Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1014
By Senator Rouson
16-01791-25 20251014__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Youth Conflict Resolution and
3 Peer Mediation Pilot Program; amending s. 1003.64,
4 F.S.; creating the Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer
5 Mediation Pilot Program within the Community School
6 Grant Program for a specified period; providing the
7 purpose of the pilot program; requiring the Center for
8 Community Schools at the University of Central Florida
9 to implement the pilot program and a specified
10 curriculum; requiring the center to implement a
11 certain curriculum for the pilot program; requiring
12 the center to work with the Department of Education to
13 identify and implement the curriculum; requiring the
14 center to identify certain schools to participate in
15 the program; providing participating school
16 responsibilities; requiring the center to provide a
17 report to the department; providing requirements for
18 the report; providing for the future expiration of the
19 pilot program; providing an effective date.
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Subsection (5) is added to section 1003.64,
24 Florida Statutes, to read:
25 1003.64 Community School Grant Program.—It is the intent of
26 the Legislature to improve student success and well-being by
27 engaging and supporting parents and community organizations in
28 their efforts to positively impact student learning and
29 development.
30 (5) YOUTH CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEER MEDIATION PILOT
31 PROGRAM.—No later than the 2026-2027 school year, the center
32 shall administer the Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer
33 Mediation Pilot Program for a period of 3 school years. The
34 center shall implement a conflict resolution and peer mediation
35 curriculum to reduce juvenile violence by equipping students
36 with essential skills for peaceful conflict resolution. The
37 center shall:
38 (a) Seek input from the Department of Education on the
39 selection of a conflict resolution and peer mediation curriculum
40 to implement at each selected school and identify potential ways
41 to integrate the curriculum during the school day to maximize
42 exposure to and use of conflict resolution skills.
43 (b) Identify middle or high schools to participate in the
44 program. Priority must be given to schools with a high rate of
45 juvenile violence which have community partners who will assist
46 with implementation.
47 (c) Require each participating school to:
48 1. Provide training on the curriculum and, where possible,
49 include community partners who interact with the students at the
50 school in such training.
51 2. Provide students with skills to resolve conflicts at
52 school and away from school without undermining the school’s
53 existing disciplinary framework.
54 3. Provide data and information requested by the center.
55 4. Complete a pre-pilot program and post-pilot program
56 survey created by the center.
57 (d) Monitor the implementation of the pilot program and
58 assist participating schools with integrating the curriculum and
59 reinforcing the conflict resolution skills throughout the school
60 day.
61 (e) Collect relevant student discipline data and
62 information relating to the rates of juvenile violence in
63 selected schools before and after implementation of the pilot
64 program.
65 (f) Create a pre-pilot program and post-pilot program
66 survey that must be completed by the school administrators,
67 teachers, and parents at participating schools.
68 (g) Provide periodic updates to the department on the
69 implementation of the pilot program.
70 (h) Upon completion of the pilot program, provide a report
71 to the department. The report must include, at a minimum, the
72 following:
73 1. The number of students enrolled at the participating
74 schools.
75 2. The rates of student discipline and juvenile violence in
76 selected schools before the pilot program.
77 3. The rates of student discipline and juvenile violence in
78 selected schools after implementation of the pilot program.
79 4. The results from the pre-pilot program and post-pilot
80 program survey.
81 5. Recommendations for the inclusion of the curriculum at
82 middle and high schools across this state.
83
84 This subsection expires upon the submission of the report
85 required under paragraph (h).
86 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.