ENROLLED
       2025 Legislature                   CS for SB 1470, 2nd Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                             20251470er
    1  
    2         An act relating to school safety; amending s. 30.15,
    3         F.S.; revising the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and
    4         Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to include child
    5         care facilities; requiring a sheriff to establish a
    6         guardian program under certain circumstances;
    7         requiring certain security guards to meet specified
    8         school guardian training and screening requirements;
    9         requiring a child care facility or security agency to
   10         be responsible for all costs related to the guardian
   11         program; prohibiting such costs from exceeding a
   12         specified amount; authorizing a sheriff to waive such
   13         costs for a child care facility; prohibiting a sheriff
   14         from waiving costs for initial training of a school
   15         security guard; authorizing a sheriff to certify a
   16         person as a school security guard if he or she meets
   17         specified criteria; revising firearm requirements for
   18         school guardians and school security guards;
   19         authorizing a sheriff to issue certificates to school
   20         security guards who meet specified requirements;
   21         requiring a sheriff to maintain specified
   22         documentation; requiring a child care facility or
   23         employing security agency to make specified reports;
   24         requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to
   25         maintain specified records; requiring a sheriff to
   26         make specified reports of certain school guardian or
   27         school security guard trainings; prohibiting a child
   28         care facility or employing security agency from
   29         operating a school guardian program under certain
   30         circumstances; amending s. 402.305, F.S.; authorizing
   31         a child care facility to partner with specified
   32         entities to establish or assign safe-school officers
   33         and participate in the guardian program; requiring a
   34         child care facility to pay for the full cost of the
   35         guardian program; requiring compliance with specified
   36         provisions relating to safe-school officers; providing
   37         construction; amending s. 1001.212, F.S.; deleting
   38         obsolete language and making editorial changes;
   39         requiring the Office of Safe Schools to convene a
   40         workgroup of specified entities; requiring the
   41         workgroup to make recommendations for the
   42         establishment of a Florida Institute of School Safety;
   43         requiring the workgroup to submit its findings and
   44         recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by
   45         a certain date; deleting a requirement for the office
   46         to evaluate the methodology for the safe school
   47         allocation; amending s. 1006.07, F.S.; requiring the
   48         Department of Education, in cooperation with the
   49         Department of Management Services, to identify a
   50         centralized system for use by all public safety
   51         answering point infrastructure, subject to
   52         appropriation; providing requirements for the system;
   53         requiring each public and charter school to confirm
   54         with the district school board that the school’s
   55         respective panic alert system is connected to the
   56         centralized system; requiring that panic alert systems
   57         be integrated with the centralized system; requiring
   58         that certain digital maps be integrated with the
   59         centralized system; requiring specified school safety
   60         requirements to be implemented during specified time
   61         periods; revising the requirements for certain gates
   62         and campus access points to be open or unlocked;
   63         defining the terms “exclusive zone” and “nonexclusive
   64         zone”; providing construction; authorizing school
   65         classrooms and instructional spaces to use temporary
   66         door locks; providing requirements for such locks;
   67         providing that certain instructional spaces for career
   68         and technical education are exempt from specified
   69         requirements under certain circumstances; providing
   70         that certain provisions apply to common areas on
   71         school campuses; providing exemptions from certain
   72         requirements for doors, gates, and campus access
   73         points in certain schools; providing requirements for
   74         locked barriers between classrooms and open school
   75         campuses; requiring certain protocols and policies to
   76         be provided to substitute teachers; amending s.
   77         1006.12, F.S.; requiring a sheriff to conduct
   78         specified training; requiring that certain reports be
   79         submitted to a school security guard’s employing
   80         agency; requiring a sheriff’s approval before a school
   81         security guard’s employment in a county; requiring the
   82         Office of Safe Schools to provide specified
   83         information to the Department of Law Enforcement;
   84         providing an effective date.
   85          
   86  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   87  
   88         Section 1. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section
   89  30.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   90         30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.—
   91         (1) Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or by
   92  deputy, shall:
   93         (k) Assist district school boards and charter school
   94  governing boards in complying with, or private schools or child
   95  care facilities, as defined in s. 402.302, in exercising options
   96  in, s. 1006.12. A sheriff shall must, at a minimum, provide
   97  access to a Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott
   98  Beigel Guardian Program to aid in the prevention or abatement of
   99  active assailant incidents on school premises, as required under
  100  this paragraph. Persons certified as school guardians pursuant
  101  to this paragraph have no authority to act in any law
  102  enforcement capacity except to the extent necessary to prevent
  103  or abate an active assailant incident.
