Nick DiCeglie, Danny Alvarez file bill to require unified 911 call centers in every Florida county

Sen. Nick DiCeglie and Rep. Danny Alvarez have filed legislation that would require Florida counties to consolidate emergency call handling into a single, unified 911 center per county.

If approved, SB 1586 and HB 1427 would require each county or region to transition to a single 911 center. More than 25 Florida counties  – including Pinellas, Pasco, Leon and St. Lucie counties  – already successfully operate some form of unified 911 and dispatch centers.

Counties would have until Jan. 1, 2027, to submit a plan outlining how their unified 911 center would operate under the legislation. Counties would be required to certify that all emergency calls are being dispatched through a single, fully unified system by 2029. If a county fails to meet the planning deadline, authority over 911 services would default to the local Sheriff’s office.

“When someone dials 911, they are most likely having the worst moment of their life,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a statement. “Representative Alvarez’s and Senator DiCeglie’s bill strengthens our emergency services, eliminates unnecessary delays, and ensures law enforcement and first responders have a seamless delivery of services that will no doubt enhance response times and ultimately save lives. This is exactly the kind of leadership and common sense Florida needs to keep our communities safe!”

Alvarez said Florida’s current system is fragmented and inefficient, arguing that consolidation can reduce costs and improve response times.

“Proven models in Pinellas, Pasco, Leon and St. Lucie counties show consolidation reduces response times, cuts costs, and provides peace of mind to people who need emergency services to answer the call,” Alvarez said. “This plan modernizes the way we respond to current threats like active shooters, terrorist attacks and other bad actors, in a way that maximizes first responder safety and response to citizens’ needs.”

DiCeglie said the bill is meant to ensure first responders have the tools they need to respond quickly when seconds matter.

“Updating Florida’s 911 system is long overdue, and it is incredibly important work,” DiCeglie said. “When someone calls 911, every second counts, and making that system faster and more reliable can truly mean the difference between life and death. This legislation helps ensure our first responders have what they need and that Floridians get help as quickly as possible when it matters most.”

Alvarez said the proposal should garner non-partisan support, as simplifying the 911 system should improve chances of saving lives because of less delay.

“Public safety is nonpartisan,” he said. “When Floridians call 911, they deserve a world-class system without delays or response-delaying transfers. Besides being important for intake of information and response within a county when a large-scale emergency takes place, unification is one of the recommendations of the Marjorie Stonemen Douglass committee. It is time to act. ”