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SB 1364

Autism Spectrum Disorder Training for Law Enforcement Officers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kristen Arrington and 1 co-sponsor

Florida bill requiring law enforcement ASD training to reduce misunderstandings and improve safety in police interactions with autistic individuals died in committee.

Died in Criminal Justice
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Bill Summary · SB 1364

Legislative bill overview

SB 1364 would have required Florida law enforcement officers to receive training on recognizing and appropriately responding to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill aimed to improve police interactions with autistic individuals by equipping officers with specific knowledge about ASD characteristics, communication differences, and de-escalation techniques suited to autistic individuals.

Why is this important

Law enforcement encounters with autistic individuals have resulted in tragic outcomes, as autistic people may not respond to commands in typical ways, avoid eye contact, or exhibit behaviors that officers might misinterpret as threatening or non-compliant. Training could reduce use-of-force incidents, improve outcomes for both individuals with ASD and officers, and create safer interactions during vulnerable moments like mental health crises or traffic stops.

Potential points of contention

  • Mandate scope and cost: Questions about whether all officers need comprehensive training or if it should be tiered, and concerns about associated fiscal costs for implementation
  • Training effectiveness: Debate over whether brief training modules produce meaningful behavioral change in real-world policing situations
  • Liability and accountability: Disagreement about whether training creates legal obligations and who bears responsibility if interactions still result in harm despite officer training

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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