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Kissimmee commission approves first reading of ordinance to require criminal-history checks, adds commissioners for second reading
Summary
The City Commission approved first reading of an ordinance allowing state and national criminal-history checks for positions the city deems critical to public safety, and voted to add elected commissioners to the list for the ordinance’s second reading.
The Kissimmee City Commission on first reading approved an ordinance authorizing state and national criminal-history checks for positions the city designates as critical to public safety and security, and directed staff to include elected commissioners for consideration at second reading.
City Attorney (staff) told commissioners the ordinance amends Chapter 2, Article 4 of the city code and is being proposed under Florida Statute 166.0442, which authorizes a municipality to require state and national criminal-history screening for persons in positions the city considers critical to public safety. The attorney recommended approval.
During the public hearing no members of the public spoke. A motion to approve the ordinance at first reading was made and seconded; after questions about whether elected officials could be included, Vice Mayor Angela Eady moved to add commissioners as a category to be screened and Commissioner Carlos Alvarez seconded that motion. The commission voted to carry the motion; the commission did not complete a full roll call at the dais and the clerk recorded the motion as carried on first reading.
The first-reading approval moves the ordinance forward to a second reading at which staff will present an updated ordinance with commissioners explicitly included among positions subject to screening if the commission confirms that direction.
City Attorney: “This ordinance is pursuant to Florida statute 166.0442 and it authorizes cities by ordinance to require state and national criminal history screening for any person of city employment or appointment which the city deems critical to public safety and security.”
The commission’s action at first reading does not itself institute checks; it authorizes the city to identify which positions will be subject to the screening. The transcript shows the commission’s intent to return the ordinance with commissioners listed for the second-reading vote.
Commissioners and staff said they expect to review the specific positions and return a redlined ordinance for the next hearing.
No public speaker urged or opposed the ordinance at the hearing.
