Florida Senate - 2026 SB 896
By Senator Gaetz
1-01213-26 2026896__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to school safety; amending s. 30.15,
3 F.S.; authorizing public postsecondary educational
4 institutions to participate in the school guardian
5 program; amending s. 790.06, F.S.; authorizing certain
6 college or university employees, faculty members, and
7 students to openly carry a handgun or carry a
8 concealed weapon or concealed firearm into a college
9 or university facility; amending s. 790.115, F.S.;
10 creating the offense of discharging a weapon or
11 firearm within 1,000 feet of a school; providing an
12 exception; providing that a person arrested for
13 certain offenses must be held in custody until brought
14 before the court for admittance to bail; amending s.
15 921.0022, F.S.; ranking an offense created by the act
16 on the offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal
17 Punishment Code; amending s. 943.082, F.S.; requiring
18 that public postsecondary educational institutions be
19 made aware of the mobile suspicious activity reporting
20 tool in a specified manner; requiring public
21 postsecondary educational institutions to use
22 specified methods to promote the use of the tool;
23 amending s. 1003.25, F.S.; requiring that specified
24 educational records for certain students be
25 transferred to a Florida College System institution or
26 state university under certain circumstances;
27 requiring the State Board of Education and the Board
28 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
29 respectively; amending s. 1006.07, F.S.; requiring
30 certain trainings to include specified information
31 relating to school safety; creating s. 1006.601, F.S.;
32 defining the term “public postsecondary educational
33 institution”; authorizing such institutions to
34 participate in a specified program; authorizing such
35 institutions to appoint certified school guardians;
36 requiring such institutions to adopt specified
37 emergency response plans; requiring such institutions
38 to provide specified training, post specified
39 information, and adopt threat management processes;
40 authorizing the State Board of Education and the Board
41 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
42 respectively; reenacting ss. 402.305(19)(a),
43 790.013(2), 843.08, 943.03(16), 1001.212(1), (4), and
44 (10), and 1006.12(3)(a), (4)(a), and (7), F.S.,
45 relating to licensing standards for child care
46 facilities, carrying of concealed weapons or concealed
47 firearms without a license, false personation,
48 Department of Law Enforcement, Office of Safe Schools,
49 and safe-school officers at each public school,
50 respectively, to incorporate the amendments made by
51 this act; providing effective dates.
52
53 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
54
55 Section 1. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section
56 30.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
57 30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.—
58 (1) Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or by
59 deputy, shall:
60 (k) Assist district school boards and charter school
61 governing boards in complying with, or public postsecondary
62 educational institutions, as described in s. 1000.04(3), and
63 private schools or child care facilities, as defined in s.
64 402.302, in exercising options in, s. 1006.12. A sheriff shall,
65 at a minimum, provide access to a Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis,
66 and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to aid in the prevention
67 or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises,
68 as required under this paragraph. Persons certified as school
69 guardians pursuant to this paragraph have no authority to act in
70 any law enforcement capacity except to the extent necessary to
71 prevent or abate an active assailant incident.
72 1.a. If a local school board has voted by a majority to
73 implement a guardian program or has contracted for the use of
74 school security guards to satisfy the requirements of s.
