Florida Senate - 2022 SB 1474
By Senator Bradley
5-01188-22 20221474__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to online training for private
3 security officers; amending ss. 493.6105 and 493.6303,
4 F.S.; authorizing certain Class “G” and Class “D”
5 license training to be conducted in person or online;
6 requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
7 Services to adopt rules; providing reporting
8 requirements relating to the completion of such
9 training; creating s. 493.6132, F.S.; providing
10 requirements for online training courses for Class “D”
11 and Class “G” licenses; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 493.6105, Florida
16 Statutes, is amended to read:
17 493.6105 Initial application for license.—
18 (5) In addition to the requirements outlined in subsection
19 (3), an applicant for a Class “G” license must satisfy minimum
20 training criteria for firearms established by rule of the
21 department, which training criteria includes, but is not limited
22 to, 28 hours of range and classroom training conducted by in
23 person instruction or online through a secure website of the
24 licensed school or training facility if the applicant’s
25 identity, attendance, and successful completion of training are
26 verified. The applicant must report the verification to the
27 department upon completion of the training. Training must be
28 taught and administered by a Class “K” licensee; however, no
29 more than 21 hours may be conducted in an online classroom, and
30 no more than 8 hours of such training shall consist of range
31 training. The department shall, by rule and in accordance with
32 s. 493.6115, establish the general content, the number of hours
33 of each subject area to be taught, the method of delivery and
34 the security protocols for online training and testing, and the
35 reporting requirements for verification of successful completion
36 of training and may adopt any additional rules necessary for the
37 regulation of schools or training facilities providing in-person
38 or online training. The department may waive the foregoing
39 firearms training requirement if:
40 (a) The applicant provides proof that he or she is
41 currently certified as a law enforcement officer or correctional
42 officer pursuant to the requirements of the Criminal Justice
43 Standards and Training Commission or has successfully completed
44 the training required for certification within the last 12
45 months.
46 (b) The applicant provides proof that he or she is
47 currently certified as a federal law enforcement officer and has
48 received law enforcement firearms training administered by a
49 federal law enforcement agency.
50 (c) The applicant submits a valid firearm certificate among
51 those specified in paragraph (6)(a).
52 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
53 493.6303, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
54 493.6303 License requirements.—In addition to the license
55 requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter, each
56 individual or agency must comply with the following additional
57 requirements:
58 (4)(a) An applicant for a Class “D” license must submit
59 proof of successful completion of a minimum of 40 hours of
60 professional training at a school or training facility licensed
61 by the department. The training may be conducted by in-person
62 instruction or online through a secure website of the licensed
63 school or training facility if the applicant’s identity,
64 attendance, and successful completion of training are verified.
65 The applicant must report the verification to the department
66 upon completion of the training. The department shall, by rule
67 and in accordance with s. 493.6103, establish the general
68 content and number of hours of each subject area to be taught,
69 the method of delivery and the security protocols for online
70 training and testing, and the reporting requirements for
71 verification of successful completion of training and may adopt
72 any additional rules necessary for the regulation of schools or
73 training facilities providing in-person or online training. Upon
74 completion of such training, the training facility or the
75 instructor must submit proof of completion of training for each
76 applicant to the department electronically in a manner
77 prescribed by the department. The training facility or the
78 instructor must also provide a copy of the training results to
79 the applicant who completed the training.
80 Section 3. Section 493.6132, Florida Statutes, is created
81 to read:
82 493.6132 Online training courses.—
83 (1) An online training course for a Class “D” or Class “G”
84 license must be affiliated with and conducted by a licensed
85 school or training facility that maintains a physical location.
86 (2) A firearms instructor conducting an online training
87 course must be employed by a licensed school or training
88 facility or be employed by a business establishment that is
89 registered, permitted, or licensed by the Department of Business
90 and Professional Regulation and which has an insurance policy in
91 the minimum amount of $1 million.
92 (3) An applicant may be logged into the online training
93 course from only one device at a time.
94 (4) The online training course must meet all of the
95 following requirements:
96 (a) Include security questions to ensure that the applicant
97 is actively using the computer or mobile device and is following
98 along with the online training.
99 (b) Establish a minimum amount of time that each applicant
100 must spend on each screen before moving on to the next screen.
101 (c) Include randomized test questions.
102 (5) Online training course certificates must be
103 sequentially numbered for tracking purposes.
104 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.