Committee approves bill letting certain officers carry off duty and waiving three‑day wait for active service members

Senator Collins presented the delete‑all amendment and an amended version of SB 490, describing the measure as expanding off‑duty concealed‑carry permissions to correctional officers and correctional probation officers, requiring superior‑officer policy statements when off‑duty carry is authorized, and exempting certain active service members and law-enforcement personnel from the three‑day waiting period for long guns at retail.

Proponents argued the bill recognizes ongoing firearms training and experience for officers and military personnel. William Smith, representing the Florida Police Benevolent Association (a trooper from Miami‑Dade), said recurring agency training and qualifications justify differential treatment; the PBA supported the bill. Opponents urged egalitarian principles and warned against creating a “class of nobility”; a Gun Owners of America representative argued rights should not be limited to government personnel.

Committee debate focused on when and how background or local-record checks are applied, whether active service members or veterans are covered (the bill as amended applied to active service members only), and suicide-risk and impulse‑control concerns raised by Vice Chair Guillermo Smith, who said he would vote no because the three‑day cooling-off period reduces impulsive acts.

The committee adopted amendments and voted by roll call to report CS for SB 490 favorably. Vice Chair Guillermo Smith voted no on the final roll call; other recorded members voted yes. Proponents said the bill will not remove existing LRC (local records check) procedures for handguns and that agency training and hiring background checks provide safeguards.

Senators asked sponsors to clarify statutory cross‑references in subsequent committee stops; Senator Collins said she would work with colleagues on technical clarifications.