75 1006.12, the sheriff in that county must establish a guardian
76 program to provide training for school guardians or school
77 security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school
78 district, charter school, public postsecondary educational
79 institution, private school, child care facility, or security
80 agency employees, either directly or through a contract with
81 another sheriff’s office that has established a guardian
82 program. The security agency employing a school security guard
83 is responsible for all training and screening-related costs for
84 a school security guard, but such charges may not exceed the
85 actual cost incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
86 b. A public postsecondary educational institution or
87 charter school governing board in a school district that has not
88 voted, or has declined, to implement a guardian program may
89 request the sheriff in the county to establish a guardian
90 program for the purpose of training the public postsecondary
91 educational institution or charter school employees or school
92 security guards consistent with the requirements of subparagraph
93 2. If the county sheriff denies the request, the public
94 postsecondary educational institution or charter school
95 governing board may contract with a sheriff that has established
96 a guardian program to provide such training. The public
97 postsecondary educational institution or charter school
98 governing board must notify the superintendent and the sheriff
99 in the public postsecondary educational institution’s or charter
100 school’s county of the contract prior to its execution. The
101 security agency employing a school security guard is responsible
102 for all training and screening-related costs for a school
103 security guard, but such charges may not exceed the actual cost
104 incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
105 c. A private school or child care facility in a school
106 district that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a
107 guardian program may request that the sheriff in the county of
108 the private school or child care facility establish a guardian
109 program for the purpose of training private school employees,
110 child care facility employees, or school security guards. If the
111 county sheriff denies the request, the private school or child
112 care facility may contract with a sheriff from another county
113 who has established a guardian program under subparagraph 2. to
114 provide such training. The private school or child care facility
115 must notify the sheriff in the private school’s or child care
116 facility’s county of the contract with a sheriff from another
117 county before its execution. The private school, child care
118 facility, or security agency is responsible for all training and
119 screening-related costs for a school guardian program. The
120 sheriff providing such training must ensure that any moneys paid
121 by a private school, child care facility, or security agency are
122 not commingled with any funds provided by the state to the
123 sheriff as reimbursement for screening-related and training
124 related costs of any school district or charter school employee.
125 d. The training program required in sub-subparagraph 2.b.
126 is a standardized statewide curriculum, and each sheriff
127 providing such training shall adhere to the course of
128 instruction specified in that sub-subparagraph. This
129 subparagraph does not prohibit a sheriff from providing
130 additional training. A school guardian or school security guard
131 who has completed the training program required in sub
132 subparagraph 2.b. may not be required to attend another
133 sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph
134 unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her
135 appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as
136 a school security guard in a school.
137 e. The sheriff conducting the training pursuant to
138 subparagraph 2. for school district, and charter school, or
139 public postsecondary educational institution employees will be
140 reimbursed for screening-related and training-related costs and
141 for providing a one-time stipend of $500 to each school guardian
142 who participates in the school guardian program.
143 f. The sheriff may waive the training and screening-related
144 costs for a private school or child care facility for a school
145 guardian program. Funds provided pursuant to sub-subparagraph e.
146 may not be used to subsidize any costs that have been waived by
147 the sheriff. The sheriff may not waive the training and
148 screening-related costs required to be paid by a security agency
149 for initial training or ongoing training of a school security
150 guard.
151 g. A person who is certified and in good standing under the
152 Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, who
153 meets the qualifications established in s. 943.13, and who is
154 otherwise qualified for the position of a school guardian or
155 school security guard may be certified as a school guardian or
156 school security guard by the sheriff without completing the
157 training requirements of sub-subparagraph 2.b. However, a person
158 certified as a school guardian or school security guard under
159 this sub-subparagraph must meet the requirements of sub
160 subparagraphs 2.c.-e.
161 2. A sheriff who establishes a program shall consult with
162 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding
163 principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as
164 school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees,
165 as specified in s. 1006.12(3), or shall certify as school
166 security guards those persons employed by a security agency who
167 meet the criteria specified in s. 1006.12(4), and who:
168 a. Hold a valid license issued under s. 790.06 or are
169 otherwise eligible to possess or carry a concealed firearm under
170 chapter 790.
171 b. After satisfying the requirements of s. 1006.12(7),
172 complete a 144-hour training program, consisting of 12 hours of
173 training to improve the school guardian’s knowledge and skills
174 necessary to respond to and de-escalate incidents on school
175 premises and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and
176 proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and
177 Training Commission-certified instructors, which must include:
178 (I) Eighty hours of firearms instruction based on the
179 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s Law
180 Enforcement Academy training model, which must include at least
181 10 percent but no more than 20 percent more rounds fired than
182 associated with academy training. Program participants must
183 achieve an 85 percent pass rate on the firearms training.
184 (II) Sixteen hours of instruction in precision pistol.
185 (III) Eight hours of discretionary shooting instruction
186 using state-of-the-art simulator exercises.
187 (IV) Sixteen hours of instruction in active shooter or
188 assailant scenarios.
189 (V) Eight hours of instruction in defensive tactics.
190 (VI) Four hours of instruction in legal issues.