  104         1.a. If a local school board has voted by a majority to
  105  implement a guardian program or has contracted for the use of
  106  school security guards to satisfy the requirements of s.
  107  1006.12, the sheriff in that county must shall establish a
  108  guardian program to provide training for school guardians or
  109  school security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school
  110  district, charter school, or private school, child care
  111  facility, or security agency employees, either directly or
  112  through a contract with another sheriff’s office that has
  113  established a guardian program. The security agency employing a
  114  school security guard is responsible for all training and
  115  screening-related costs for a school security guard, but such
  116  charges may not exceed the actual cost incurred by the sheriff
  117  to provide the training.
  118         b. A charter school governing board in a school district
  119  that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a guardian
  120  program may request the sheriff in the county to establish a
  121  guardian program for the purpose of training the charter school
  122  employees or school security guards consistent with the
  123  requirements of subparagraph 2. If the county sheriff denies the
  124  request, the charter school governing board may contract with a
  125  sheriff that has established a guardian program to provide such
  126  training. The charter school governing board must notify the
  127  superintendent and the sheriff in the charter school’s county of
  128  the contract prior to its execution. The security agency
  129  employing a school security guard is responsible for all
  130  training and screening-related costs for a school security
  131  guard, but such charges may not exceed the actual cost incurred
  132  by the sheriff to provide the training.
  133         c. A private school or child care facility in a school
  134  district that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a
  135  guardian program may request that the sheriff in the county of
  136  the private school or child care facility establish a guardian
  137  program for the purpose of training private school employees,
  138  child care facility employees, or school security guards. If the
  139  county sheriff denies the request, the private school or child
  140  care facility may contract with a sheriff from another county
  141  who has established a guardian program under subparagraph 2. to
  142  provide such training. The private school or child care facility
  143  must notify the sheriff in the private school’s or child care
  144  facility’s county of the contract with a sheriff from another
  145  county before its execution. The private school, child care
  146  facility, or security agency is responsible for all training and
  147  screening-related costs for a school guardian program. The
  148  sheriff providing such training must ensure that any moneys paid
  149  by a private school, child care facility, or security agency are
  150  not commingled with any funds provided by the state to the
  151  sheriff as reimbursement for screening-related and training
  152  related costs of any school district or charter school employee.
  153         d. The training program required in sub-subparagraph 2.b.
  154  is a standardized statewide curriculum, and each sheriff
  155  providing such training shall adhere to the course of
  156  instruction specified in that sub-subparagraph. This
  157  subparagraph does not prohibit a sheriff from providing
  158  additional training. A school guardian or school security guard
  159  who has completed the training program required in sub
  160  subparagraph 2.b. may not be required to attend another
  161  sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph
  162  unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her
  163  appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as
  164  a school security guard in a school.
  165         e. The sheriff conducting the training pursuant to
  166  subparagraph 2. for school district and charter school employees
  167  will be reimbursed for screening-related and training-related
  168  costs and for providing a one-time stipend of $500 to each
  169  school guardian who participates in the school guardian program.
  170         f. The sheriff may waive the training and screening-related
  171  costs for a private school or child care facility for a school
  172  guardian program. Funds provided pursuant to sub-subparagraph e.
  173  may not be used to subsidize any costs that have been waived by
  174  the sheriff. The sheriff may not waive the training and
  175  screening-related costs required to be paid by a security agency
  176  for initial training or ongoing training of a school security
  177  guard.
  178         g. A person who is certified and in good standing under the
  179  Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, who
  180  meets the qualifications established in s. 943.13, and who is
  181  otherwise qualified for the position of a school guardian or
  182  school security guard may be certified as a school guardian or
  183  school security guard by the sheriff without completing the
  184  training requirements of sub-subparagraph 2.b. However, a person
  185  certified as a school guardian or school security guard under
  186  this sub-subparagraph must meet the requirements of sub
  187  subparagraphs 2.c.-e.
