Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1206
       
       
        
       By Senator Osgood
       
       
       
       
       
       32-01184-26                                           20261206__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school personnel screening
    3         standards; amending s. 1012.315, F.S.; requiring an
    4         applicant for certain positions to submit specified
    5         information; requiring a district school system,
    6         charter school, or private school to review specified
    7         information; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Present subsection (2) of section 1012.315,
   12  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (4), and a new
   13  subsection (2) and subsection (3) are added to that section, to
   14  read:
   15         1012.315 Screening standards.—
   16         (2) An applicant seeking employment in a position that
   17  requires educator certification, or employment in any position
   18  that requires direct contact with students in a district school
   19  system, a charter school, or a private school that participates
   20  in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002, which
   21  includes being an owner or operator of a private school that
   22  participates in a scholarship program under chapter 1002, must
   23  provide all of the following:
   24         (a) The name, address, telephone number, and other relevant
   25  contact information of the applicant’s:
   26         1. Current employer.
   27         2. Former employers that were school entities.
   28         3. Former employers for positions in which the applicant
   29  had direct contact with children.
   30         (b) A written authorization that consents to and authorizes
   31  disclosures pursuant to paragraph (a) to be given to the school
   32  district, charter school, or private school at which the
   33  applicant seeks employment.
   34         (c) A written statement disclosing whether the applicant:
   35         1. Has been the subject of an abuse or sexual misconduct
   36  investigation conducted by any employer, professional licensing
   37  agency, law enforcement agency, or child protective services
   38  agency, unless the investigation resulted in a finding that the
   39  allegations were false.
   40         2. Has ever been disciplined, discharged, nonrenewed, asked
   41  to resign from employment, or resigned from or otherwise
   42  separated from any employment while allegations of abuse or
   43  sexual misconduct as described in subparagraph 1. were pending
   44  or under investigation or due to an adjudication or findings of
   45  abuse.
   46         3. Has ever had a license, professional license, or
   47  certificate suspended, surrendered, or revoked while allegations
   48  of abuse or sexual misconduct as described in subparagraph 1.
   49  were pending or under investigation or due to an adjudication or
   50  findings of abuse or sexual misconduct as described in
   51  subparagraph 1.
   52         (3) The district school system, charter school, or private
   53  school at which the applicant seeks employment must conduct a
   54  review of the applicant which includes the information provided
   55  pursuant to subsection (2).
   56         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.