191 c. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
192 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
193 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
194 evaluation to the sheriff’s office. The Department of Law
195 Enforcement is authorized to provide the sheriff’s office with
196 mental health and substance abuse data for compliance with this
197 paragraph.
198 d. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
199 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
200 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office.
201 e. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
202 inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual
203 basis.
204
205 The sheriff who conducts the guardian training or waives the
206 training requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g.
207 shall issue a school guardian certificate to persons who meet
208 the requirements of this section to the satisfaction of the
209 sheriff, and shall maintain documentation of weapon and
210 equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification,
211 inspection, and qualification records of each school guardian
212 certified by the sheriff. A person who is certified under this
213 paragraph may serve as a school guardian under s. 1006.12(3)
214 only if he or she is appointed by the applicable school district
215 superintendent, charter school principal, public postsecondary
216 educational institution president, private school head of
217 school, or child care facility owner. A sheriff who conducts the
218 training for a school security guard or waives the training
219 requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g. and
220 determines that the school security guard has met all the
221 requirements of s. 1006.12(4) shall issue a school security
222 guard certificate to persons who meet the requirements of this
223 section to the satisfaction of the sheriff and shall maintain
224 documentation of weapon and equipment inspections, training,
225 certification, and qualification records for each school
226 security guard certified by the sheriff.
227 3.a. Within 30 days after issuing a school guardian or
228 school security guard certificate, the sheriff who issued the
229 certificate must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the
230 name, date of birth, and certification date of the school
231 guardian or school security guard.
232 b. By February 1 and September 1 of each school year, each
233 school district, charter school, employing security agency,
234 public postsecondary educational institution, private school,
235 and child care facility must report in the manner prescribed to
236 the Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and
237 appointment date of each person appointed as a school guardian
238 or employed as a school security guard. The school district,
239 charter school, employing security agency, public postsecondary
240 educational institution, private school, and child care facility
241 must also report in the manner prescribed to the Department of
242 Law Enforcement the date each school guardian or school security
243 guard separates from his or her appointment as a school guardian
244 or employment as a school security guard in a school.
245 c. The Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain a list
246 of each person appointed as a school guardian or certified as a
247 school security guard in the state. The list must include the
248 name and certification date of each school guardian and school
249 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school
250 guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the
251 name of the school district, charter school, public
252 postsecondary educational institution, private school, or child
253 care facility in which the school guardian is appointed, or the
254 employing security agency of a school security guard, any
255 information provided pursuant to s. 1006.12(5), and, if
256 applicable, the date such person separated from his or her
257 appointment as a school guardian or the last date a school
258 security guard served in a school as of the last reporting date.
259 The Department of Law Enforcement shall remove from the list any
260 person whose training has expired pursuant to sub-subparagraph
261 1.d.
262 d. Each sheriff shall report on a quarterly basis to the
263 Department of Law Enforcement the schedule for upcoming school
264 guardian trainings, to include guardian trainings for school
265 security guards, including the dates of the training, the
266 training locations, a contact person to register for the
267 training, and the class capacity. If no trainings are scheduled,
268 the sheriff is not required to report to the Department of Law
269 Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement shall publish on
270 its website a list of the upcoming school guardian trainings.
271 The Department of Law Enforcement shall update such list
272 quarterly.
273 e. A sheriff who fails to report the information required
274 by this subparagraph may not receive reimbursement from the
275 Department of Education for school guardian trainings. Upon the
276 submission of the required information, a sheriff is deemed
277 eligible for such funding and is authorized to continue to
278 receive reimbursement for school guardian training.
279 f. A school district, charter school, public postsecondary
280 educational institution, private school, child care facility, or
281 employing security agency that fails to report the information
282 required by this subparagraph is prohibited from operating a
283 school guardian program or employing school security guards in
284 the following school year unless the missing information is
285 provided.
286 g. By March 1 and October 1 of each school year, the
287 Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the Department of
288 Education of any sheriff, school district, charter school,
289 public postsecondary educational institution, private school, or
290 child care facility that has not complied with the reporting
291 requirements of this subparagraph.