  188         2. A sheriff who establishes a program shall consult with
  189  the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding
  190  principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as
  191  school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees,
  192  as specified in s. 1006.12(3), or shall certify as school
  193  security guards those persons employed by a security agency who
  194  meet the criteria specified in s. 1006.12(4), and who:
  195         a. Hold a valid license issued under s. 790.06 or are
  196  otherwise eligible to possess or carry a concealed firearm under
  197  chapter 790.
  198         b. After satisfying the requirements of s. 1006.12(7),
  199  complete a 144-hour training program, consisting of 12 hours of
  200  training to improve the school guardian’s knowledge and skills
  201  necessary to respond to and de-escalate incidents on school
  202  premises and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and
  203  proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and
  204  Training Commission-certified instructors, which must include:
  205         (I) Eighty hours of firearms instruction based on the
  206  Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s Law
  207  Enforcement Academy training model, which must include at least
  208  10 percent but no more than 20 percent more rounds fired than
  209  associated with academy training. Program participants must
  210  achieve an 85 percent pass rate on the firearms training.
  211         (II) Sixteen hours of instruction in precision pistol.
  212         (III) Eight hours of discretionary shooting instruction
  213  using state-of-the-art simulator exercises.
  214         (IV) Sixteen hours of instruction in active shooter or
  215  assailant scenarios.
  216         (V) Eight hours of instruction in defensive tactics.
  217         (VI) Four hours of instruction in legal issues.
  218         c. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
  219  psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
  220  Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
  221  evaluation to the sheriff’s office. The Department of Law
  222  Enforcement is authorized to provide the sheriff’s office with
  223  mental health and substance abuse data for compliance with this
  224  paragraph.
  225         d. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
  226  random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
  227  112.0455 and the sheriff’s office.
  228         e. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
  229  inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual
  230  basis.
  231  
  232  The sheriff who conducts the guardian training or waives the
  233  training requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g.
  234  shall issue a school guardian certificate to persons who meet
  235  the requirements of this section to the satisfaction of the
  236  sheriff, and shall maintain documentation of weapon and
  237  equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification,
  238  inspection, and qualification records of each school guardian
  239  certified by the sheriff. A person who is certified under this
  240  paragraph may serve as a school guardian under s. 1006.12(3)
  241  only if he or she is appointed by the applicable school district
  242  superintendent, charter school principal, or private school head
  243  of school, or child care facility owner. A sheriff who conducts
  244  the training for a school security guard or waives the training
  245  requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g. and
  246  determines that the school security guard has met all the
  247  requirements of s. 1006.12(4) shall issue a school security
  248  guard certificate to persons who meet the requirements of this
  249  section to the satisfaction of the sheriff and shall maintain
  250  documentation of weapon and equipment inspections, training,
  251  certification, and qualification records for each school
  252  security guard certified by the sheriff.
  253         3.a.(I) Within 30 days after issuing a school guardian or
  254  school security guard certificate, the sheriff who issued the
  255  certificate must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the
  256  name, date of birth, and certification date of the school
  257  guardian or school security guard.
  258         (II) By September 1, 2024, each sheriff who issued a school
  259  guardian certificate must report to the Department of Law
  260  Enforcement the name, date of birth, and certification date of
  261  each school guardian who received a certificate from the
  262  sheriff.
  263         b.(I) By February 1 and September 1 of each school year,
  264  each school district, charter school, employing security agency,
  265  and private school, and child care facility must report in the
  266  manner prescribed to the Department of Law Enforcement the name,
  267  date of birth, and appointment date of each person appointed as
  268  a school guardian or employed as a school security guard. The
  269  school district, charter school, employing security agency, and
  270  private school, and child care facility must also report in the
  271  manner prescribed to the Department of Law Enforcement the date
  272  each school guardian or school security guard separates from his
  273  or her appointment as a school guardian or employment as a
  274  school security guard in a school.
  275         (II) By September 1, 2024, each school district, charter
  276  school, and private school must report to the Department of Law
  277  Enforcement the name, date of birth, and initial and end-of
  278  appointment dates, as applicable, of each person appointed as a
  279  school guardian.
