FL S0638

Requires Florida law enforcement officers investigating domestic violence between intimate partners to administer a standardized, evidence-based lethality assessment, regardless of whether an arrest is made

Directs the Department of Law Enforcement to consult with the Department of Children and Families and domestic violence advocacy organizations to develop policies, procedures, and training, and to adopt a statewide lethality assessment form by January 1, 2025

Mandates the lethality assessment include 12 specific questions covering topics such as weapon use, threats to kill, choking, gun access, jealousy/controlling behavior, separation, unemployment, and suicide attempts

Requires officers to advise victims of assessment results and refer them to a certified domestic violence center if the victim answers "yes" to any of the first four questions, "yes" to at least four of questions 5–11, or if the officer believes the victim is in a potentially lethal situation based on the final open-ended question

Requires all law enforcement officers to complete lethality assessment training by October 1, 2026, with officers' certification placed on inactive status if they fail to complete training by the deadline; officers who have not received the training are prohibited from administering the assessment