292 h. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to
293 implement the requirements of this subparagraph, including
294 requiring additional reporting information only as necessary to
295 uniquely identify each school guardian and school security guard
296 reported.
297 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section
298 790.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
299 790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or concealed
300 firearm.—
301 (12)(a) A license issued under this section does not
302 authorize any person to openly carry a handgun or carry a
303 concealed weapon or concealed firearm into:
304 1. Any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05;
305 2. Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station;
306 3. Any detention facility, prison, or jail;
307 4. Any courthouse;
308 5. Any courtroom, except that nothing in this section
309 precludes a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or concealed
310 firearm or determining who will carry a concealed weapon or
311 concealed firearm in his or her courtroom;
312 6. Any polling place;
313 7. Any meeting of the governing body of a county, public
314 school district, municipality, or special district;
315 8. Any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof;
316 9. Any school, college, or professional athletic event not
317 related to firearms;
318 10. Any elementary or secondary school facility or
319 administration building;
320 11. Any career center;
321 12. Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense
322 alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which
323 portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such
324 purpose;
325 13. Any college or university facility unless the licensee
326 is:
327 a. A registered student, employee, or faculty member of
328 such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or
329 nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for
330 defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or
331 projectile;
332 b. An employee or faculty member of such college or
333 university who is not a registered student of such college or
334 university; or
335 c. A registered student of such college or university who
336 is an employee or faculty member of the college or university.
337 This sub-subparagraph applies to a registered student at times
338 during which he or she is performing the duties of his or her
339 position as an employee or faculty member of the college or
340 university;
341 14. The inside of the passenger terminal and sterile area
342 of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from
343 carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is
344 encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as
345 baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or
346 15. Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited
347 by federal law.
348 Section 3. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (d) of
349 subsection (2) of section 790.115, Florida Statutes, is amended
350 and a new subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
351 790.115 Possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a
352 school-sponsored event or on school property prohibited;
353 penalties; exceptions.—
354 (2)
355 (d) A person commits a felony of the second degree,
356 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084,
357 if he or she: who
358 1. Discharges any weapon or firearm while in violation of
359 paragraph (a), unless discharged for lawful defense of himself
360 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose; or
361 2. Discharges any weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a
362 school, during school hours or during the time of a sanctioned
363 school activity, unless discharged for lawful defense of himself
364 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose. This subparagraph
365 does not apply to the discharge of a weapon or firearm on
366 private real property within 1,000 feet of a school by the owner
367 of such property or by a person whose presence on such property
368 has been authorized, licensed, or invited by the owner, commits
369 a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
370 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
371 (4) A person arrested for a violation of paragraph (2)(d)
372 must be held in custody until brought before the court for
373 admittance to bail in accordance with chapter 903.
374 Section 4. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (f) of
375 subsection (3) of section 921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended
376 to read:
377 921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
378 chart.—
379 (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
380 (f) LEVEL 6
381
382 FloridaStatute FelonyDegree Description
383 316.027(2)(b) 2nd Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.
384 316.193(2)(b) 3rd Felony DUI, 4th or subsequent conviction.
385 316.1935(4)(a) 2nd Aggravated fleeing or eluding.
386 327.30(5)(a)3. 2nd Vessel accidents involving serious bodily injury; leaving scene.
387 400.9935(4)(c) 2nd Operating a clinic, or offering services requiring licensure, without a license.
388 499.0051(2) 2nd Knowing forgery of transaction history, transaction information, or transaction statement.
389 499.0051(3) 2nd Knowing purchase or receipt of prescription drug from unauthorized person.
390 499.0051(4) 2nd Knowing sale or transfer of prescription drug to unauthorized person.
391 775.0875(1) 3rd Taking firearm from law enforcement officer.
392 784.021(1)(a) 3rd Aggravated assault; deadly weapon without intent to kill.
393 784.021(1)(b) 3rd Aggravated assault; intent to commit felony.
394 784.041 3rd Felony battery; domestic battery by strangulation.
395 784.048(3) 3rd Aggravated stalking; credible threat.
396 784.048(5) 3rd Aggravated stalking of person under 16.
397 784.07(2)(c) 2nd Aggravated assault on law enforcement officer.
