Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 206
       
       
        
       By Senator Harrell
       
       
       
       
       
       31-00391-26                                            2026206__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to students with autism spectrum
    3         disorder; amending s. 1012.582, F.S.; requiring,
    4         rather than authorizing, the State Board of Education
    5         to adopt certain rules; requiring that such rules
    6         include a requirement related to autism spectrum
    7         disorder for certain K-12 teachers; providing an
    8         effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 1012.582, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         1012.582 Continuing education and inservice training for
   15  teaching students with developmental and emotional or behavioral
   16  disabilities.—
   17         (4)(a) The State Board of Education shall may adopt rules
   18  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section.
   19         (b) Such rules must require a K-12 teacher who teaches a
   20  class with at least 50 percent of students having autism
   21  spectrum disorder to hold an Autism Spectrum Disorder
   22  Endorsement.
   23         (c) Such rules must allow for an exception to the Autism
   24  Spectrum Disorder Endorsement requirement in paragraph (b) if a
   25  teacher holds an Endorsement in Severe or Profound Disabilities,
   26  has taught students with autism spectrum disorder for a minimum
   27  of 3 years, and has been rated as highly effective in the
   28  preceding 3-year period pursuant to s. 1012.34.
   29         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.