  280         c. The Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain a list
  281  of each person appointed as a school guardian or certified as a
  282  school security guard in the state. The list must include the
  283  name and certification date of each school guardian and school
  284  security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school
  285  guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the
  286  name of the school district, charter school, or private school,
  287  or child care facility in which the school guardian is
  288  appointed, or the employing security agency of a school security
  289  guard, any information provided pursuant to s. 1006.12(5), and,
  290  if applicable, the date such person separated from his or her
  291  appointment as a school guardian or the last date a school
  292  security guard served in a school as of the last reporting date.
  293  The Department of Law Enforcement shall remove from the list any
  294  person whose training has expired pursuant to sub-subparagraph
  295  1.d.
  296         d. Each sheriff shall must report on a quarterly basis to
  297  the Department of Law Enforcement the schedule for upcoming
  298  school guardian trainings, to include guardian trainings for
  299  school security guards, including the dates of the training, the
  300  training locations, a contact person to register for the
  301  training, and the class capacity. If no trainings are scheduled,
  302  the sheriff is not required to report to the Department of Law
  303  Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement shall publish on
  304  its website a list of the upcoming school guardian trainings.
  305  The Department of Law Enforcement shall must update such list
  306  quarterly.
  307         e. A sheriff who fails to report the information required
  308  by this subparagraph may not receive reimbursement from the
  309  Department of Education for school guardian trainings. Upon the
  310  submission of the required information, a sheriff is deemed
  311  eligible for such funding and is authorized to continue to
  312  receive reimbursement for school guardian training.
  313         f. A school district, charter school, or private school,
  314  child care facility, or employing security agency that fails to
  315  report the information required by this subparagraph is
  316  prohibited from operating may not operate a school guardian
  317  program or employing school security guards in for the following
  318  school year, unless the missing school district, charter school,
  319  or private school has submitted the required information is
  320  provided.
  321         g. By March 1 and October 1 of each school year, the
  322  Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the Department of
  323  Education of any sheriff, school district, charter school, or
  324  private school, or child care facility that has not complied
  325  with the reporting requirements of this subparagraph.
  326         h. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to
  327  implement the requirements of this subparagraph, including
  328  requiring additional reporting information only as necessary to
  329  uniquely identify each school guardian and school security guard
  330  reported.
  331         Section 2. Subsection (20) is added to section 402.305,
  332  Florida Statutes, to read:
  333         402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.—
  334         (20) SAFE SCHOOL OFFICERS.—
  335         (a) A child care facility may partner with a law
  336  enforcement agency or a security agency to establish or assign
  337  one or more safe-school officers established in s. 1006.12(1)
  338  (4). The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of
  339  implementing any such option, which includes all training costs
  340  under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel
  341  Guardian Program under s. 30.15(1)(k).
  342         (b) A child care facility that establishes a safe-school
  343  officer must comply with the requirements of s. 1006.12.
  344  References to a school district, district school board, or
  345  district school superintendent in s. 1006.12(1)-(5) shall also
  346  mean an owner of a child care facility. References to a school
  347  district employee in s. 1006.12(3) shall also mean child care
  348  personnel.
  349         Section 3. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (11)
  350  and subsection (17) of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are
  351  amended to read:
  352         1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the
  353  Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office
  354  is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The
  355  office shall serve as a central repository for best practices,
  356  training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters
  357  regarding school safety and security, including prevention
  358  efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness
  359  planning. The office shall:
  360         (11) Develop a statewide behavioral threat management
  361  operational process, a Florida-specific behavioral threat
  362  assessment instrument, and a threat management portal.
  363         (a)1. By December 1, 2023, The office shall maintain the
  364  develop a statewide behavioral threat management operational
  365  process to guide school districts, schools, charter school
  366  governing boards, and charter schools through the threat
  367  management process. The process must be designed to identify,
  368  assess, manage, and monitor potential and real threats to
  369  schools. This process must include, but is not limited to:
  370         a. The establishment and duties of threat management teams.
  371         b. Defining behavioral risks and threats.
  372         c. The use of the Florida-specific behavioral threat
  373  assessment instrument developed pursuant to paragraph (b) to
  374  evaluate the behavior of students who may pose a threat to the
  375  school, school staff, or other students and to coordinate
  376  intervention and services for such students.
  377         d. Upon the availability of the threat management portal
  378  developed pursuant to paragraph (c), the use, authorized user
  379  criteria, and access specifications of the portal.
  380         e. Procedures for the implementation of interventions,
  381  school support, and community services.