398 784.074(1)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on sexually violent predators facility staff.
399 784.08(2)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older.
400 784.081(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on specified official or employee.
401 784.082(2) 2nd Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
402 784.083(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on code inspector.
403 787.02(2) 3rd False imprisonment; restraining with purpose other than those in s. 787.01.
404 787.025(2)(a) 3rd Luring or enticing a child.
405 790.115(2)(d) 2nd Discharging firearm or weapon on school property or within 1,000 feet of a school.
406 790.161(2) 2nd Make, possess, or throw destructive device with intent to do bodily harm or damage property.
407 790.164(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.
408 790.19 2nd Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles.
409 794.011(8)(a) 3rd Solicitation of minor to participate in sexual activity by custodial adult.
410 794.05(1) 2nd Unlawful sexual activity with specified minor.
411 800.04(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.
412 800.04(6)(b) 2nd Lewd or lascivious conduct; offender 18 years of age or older.
413 806.031(2) 2nd Arson resulting in great bodily harm to firefighter or any other person.
414 810.02(3)(c) 2nd Burglary of occupied structure; unarmed; no assault or battery.
415 810.145(8)(b) 2nd Digital voyeurism; certain minor victims; 2nd or subsequent offense.
416 812.014(2)(b)1. 2nd Property stolen $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, grand theft in 2nd degree.
417 812.014(2)(c)5. 3rd Grand theft; third degree; firearm.
418 812.014(6) 2nd Theft; property stolen $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
419 812.015(9)(a) 2nd Retail theft; property stolen $750 or more; second or subsequent conviction.
420 812.015(9)(b) 2nd Retail theft; aggregated property stolen within 120 days is $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
421 812.015(9)(d) 2nd Retail theft; multiple thefts within specified period.
422 812.015(9)(e) 2nd Retail theft; committed with specified number of other persons and use of social media platform.
423 812.13(2)(c) 2nd Robbery, no firearm or other weapon (strong-arm robbery).
424 817.4821(5) 2nd Possess cloning paraphernalia with intent to create cloned cellular telephones.
425 817.49(2)(b)2. 2nd Willful making of a false report of a crime resulting in death.
426 817.505(4)(b) 2nd Patient brokering; 10 or more patients.
427 817.5695(3)(b) 2nd Exploitation of person 65 years of age or older, value $10,000 or more, but less than $50,000.
428 825.102(1) 3rd Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
429 825.102(3)(c) 3rd Neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult.
430 825.1025(3) 3rd Lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
431 825.103(3)(c) 3rd Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000.
432 827.03(2)(c) 3rd Abuse of a child.
433 827.03(2)(d) 3rd Neglect of a child.
434 827.071(5) 3rd Possess, control, or intentionally view any photographic material, motion picture, etc., which includes child pornography.
435 828.126(3) 3rd Sexual activities involving animals.
436 836.05 2nd Threats; extortion.
437 836.10 2nd Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
438 843.12 3rd Aids or assists person to escape.
439 847.011 3rd Distributing, offering to distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors.
440 847.012 3rd Knowingly using a minor in the production of materials harmful to minors.
441 847.0135(2) 3rd Facilitates sexual conduct of or with a minor or the visual depiction of such conduct.
442 893.131 2nd Distribution of controlled substances resulting in overdose or serious bodily injury.
443 914.23 2nd Retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, with bodily injury.
444 918.13(2)(b) 2nd Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence relating to a capital felony.
445 944.35(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.
446 944.40 2nd Escapes.
447 944.46 3rd Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners.
448 944.47(1)(a)5. 2nd Introduction of contraband (firearm, weapon, or explosive) into correctional facility.
449 951.22(1)(i) 3rd Firearm or weapon introduced into county detention facility.
450 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
451 943.082, Florida Statutes, is amended, and a new paragraph (c)
452 is added to that subsection, to read:
453 943.082 School Safety Awareness Program.—
454 (4)(a) Law enforcement dispatch centers, school districts,
455 schools, public postsecondary educational institutions, and
456 other entities identified by the department must be made aware
457 of the mobile suspicious activity reporting tool.
