1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to sexual predators and offenders; |
3 | amending s. 322.141, F.S.; requiring distinctive markings |
4 | for driver's licenses and identification cards issued to |
5 | persons who are designated as sexual predators or subject |
6 | to registration as sexual offenders; providing procedures |
7 | for offenders to obtain such licenses or identification |
8 | cards; providing for initial issuance; providing for |
9 | future repeal of a specified provision; amending s. |
10 | 322.212, F.S.; prohibiting the alteration of sexual |
11 | predator or sexual offender markings on driver's licenses |
12 | or identification cards; providing criminal penalties; |
13 | amending s. 775.21, F.S.; requiring sexual predators to |
14 | obtain a distinctive driver's license or identification |
15 | card; amending s. 943.0435, F.S.; requiring sexual |
16 | offenders to obtain a distinctive driver's license or |
17 | identification card; amending s. 944.607, F.S.; requiring |
18 | specified offenders who are under the supervision of the |
19 | Department of Corrections but are not incarcerated to |
20 | obtain a distinctive driver's license or identification |
21 | card; amending ss. 1002.33 and 1003.63, F.S.; revising |
22 | cross-references; amending s. 1012.32, F.S.; revising |
23 | provisions relating to background screening of school |
24 | district personnel; revising provisions relating to |
25 | fingerprints; providing procedures for periodic |
26 | rescreening of certain personnel; amending s. 1012.465, |
27 | F.S.; revising provisions relating to background |
28 | screenings of certain noninstructional school district |
29 | employees and other specified individuals; revising |
30 | provisions relating to periodic rescreening of certain |
31 | persons; creating s. 1012.4561, F.S.; providing |
32 | definitions; prohibiting contract workers who are |
33 | designated as sexual predators, subject to registration as |
34 | a sexual offenders, or who appear on the National Sex |
35 | Offender Public Registry from being present on school |
36 | grounds; providing criminal penalties; requiring contract |
37 | workers working on school grounds to be subject to a check |
38 | of Florida driver's licenses or identification cards for |
39 | the purposes of ascertaining their sexual offender and |
40 | sexual predator status and checked against the National |
41 | Sex Offender Public Registry; providing duties for certain |
42 | contract workers; providing penalties; requiring certain |
43 | individuals to report certain offenses; providing |
44 | penalties; providing exceptions; providing that no |
45 | provision of the section shall give rise to private civil |
46 | liability or create a private cause of action for monetary |
47 | damages; providing rulemaking authority to school boards; |
48 | amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; revising provisions relating to |
49 | background screening for educator certification; revising |
50 | provisions relating to periodic rescreening of such |
51 | persons; providing an appropriation; providing effective |
52 | dates. |
53 |
|
54 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
55 |
|
56 | Section 1. Effective August 1, 2006, subsection (3) is |
57 | added to section 322.141, Florida Statutes, to read: |
58 | 322.141 Color or markings of certain licenses or |
59 | identification cards; procedures for sexual offenders and |
60 | predators to obtain marked licenses or identification cards.-- |
61 | (3) All licenses for the operation of motor vehicles or |
62 | identification cards originally issued or reissued by the |
63 | department to persons who are designated as sexual predators |
64 | under s. 775.21 or subject to registration as sexual offenders |
65 | under s. 943.0435 or s. 944.607 shall have on the front of the |
66 | license or identification card the following: |
67 | (a) For a person designated as a sexual predator under s. |
68 | 775.21, the marking "775.21, F.S." |
69 | (b) For a person subject to registration as a sexual |
70 | offender under s. 943.0435 or s. 944.607, the marking "943.0435, |
71 | F.S." |
72 | (c) Each sexual predator under s. 775.21 or sexual |
73 | offender under s. 943.0435 or s. 944.607 shall report to the |
74 | department during the month of his or her reregistration |
75 | requirement pursuant to s. 775.21(8), s. 943.0435(14), or s. |
76 | 944.607(13) to obtain a marked driver's license or |
77 | identification card as required under this subsection unless he |
78 | or she previously secured such a marked driver's license or |
79 | identification card. |
80 | (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (c), sexual predators under |
81 | s. 775.21 and sexual offenders under s. 943.0435 or s. 944.607 |
82 | whose birth month is January or July must report during the |
83 | month of August 2006, to the sheriff's office in the county in |
84 | which they reside or, if they have no permanent or temporary |
85 | residence, the county in which they are located, to receive |
86 | their marked driver's license or identification card as required |
87 | by s. 322.141(3). This paragraph expires January 1, 2007. |
88 | Section 2. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (5) of |
