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CS/SB 1374 — School District Reporting Requirements
by Rules Committee and Senator Yarborough
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Pre-K - 12 Committee (ED)
The bill modifies reporting, self-reporting, and background screening requirements for school employees and volunteers. It expands mandatory notifications, requires new school district policies, and authorizes additional options for background checks.
Specifically, the bill:
- Requires district school boards to adopt a policy for the temporary removal of instructional personnel from the classroom within 24 hours after notification of an arrest for a felony or any misdemeanor offense listed in Level 2 background screening standards.
- Expands law enforcement notification requirements to include misdemeanor offenses under Level 2 background screening.
- Expands self-reporting requirements for instructional and administrative personnel, requiring them to report felony and misdemeanor arrests under Level 2 background screening standards within 48 hours. The bill clarifies that self-reports are not admissions of guilt and are inadmissible in any proceeding.
- Authorizes public schools and private schools that participate in state scholarship programs to screen volunteers through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse or request national criminal history checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The bill also requires school districts to handle sealed and expunged criminal records disclosed through self-reporting in accordance with existing confidentiality laws.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 36-0; House 115-0