  382         f. Guidelines for appropriate law enforcement intervention.
  383         g. Procedures for risk management.
  384         h. Procedures for disciplinary actions.
  385         i. Mechanisms for continued monitoring of potential and
  386  real threats.
  387         j. Procedures for referrals to mental health services
  388  identified by the school district or charter school governing
  389  board pursuant to s. 1012.584(4).
  390         k. Procedures and requirements necessary for the creation
  391  of a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation,
  392  and any other information required by the Florida-specific
  393  behavioral threat assessment instrument under paragraph (b).
  394         2. Upon availability, Each school district, school, charter
  395  school governing board, and charter school shall must use the
  396  statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
  397         3. The office shall provide training to all school
  398  districts, schools, charter school governing boards, and charter
  399  schools on the statewide behavioral threat management
  400  operational process.
  401         4. The office shall coordinate the ongoing development,
  402  implementation, and operation of the statewide behavioral threat
  403  management operational process.
  404         (b)1. By August 1, 2023, The office shall maintain the
  405  develop a Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment
  406  instrument for school districts, schools, charter school
  407  governing boards, and charter schools to use to evaluate the
  408  behavior of students who may pose a threat to the school, school
  409  staff, or students and to coordinate intervention and services
  410  for such students. The Florida-specific behavioral threat
  411  assessment instrument must include, but is not limited to:
  412         a. An assessment of the threat, which includes an
  413  assessment of the student, family, and school and social
  414  dynamics.
  415         b. An evaluation to determine whether a threat exists and
  416  if so, the type of threat.
  417         c. The response to a threat, which includes the school
  418  response, the role of law enforcement agencies in the response,
  419  and the response by mental health providers.
  420         d. Ongoing monitoring to assess implementation of threat
  421  management and safety strategies.
  422         e. Ongoing monitoring to evaluate interventions and support
  423  provided to the students.
  424         f. A standardized threat assessment report, which must
  425  include, but need not be limited to, all documentation
  426  associated with the evaluation, intervention, management, and
  427  any ongoing monitoring of the threat.
  428         2. A report, all corresponding documentation, and any other
  429  information required by the instrument in the threat management
  430  portal under paragraph (c) is an education record and may not be
  431  retained, maintained, or transferred, except in accordance with
  432  State Board of Education rule.
  433         3. Upon availability, Each school district, school, charter
  434  school governing board, and charter school shall must use the
  435  Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
  436         4. The office shall provide training for members of threat
  437  management teams established under s. 1006.07(7) and for all
  438  school districts and charter school governing boards regarding
  439  the use of the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment
  440  instrument.
  441         (c)1. By August 1, 2025, the office shall develop, host,
  442  maintain, and administer a threat management portal that will
  443  digitize the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment
  444  instrument for use by each school district, school, charter
  445  school governing board, and charter school. The portal will also
  446  facilitate the electronic threat assessment reporting and
  447  documentation as required by the Florida-specific behavioral
  448  threat assessment instrument to evaluate the behavior of
  449  students who may pose a threat to the school, school staff, or
  450  students and to coordinate intervention and services for such
  451  students. The portal may not provide the office with access to
  452  the portal unless authorized in accordance with State Board of
  453  Education rule. The portal must include, but need not be limited
  454  to, the following functionalities:
  455         a. Workflow processes that align with the statewide
  456  behavioral threat management operational process.
  457         b. Direct data entry and file uploading as required by the
  458  Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
  459         c. The ability to create a threat assessment report as
  460  required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment
  461  instrument.
  462         d. The ability of authorized personnel to add to or update
  463  a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, or
  464  any other information required by the Florida-specific
  465  behavioral threat assessment instrument.
  466         e. The ability to create and remove connections between
  467  education records in the portal and authorized personnel.
  468         f. The ability to grant access to and securely transfer any
  469  education records in the portal to other schools or charter
  470  schools in the district.
  471         g. The ability to grant access to and securely transfer any
  472  education records in the portal to schools and charter schools
  473  not in the originating district.
  474         h. The ability to retain, maintain, and transfer education
  475  records in the portal in accordance with State Board of
  476  Education rule.
  477         i. The ability to restrict access to, entry of,
  478  modification of, and transfer of education records in the portal
  479  to a school district, school, charter school governing board, or
  480  charter school and authorized personnel as specified by the
  481  statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
  482         j. The ability to designate school district or charter
  483  school governing board system administrators who may grant
  484  access to authorized school district and charter school
  485  governing board personnel and school and charter school system
  486  administrators.