89 | section 322.212, Florida Statutes, to read: |
90 | 322.212 Unauthorized possession of, and other unlawful |
91 | acts in relation to, driver's license or identification card.-- |
92 | (5) |
93 | (c) It is unlawful for any person on or after January 1, |
94 | 2007, to knowingly have in his or her possession a driver's |
95 | license or identification card upon which the sexual predator or |
96 | sexual offender markings required by s. 322.141(3) are not |
97 | displayed or have been altered. |
98 | Section 3. Paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section |
99 | 775.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
100 | 775.21 The Florida Sexual Predators Act.-- |
101 | (6) REGISTRATION.-- |
102 | (f) Within 48 hours after the registration required under |
103 | paragraph (a) or paragraph (e), a sexual predator who is not |
104 | incarcerated and who resides in the community, including a |
105 | sexual predator under the supervision of the Department of |
106 | Corrections, shall register in person at a driver's license |
107 | office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles |
108 | and shall present proof of registration. At the driver's license |
109 | office the sexual predator shall: |
110 | 1. If otherwise qualified, secure a Florida driver's |
111 | license, renew a Florida driver's license, or secure an |
112 | identification card. The sexual predator shall identify himself |
113 | or herself as a sexual predator who is required to comply with |
114 | this section, provide his or her place of permanent or temporary |
115 | residence, including a rural route address and a post office |
116 | box, and submit to the taking of a photograph for use in issuing |
117 | a driver's license, renewed license, or identification card, and |
118 | for use by the department in maintaining current records of |
119 | sexual predators. A post office box shall not be provided in |
120 | lieu of a physical residential address. If the sexual predator's |
121 | place of residence is a motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home, or |
122 | manufactured home, as defined in chapter 320, the sexual |
123 | predator shall also provide to the Department of Highway Safety |
124 | and Motor Vehicles the vehicle identification number; the |
125 | license tag number; the registration number; and a description, |
126 | including color scheme, of the motor vehicle, trailer, mobile |
127 | home, or manufactured home. If a sexual predator's place of |
128 | residence is a vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat, as |
129 | defined in chapter 327, the sexual predator shall also provide |
130 | to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles the hull |
131 | identification number; the manufacturer's serial number; the |
132 | name of the vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat; the |
133 | registration number; and a description, including color scheme, |
134 | of the vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat. |
135 | 2. Pay the costs assessed by the Department of Highway |
136 | Safety and Motor Vehicles for issuing or renewing a driver's |
137 | license or identification card as required by this section. The |
138 | driver's license or identification card issued shall comply with |
139 | s. 322.141(3). |
140 | 3. Provide, upon request, any additional information |
141 | necessary to confirm the identity of the sexual predator, |
142 | including a set of fingerprints. |
143 |
|
144 | The sheriff shall promptly provide to the department the |
145 | information received from the sexual predator. |
146 | Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 943.0435, Florida |
147 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
148 | 943.0435 Sexual offenders required to register with the |
149 | department; penalty.-- |
150 | (3) Within 48 hours after the report required under |
151 | subsection (2), a sexual offender shall report in person at a |
152 | driver's license office of the Department of Highway Safety and |
153 | Motor Vehicles, unless a driver's license or identification card |
154 | that complies with the requirements of s. 322.141(3) was |
155 | previously secured or updated under s. 944.607. At the driver's |
156 | license office the sexual offender shall: |
157 | (a) If otherwise qualified, secure a Florida driver's |
158 | license, renew a Florida driver's license, or secure an |
159 | identification card. The sexual offender shall identify himself |
160 | or herself as a sexual offender who is required to comply with |
161 | this section and shall provide proof that the sexual offender |
162 | reported as required in subsection (2). The sexual offender |
163 | shall provide any of the information specified in subsection |
164 | (2), if requested. The sexual offender shall submit to the |
165 | taking of a photograph for use in issuing a driver's license, |
166 | renewed license, or identification card, and for use by the |
167 | department in maintaining current records of sexual offenders. |
168 | (b) Pay the costs assessed by the Department of Highway |
169 | Safety and Motor Vehicles for issuing or renewing a driver's |
