The Florida State Guard, revived by Gov. Ron DeSantis, could operate outside Florida and be called into service anytime he “deemed necessary,” under a bill approved Thursday by a House panel.
The House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee voted 11-3 to support a proposal (HB 1551) that would remove part of a law that keeps the State Guard’s activities only in the state.
Bill sponsor Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral, described the bill’s proposed changes, which also include lessening training requirements, as “technical.”
The bill would clarify that the State Guard can be deployed to other states under an existing Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which lets states share resources during natural and man-made disasters.
The State Guard was initially set up during World War II to replace Florida National Guard members who were deployed abroad. It became inactive in 1947.
After DeSantis revived the volunteer force in 2022, the size of the State Guard was expanded from up to 400 members to 1,500 members last year, and the Legislature increased its funding from $10 million to $107.6 million, including covering the costs of five aircraft and boats.
Rep. Dan Daley, a Coral Springs Democrat who voted against the bill Thursday, said there is a “year-after-year creep” in the size and duties of the State Guard. He pointed to the purchase of aircraft and boats and, with the new bill, the potential that State Guard members could be sent to Texas to help with immigration issues on the Mexico border.
“The Florida State Guard was sold to the Legislature with one thing in mind, to be an auxiliary, to be a support system, to direct traffic, to do things that national guardsmen, who are already overworked and understaffed, do,” Daley said.
Daley added the Legislature should continue to focus on expanding the size and role of the National Guard, which lawmakers have been asking Congress to do the past few years.
In addition to deployments, Giallombardo’s bill would remove a requirement that state guard standards and training be equivalent to the Florida National Guard. It also would expand the governor’s power to activate the state guard such as during periods of civil unrest and “at any other time deemed necessary and appropriate.”
Regarding the training standards, Giallombardo, a member of the Florida Army National Guard, said new recruits for the State Guard are not the same as people heading into the National Guard.
“These normally are not 18-year-olds coming to the State Guard,” Giallombardo said. “So, they’re going to be a little more flexible on the training and the standards, so they can on-board medical professionals, IT (information technology) folks that don’t have to necessarily meet military requirements.”
The bill would require new recruits to submit fingerprints, paid for by the state, for the FBI to conduct national criminal-history records checks.
The governor’s office in June issued a news release announcing the State Guard’s first graduating class of more than 100 members. DeSantis has requested an additional $57 million for the State Guard next fiscal year.
A Senate version (SB 1694) of Giallombardo’s bill has not been heard in committees as the Legislature finishes its third week of the 60-day session.
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
Another Concerned Taxpayer !!! says
So this Governor wants to give his “Brown Shirts” unfettered capabilities both in State and out of State for anything he wants to have them do, you know his goal is to send them to the Texas border to show how tough he is for his next Presidential run. Maybe he should take some more ideas from his heroes Hitler and Putin and hire his “Brown Shirts” out of the prisons like the Wagner Group with hardened murders as his army. This guy has too many things he wants to keep secret. He is such a hypocrite as well, campaigning that Trump is not fit to be President and then endorses him and gets in line to kiss his ass. He is one very dangerous man and we should not allow him any additional powers. On another note, if the Southern Border is the biggest threat to our nation as they keep hammering to us, then why is Mr. Trump urging our Congress and Senators to not take any actions to pass any legislation to make the border more secure?
Pogo says
@WTF
What’s next — Confederate Army cavalry uniforms?
Deborah Coffey says
So, our tiny little dictator governor wants his own army? How cute.
oldtimer says
Unqualified people with guns and authority, what could possibly go wrong?
Mothersworry says
More gun nuts that can’t make it as a LEO or can’t pass the military standards running around playing soldier. Just what is needed.
Skibum says
Just like Gov despicable’s initial “don’t say gay” law that was narrowly targeted only (they said) toward young elemtary school aged children when their plan all along was exactly what they ended up doing, and that was to apply this to ALL schools, ALL school aged students, in violation of students’ first amendment rights. I’m sure our despicable culture was gov is not planning to use his so-called state guard for anything good, like assisting FL citizens. No, given his history and knowing what we can expect, this hoard will undoubtably be released like a pack of dogs with marching orders to continue his culture wars and target as yet unidentified enemies of the state just like Hitler’s brown shirts and Iran’s religious police. We have been waiting and waiting, but have not seen ANYTHING that Gov despicable does for the benefit of the citizens of this state.
Villein says
Is raising your own army an act of insurrection?
You only need an army for two things: crush uprisings among the populace and to fight other armies.
Ban the gop says
Ahh modern day gestapo right here in ol USA. Hate is winning but that’s who florida votes for. Next up they will build “rehabilitation camps” for their targets. Somebody has to enforce the discrimination of non facist.