  487         k. The ability to designate school or charter school system
  488  administrators who may grant access to authorized school or
  489  charter school personnel.
  490         l. The ability to notify the office’s system administrators
  491  and school district or charter school governing board system
  492  administrators of attempts to access any education records by
  493  unauthorized personnel.
  494         2. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter
  495  school governing board, and charter school shall use the portal.
  496         3. A threat assessment report, including, but not limited
  497  to, all corresponding documentation, and any other information
  498  required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment
  499  instrument which is maintained in the portal, is an education
  500  record and may not be retained, maintained, or transferred,
  501  except in accordance with State Board of Education rule.
  502         4. The office and the office system administrators may not
  503  have access to a threat assessment report, all corresponding
  504  documentation, and any other information required by the
  505  Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument which
  506  is maintained in the portal, except in accordance with State
  507  Board of Education rule.
  508         5. A school district or charter school governing board may
  509  not have access to the education records in the portal, except
  510  in accordance with State Board of Education rule.
  511         6. The parent of a student may access his or her student’s
  512  education records in the portal in accordance with State Board
  513  of Education rule, but may not have access to the portal.
  514         7. The office shall develop and implement a quarterly
  515  portal access review audit process.
  516         8. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter
  517  school governing board, and charter school shall comply with the
  518  quarterly portal access review audit process developed by the
  519  office.
  520         9. By August 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the office
  521  shall provide role-based training to all authorized school
  522  district, school, charter school governing board, and charter
  523  school personnel.
  524         10. Any individual who accesses, uses, or releases any
  525  education record contained in the portal for a purpose not
  526  specifically authorized by law commits a noncriminal infraction,
  527  punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000.
  528         (17) Convene a workgroup of stakeholders, including, but
  529  not limited to, postsecondary institutions, law enforcement,
  530  fire and EMS, emergency management, school facilities staff,
  531  school safety specialists, school administrators,
  532  superintendents, school-based mental health professionals, and
  533  threat management practitioners. The workgroup shall make
  534  recommendations for the establishment of a Florida Institute of
  535  School Safety, including programs and functions to enhance
  536  school safety. The workgroup shall submit the findings and
  537  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
  538  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than
  539  January 1, 2026 By December 1, 2024, evaluate the methodology
  540  for the safe schools allocation in s. 1011.62(12) and, if
  541  necessary, make recommendations for an alternate methodology to
  542  distribute the remaining balance of the safe schools allocation
  543  as indicated in s. 1011.62(12).
  544         Section 4. Paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section
  545  1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (h) is added to
  546  that subsection, and paragraphs (f) and (g) are added to
  547  subsection (4) of that section, to read:
  548         1006.07 District school board duties relating to student
  549  discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall
  550  provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the
  551  attendance and control of students at school, and for proper
  552  attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the
  553  welfare of students, including:
  554         (4) EMERGENCY DRILLS; EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.—
  555         (f) Subject to an appropriation, the Department of
  556  Education, in cooperation with the Department of Management
  557  Services, shall identify a centralized system for use by all
  558  public safety answering point infrastructure which can receive
  559  alerts from all panic alert systems and integrate digital maps
  560  used by public schools, charter schools, and other educational
  561  institutions. The centralized system must:
  562         1. Receive alerts, location information, and relevant data
  563  from all department-approved panic alert systems.
  564         2. Integrate and display digital school maps to provide
  565  real-time situational awareness to law enforcement and emergency
  566  responders.
  567         3. Retain and provide access to historical alert data for
  568  use by authorized state agencies.
  569         (g) If established pursuant to paragraph (f), each public
  570  school and charter school shall confirm with the district school
  571  board that the school’s respective panic alert system is
  572  connected to the centralized system. Panic alert systems must be
  573  integrated with the centralized system to ensure seamless
  574  notification of law enforcement and emergency responders.
  575  Digital maps required under s. 1013.13 must also be integrated
  576  with the centralized system to support emergency response.
  577         (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district
  578  school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures
  579  for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the
  580  assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior
  581  poses a threat to the safety of the school community.