170 | license or identification card as required by this section. The |
171 | driver's license or identification card issued shall comply with |
172 | s. 322.141(3). |
173 | (c) Provide, upon request, any additional information |
174 | necessary to confirm the identity of the sexual offender, |
175 | including a set of fingerprints. |
176 | Section 5. Subsection (9) of section 944.607, Florida |
177 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
178 | 944.607 Notification to Department of Law Enforcement of |
179 | information on sexual offenders.-- |
180 | (9) A sexual offender, as described in this section, who |
181 | is under the supervision of the Department of Corrections but |
182 | who is not incarcerated shall, in addition to the registration |
183 | requirements provided in subsection (4), register and obtain a |
184 | distinctive driver's license or identification card in the |
185 | manner provided in s. 943.0435(3), (4), and (5), unless the |
186 | sexual offender is a sexual predator, in which case he or she |
187 | shall register and obtain a distinctive driver's license or |
188 | identification card as required under s. 775.21. A sexual |
189 | offender who fails to comply with the requirements of s. |
190 | 943.0435 is subject to the penalties provided in s. 943.0435(9). |
191 | Section 6. Paragraph (g) of subsection (12) of section |
192 | 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
193 | 1002.33 Charter schools.-- |
194 | (12) EMPLOYEES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.-- |
195 | (g) A charter school shall employ or contract with |
196 | employees who have undergone background screening as required |
197 | under provided in s. 1012.32. Members of the governing board of |
198 | the charter school shall also undergo background screening in a |
199 | manner similar to that required under provided in s. 1012.32. |
200 | Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of section |
201 | 1003.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
202 | 1003.63 Deregulated public schools pilot program.-- |
203 | (7) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.-- |
204 | (c) A deregulated public school shall employ or contract |
205 | with employees who have been fingerprinted as required under |
206 | provided in s. 1012.32. |
207 | Section 8. Section 1012.32, Florida Statutes, is amended |
208 | to read: |
209 | 1012.32 Qualifications of personnel; background screening |
210 | requirement.-- |
211 | (1) To be eligible for appointment in any position in any |
212 | district school system, a person shall be of good moral |
213 | character; shall have attained the age of 18 years, if he or she |
214 | is to be employed in an instructional capacity; and shall, when |
215 | required by law, hold a certificate or license issued under |
216 | rules of the State Board of Education or the Department of |
217 | Children and Family Services, except when employed pursuant to |
218 | s. 1012.55 or under the emergency provisions of s. 1012.24. |
219 | Previous residence in this state shall not be required in any |
220 | school of the state as a prerequisite for any person holding a |
221 | valid Florida certificate or license to serve in an |
222 | instructional capacity. |
223 | (2)(a) Background screening is required of instructional |
224 | and noninstructional personnel who are hired or contracted to |
225 | fill positions in any district school system and of other |
226 | persons authorized by the school district to perform services |
227 | for compensation as follows: |
228 | 1.(a) Instructional and noninstructional personnel who are |
229 | hired or contracted to fill positions requiring direct contact |
230 | with students in any district school system or university lab |
231 | school shall, upon employment or engagement to provide services, |
232 | undergo background screening as required under s. 1012.465 or s. |
233 | 1012.56, whichever is applicable. |
234 | 2.(b) Instructional and noninstructional personnel who are |
235 | hired or contracted to fill positions in any charter school and |
236 | members of the governing board of any charter school, in |
237 | compliance with s. 1002.33(12)(g), shall, upon employment, |
238 | engagement of services, or appointment, undergo background |
239 | screening as required under s. 1012.465 or s. 1012.56, whichever |
240 | is applicable, by filing with the district school board for the |
241 | school district in which the charter school is located a |
242 | complete set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law |
243 | enforcement agency or an employee of the school or school |
244 | district who is trained to take fingerprints. |
245 | 3.(c) Instructional and noninstructional personnel who are |
246 | hired or contracted to fill positions requiring direct contact |
247 | with students in an alternative school that operates under |
248 | contract with a district school system shall, upon employment or |
249 | engagement to provide services, undergo background screening as |
250 | required under s. 1012.465 or s. 1012.56, whichever is |
251 | applicable, by filing with the district school board for the |
252 | school district to which the alternative school is under |
