The Florida Senate

229.8347  Partnership for School Safety and Security.--

(1)  CREATION AND DUTIES.--There is created a Partnership for School Safety and Security to perform the following responsibilities:

(a)  Evaluate school safety and security programs and strategies, based on controlled scientific research; recommend information to be included in the electronic clearinghouse of safety and security information; and make recommendations for inclusion in the clearinghouse of safety and security information and to the Legislature for funding school safety and security programs.

(b)  Create an electronic clearinghouse of safety and security information that includes best practices, model programs, and construction prototypes that are compatible with the requirements for frugal schools.

(c)  Assess the extent to which best practices for school safety and security are being followed, including, but not limited to, best practices for schools with student participation in planning and implementing violence prevention and other student efforts that contribute to school safety; placing and training new teachers; providing incentives for teachers of demonstrated mastery to remain in or transfer to low-performing schools; providing incentives for teachers based on their willingness to teach at schools that serve low-income areas; and providing support systems, such as mentors or specialized training, for teachers who are willing to teach in schools that serve large populations of students from low-income families.

(d)  Train and offer technical assistance to school district staff and others on how to create a safe school environment.

(e)  Foster coordination among schools, law enforcement personnel, and crisis-management teams.

(2)  ORGANIZATION; MEMBERSHIP; MEETINGS; COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES; BUDGET.--The partnership is an independent, nonpartisan body that is assigned to the Department of Education for administrative purposes. The partnership shall be composed of 11 members who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Three members must be consumers who are not, and never have been, providers of school safety or security services.

(a)  Members shall be appointed to 4-year, staggered terms of office.

(b)  The partnership shall annually elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its members.

(c)  The partnership shall meet at least once each year, and the chairperson or a quorum of the members of the partnership may call additional meetings as often as necessary to transact business. A majority of the membership constitutes a quorum, and the vote of a majority of the quorum is necessary to take official action or conduct official business of the partnership. The position of any member who has three consecutive, unexcused absences or who is absent for 50 percent or more of the partnership's meetings within any 12-month period shall be considered vacant.

(d)  A vacancy on the partnership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(e)  Members of the partnership shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in s. 112.061, and are entitled to reimbursement for other reasonable, necessary, and actual expenses.

(3)  BUDGET.--The partnership shall have a budget and shall be funded to the extent provided for in the General Appropriations Act.

(4)  ANNUAL REPORT.--The partnership shall submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the Commissioner of Education. The report must contain an independent analysis of best practices for school safety and security in the state; a summary of programs evaluated; a summary of progress made in developing, maintaining, and refining the electronic clearinghouse of safety and security information; and recommendations for legislative changes or budget requests.

History.--s. 3, ch. 2000-235.