  582         (f) School safety requirements.By August 1, 2024, Each
  583  school district and charter school governing board shall comply
  584  with the following school safety requirements, which apply from
  585  30 minutes before the school start time until 30 minutes after
  586  the end of the school day:
  587         1. All gates or other access points that restrict ingress
  588  to or egress from the exclusive zone of a school campus shall
  589  remain closed and locked when students are on campus. For the
  590  purposes of this section, the term “exclusive zone” means the
  591  area within a gate or door allowing access to the interior
  592  perimeter of a school campus beyond a single point of entry.
  593  A gate or other campus access point to the exclusive zone may
  594  only not be open or unlocked if one of the following conditions
  595  is met, regardless of whether it is during normal school hours,
  596  unless:
  597         a. It is attended or actively staffed by a person when
  598  students are on campus;
  599         b. The use complies is in accordance with a shared use
  600  agreement pursuant to s. 1013.101;
  601         c. Another closed and locked gate or access point separates
  602  the open or unlocked gate from areas occupied by students; or
  603         d.c. The school safety specialist, or his or her designee,
  604  has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
  605  portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the gate or
  606  other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon
  607  other safety measures at the school. The office may conduct a
  608  compliance visit pursuant to s. 1001.212(14) to review if such
  609  determination is appropriate.
  610  
  611  This subparagraph does not apply to the nonexclusive zone of a
  612  school campus. The term “nonexclusive zone” means the area
  613  outside of the exclusive zone but contained on school property.
  614  Nonexclusive zones may include, but are not limited to, such
  615  spaces as parking lots, athletic fields and stadiums, mechanical
  616  buildings, playgrounds, bus ramps, agricultural spaces, and
  617  other areas that do not give direct, unimpeded access to the
  618  exclusive zone.
  619         2.a. All school classrooms and other instructional spaces
  620  must be locked to prevent ingress when occupied by students,
  621  except between class periods when students are moving between
  622  classrooms or other instructional spaces. If a classroom or
  623  other instructional space door must be left unlocked or open for
  624  any reason other than between class periods when students are
  625  moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces, the
  626  door must be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at
  627  the door. All school classrooms and other instructional spaces
  628  with a permanently installed door lock may also use temporary
  629  door locks during an active assailant incident. The temporary
  630  door lock must be able to be engaged or removed without opening
  631  the door; must be easily removed in a single operation from the
  632  egress side of the door without the use of a key and from the
  633  ingress side of the door with the use of a key or other
  634  credential; may be installed at any height; must otherwise be in
  635  compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code; and must be
  636  integrated into the active assailant response plan.
  637         b. Instructional spaces for career and technical education
  638  which are designed as open areas for which compliance with the
  639  requirements of sub-subparagraph a. affects the health and
  640  safety of students may be exempted from compliance with that
  641  sub-subparagraph by the school safety specialist. To be exempt,
  642  the school safety specialist, or his or her designee, must
  643  document in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal
  644  maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the instructional
  645  space is exempt from these requirements due to negative impacts
  646  to student health and safety and the presence of other safety
  647  measures at the school that prevent egress from the
  648  instructional space to hallways or other classrooms or
  649  instructional spaces.
  650         c. Common areas on a school campus, including, but not
  651  limited to, cafeterias, auditoriums, and media centers, which
  652  are used for instructional time or student testing must meet the
  653  requirements of sub-subparagraph a. only when such areas are
  654  being used for instructional time or student testing.
  655         3. For schools that do not have a secure exclusive zone,
  656  all campus access doors, gates, and other access points that
  657  allow ingress to or egress from a school building shall remain
  658  closed and locked at all times to prevent ingress, unless:
  659         a. A person is actively entering or exiting the door, gate,
  660  or other access point;
  661         b. The door, gate, or access point is actively staffed by
  662  school personnel to prevent unauthorized entry; or
  663         c. The school safety specialist, or his or her designee,
  664  has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
  665  portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the open
  666  and unlocked door, gate, or other access point is not subject to
  667  this requirement based upon other safety measures at the school.
  668  There must be at least one locked barrier between classrooms and
  669  instructional spaces and open school campus.