458 (c) Each public postsecondary educational institution, as
459 defined in s. 1000.04(3), shall promote the use of the mobile
460 suspicious activity reporting tool by advertising it on the
461 institution website, by installing it on all mobile devices
462 issued by the institution, and by bookmarking the website on all
463 computer devices maintained by the institution.
464 Section 6. Subsection (4) is added to section 1003.25,
465 Florida Statutes, and subsection (2) of that section is
466 republished, to read:
467 1003.25 Procedures for maintenance and transfer of student
468 records.—
469 (2) The procedure for transferring and maintaining records
470 of students who transfer from school to school is prescribed by
471 rules of the State Board of Education. The transfer of records
472 must occur within 5 school days. The records must include, if
473 applicable:
474 (a) Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior
475 patterns, including any threat assessment report, all
476 corresponding documentation, and any other information required
477 by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument
478 pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) which contains the evaluation,
479 intervention, and management of the threat assessment
480 evaluations and intervention services.
481 (b) Psychological evaluations, including therapeutic
482 treatment plans and therapy or progress notes created or
483 maintained by school district or charter school staff, as
484 appropriate.
485 (4) When the education records of a student contain the
486 documents described in subsection (2) and the student enrolls in
487 a Florida College System institution or state university, such
488 records must be transferred to his or her institution or
489 university of enrollment. The State Board of Education and the
490 Board of Governors shall adopt rules and regulations,
491 respectively, to establish the procedures for the transfer of a
492 student’s threat assessment report pursuant to this subsection.
493 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
494 1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
495 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student
496 discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall
497 provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the
498 attendance and control of students at school, and for proper
499 attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the
500 welfare of students, including:
501 (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district
502 school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures
503 for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the
504 assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior
505 poses a threat to the safety of the school community.
506 (a) School safety specialist.—Each district school
507 superintendent shall designate a school safety specialist for
508 the district. The school safety specialist must be a school
509 administrator employed by the school district or a law
510 enforcement officer employed by the sheriff’s office located in
511 the school district. Any school safety specialist designated
512 from the sheriff’s office must first be authorized and approved
513 by the sheriff employing the law enforcement officer. Any school
514 safety specialist designated from the sheriff’s office remains
515 the employee of the office for purposes of compensation,
516 insurance, workers’ compensation, and other benefits authorized
517 by law for a law enforcement officer employed by the sheriff’s
518 office. The sheriff and the school superintendent may determine
519 by agreement the reimbursement for such costs, or may share the
520 costs, associated with employment of the law enforcement officer
521 as a school safety specialist. The school safety specialist must
522 earn a certificate of completion of the school safety specialist
523 training provided by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year
524 after appointment and is responsible for the supervision and
525 oversight for all school safety and security personnel,
526 policies, and procedures in the school district. The school
527 safety specialist, or his or her designee, shall:
528 1. In conjunction with the district school superintendent,
529 annually review school district policies and procedures for
530 compliance with state law and rules, including the district’s
531 timely and accurate submission of school environmental safety
532 incident reports to the department pursuant to s. 1001.212(8).
533 At least quarterly, the school safety specialist must report to
534 the district school superintendent and the district school board
535 any noncompliance by the school district with laws or rules
536 regarding school safety.
537 2. Provide the necessary training and resources to students
538 and school district staff in matters relating to youth mental
539 health awareness and assistance; emergency procedures, including
540 active shooter training; and school safety and security. Such
541 training for classroom teachers and other instructional staff
542 must explain the purpose, importance, and proper execution of
543 school safety protocols and emergency procedures.
544 3. Serve as the school district liaison with local public
545 safety agencies and national, state, and community agencies and
546 organizations in matters of school safety and security.
547 4. In collaboration with the appropriate public safety
548 agencies, as that term is defined in s. 365.171, by October 1 of
549 each year, conduct a school security risk assessment at each
550 public school using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
551 developed by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
552 1006.1493. Based on the assessment findings, the district’s
553 school safety specialist shall provide recommendations to the
554 district school superintendent and the district school board
555 which identify strategies and activities that the district
556 school board should implement in order to address the findings
557 and improve school safety and security. Each district school
558 board must receive such findings and the school safety
559 specialist’s recommendations at a publicly noticed district
560 school board meeting to provide the public an opportunity to
561 hear the district school board members discuss and take action
562 on the findings and recommendations. Each school safety
563 specialist, through the district school superintendent, shall
564 report such findings and school board action to the Office of
565 Safe Schools within 30 days after the district school board
566 meeting.