253 | contract a complete set of fingerprints taken by an authorized |
254 | law enforcement agency or an employee of the school or school |
255 | district who is trained to take fingerprints. |
256 | 4.(d) Student teachers, persons participating in a field |
257 | experience pursuant to s. 1004.04(6) or s. 1004.85, and persons |
258 | participating in a short-term experience as a teacher assistant |
259 | pursuant to s. 1004.04(10) in any district school system, lab |
260 | school, or charter school shall, upon engagement to provide |
261 | services, undergo background screening as required under s. |
262 | 1012.56. |
263 | (b)1. Background screening shall be initiated by filing |
264 | with the district school board for the school district in which |
265 | the school, charter school, or lab school is located or to which |
266 | the alternative school is under contract a complete set of |
267 | fingerprints taken by an individual authorized to take |
268 | fingerprints on behalf of an authorized law enforcement agency, |
269 | a private service provider, or the school or school district. |
270 | 2. Fingerprints required for a background screening shall |
271 | be submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement for state |
272 | processing and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for |
273 | national federal processing. The Department of Law Enforcement |
274 | shall invoice the department for the fingerprints submitted each |
275 | month. The school districts shall screen background results to |
276 | determine if an applicant meets licensure or employment |
277 | requirements. Persons subject to this subsection found through |
278 | fingerprint processing to have been convicted of a crime |
279 | involving moral turpitude shall not be employed, engaged to |
280 | provide services, or serve in any position requiring direct |
281 | contact with students. Probationary persons subject to this |
282 | subsection terminated because of their criminal record have the |
283 | right to appeal such decisions. |
284 | 3. The cost of the background screening may be borne by |
285 | the district school board, the charter school, the employee, the |
286 | contractor, or a person subject to this subsection. |
287 | (c) Persons subject to this subsection found through |
288 | fingerprint processing to have been found guilty of, regardless |
289 | of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a crime |
290 | involving moral turpitude or any offense set forth in s. 435.04 |
291 | shall not be employed, engaged to provide services, or serve in |
292 | any position requiring direct contact with students. Persons |
293 | subject to this subsection terminated because of their criminal |
294 | record have the right to appeal such decisions. |
295 | (3)(a) Beginning July 1, 2004, All fingerprints submitted |
296 | to the Department of Law Enforcement as required by subsection |
297 | (2) shall be retained by the Department of Law Enforcement in a |
298 | manner provided by rule and entered in the statewide automated |
299 | fingerprint identification system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). |
300 | Such fingerprints shall thereafter be available for all purposes |
301 | and uses authorized for arrest fingerprint cards entered in the |
302 | statewide automated fingerprint identification system pursuant |
303 | to s. 943.051. |
304 | (b) Beginning December 15, 2004, The Department of Law |
305 | Enforcement shall search all arrest fingerprint cards received |
306 | under s. 943.051 against the fingerprints retained in the |
307 | statewide automated fingerprint identification system under |
308 | paragraph (a). Any arrest record that is identified with the |
309 | retained fingerprints of a person subject to the background |
310 | screening under this section shall be reported to the employing |
311 | or contracting school district or the school district with which |
312 | the person is affiliated. Each school district is required to |
313 | participate in this search process by payment of an annual fee |
314 | to the Department of Law Enforcement and by informing the |
315 | Department of Law Enforcement of any change in the affiliation, |
316 | employment, or contractual status or place of affiliation, |
317 | employment, or contracting of individuals its instructional and |
318 | noninstructional personnel whose fingerprints are retained under |
319 | paragraph (a). The Department of Law Enforcement shall adopt a |
320 | rule setting the amount of the annual fee to be imposed upon |
321 | each school district for performing these searches and |
322 | establishing the procedures for the retention of instructional |
323 | and noninstructional personnel fingerprints and the |
324 | dissemination of search results. The fee may be borne by the |
325 | district school board, the contractor, or the person |
326 | fingerprinted. |
327 | (c) Personnel whose fingerprints are not retained by the |
328 | Department of Law Enforcement under paragraphs (a) and (b) are |
329 | required to be refingerprinted and must meet the applicable |
330 | level 2 screening standards requirements as described in this |
331 | section upon reemployment or reengagement to provide services in |
