Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 1474
By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Bradley
577-02512-22 20221474c1
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 online 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. Consistent with s.
41 493.6115, the department shall by rule establish the general
42 content and the number of hours of each subject area to be
43 taught, the method of delivery and the security protocols for
44 online training and testing, the reporting requirements for
45 verification of successful completion of training, and any other
46 rules necessary for the regulation of Class “K” licensees
47 providing in-person or online training. Upon completion of the
48 training, the instructor must submit results directly to the
49 Division of Licensing in a manner prescribed by the department.
50 The instructor must also provide a copy of the training results
51 to the applicant who completed the training. The department may
52 waive the foregoing firearms training requirement if:
53 (a) The applicant provides proof that he or she is
54 currently certified as a law enforcement officer or correctional
55 officer pursuant to the requirements of the Criminal Justice
56 Standards and Training Commission or has successfully completed
57 the training required for certification within the last 12
58 months.
59 (b) The applicant provides proof that he or she is
60 currently certified as a federal law enforcement officer and has
61 received law enforcement firearms training administered by a
62 federal law enforcement agency.
63 (c) The applicant submits a valid firearm certificate
64 listed among those specified in paragraph (6)(a).
65 Section 2. Section 493.6132, Florida Statutes, is created
66 to read:
67 493.6132 Online training courses.—
68 (1) An online training course for a Class “D” license must
69 be conducted live and by a licensed school or training facility
70 that maintains a physical location in this state.
71 (2) A Class “K” licensed firearms instructor conducting an
72 online training course must maintain a physical location in this
73 state and must conduct online classes live at a location in this
74 state.
75 (3) An applicant may only be logged into the online
76 training course from one device at a time.
77 (4) The online training course must include, at a minimum,
78 all of the following:
79 (a) Security questions to ensure that the applicant is
80 actively using the computer or mobile device and is following
81 along with the online training.
82 (b) A minimum amount of time that each applicant must spend
83 on each screen before moving on to the next screen.
84 (c) Randomized test questions.
85 (d) A digital record of the applicant’s attendance log
86 along with any components required by department rule.
87 (5) A licensed school or training facility, or a Class “K”
88 licensee conducting an online course, must maintain records of
89 all training sessions, including the name and license number of
90 the instructor who is present online with the students while the
91 students are receiving instruction, and proof of compliance with
92 all security protocols at the school, facility, or place of
93 business in this state. The records required under this
94 subsection must be made accessible to the department’s
95 investigators upon request.
96 (6) A licensed school or training facility, or a Class “K”
97 licensee conducting an online course must provide the Division
98 of Licensing with live access to each course for the purposes of
99 auditing, monitoring, or inspection as deemed necessary by the
100 division.
101 (7) If an applicant is absent during a portion of a live
102 online class, a licensed school or training facility, or a Class
103 “K” licensee conducting an online course, may deliver
104 instruction in part using recordings, as limited by department
105 rule.
106 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
107 493.6303, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
108 493.6303 License requirements.—In addition to the license
109 requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, each
110 individual or agency must comply with the following additional
111 requirements:
112 (4)(a) An applicant for a Class “D” license must submit
113 proof of successful completion of a minimum of 40 hours of
114 professional training at a school or training facility licensed
115 by the department. The training may be conducted by in-person
116 instruction or online instruction presented live through a
117 secure website of the licensed school or training facility,
118 provided that the applicant’s identity, attendance, and
119 successful completion of training are verified by the
120 instructor. As part of his or her application, the applicant
121 must submit the completed training certificate to the department
122 upon completion of the training. The department shall by rule
123 and in accordance with s. 493.6103 establish the general content
124 and number of hours of each subject area to be taught, the
125 method of delivery and the security protocols for online
126 training and testing, the reporting requirements for
127 verification of successful completion of training, and any other
128 rules necessary for the regulation of schools or training
129 facilities providing in-person or online training. Upon
130 completion of such training, the training facility or the
131 instructor must submit proof of completion of training for each
132 applicant to the department electronically in a manner
133 prescribed by the department. The training facility or the
134 instructor must also provide a copy of the training results to
135 the applicant who completed the training.
136 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.