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SB 1570FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Laid on Table, refer to HB 1405

Statewide 'Project Leo' for Missing Persons with Special Needs

Original title: Statewide Project for Missing Persons with Special Needs

January 9, 2026

disability servicespublic safetysearch and rescueautismstate budget

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Where This Stands

Currently Laid on Table, refer to HB 1405. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

10 actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
  2. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Now in Fiscal Policy
  3. Feb 25, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; YEAS 5 NAYS 0
  4. Feb 20, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Higher Education, 02/25/26, 1:30 pm, 110 Senate Building
  5. Jan 28, 2026Senate
    Now in Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
  6. Jan 28, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable by Education Postsecondary; YEAS 5 NAYS 0
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Jan 23, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Education Postsecondary, 01/28/26, 10:30 am, 301 Senate Building
  2. Jan 22, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced
  3. Jan 16, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Education Postsecondary; Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Fiscal Policy
  4. Jan 9, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill allocates $1 million in nonrecurring state funds to four specific university-based autism centers to purchase search-and-rescue equipment for local law enforcement, directly impacting the safety resources available to families of individuals with special needs.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Persons with special needs at risk of elopement

These individuals are eligible to receive personal search-and-rescue devices through the project.

Sheriff's offices

These offices will receive and distribute personal devices to aid in search-and-rescue efforts.

Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities

These centers are tasked with managing the project, selecting participants, and funding device monitoring.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 9, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill revives and funds 'Project Leo,' a program that provides free tracking devices to help sheriff's offices locate individuals with special needs who are at risk of wandering or . The program will be managed by regional Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities and is supported by $1 million in total state funding.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

The bill allocates $1 million in nonrecurring state funds to four specific university-based autism centers to purchase search-and-rescue equipment for local law enforcement, directly impacting the safety resources available to families of individuals with special needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to participate in Project Leo?
No, the project is voluntary and free of charge to participants.
How are participants selected for the program?
Participants are selected by their local Center for Autism and Related Disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis, based on criteria including the individual's risk of .
Who is responsible for monitoring the tracking devices?
The respective Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is responsible for funding the costs associated with monitoring the devices.

News Coverage

Center1
1 source
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets
C

Early decision is now an option for these Florida state schools applicants

NBC 6 South Florida (WTVJ) – Local NewsAug 11, 2026

The University of Florida and Florida State University have implemented early decision admission programs for applicants. Under this policy, students who apply early decision are contractually bound to attend the university if they are accepted.

Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

Voting Record

Motion succeededsenate2/25/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable

Total

8

Yes

6

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Motion succeededsenate1/28/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable

Total

7

Yes

6

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Revival of Expired Statute

The bill explicitly revives and readopts section 937.041, F.S., which had previously been repealed, to re-establish the legal framework for the missing persons project.

s. 937.041, F.S.

Connected Entities

organizationFiscal Policy“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →
organizationAppropriations Committee on Higher Education“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →
locationKnott Building“Meeting location”Map →
locationSenate Building“Meeting location”Map →
organizationEducation Postsecondary“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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