLE to establish a 10-person leadership and organizational team by July 1, 2027, and to build out seven regional teams over time.
The statewide unit would be housed at FDLE’s regional operational center, and the seven dedicated teams would be aligned with each of Florida’s regional domestic security task forces. The teams would be able to operate independently or in coordination with existing law enforcement. Each team would include supervisory agents, intelligence analysts and designated federal, state and local liaison officers.
The legislation, filed Tuesday, authorizes the unit to conduct counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations by “analyzing patterns of life, gathering actionable intelligence, and formulating effective plans of action, and by executing arrests.”
The bill also contains language setting minimum experience requirements for team members, limiting eligibility to individuals with backgrounds in military service, intelligence agencies, law enforcement or counterintelligence and counterterrorism work.
FDLE would also need to request funding annually until the unit reaches full capacity no later than Dec. 30, 2033.
The bill would take effect July 1 if approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