332 | order to comply with the requirements of this subsection. |
333 | (4) For each person subject to background screening under |
334 | this section who is required by law to be rescreened |
335 | periodically, the district school board shall request the |
336 | Department of Law Enforcement to forward the person's |
337 | fingerprints for rescreening purposes to the Federal Bureau of |
338 | Investigation for national processing. If the person's |
339 | fingerprints were not retained by the Department of Law |
340 | Enforcement after the initial screening, the person must file a |
341 | complete set of fingerprints. Upon submission of fingerprints |
342 | for this purpose, the district school board shall request the |
343 | Department of Law Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the |
344 | Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing, and the |
345 | fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law |
346 | Enforcement under paragraphs (3)(a) and (b). The cost of the |
347 | rescreening may be borne by the district school board, the |
348 | charter school, the employee, the contractor, or any other |
349 | person subject to rescreening as specified in this subsection. |
350 | Section 9. Section 1012.465, Florida Statutes, is amended |
351 | to read: |
352 | 1012.465 Background screening requirements for certain |
353 | noninstructional school district employees and other specified |
354 | individuals contractors.-- |
355 | (1) For purposes of s. 1012.32, the following individuals |
356 | Noninstructional school district employees or contractual |
357 | personnel who are permitted access on school grounds when |
358 | students are present, who have direct contact with students or |
359 | who have access to or control of school funds must meet the |
360 | level 2 screening standards in s. 435.04 and must not have been |
361 | found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea |
362 | of nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving moral |
363 | turpitude: requirements as described in s. 1012.32. |
364 | (a) Noninstructional school district employees who have |
365 | direct, unsupervised contact with students or who have access to |
366 | or control of school funds. |
367 | (b) Other individuals who are authorized by the school |
368 | district to perform services for compensation and that involve |
369 | access to or control of school funds. |
370 | (c) Other individuals who are authorized by the school |
371 | district to perform services for compensation that involve |
372 | direct, unsupervised contact with students. This paragraph does |
373 | not apply to any individual who, by law due to the nature of his |
374 | or her occupation or business, is required to submit to a state |
375 | and national criminal history check for licensing or other |
376 | purposes, if such license or other certificate is current and in |
377 | good standing and the individual submits proof of good standing |
378 | to the school district. Contractual personnel shall include any |
379 | vendor, individual, or entity under contract with the school |
380 | board. |
381 | (2) The Department of Law Enforcement shall implement a |
382 | system that allows for criminal history record information |
383 | provided under paragraph (1)(c) to a school district to be |
384 | shared with other school districts through a secure website or |
385 | other electronic means. |
386 | (3) An individual subject to paragraph (1)(c) shall inform |
387 | a school district if he or she has had a criminal history check |
388 | in another school district within the last 5 years. If he or she |
389 | has had such a check, the school district shall verify the |
390 | results of the contractor's criminal history check using the |
391 | shared system implemented under paragraph (2). The school |
392 | district shall not charge the individual a fee for verifying the |
393 | results of his or her criminal history check. |
394 | (4)(a)(2) In accordance with s. 1012.32(4), every 5 years |
395 | following employment or entry into a contract in a capacity |
396 | described in subsection (1), each person who is so employed or |
397 | under contract with the school district must meet the level 2 |
398 | screening standards of s. 435.04 requirements as described in s. |
399 | 1012.32, at which time the school district shall request the |
400 | Department of Law Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the |
401 | Federal Bureau of Investigation for the level 2 screening. If, |
402 | for any reason following employment or entry into a contract in |
403 | a capacity described in subsection (1), the fingerprints of a |
404 | person who is so employed or under contract with the school |
405 | district are not retained by the Department of Law Enforcement |
406 | under s. 1012.32(3)(a) and (b), the person must file a complete |
407 | set of fingerprints with the district school superintendent of |
408 | the employing or contracting school district. Upon submission of |
409 | fingerprints for this purpose, the school district shall request |
410 | the Department of Law Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to |
411 | the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the level 2 screening, |
