Fla. Stat. 185.01
Legislative declaration

(1)

It is hereby found and declared by the Legislature that police officers as hereinafter defined perform both state and municipal functions; that they make arrests for violations of state traffic laws on public highways; that they keep the public peace; that they conserve both life and property; and that their activities are vital to public welfare of this state. Therefore the Legislature declares that it is a proper and legitimate state purpose to provide a uniform retirement system for the benefit of police officers as hereinafter defined and intends, in implementing the provisions of s. 14, Art. X of the State Constitution as they relate to municipal police officers’ retirement trust fund systems and plans, that such retirement systems or plans be managed, administered, operated, and funded in such manner as to maximize the protection of police officers’ retirement trust funds. Therefore, the Legislature hereby determines and declares that the provisions of this act fulfill an important state interest.

(2)

This chapter hereby establishes, for all municipal pension plans provided for under this chapter, including chapter plans and local law plans, minimum benefits and minimum standards for the operation and funding of such plans, hereinafter referred to as municipal police officers’ retirement trust funds, which must be met as conditions precedent to the plan or plan sponsor’s receiving a distribution of insurance premium tax revenues under s. 185.10. Minimum benefits and minimum standards for each plan may not be diminished by local ordinance or by special act of the Legislature and may not be reduced or offset by any other local, state, or federal plan that includes police officers in its operation, except as provided under s. 112.65.

Source: Section 185.01 — Legislative declaration, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0185.­01 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

185.01
Legislative declaration 185.02
Definitions 185.03
Municipal police officers’ retirement trust funds 185.04
Actuarial deficits not state obligations 185.05
Board of trustees 185.06
General powers and duties of board of trustees 185.07
Creation and maintenance of fund 185.08
State excise tax on casualty insurance premiums authorized 185.09
Report of premiums paid 185.10
Department of Revenue and Division of Retirement to keep accounts of deposits 185.11
Funds received by municipalities, deposit in retirement trust fund 185.12
Payment of excise tax credit on similar state excise or license tax 185.13
Failure of insurer to comply with chapter 185.015
Short title 185.16
Requirements for retirement 185.18
Disability retirement 185.19
Separation from municipal service 185.21
Death prior to retirement 185.23
Duties of Division of Retirement 185.25
Exemption from tax and execution 185.30
Depository for retirement fund 185.31
Municipalities and boards independent of other municipalities and boards and of each other 185.34
Disability in line of duty 185.35
Municipalities that have their own retirement plans for police officers 185.37
Termination of plan and distribution of fund 185.38
Transfer to another state retirement system 185.39
Applicability 185.50
Retiree health insurance subsidy 185.60
Optional participation 185.061
Use of annuity or insurance policies 185.085
Determination of local premium tax situs 185.105
Police and Firefighters’ Premium Tax Trust Fund 185.161
Optional forms of retirement income 185.162
Beneficiaries 185.185
False, misleading, or fraudulent statements made to obtain public retirement benefits prohibited 185.191
Lump-sum payment of small retirement income 185.221
Annual report to Division of Retirement 185.341
Discrimination in benefit formula prohibited

Current through Fall 2025

§ 185.01. Legislative declaration's source at flsenate​.gov