# Fla. Stat. § 916.1091: 916.1091 Duties, functions, and powers of institutional security personnel

> Florida · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1091

## Section

- **Citation:** Fla. Stat. § 916.1091
- **Heading:** 916.1091 Duties, functions, and powers of institutional security personnel
- **Jurisdiction:** Florida
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 916 / Part I / Section 916.1091

## Text

(1) In case of emergency, and when necessary to provide protection and security to any client, to the personnel, equipment, buildings, or grounds of a department or agency facility, or to citizens in the surrounding community, institutional security personnel may, when authorized by the administrator of the facility or her or his designee when the administrator is not present, use a chemical weapon against a patient housed in a forensic facility. However, such weapon shall be used only to the extent necessary to provide protection and security. Under no circumstances shall any officer carry a chemical weapon on her or his person except during the period of the emergency for which its use was authorized. All chemical weapons shall be placed in secure storage when their use is not authorized as provided in this section.

(2) The department, the agency, or an entity contracting with the department or agency to operate a forensic facility under this chapter is considered an employing agency as that term is defined in s. 943.10 and is authorized to employ certified correctional officers as institutional security personnel. This authority applies retroactively to all certified officers employed in such capacity beginning January 1, 1974.

History: s. 1, ch. 77-31; s. 1, ch. 79-336; s. 158, ch. 79-400; s. 3, ch. 80-75; s. 40, ch. 85-167; s. 1535, ch. 97-102; s. 10, ch. 98-92; s. 7, ch. 2006-195; s. 4, ch. 2007-241.

## Nearby sections

- [Fla. Stat. § 916.10 916.10 Short title.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.10.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.105 916.105 Legislative intent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.105.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.106 916.106 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.106.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.107 916.107 Rights of forensic clients.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.107.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.1065 916.1065 Confidentiality of forensic behavioral health evaluations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1065.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.1075 916.1075 Sexual misconduct prohibited; reporting required; penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1075.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.1081 916.1081 Escape from program; penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1081.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.1085 916.1085 Introduction or removal of certain articles unlawful; penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1085.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.1091 916.1091 Duties, functions, and powers of institutional security personnel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1091.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 916.1093 916.1093 Operation and administration; rules.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1093.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXLVII_C916_PI_S916.1091. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.