Florida Senate - 2022 CS for CS for SB 1474
By the Committees on Appropriations; and Commerce and Tourism;
and Senator Bradley
576-03557-22 20221474c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to online training for private
3 security officers; amending ss. 493.6105 and 493.6303,
4 F.S.; providing that certain required training
5 criteria for Class “G” and Class “D” licenses,
6 respectively, may be conducted online; providing
7 requirements for such training; requiring the
8 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
9 establish certain criteria and rules for the
10 regulation of certain entities that provide online
11 training; providing reporting requirements upon
12 completion of the training; creating s. 493.6132,
13 F.S.; providing requirements for online training
14 courses for a Class “D” license; requiring entities
15 offering online training to provide the Division of
16 Licensing with live access to each course; authorizing
17 such entities to deliver online instruction using
18 recordings under certain circumstances; providing an
19 effective date.
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 493.6105, Florida
24 Statutes, is amended to read:
25 493.6105 Initial application for license.—
26 (5) In addition to the requirements outlined in subsection
27 (3), an applicant for a Class “G” license must satisfy minimum
28 training criteria for firearms established by rule of the
29 department, including which training criteria includes, but is
30 not limited to, 28 hours of range and classroom training
31 conducted by in-person instruction or live online instruction
32 through a secure website, provided that the applicant’s
33 identity, attendance, and successful completion of training are
34 verified by the instructor. As part of his or her application,
35 the applicant must submit a training certificate to the
36 department upon completion of the training. Training must be
37 taught and administered by one or more a Class “K” licensees.
38 licensee; however, No more than 20 hours of such training may be
39 conducted in an online classroom, and 8 hours of such training
40 shall consist of in-person range training that includes training
41 on the safe handling and storage of firearms. Consistent with s.
42 493.6115, the department shall by rule establish the general
43 content and the number of hours of each subject area to be
44 taught, the method of delivery and the security protocols for
45 online training and testing, the reporting requirements for
46 verification of successful completion of training, and any other
47 rules necessary for the regulation of Class “K” licensees
48 providing in-person or online training. Upon completion of the
49 training, the instructor must submit results directly to the
50 Division of Licensing in a manner prescribed by the department.
51 The instructor must also provide a copy of the training results
52 to the applicant who completed the training. The department may
53 waive the foregoing firearms training requirement if:
54 (a) The applicant provides proof that he or she is
55 currently certified as a law enforcement officer or correctional
56 officer pursuant to the requirements of the Criminal Justice
57 Standards and Training Commission or has successfully completed
58 the training required for certification within the last 12
59 months.
60 (b) The applicant provides proof that he or she is
61 currently certified as a federal law enforcement officer and has
62 received law enforcement firearms training administered by a
63 federal law enforcement agency.
64 (c) The applicant submits a valid firearm certificate
65 listed among those specified in paragraph (6)(a).
66 Section 2. Section 493.6132, Florida Statutes, is created
67 to read:
68 493.6132 Online training courses.—
69 (1) An online training course for a Class “D” license must
70 be conducted live and by a licensed school or training facility
71 that maintains a physical location in this state.
72 (2) A Class “K” licensed firearms instructor conducting an
73 online training course must maintain a physical location in this
74 state and must conduct online classes live at a location in this
75 state.
76 (3) An applicant may only be logged into the online
77 training course from one device at a time.
78 (4) The online training course must include, at a minimum,
79 all of the following:
80 (a) Security questions to ensure that the applicant is
81 actively using the computer or mobile device and is following
82 along with the online training.
83 (b) A minimum amount of time that each applicant must spend
84 on each screen before moving on to the next screen.
85 (c) Randomized test questions.
86 (d) A digital record of the applicant’s attendance log
87 along with any components required by department rule.
88 (5) A licensed school or training facility, or a Class “K”
89 licensee conducting an online course, must maintain records of
90 all training sessions, including the name and license number of
91 the instructor who is present online with the students while the
92 students are receiving instruction, and proof of compliance with
93 all security protocols at the school, facility, or place of
94 business in this state. The records required under this
95 subsection must be made accessible to the department’s
96 investigators upon request.
97 (6) A licensed school or training facility, or a Class “K”
98 licensee conducting an online course must provide the Division
99 of Licensing with live access to each course for the purposes of
100 auditing, monitoring, or inspection as deemed necessary by the
101 division.
102 (7) If an applicant is absent during a portion of a live
103 online class, a licensed school or training facility, or a Class
104 “K” licensee conducting an online course, may deliver
105 instruction in part using recordings, as limited by department
106 rule.
107 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
108 493.6303, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
109 493.6303 License requirements.—In addition to the license
110 requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, each
111 individual or agency must comply with the following additional
112 requirements:
113 (4)(a) An applicant for a Class “D” license must submit
114 proof of successful completion of a minimum of 40 hours of
115 professional training at a school or training facility licensed
116 by the department. The training may be conducted by in-person
117 instruction or online instruction presented live through a
118 secure website of the licensed school or training facility,
119 provided that the applicant’s identity, attendance, and
120 successful completion of training are verified by the
121 instructor. As part of his or her application, the applicant
122 must submit the completed training certificate to the department
123 upon completion of the training. The department shall by rule
124 and in accordance with s. 493.6103 establish the general content
125 and number of hours of each subject area to be taught, the
126 method of delivery and the security protocols for online
127 training and testing, the reporting requirements for
128 verification of successful completion of training, and any other
129 rules necessary for the regulation of schools or training
130 facilities providing in-person or online training. Upon
131 completion of such training, the training facility or the
132 instructor must submit proof of completion of training for each
133 applicant to the department electronically in a manner
134 prescribed by the department. The training facility or the
135 instructor must also provide a copy of the training results to
136 the applicant who completed the training.
137 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.