  670  
  671  The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant to s.
  672  1001.212(14) to review if such determination is appropriate. All
  673  campus access doors, gates, and other access points may be
  674  electronically or manually controlled by school personnel to
  675  allow access by authorized visitors, students, and school
  676  personnel.
  677         4. All school classrooms and other instructional spaces
  678  must clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in each
  679  classroom or other instructional space where students must
  680  shelter in place during an emergency. Students must be notified
  681  of these safe areas within the first 10 days of the school year.
  682  If it is not feasible to clearly and conspicuously mark the
  683  safest areas in a classroom or other instructional space, the
  684  school safety specialist, or his or her designee, must document
  685  such determination in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
  686  portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools, identifying
  687  where affected students must shelter in place. The office shall
  688  assist the school safety specialist with compliance during the
  689  inspection required under s. 1001.212(14).
  690  
  691  Persons who are aware of a violation of this paragraph must
  692  report the violation to the school principal. The school
  693  principal must report the violation to the school safety
  694  specialist no later than the next business day after receiving
  695  such report. If the person who violated this paragraph is the
  696  school principal or charter school administrator, the report
  697  must be made directly to the district school superintendent or
  698  charter school governing board, as applicable.
  699         (h) Provision of school safety protocols and policies.—Each
  700  substitute teacher must be provided all school safety protocols
  701  and policies before beginning his or her first day of substitute
  702  teaching at a school.
  703         Section 5. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1006.12,
  704  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  705         1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the
  706  protection and safety of school personnel, property, students,
  707  and visitors, each district school board and school district
  708  superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or
  709  security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school
  710  officers at each school facility within the district, including
  711  charter schools. A district school board must collaborate with
  712  charter school governing boards to facilitate charter school
  713  access to all safe-school officer options available under this
  714  section. The school district may implement any combination of
  715  the options in subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of the
  716  school district and charter schools.
  717         (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter
  718  school governing board may contract with a security agency as
  719  defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard
  720  an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license
  721  pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and
  722  contractual conditions are met:
  723         (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,
  724  for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,
  725  must:
  726         1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required training
  727  conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.
  728         2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
  729  psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
  730  Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
  731  evaluation to the sheriff’s office, and school district, or
  732  charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as
  733  applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to
  734  provide the sheriff’s office, school district, or charter school
  735  governing board, or employing security agency with mental health
  736  and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.
  737         3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
  738  random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
  739  112.0455 and the sheriff’s office, school district, or charter
  740  school governing board, or employing security agency, as
  741  applicable.
  742         4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the
  743  sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will
  744  be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in
  745  that county. The sheriff’s approval authorizes the security
  746  agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the
  747  county, and the sheriff’s approval is not limited to any
  748  particular school. 
  749         5.4. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
  750  inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff
  751  pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and
  752  provide documentation to the sheriff’s office, school district,
  753  or charter school governing board, or employing security agency,
  754  as applicable.
  755         (b) The contract between a security agency and a school
  756  district or a charter school governing board regarding
  757  requirements applicable to school security guards serving in the
  758  capacity of a safe-school officer for purposes of satisfying the
  759  requirements of this section shall define the entity or entities
  760  responsible for training and the responsibilities for
  761  maintaining records relating to training, inspection, and
  762  firearm qualification.
  763         (c) School security guards serving in the capacity of a
  764  safe-school officer pursuant to this subsection are in support
  765  of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s. 790.115, and
  766  must aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant
  767  incidents on school premises.
  768         (d) The Office of Safe Schools shall provide the Department
  769  of Law Enforcement any information related to a school security
  770  guard that the office receives pursuant to subsection (5).
  771         (5) NOTIFICATION.—The district school superintendent or
  772  charter school administrator, or a respective designee, shall
  773  notify the county sheriff and the Office of Safe Schools
  774  immediately after, but no later than 72 hours after:
  775         (a) A safe-school officer is dismissed for misconduct or is
  776  otherwise disciplined.
  777         (b) A safe-school officer discharges his or her firearm in
  778  the exercise of the safe-school officer’s duties, other than for
  779  training purposes.
  780  
  781  If a district school board, through its adopted policies,
  782  procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any
  783  safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school
  784  district must assign a school resource officer or school safety
  785  officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the
  786  charter school’s share of the costs of the school resource
  787  officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school
  788  allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.
  789  1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.
  790         Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.