Florida Senate - 2025                              CS for SB 540
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Education Pre-K - 12; and Senators Collins
       and Burgess
       
       
       
       
       581-03086-25                                           2025540c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to disability history and awareness
    3         instruction; providing a short title; amending s.
    4         1003.4205, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education
    5         to develop specified curricula; authorizing the
    6         department to consult with the Evin B. Hartsell
    7         Foundation to further develop such curricula;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Evin B. Hartsell
   13  Act.”
   14         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   15  1003.4205, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   16         1003.4205 Disability history and awareness instruction.—
   17         (2)(a) During this 2-week period, students may be provided
   18  intensive instruction to expand their knowledge, understanding,
   19  and awareness of individuals with disabilities, the history of
   20  disability, and the disability rights movement. Disability
   21  history may include the events and timelines of the development
   22  and evolution of services to, and the civil rights of,
   23  individuals with disabilities. Disability history may also
   24  include the contributions of specific individuals with
   25  disabilities, including the contributions of acknowledged
   26  national leaders.
   27         1. The Department of Education shall develop the following
   28  curricula for the grade levels specified:
   29         a. For kindergarten through grade 3, an introduction to
   30  physical disabilities and bullying.
   31         b. For grades 4 through 6, autism spectrum disorder.
   32         c. For grades 7 through 9, hearing impairments.
   33         d. For grades 10 through 12, learning styles and
   34  intellectual disabilities.
   35         2. The department may consult with the Evin B. Hartsell
   36  Foundation to further develop the curricula in subparagraph 1.
   37         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.