Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 896
Ì5805183Î580518
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/11/2026 .
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The Committee on Criminal Justice (Gaetz) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section
6 30.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.—
8 (1) Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or by
9 deputy, shall:
10 (k) Assist district school boards and charter school
11 governing boards in complying with, or private schools or child
12 care facilities, as defined in s. 402.302, in exercising options
13 in, s. 1006.12. A sheriff must also assist public postsecondary
14 educational institutions, as described in s. 1000.04(3), in
15 implementing a guardian program under s. 1006.601. A sheriff
16 shall, at a minimum, provide access to a Chris Hixon, Coach
17 Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to aid in
18 the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on
19 school premises, as required under this paragraph. Persons
20 certified as school guardians pursuant to this paragraph have no
21 authority to act in any law enforcement capacity except to the
22 extent necessary to prevent or abate an active assailant
23 incident.
24 1.a. If a local school board has voted by a majority to
25 implement a guardian program or has contracted for the use of
26 school security guards to satisfy the requirements of s.
27 1006.12, the sheriff in that county must establish a guardian
28 program to provide training for school guardians or school
29 security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school
30 district, charter school, public postsecondary educational
31 institution, private school, child care facility, or security
32 agency employees, either directly or through a contract with
33 another sheriff’s office that has established a guardian
34 program. The security agency employing a school security guard
35 is responsible for all training and screening-related costs for
36 a school security guard, but such charges may not exceed the
37 actual cost incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
38 b. A public postsecondary educational institution or
39 charter school governing board in a school district that has not
40 voted, or has declined, to implement a guardian program may
41 request the sheriff in the county to establish a guardian
42 program for the purpose of training the public postsecondary
43 educational institution or charter school employees or school
44 security guards consistent with the requirements of subparagraph
45 2. If the county sheriff denies the request, the public
46 postsecondary educational institution or charter school
47 governing board may contract with a sheriff that has established
48 a guardian program to provide such training. The charter school
49 governing board must notify the superintendent and the sheriff
50 in the charter school’s county of the contract prior to its
51 execution. The public postsecondary educational institution must
52 notify the sheriff in the public postsecondary educational
53 institution’s county of the contract prior to its execution. The
54 security agency employing a school security guard is responsible
55 for all training and screening-related costs for a school
56 security guard, but such charges may not exceed the actual cost
57 incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
58 c. A private school or child care facility in a school
59 district that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a
60 guardian program may request that the sheriff in the county of
61 the private school or child care facility establish a guardian
62 program for the purpose of training private school employees,
63 child care facility employees, or school security guards. If the
64 county sheriff denies the request, the private school or child
65 care facility may contract with a sheriff from another county
66 who has established a guardian program under subparagraph 2. to
67 provide such training. The private school or child care facility
68 must notify the sheriff in the private school’s or child care
69 facility’s county of the contract with a sheriff from another
70 county before its execution. The private school, child care
71 facility, or security agency is responsible for all training and
72 screening-related costs for a school guardian program. The
73 sheriff providing such training must ensure that any moneys paid
74 by a private school, child care facility, or security agency are
75 not commingled with any funds provided by the state to the
76 sheriff as reimbursement for screening-related and training
77 related costs of any school district or charter school employee.
78 d. The training program required in sub-subparagraph 2.b.
79 is a standardized statewide curriculum, and each sheriff
80 providing such training shall adhere to the course of
81 instruction specified in that sub-subparagraph. This
82 subparagraph does not prohibit a sheriff from providing
83 additional training. A school guardian or school security guard
84 who has completed the training program required in sub
85 subparagraph 2.b. may not be required to attend another
86 sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph
87 unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her
88 appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as
89 a school security guard in a school.
90 e. The sheriff conducting the training pursuant to
91 subparagraph 2. for school district, and charter school, or
92 public postsecondary educational institution employees will be
93 reimbursed for screening-related and training-related costs and
94 for providing a one-time stipend of $500 to each school guardian
95 who participates in the school guardian program.
96 f. The sheriff may waive the training and screening-related
97 costs for a private school or child care facility for a school
98 guardian program. Funds provided pursuant to sub-subparagraph e.
99 may not be used to subsidize any costs that have been waived by
100 the sheriff. The sheriff may not waive the training and
101 screening-related costs required to be paid by a security agency
102 for initial training or ongoing training of a school security
103 guard.
104 g. A person who is certified and in good standing under the
105 Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, who
106 meets the qualifications established in s. 943.13, and who is
107 otherwise qualified for the position of a school guardian or
108 school security guard may be certified as a school guardian or
109 school security guard by the sheriff without completing the
110 training requirements of sub-subparagraph 2.b. However, a person
111 certified as a school guardian or school security guard under
112 this sub-subparagraph must meet the requirements of sub
113 subparagraphs 2.c.-e.
114 2. A sheriff who establishes a program shall consult with
115 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding
116 principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as
117 school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees,
118 as specified in s. 1006.12(3), or shall certify as school
119 security guards those persons employed by a security agency who
120 meet the criteria specified in s. 1006.12(4), and who:
121 a. Hold a valid license issued under s. 790.06 or are
122 otherwise eligible to possess or carry a concealed firearm under
123 chapter 790.
124 b. After satisfying the requirements of s. 1006.12(7),
125 complete a 144-hour training program, consisting of 12 hours of
126 training to improve the school guardian’s knowledge and skills
127 necessary to respond to and de-escalate incidents on school
128 premises and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and
129 proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and
130 Training Commission-certified instructors, which must include:
131 (I) Eighty hours of firearms instruction based on the
132 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s Law
133 Enforcement Academy training model, which must include at least
134 10 percent but no more than 20 percent more rounds fired than
135 associated with academy training. Program participants must
136 achieve an 85 percent pass rate on the firearms training.
137 (II) Sixteen hours of instruction in precision pistol.
138 (III) Eight hours of discretionary shooting instruction
139 using state-of-the-art simulator exercises.
140 (IV) Sixteen hours of instruction in active shooter or
141 assailant scenarios.
142 (V) Eight hours of instruction in defensive tactics.
143 (VI) Four hours of instruction in legal issues.
144 c. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
145 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
146 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
147 evaluation to the sheriff’s office. The Department of Law
148 Enforcement is authorized to provide the sheriff’s office with
149 mental health and substance abuse data for compliance with this
150 paragraph.
151 d. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
152 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
153 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office.
154 e. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
155 inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual
156 basis.
157
158 The sheriff who conducts the guardian training or waives the
159 training requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g.
160 shall issue a school guardian certificate to persons who meet
161 the requirements of this section to the satisfaction of the
162 sheriff, and shall maintain documentation of weapon and
163 equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification,
164 inspection, and qualification records of each school guardian
165 certified by the sheriff. A person who is certified under this
166 paragraph may serve as a school guardian under s. 1006.12(3)
167 only if he or she is appointed by the applicable school district
168 superintendent, charter school principal, public postsecondary
169 educational institution president, private school head of
170 school, or child care facility owner. A sheriff who conducts the
171 training for a school security guard or waives the training
172 requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g. and
173 determines that the school security guard has met all the
174 requirements of s. 1006.12(4) shall issue a school security
175 guard certificate to persons who meet the requirements of this
176 section to the satisfaction of the sheriff and shall maintain
177 documentation of weapon and equipment inspections, training,
178 certification, and qualification records for each school
179 security guard certified by the sheriff.
180 3.a. Within 30 days after issuing a school guardian or
181 school security guard certificate, the sheriff who issued the
182 certificate must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the
183 name, date of birth, and certification date of the school
184 guardian or school security guard.
185 b. By February 1 and September 1 of each school year, each
186 school district, charter school, employing security agency,
187 public postsecondary educational institution, private school,
188 and child care facility must report in the manner prescribed to
189 the Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and
190 appointment date of each person appointed as a school guardian
191 or employed as a school security guard. The school district,
192 charter school, employing security agency, public postsecondary
193 educational institution, private school, and child care facility
194 must also report in the manner prescribed to the Department of
195 Law Enforcement the date each school guardian or school security
196 guard separates from his or her appointment as a school guardian
197 or employment as a school security guard in a school.
198 c. The Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain a list
199 of each person appointed as a school guardian or certified as a
200 school security guard in the state. The list must include the
201 name and certification date of each school guardian and school
202 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school
203 guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the
204 name of the school district, charter school, public
205 postsecondary educational institution, private school, or child
206 care facility in which the school guardian is appointed, or the
207 employing security agency of a school security guard, any
208 information provided pursuant to s. 1006.12(5), and, if
209 applicable, the date such person separated from his or her
210 appointment as a school guardian or the last date a school
211 security guard served in a school as of the last reporting date.
212 The Department of Law Enforcement shall remove from the list any
213 person whose training has expired pursuant to sub-subparagraph
214 1.d.
215 d. Each sheriff shall report on a quarterly basis to the
216 Department of Law Enforcement the schedule for upcoming school
217 guardian trainings, to include guardian trainings for school
218 security guards, including the dates of the training, the
219 training locations, a contact person to register for the
220 training, and the class capacity. If no trainings are scheduled,
221 the sheriff is not required to report to the Department of Law
222 Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement shall publish on
223 its website a list of the upcoming school guardian trainings.
224 The Department of Law Enforcement shall update such list
225 quarterly.
226 e. A sheriff who fails to report the information required
227 by this subparagraph may not receive reimbursement from the
228 Department of Education for school guardian trainings. Upon the
229 submission of the required information, a sheriff is deemed
230 eligible for such funding and is authorized to continue to
231 receive reimbursement for school guardian training.
232 f. A school district, charter school, public postsecondary
233 educational institution, private school, child care facility, or
234 employing security agency that fails to report the information
235 required by this subparagraph is prohibited from operating a
236 school guardian program or employing school security guards in
237 the following school year unless the missing information is
238 provided.
239 g. By March 1 and October 1 of each school year, the
240 Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the Department of
241 Education of any sheriff, school district, charter school,
242 public postsecondary educational institution, private school, or
243 child care facility that has not complied with the reporting
244 requirements of this subparagraph.
245 h. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to
246 implement the requirements of this subparagraph, including
247 requiring additional reporting information only as necessary to
248 uniquely identify each school guardian and school security guard
249 reported.
250 Section 2. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (d) of
251 subsection (2) of section 790.115, Florida Statutes, is amended,
252 and subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
253 790.115 Possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a
254 school-sponsored event or on school property prohibited;
255 penalties; exceptions.—
256 (2)
257 (d) A person commits a felony of the second degree,
258 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084,
259 if he or she: who
260 1. Discharges any weapon or firearm while in violation of
261 paragraph (a), unless discharged for lawful defense of himself
262 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose; or
263 2. Discharges any weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a
264 school, during school hours or during the time of a sanctioned
265 school activity, unless discharged for lawful defense of himself
266 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose. This subparagraph
267 does not apply to the discharge of a weapon or firearm on
268 private real property within 1,000 feet of a school by the owner
269 of such property or by a person whose presence on such property
270 has been authorized, licensed, or invited by the owner, commits
271 a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
272 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
273 (4) A person arrested for a violation of paragraph (2)(d)
274 must be held in custody until brought before the court for
275 admittance to bail in accordance with chapter 903.
276 Section 3. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (f) of
277 subsection (3) of section 921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended
278 to read:
279 921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
280 chart.—
281 (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
282 (f) LEVEL 6
283
284
285 FloridaStatute FelonyDegree Description
286 316.027(2)(b) 2nd Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.
287 316.193(2)(b) 3rd Felony DUI, 4th or subsequent conviction.
288 316.1935(4)(a) 2nd Aggravated fleeing or eluding.
289 327.30(5)(a)3. 2nd Vessel accidents involving serious bodily injury; leaving scene.
290 400.9935(4)(c) 2nd Operating a clinic, or offering services requiring licensure, without a license.
291 499.0051(2) 2nd Knowing forgery of transaction history, transaction information, or transaction statement.
292 499.0051(3) 2nd Knowing purchase or receipt of prescription drug from unauthorized person.
293 499.0051(4) 2nd Knowing sale or transfer of prescription drug to unauthorized person.
294 775.0875(1) 3rd Taking firearm from law enforcement officer.
295 784.021(1)(a) 3rd Aggravated assault; deadly weapon without intent to kill.
296 784.021(1)(b) 3rd Aggravated assault; intent to commit felony.
297 784.041 3rd Felony battery; domestic battery by strangulation.
298 784.048(3) 3rd Aggravated stalking; credible threat.
299 784.048(5) 3rd Aggravated stalking of person under 16.
300 784.07(2)(c) 2nd Aggravated assault on law enforcement officer.
301 784.074(1)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on sexually violent predators facility staff.
302 784.08(2)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older.
303 784.081(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on specified official or employee.
304 784.082(2) 2nd Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
305 784.083(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on code inspector.
306 787.02(2) 3rd False imprisonment; restraining with purpose other than those in s. 787.01.
307 787.025(2)(a) 3rd Luring or enticing a child.
308 790.115(2)(d) 2nd Discharging firearm or weapon on school property or within 1,000 feet of a school.
309 790.161(2) 2nd Make, possess, or throw destructive device with intent to do bodily harm or damage property.
310 790.164(1) 2nd False report concerning bomb, explosive, weapon of mass destruction, act of arson or violence to state property, or use of firearms in violent manner.
311 790.19 2nd Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles.
312 794.011(8)(a) 3rd Solicitation of minor to participate in sexual activity by custodial adult.
313 794.05(1) 2nd Unlawful sexual activity with specified minor.
314 800.04(5)(d) 3rd Lewd or lascivious molestation; victim 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age; offender less than 18 years.
315 800.04(6)(b) 2nd Lewd or lascivious conduct; offender 18 years of age or older.
316 806.031(2) 2nd Arson resulting in great bodily harm to firefighter or any other person.
317 810.02(3)(c) 2nd Burglary of occupied structure; unarmed; no assault or battery.
318 810.145(8)(b) 2nd Digital voyeurism; certain minor victims; 2nd or subsequent offense.
319 812.014(2)(b)1. 2nd Property stolen $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, grand theft in 2nd degree.
320 812.014(2)(c)5. 3rd Grand theft; third degree; firearm.
321 812.014(6) 2nd Theft; property stolen $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
322 812.015(9)(a) 2nd Retail theft; property stolen $750 or more; second or subsequent conviction.
323 812.015(9)(b) 2nd Retail theft; aggregated property stolen within 120 days is $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
324 812.015(9)(d) 2nd Retail theft; multiple thefts within specified period.
325 812.015(9)(e) 2nd Retail theft; committed with specified number of other persons and use of social media platform.
326 812.13(2)(c) 2nd Robbery, no firearm or other weapon (strong-arm robbery).
327 817.4821(5) 2nd Possess cloning paraphernalia with intent to create cloned cellular telephones.
328 817.49(2)(b)2. 2nd Willful making of a false report of a crime resulting in death.
329 817.505(4)(b) 2nd Patient brokering; 10 or more patients.
330 817.5695(3)(b) 2nd Exploitation of person 65 years of age or older, value $10,000 or more, but less than $50,000.
331 825.102(1) 3rd Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
332 825.102(3)(c) 3rd Neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult.
333 825.1025(3) 3rd Lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
334 825.103(3)(c) 3rd Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000.
335 827.03(2)(c) 3rd Abuse of a child.
336 827.03(2)(d) 3rd Neglect of a child.
337 827.071(5) 3rd Possess, control, or intentionally view any photographic material, motion picture, etc., which includes child pornography.
338 828.126(3) 3rd Sexual activities involving animals.
339 836.05 2nd Threats; extortion.
340 836.10 2nd Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
341 843.12 3rd Aids or assists person to escape.
342 847.011 3rd Distributing, offering to distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors.
343 847.012 3rd Knowingly using a minor in the production of materials harmful to minors.
344 847.0135(2) 3rd Facilitates sexual conduct of or with a minor or the visual depiction of such conduct.
345 893.131 2nd Distribution of controlled substances resulting in overdose or serious bodily injury.
346 914.23 2nd Retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, with bodily injury.
347 918.13(2)(b) 2nd Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence relating to a capital felony.
348 944.35(3)(a)2. 3rd Committing malicious battery upon or inflicting cruel or inhuman treatment on an inmate or offender on community supervision, resulting in great bodily harm.
349 944.40 2nd Escapes.
350 944.46 3rd Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners.
351 944.47(1)(a)5. 2nd Introduction of contraband (firearm, weapon, or explosive) into correctional facility.
352 951.22(1)(i) 3rd Firearm or weapon introduced into county detention facility.
353
354
355 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
356 943.082, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
357 added to that subsection, to read:
358 943.082 School Safety Awareness Program.—
359 (4)(a) Law enforcement dispatch centers, school districts,
360 schools, postsecondary institutions, and other entities
361 identified by the department must be made aware of the mobile
362 suspicious activity reporting tool.
363 (c) Each public postsecondary educational institution, as
364 defined in s. 1000.04(3), shall promote the use of the mobile
365 suspicious activity reporting tool by advertising it on the
366 institution website, by installing it on all mobile devices
367 issued by the institution, and by bookmarking the website on all
368 computer devices maintained by the institution.
369 Section 5. Subsection (4) is added to section 1003.25,
370 Florida Statutes, and subsection (2) of that section is
371 republished, to read:
372 1003.25 Procedures for maintenance and transfer of student
373 records.—
374 (2) The procedure for transferring and maintaining records
375 of students who transfer from school to school is prescribed by
376 rules of the State Board of Education. The transfer of records
377 must occur within 5 school days. The records must include, if
378 applicable:
379 (a) Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior
380 patterns, including any threat assessment report, all
381 corresponding documentation, and any other information required
382 by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument
383 pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) which contains the evaluation,
384 intervention, and management of the threat assessment
385 evaluations and intervention services.
386 (b) Psychological evaluations, including therapeutic
387 treatment plans and therapy or progress notes created or
388 maintained by school district or charter school staff, as
389 appropriate.
390 (4) When the education records of a student contain the
391 documents described in subsection (2) and the student enrolls in
392 a Florida College System institution or state university, such
393 records must be transferred to his or her institution or
394 university of enrollment. The State Board of Education and the
395 Board of Governors shall adopt rules and regulations,
396 respectively, to establish the procedures for the transfer of a
397 student’s threat assessment report pursuant to this subsection.
398 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
399 1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
400 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student
401 discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall
402 provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the
403 attendance and control of students at school, and for proper
404 attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the
405 welfare of students, including:
406 (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district
407 school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures
408 for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the
409 assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior
410 poses a threat to the safety of the school community.
411 (a) School safety specialist.—Each district school
412 superintendent shall designate a school safety specialist for
413 the district. The school safety specialist must be a school
414 administrator employed by the school district or a law
415 enforcement officer employed by the sheriff’s office located in
416 the school district. Any school safety specialist designated
417 from the sheriff’s office must first be authorized and approved
418 by the sheriff employing the law enforcement officer. Any school
419 safety specialist designated from the sheriff’s office remains
420 the employee of the office for purposes of compensation,
421 insurance, workers’ compensation, and other benefits authorized
422 by law for a law enforcement officer employed by the sheriff’s
423 office. The sheriff and the school superintendent may determine
424 by agreement the reimbursement for such costs, or may share the
425 costs, associated with employment of the law enforcement officer
426 as a school safety specialist. The school safety specialist must
427 earn a certificate of completion of the school safety specialist
428 training provided by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year
429 after appointment and is responsible for the supervision and
430 oversight for all school safety and security personnel,
431 policies, and procedures in the school district. The school
432 safety specialist, or his or her designee, shall:
433 1. In conjunction with the district school superintendent,
434 annually review school district policies and procedures for
435 compliance with state law and rules, including the district’s
436 timely and accurate submission of school environmental safety
437 incident reports to the department pursuant to s. 1001.212(8).
438 At least quarterly, the school safety specialist must report to
439 the district school superintendent and the district school board
440 any noncompliance by the school district with laws or rules
441 regarding school safety.
442 2. Provide the necessary training and resources to students
443 and school district staff in matters relating to youth mental
444 health awareness and assistance; emergency procedures, including
445 active shooter training; and school safety and security. Such
446 training for classroom teachers and other members of
447 instructional staff must explain the purpose, importance, and
448 proper execution of school safety protocols and emergency
449 procedures.
450 3. Serve as the school district liaison with local public
451 safety agencies and national, state, and community agencies and
452 organizations in matters of school safety and security.
453 4. In collaboration with the appropriate public safety
454 agencies, as that term is defined in s. 365.171, by October 1 of
455 each year, conduct a school security risk assessment at each
456 public school using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
457 developed by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
458 1006.1493. Based on the assessment findings, the district’s
459 school safety specialist shall provide recommendations to the
460 district school superintendent and the district school board
461 which identify strategies and activities that the district
462 school board should implement in order to address the findings
463 and improve school safety and security. Each district school
464 board must receive such findings and the school safety
465 specialist’s recommendations at a publicly noticed district
466 school board meeting to provide the public an opportunity to
467 hear the district school board members discuss and take action
468 on the findings and recommendations. Each school safety
469 specialist, through the district school superintendent, shall
470 report such findings and school board action to the Office of
471 Safe Schools within 30 days after the district school board
472 meeting.
473 5. Conduct annual unannounced inspections, using the form
474 adopted by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
475 1001.212(13), of all public schools, including charter schools,
476 while school is in session and investigate reports of
477 noncompliance with school safety requirements.
478 6. Report violations of paragraph (f) by administrative
479 personnel and instructional personnel to the district school
480 superintendent or charter school administrator, as applicable.
481 Section 7. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (3) of
482 section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (a) of that
483 subsection, paragraph (a) of subsection (4), and subsection (7)
484 of that section are reenacted, to read:
485 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the
486 protection and safety of school personnel, property, students,
487 and visitors, each district school board and school district
488 superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or
489 security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school
490 officers at each school facility within the district, including
491 charter schools. A district school board must collaborate with
492 charter school governing boards to facilitate charter school
493 access to all safe-school officer options available under this
494 section. The school district may implement any combination of
495 the options in subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of the
496 school district and charter schools.
497 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.—
498 (a) At the school district’s or the charter school
499 governing board’s discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s.
500 30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may
501 participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach
502 Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of
503 establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals
504 may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned
505 activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory
506 completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and
507 certification by a sheriff:
508 1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined
509 under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided
510 under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school
511 guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or
512 2. An employee of a school district or a charter school who
513 is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school
514 guardian.
515 (d) A person who serves as a school guardian may not wear a
516 uniform that identifies him or her as a school guardian.
517 (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter
518 school governing board may contract with a security agency as
519 defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard
520 an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license
521 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and
522 contractual conditions are met:
523 (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,
524 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,
525 must:
526 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required training
527 conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.
528 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
529 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
530 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
531 evaluation to the sheriff’s office and school district, charter
532 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
533 applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to
534 provide the sheriff’s office, school district, charter school
535 governing board, or employing security agency with mental health
536 and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.
537 3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
538 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
539 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office, school district, charter
540 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
541 applicable.
542 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the
543 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will
544 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in
545 that county. The sheriff’s approval authorizes the security
546 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the
547 county, and the sheriff’s approval is not limited to any
548 particular school.
549 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
550 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff
551 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and
552 provide documentation to the sheriff’s office, school district,
553 charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as
554 applicable.
555 (7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background
556 screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements
557 and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any
558 training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only
559 by a sheriff.
560
561 If a district school board, through its adopted policies,
562 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any
563 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school
564 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety
565 officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the
566 charter school’s share of the costs of the school resource
567 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school
568 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.
569 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.
570 Section 8. Section 1006.601, Florida Statutes, is created
571 to read:
572 1006.601 Student safety.—
573 (1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “public
574 postsecondary educational institution” has the same meaning as
575 in s. 1000.04(3).
576 (2) SCHOOL GUARDIANS.—
577 (a) Public postsecondary educational institutions are
578 authorized to participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis,
579 and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program and may appoint
580 certified school guardians pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k).
581 (b) An employee or faculty member of a public postsecondary
582 educational institution may serve as a school guardian, in
583 support of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s.
584 790.115, upon satisfactory completion of the requirements under
585 s. 30.15(1)(k) and certification by a sheriff.
586 (3) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—
587 (a) Response plans.—Each public postsecondary educational
588 institution shall:
589 1. Adopt an active assailant response plan, including
590 methods for issuing campus-wide alerts, and annually certify
591 that all faculty, staff, and students have completed active
592 assailant preparedness training. The plan must clearly identify
593 who may issue an emergency alert.
594 2. Adopt, in cooperation with local law enforcement
595 agencies and local government, a family reunification plan to
596 reunite students and employees with their families in the event
597 that an institution is closed or unexpectedly evacuated due to a
598 natural or manmade disaster. This reunification plan must be
599 reviewed annually and updated as necessary.
600 (b) Student mental health.—Each public postsecondary
601 educational institution shall:
602 1. Train faculty to detect and respond to mental health
603 issues as well as connect students who may experience behavioral
604 health issues with appropriate services, both on campus and in
605 the community, including crisis intervention.
606 2. Post on its website and in conspicuous locations at each
607 institution a mental health awareness and suicide prevention
608 sign that identifies ways a person can access help and services.
609 Physical signs must be at least 11 inches by 15 inches in size
610 and must be printed in an easily legible font and in at least
611 32-point type.
612 3. Establish threat management teams whose duties include
613 the coordination of resources and assessment and intervention
614 with students whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of
615 the institution, institution staff, or students. The threat
616 management team must use the statewide behavioral threat
617 management operational process and Florida-specific behavioral
618 threat assessment instrument developed by the Office of Safe
619 Schools pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) or another comparable tool
620 deemed appropriate for postsecondary institutions by the State
621 Board of Education and the Board of Governors.
622
623 The Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the State
624 University System shall provide guidance on when and how
625 administrators, mental health providers, and other appropriate
626 personnel are legally entitled to share and receive information
627 about individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others,
628 including, but not limited to, the transmission of education
629 records pursuant to s. 1003.25(4).
630 (c) Security risk assessment.—Each public postsecondary
631 educational institution shall collaborate with appropriate
632 public safety agencies as defined in s. 365.171(3)(d), and may
633 collaborate with a private sector security consulting firm, to
634 annually conduct a security risk assessment at each campus using
635 the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool developed by the Office
636 of Safe Schools pursuant to s. 1006.1493 or another comparable
637 tool deemed appropriate for postsecondary educational
638 institutions by the State Board of Education and the Board of
639 Governors. Each public postsecondary educational institution may
640 contract with a private sector security consulting firm that
641 specializes in the facilitation of security risk assessments and
642 has experience in conducting security risk assessments of public
643 facilities to develop, update, and implement a risk assessment
644 tool. Subject to an appropriation, the institution may apply for
645 grant funds for security improvements to its campus based on
646 findings in the security risk assessment and other services
647 deemed appropriate.
648 (4) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The State Board of Education and
649 the Board of Governors may adopt rules and regulations,
650 respectively, to implement this section.
651 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
652 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
653 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (19) of section
654 402.305, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
655 402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.—
656 (19) SAFE-SCHOOL OFFICERS.—
657 (a) A child care facility may partner with a law
658 enforcement agency or a security agency to establish or assign
659 one or more safe-school officers established in s. 1006.12(1)
660 (4). The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of
661 implementing any such option, which includes all training costs
662 under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel
663 Guardian Program under s. 30.15(1)(k).
664 Section 10. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
665 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
666 reference thereto, section 843.08, Florida Statutes, is
667 reenacted to read:
668 843.08 False personation.—A person who falsely assumes or
669 pretends to be a firefighter, a sheriff, an officer of the
670 Florida Highway Patrol, an officer of the Fish and Wildlife
671 Conservation Commission, an officer of the Department of
672 Environmental Protection, an officer of the Department of
673 Financial Services, any personnel or representative of the
674 Division of Criminal Investigations, an officer of the
675 Department of Corrections, a correctional probation officer, a
676 deputy sheriff, a state attorney or an assistant state attorney,
677 a statewide prosecutor or an assistant statewide prosecutor, a
678 state attorney investigator, a coroner, a police officer, a
679 lottery special agent or lottery investigator, a beverage
680 enforcement agent, a school guardian as described in s.
681 30.15(1)(k), a security officer licensed under chapter 493, any
682 member of the Florida Commission on Offender Review or any
683 administrative aide or supervisor employed by the commission,
684 any personnel or representative of the Department of Law
685 Enforcement, or a federal law enforcement officer as defined in
686 s. 901.1505, and takes upon himself or herself to act as such,
687 or to require any other person to aid or assist him or her in a
688 matter pertaining to the duty of any such officer, commits a
689 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
690 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, a person who
691 falsely personates any such officer during the course of the
692 commission of a felony commits a felony of the second degree,
693 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
694 If the commission of the felony results in the death or personal
695 injury of another human being, the person commits a felony of
696 the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
697 775.083, or s. 775.084. In determining whether a defendant has
698 violated this section, the court or jury may consider any
699 relevant evidence, including, but not limited to, whether the
700 defendant used lights in violation of s. 316.2397 or s. 843.081.
701 Section 11. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
702 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
703 reference thereto, subsection (16) of section 943.03, Florida
704 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
705 943.03 Department of Law Enforcement.—
706 (16) Upon request, the department shall consult with
707 sheriffs to provide input regarding programmatic guiding
708 principles, practices, and resources in order to assist in the
709 development and implementation of the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron
710 Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program established
711 pursuant to s. 30.15. Such input and guidance may include, but
712 need not be limited to, standards, curriculum, instructional
713 strategies, evaluation, certification, records retention,
714 equipment, and other resource needs.
715 Section 12. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
716 made by this act to sections 943.082 and 1006.07, Florida
717 Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1), (4), and (10)
718 of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
719 1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the
720 Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office
721 is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The
722 office shall serve as a central repository for best practices,
723 training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters
724 regarding school safety and security, including prevention
725 efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness
726 planning. The office shall:
727 (1) Establish and update as necessary a school security
728 risk assessment tool for use by school districts pursuant to s.
729 1006.07(6). The office shall make the security risk assessment
730 tool available for use by charter schools. The office shall
731 provide annual training to appropriate school district and
732 charter school personnel on the proper assessment of physical
733 site security and completion of the school security risk
734 assessment tool.
735 (4) Develop and implement a School Safety Specialist
736 Training Program for school safety specialists appointed
737 pursuant to s. 1006.07(6). The office shall develop the training
738 program which shall be based on national and state best
739 practices on school safety and security and must include active
740 shooter training. The office shall develop training modules in
741 traditional or online formats. A school safety specialist
742 certificate of completion shall be awarded to a school safety
743 specialist who satisfactorily completes the training required by
744 rules of the office.
745 (10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of
746 Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and
747 education materials on the proper use of the School Safety
748 Awareness Program developed pursuant to s. 943.082, including
749 the consequences of knowingly submitting false information.
750 Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
751 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
752
753 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
754 And the title is amended as follows:
755 Delete everything before the enacting clause
756 and insert:
757 A bill to be entitled
758 An act relating to school safety; amending s. 30.15,
759 F.S.; requiring sheriffs to assist public
760 postsecondary educational institutions in implementing
761 guardian programs under certain provisions;
762 authorizing public postsecondary educational
763 institutions to participate in the school guardian
764 program; requiring public postsecondary educational
765 institutions to provide a specified notice to the
766 sheriff; amending s. 790.115, F.S.; creating the
767 offense of discharging a weapon or firearm within
768 1,000 feet of a school; providing an exception;
769 providing that a person arrested for certain offenses
770 must be held in custody until brought before the court
771 for admittance to bail; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.;
772 ranking an offense created by the act on the offense
773 severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment
774 Code; amending s. 943.082, F.S.; requiring that
775 postsecondary institutions be made aware of the mobile
776 suspicious activity reporting tool in a specified
777 manner; requiring public postsecondary educational
778 institutions to promote the use of such tool; amending
779 s. 1003.25, F.S.; requiring specified educational
780 records for certain students to be transferred to a
781 Florida College System institution or state university
782 under certain circumstances; requiring the State Board
783 of Education and the Board of Governors to adopt rules
784 and regulations, respectively; amending s. 1006.07,
785 F.S.; requiring certain trainings to include specified
786 information relating to school safety; reenacting and
787 amending s. 1006.12, F.S.; prohibiting a school
788 guardian from wearing an identifying uniform; creating
789 s. 1006.601, F.S.; defining the term “public
790 postsecondary educational institution”; authorizing
791 such institutions to participate in certain programs;
792 authorizing such institutions to appoint certified
793 school guardians; authorizing specified persons to
794 serve as school guardians; requiring such institutions
795 to adopt specified emergency response plans; requiring
796 such institutions to provide specified training, post
797 specified information, and adopt threat management
798 processes; requiring public postsecondary educational
799 institutions to collaborate with certain public safety
800 agencies, and authorizing such institutions to
801 collaborate with private sector security consulting
802 firms, to annually conduct a security risk assessment
803 using a specified assessment tool; authorizing public
804 postsecondary educational institutions to contract
805 with a private sector security consulting firm for a
806 specified purpose; authorizing a public postsecondary
807 educational institution to apply for grant funds for
808 security improvements, subject to appropriation;
809 authorizing the State Board of Education and the Board
810 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
811 respectively; reenacting ss. 402.305(19)(a), 843.08,
812 943.03(16), and 1001.212(1), (4), and (10), F.S.,
813 relating to licensing standards and child care
814 facilities; false personation; Department of Law
815 Enforcement; and Office of Safe Schools, respectively;
816 providing effective dates.