412 | and the fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law |
413 | Enforcement under s. 1012.32(3)(a) and (b). The cost of the |
414 | state and federal criminal history check required by level 2 |
415 | screening may be borne by the district school board, the |
416 | contractor, or the person fingerprinted. |
417 | (b) Under penalty of perjury, each person who is employed |
418 | or under contract in a capacity described in subsection (1) must |
419 | agree to inform his or her employer or the party with whom he or |
420 | she is under contract within 48 hours if convicted of any |
421 | disqualifying offense while he or she is employed or under |
422 | contract in that capacity. |
423 | (5)(3) If it is found that a person who is employed or |
424 | under contract in a capacity described in subsection (1) does |
425 | not meet the level 2 screening standards of s. 435.04 |
426 | requirements, the person shall be immediately suspended from |
427 | working in that capacity and shall remain suspended until final |
428 | resolution of any appeals. |
429 | Section 10. Section 1012.4561, Florida Statutes, is |
430 | created to read: |
431 | 1012.4561 Contractors and contract workers having access |
432 | to school grounds when students are present; exclusions.-- |
433 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
434 | (a) "Contractor" means a person who is engaged by the |
435 | school district to provide goods or services for compensation |
436 | that do not involve direct, unsupervised contact with students |
437 | and who employs contract workers or subcontracts with a person |
438 | who employs contract workers to provide such goods or services. |
439 | "Contractor" also means an individual who is engaged by a school |
440 | district to provide such goods or services for compensation. |
441 | (b) "Contract worker" means a contractor or any |
442 | individual, other than an individual described in s. 1012.465(1) |
443 | or s. 1012.56, who has access to school grounds for business or |
444 | employment purposes of a contractor for compensation when |
445 | students are present. |
446 | (c) "School grounds" means the buildings and grounds of |
447 | any public prekindergarten, kindergarten, elementary school, |
448 | middle school, junior high school, high school, or secondary |
449 | school, together with the school district land on which the |
450 | buildings are located. The term "school grounds" does not |
451 | include: |
452 | 1. Any other facility or location where school classes or |
453 | activities may be located or take place; |
454 | 2. Any buildings or grounds described in this paragraph |
455 | during any time period in which students are not permitted |
456 | access; or |
457 | 3. Any building described in this paragraph during any |
458 | period in which it is used as an adult, career, or technical |
459 | center under part IV of chapter 1004. |
460 | (2) A contract worker who is designated as a sexual |
461 | predator under s. 775.21, who is subject to registration as a |
462 | sexual offender under s. 943.0435, or who appears on the |
463 | National Sex Offender Public Registry maintained by the United |
464 | States Department of Justice may not be on school grounds. A |
465 | contract worker who is present on school grounds in violation of |
466 | this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, |
467 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
468 | (3)(a) Before allowing a contract worker to have access to |
469 | school grounds, a contractor must provide the school district |
470 | with certification that the contractor has: |
471 | 1. For an individual who holds a Florida driver's license |
472 | or identification card, examined the contract worker's license |
473 | or identification card and confirmed that it does not have the |
474 | markings required by s. 322.141(3). The requirements of this |
475 | subparagraph do not apply to certifications made before January |
476 | 1, 2007. |
477 | 2. Checked and confirmed that the individual is not on the |
478 | National Sex Offender Public Registry. |
479 |
|
480 | The contractor shall make its records supporting the |
481 | certification available for inspection at the request of a |
482 | school district employee. |
483 | (b)1. Each contract worker who has been issued a Florida |
484 | driver's license or identification card shall possess the card |
485 | at all times while working on school grounds and shall show it |
486 | to any school district employee upon request. |
487 | 2. Each contract worker who has not been issued or does |
488 | not have in his or her possession a Florida driver's license or |
489 | identification card shall submit to a check against the National |
490 | Sex Offender Public Registry upon the request of any school |
491 | district employee. |
492 | (c) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this |
493 | subsection and who holds a professional license under chapter |
494 | 455 commits an act constituting grounds for discipline as |
495 | described in s. 455.227(1)(a). Any person who knowingly and |
496 | willfully violates this subsection and who holds a professional |
497 | license under chapter 456 commits an act constituting grounds |
