Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Applicant procedures: Law Enforcement
Officers (LEO) who would like to be considered for reimbursement under this
program must submit a Law Enforcement Reimbursement Program (LERP) application
to their employing Law Enforcement Agency (LEA). The Application for the
Florida Law Enforcement Reimbursement Program, Form LERP-1, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14923)
effective November 2022, is incorporated by reference and can be found at
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/LERP-1.pdf.
The application requires the following information for each applicant:
(a) Applicant Full Name;
(b) Applicant Rank;
(c) Applicant Type: Out of state LEO or
Special Operations Forces (SOF);
(d) Applicant Originating State or SOF
detail;
(e) Reimbursement amount;
1. Equivalency assessment cost $,
2. Equivalency training cost $, and
3. LEO certification examination cost
$.
(f) Employing LEA
name;
(g) LEA County; and
(h) LEA City.
(2) Employing Law Enforcement Agency
requirements.
(a) Verify and validate amounts
on each LEO application.
(b) Each
participating LEA must complete a Substitute Form W-9 in order to receive
funding from the Florida Department of Education (Department).
(c) Collect applicant data and report to the
Department in a format specified by the Office of Student Financial Assistance
(OSFA) the following:
1. The date the LEA
received the application from the LEO;
2. All LEO application items listed in
paragraphs (1)(a)-(h) above; and
3.
Certification that each applicant meets the requirements of Section
943.131(2),
F.S. to qualify for an exemption from the basic training program and that the
applicant was not sponsored by the employing agency to cover the cost of the
training required by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training
Commission.
(d) Submit
the report specified in paragraph (c) above to OSFA by the first of January,
April, July, and October for reimbursement consideration.
1. LEAs are authorized to submit requests for
applications received or expenses incurred at any point during the fiscal year,
not just the prior three months.
2.
No report is required if the LEA has not received any LEO
applications.
(e) Submit
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Global Profile Sheet per Rule
11B-14.001, F.A.C., for each LEO
applicant.
(f) Reimburse approved
LEO applicants for authorized amounts within thrity (30) days of receipt of
funds from the Department.
(3) OSFA Requirements. By the last day of
each reporting month, OSFA will:
(a) Collect
and compile all LEA reports;
(b)
Order the LEA applicants according to the application date reported;
and
(c) Disburse funds to all LEAs
along with a report indicating the LEO name and amount approved for
reimbursement.
(4)
Reimbursement Amount. The reimbursement to eligible applicants will not exceed
$1, 000. Reimbursements are limited to cover eligible costs and fees used for:
(a) Any equivalency assessment administered
to determine required equivalency training;
(b) Any equivalency training required by the
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission within the Department of Law
Enforcement; and
(c) The law
enforcement officer certification examination.
(5) In the event that all program funds
appropriated are expensed, the last eligible LEO reimbursement amount may be
prorated to the last dollar available.
(6) Should additional funding be provided in
the same fiscal year, LEAs that received a prorated amount will be fully
reimbursed first, before any new requests for funds are
considered.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02(1),
(2)(n),
1009.8961(6)
FS. Law Implemented 1009.8961
FS.
New 11-23-22.