567 5. Conduct annual unannounced inspections, using the form
568 adopted by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
569 1001.212(13), of all public schools, including charter schools,
570 while school is in session and investigate reports of
571 noncompliance with school safety requirements.
572 6. Report violations of paragraph (f) by administrative
573 personnel and instructional personnel to the district school
574 superintendent or charter school administrator, as applicable.
575 Section 8. Section 1006.601, Florida Statutes, is created
576 to read:
577 1006.601 Student safety.—
578 (1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “public
579 postsecondary educational institution” has the same meaning as
580 in s. 1000.04(3).
581 (2) SCHOOL GUARDIANS.—Public postsecondary educational
582 institutions are authorized to participate in the Chris Hixon,
583 Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program and
584 may appoint certified school guardians pursuant to s.
585 30.15(1)(k).
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 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, in collaboration with appropriate
632 public safety agencies as defined in s. 365.171(3)(d), shall
633 annually conduct a security risk assessment at each campus using
634 the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool developed by the Office
635 of Safe Schools pursuant to s. 1006.1493 or another comparable
636 tool deemed appropriate for postsecondary institutions by the
637 State Board of Education and Board of Governors. Subject to an
638 appropriation, the institution may apply for grant funds for
639 security improvements to its campus based on findings in the
640 security risk assessment.
641 (4) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The State Board of Education and
642 the Board of Governors may adopt rules and regulations,
643 respectively, to implement this section.
644 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
645 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
646 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (19) of section
647 402.305, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
648 402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.—
649 (19) SAFE-SCHOOL OFFICERS.—
650 (a) A child care facility may partner with a law
651 enforcement agency or a security agency to establish or assign
652 one or more safe-school officers established in s. 1006.12(1)
653 (4). The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of
654 implementing any such option, which includes all training costs
655 under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel
656 Guardian Program under s. 30.15(1)(k).
657 Section 10. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
658 made by this act to section 790.06, Florida Statutes, in a
659 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 790.013, Florida
660 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
661 790.013 Carrying of concealed weapons or concealed firearms
662 without a license.—A person who carries a concealed weapon or
663 concealed firearm without a license as authorized under s.
664 790.01(1)(b):
665 (2) Is subject to s. 790.06(12) in the same manner as a
666 person who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon or concealed
667 firearm.
668 Section 11. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
669 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
670 reference thereto, section 843.08, Florida Statutes, is
671 reenacted to read:
672 843.08 False personation.—A person who falsely assumes or
673 pretends to be a firefighter, a sheriff, an officer of the
674 Florida Highway Patrol, an officer of the Fish and Wildlife
675 Conservation Commission, an officer of the Department of
676 Environmental Protection, an officer of the Department of
677 Financial Services, any personnel or representative of the
678 Division of Criminal Investigations, an officer of the
679 Department of Corrections, a correctional probation officer, a
680 deputy sheriff, a state attorney or an assistant state attorney,
681 a statewide prosecutor or an assistant statewide prosecutor, a
682 state attorney investigator, a coroner, a police officer, a
683 lottery special agent or lottery investigator, a beverage
684 enforcement agent, a school guardian as described in s.
685 30.15(1)(k), a security officer licensed under chapter 493, any
686 member of the Florida Commission on Offender Review or any
687 administrative aide or supervisor employed by the commission,
688 any personnel or representative of the Department of Law
689 Enforcement, or a federal law enforcement officer as defined in
690 s. 901.1505, and takes upon himself or herself to act as such,
691 or to require any other person to aid or assist him or her in a
692 matter pertaining to the duty of any such officer, commits a
693 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
694 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, a person who
695 falsely personates any such officer during the course of the
696 commission of a felony commits a felony of the second degree,
697 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
698 If the commission of the felony results in the death or personal
699 injury of another human being, the person commits a felony of
700 the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
701 775.083, or s. 775.084. In determining whether a defendant has
702 violated this section, the court or jury may consider any
703 relevant evidence, including, but not limited to, whether the
704 defendant used lights in violation of s. 316.2397 or s. 843.081.
705 Section 12. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
706 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
707 reference thereto, subsection (16) of section 943.03, Florida
708 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
709 943.03 Department of Law Enforcement.—
710 (16) Upon request, the department shall consult with
711 sheriffs to provide input regarding programmatic guiding
712 principles, practices, and resources in order to assist in the
713 development and implementation of the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron
714 Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program established
715 pursuant to s. 30.15. Such input and guidance may include, but
716 need not be limited to, standards, curriculum, instructional
717 strategies, evaluation, certification, records retention,
718 equipment, and other resource needs.
719 Section 13. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
720 made by this act to sections 943.082 and 1006.07, Florida
721 Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1), (4), and (10)
722 of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
723 1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the
724 Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office
725 is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The
726 office shall serve as a central repository for best practices,
727 training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters
728 regarding school safety and security, including prevention
729 efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness
730 planning. The office shall:
731 (1) Establish and update as necessary a school security
732 risk assessment tool for use by school districts pursuant to s.
733 1006.07(6). The office shall make the security risk assessment
734 tool available for use by charter schools. The office shall
735 provide annual training to appropriate school district and
736 charter school personnel on the proper assessment of physical
737 site security and completion of the school security risk
738 assessment tool.
739 (4) Develop and implement a School Safety Specialist
740 Training Program for school safety specialists appointed
741 pursuant to s. 1006.07(6). The office shall develop the training
742 program which shall be based on national and state best
743 practices on school safety and security and must include active
744 shooter training. The office shall develop training modules in
745 traditional or online formats. A school safety specialist
746 certificate of completion shall be awarded to a school safety
747 specialist who satisfactorily completes the training required by
748 rules of the office.
749 (10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of
750 Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and
751 education materials on the proper use of the School Safety
752 Awareness Program developed pursuant to s. 943.082, including
753 the consequences of knowingly submitting false information.
754 Section 14. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
755 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
756 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (3), paragraph
757 (a) of subsection (4), and subsection (7) of section 1006.12,
758 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
759 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the
760 protection and safety of school personnel, property, students,
761 and visitors, each district school board and school district
762 superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or
763 security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school
764 officers at each school facility within the district, including
765 charter schools. A district school board must collaborate with
766 charter school governing boards to facilitate charter school
767 access to all safe-school officer options available under this
768 section. The school district may implement any combination of
769 the options in subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of the
770 school district and charter schools.
771 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.—
772 (a) At the school district’s or the charter school
773 governing board’s discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s.
774 30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may
775 participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach
776 Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of
777 establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals
778 may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned
779 activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory
780 completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and
781 certification by a sheriff:
782 1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined
783 under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided
784 under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school
785 guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or
786 2. An employee of a school district or a charter school who
787 is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school
788 guardian.
789 (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter
790 school governing board may contract with a security agency as
791 defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard
792 an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license
793 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and
794 contractual conditions are met:
795 (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,
796 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,
797 must:
798 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required training
799 conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.
800 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
801 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
802 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
803 evaluation to the sheriff’s office and school district, charter
804 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
805 applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to
806 provide the sheriff’s office, school district, charter school
807 governing board, or employing security agency with mental health
808 and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.
809 3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
810 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
811 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office, school district, charter
812 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
813 applicable.
814 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the
815 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will
816 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in
817 that county. The sheriff’s approval authorizes the security
818 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the
819 county, and the sheriff’s approval is not limited to any
820 particular school.
821 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
822 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff
823 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and
824 provide documentation to the sheriff’s office, school district,
825 charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as
826 applicable.
827 (7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background
828 screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements
829 and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any
830 training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only
831 by a sheriff.
832
833 If a district school board, through its adopted policies,
834 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any
835 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school
836 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety
837 officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the
838 charter school’s share of the costs of the school resource
839 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school
840 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.
841 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.
842 Section 15. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
843 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.