498 | for discipline as described in s. 456.072(1)(a). |
499 | (d) An contract worker must inform the contractor within |
500 | 48 hours if he or she is arrested for an offense for which a |
501 | conviction could lead to the person being designated as a sexual |
502 | predator under s. 775.21 or subject to registration as a sexual |
503 | offender under s. 943.0435. A person who willfully fails to |
504 | comply with this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the first |
505 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
506 | (4) This section does not apply to law enforcement |
507 | officers, as defined in s. 943.10, assigned by their employing |
508 | agencies to work on school grounds as part of their official |
509 | duties or first responder personnel responding to a request for |
510 | assistance. For purposes of this subsection, the term "first |
511 | responder personnel" includes law enforcement officers, as |
512 | defined in s. 943.10, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, |
513 | and firefighters. |
514 | (5) This section may not give rise to any private civil |
515 | liability nor be construed to create a private cause of action |
516 | for monetary damages. |
517 | (6) A school board may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) |
518 | and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this section. |
519 | Section 11. Subsection (9) of section 1012.56, Florida |
520 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
521 | 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.-- |
522 | (9) BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIRED, INITIALLY AND |
523 | PERIODICALLY.-- |
524 | (a) For purposes of s. 1012.32, each person who seeks |
525 | certification under this chapter must meet the level 2 screening |
526 | standards of s. 435.04 requirements as described in s. 1012.32 |
527 | unless a level 2 screening has been conducted by a district |
528 | school board or the Department of Education within 12 months |
529 | before the date the person initially obtains certification under |
530 | this chapter, the results of which are submitted to the district |
531 | school board or to the Department of Education and must not have |
532 | been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a |
533 | plea of nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving moral |
534 | turpitude. |
535 | (b)1. A person may not receive a certificate under this |
536 | chapter until the level 2 screening under s. 435.04 has been |
537 | completed and the results have been submitted to the Department |
538 | of Education or to the district school superintendent of the |
539 | school district that employs the person. |
540 | 2. In accordance with s. 1012.32(4), every 5 years after |
541 | obtaining initial certification, each person who is required to |
542 | be certified under this chapter must meet the level 2 screening |
543 | standards of s. 435.04 requirements as described in s. 1012.32, |
544 | at which time the school district shall request the Department |
545 | of Law Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the Federal |
546 | Bureau of Investigation for the level 2 screening. If, for any |
547 | reason after obtaining initial certification, the fingerprints |
548 | of a person who is required to be certified under this chapter |
549 | are not retained by the Department of Law Enforcement under s. |
550 | 1012.32(3)(a) and (b), the person must file a complete set of |
551 | fingerprints with the district school superintendent of the |
552 | employing school district. Upon submission of fingerprints for |
553 | this purpose, the school district shall request the Department |
554 | of Law Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the Federal |
555 | Bureau of Investigation for the level 2 screening, and the |
556 | fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law |
557 | Enforcement under s. 1012.32(3)(a) and (b). The cost of the |
558 | state and federal criminal history check required by level 2 |
559 | screening may be borne by the district school board or the |
560 | employee. |
561 | 3. Under penalty of perjury, each person who is certified |
562 | under this chapter must agree to inform his or her employer |
563 | within 48 hours if convicted of any disqualifying offense while |
564 | he or she is employed in a position for which such certification |
565 | is required. |
566 | (c) If it is found under s. 1012.796 that a person who is |
567 | employed in a position requiring certification under this |
568 | chapter does not meet the level 2 screening standards of s. |
569 | 435.04 requirements, the person's certification shall be |
570 | immediately revoked or suspended and he or she shall be |
571 | immediately suspended from the position requiring certification. |
572 | Section 12. The sum of $30,000 is appropriated from the |
573 | Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund to the Department of Highway |
574 | Safety and Motor Vehicles for the 2006-2007 fiscal year for |
575 | computer programming costs related to this act. |
576 | Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
577 | act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |