UPDATE: Now PASSED in SENATE: Deputy Andy Lahera Act passed unanimously in Florida House, now on Senate's 'Special Order Calendar'
Photo courtesy of CCSO.
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On April 24, 2025, Florida House Bill 751, known as the "Deputy Andy Lahera Act," was passed in the Florida House of Representees, by a vote of 111 yeas to 0 nays. The bill was sent to the Senate on the same day, now Senate Bill 1160, and was retained on Special Order Calendar SJ 553.
About the bill: Benefits for Certain Officers Injured in the Line of Duty; Revising eligibility criteria for health insurance coverage provided to law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers injured in the line of duty and to their spouses and dependent children, etc.
The bill seeks to provide comprehensive insurance coverage for law enforcement officers and their families in the event of catastrophic injuries sustained during official duties or training exercises. This bill addresses a critical gap in supporting the families of officers who sustain life-altering injuries while serving their community.
See details of the bill at this link: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1160/BillText/c1/PDF.
Deputy Andy Lahera was a 14-year law enforcement veteran who had worked at Lecanto Middle School as a School Resource Deputy with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) since 2018 - prior to being struck by a vehicle at 9:05 pm on Tuesday evening, May 23, 2023. The incident occurred while Deputy Lahera and other deputies were directing traffic after the Lecanto High School graduation ceremony.
Deputy Lahera's injuries included numerous broken bones, abrasions, internal injuries, and a traumatic brain injury. He was flown by helicopter to the Emergency and Trauma Center at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida. On July 7, 2023, Deputy Lahera was transferred from the trauma center to an area hospital for more aggressive physical and occupational therapy. It was later released that Deputy Lahera suffered from a 'disorder of consciousness.'
According to reports, in spring of 2024, Lahera was being paid two-thirds of his salary through a workers’ compensation claim paid through the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund; he was accruing vacation and sick leave, and his medical bills were also covered. However, there was public controversy between the Lahera family and then-Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast regarding the potential reassessment of Deputy Lahera's employment status on August 14, 2024.