Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 896
By the Committee on Criminal Justice; and Senator Gaetz
591-02772-26 2026896c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to school safety; amending s. 30.15,
3 F.S.; requiring sheriffs to assist public
4 postsecondary educational institutions in implementing
5 guardian programs under certain provisions;
6 authorizing public postsecondary educational
7 institutions to participate in the school guardian
8 program; requiring public postsecondary educational
9 institutions to provide a specified notice to the
10 sheriff; amending s. 790.115, F.S.; creating the
11 offense of discharging a weapon or firearm within
12 1,000 feet of a school; providing an exception;
13 providing that a person arrested for certain offenses
14 must be held in custody until brought before the court
15 for admittance to bail; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.;
16 ranking an offense created by the act on the offense
17 severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment
18 Code; amending s. 943.082, F.S.; requiring that
19 postsecondary institutions be made aware of the mobile
20 suspicious activity reporting tool in a specified
21 manner; requiring public postsecondary educational
22 institutions to promote the use of such tool; amending
23 s. 1003.25, F.S.; requiring specified educational
24 records for certain students to be transferred to a
25 Florida College System institution or state university
26 under certain circumstances; requiring the State Board
27 of Education and the Board of Governors to adopt rules
28 and regulations, respectively; amending s. 1006.07,
29 F.S.; requiring certain trainings to include specified
30 information relating to school safety; creating s.
31 1006.601, F.S.; defining the term “public
32 postsecondary educational institution”; authorizing
33 such institutions to participate in certain programs;
34 authorizing such institutions to appoint certified
35 school guardians; authorizing specified persons to
36 serve as school guardians; requiring such institutions
37 to adopt specified emergency response plans; requiring
38 such institutions to provide specified training, post
39 specified information, and adopt threat management
40 processes; requiring public postsecondary educational
41 institutions to collaborate with certain public safety
42 agencies, and authorizing such institutions to
43 collaborate with private sector security consulting
44 firms, to annually conduct a security risk assessment
45 using a specified assessment tool; authorizing public
46 postsecondary educational institutions to contract
47 with a private sector security consulting firm for a
48 specified purpose; authorizing a public postsecondary
49 educational institution to apply for grant funds for
50 security improvements, subject to appropriation;
51 authorizing the State Board of Education and the Board
52 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
53 respectively; reenacting s. 1006.12, F.S., relating to
54 safe-school officers at each public school, to
55 incorporate the amendments made by the act; reenacting
56 ss. 402.305(19)(a), 843.08, 943.03(16), and
57 1001.212(1), (4), and (10), F.S., relating to
58 licensing standards and child care facilities; false
59 personation; Department of Law Enforcement; and Office
60 of Safe Schools, respectively, to incorporate the
61 amendments made by the act; providing effective dates.
62
63 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
64
65 Section 1. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section
66 30.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
67 30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.—
68 (1) Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or by
69 deputy, shall:
70 (k) Assist district school boards and charter school
71 governing boards in complying with, or private schools or child
72 care facilities, as defined in s. 402.302, in exercising options
73 in, s. 1006.12. A sheriff must also assist public postsecondary
74 educational institutions, as described in s. 1000.04(3), in
75 implementing a guardian program under s. 1006.601. A sheriff
76 shall, at a minimum, provide access to a Chris Hixon, Coach
77 Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to aid in
78 the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on
79 school premises, as required under this paragraph. Persons
80 certified as school guardians pursuant to this paragraph have no
81 authority to act in any law enforcement capacity except to the
82 extent necessary to prevent or abate an active assailant
83 incident.
84 1.a. If a local school board has voted by a majority to
85 implement a guardian program or has contracted for the use of
86 school security guards to satisfy the requirements of s.
87 1006.12, the sheriff in that county must establish a guardian
88 program to provide training for school guardians or school
89 security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school
90 district, charter school, public postsecondary educational
91 institution, private school, child care facility, or security
92 agency employees, either directly or through a contract with
93 another sheriff’s office that has established a guardian
94 program. The security agency employing a school security guard
95 is responsible for all training and screening-related costs for
96 a school security guard, but such charges may not exceed the
97 actual cost incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
98 b. A public postsecondary educational institution or
99 charter school governing board in a school district that has not
100 voted, or has declined, to implement a guardian program may
101 request the sheriff in the county to establish a guardian
102 program for the purpose of training the public postsecondary
103 educational institution or charter school employees or school
104 security guards consistent with the requirements of subparagraph
105 2. If the county sheriff denies the request, the public
106 postsecondary educational institution or charter school
107 governing board may contract with a sheriff that has established
108 a guardian program to provide such training. The charter school
109 governing board must notify the superintendent and the sheriff
110 in the charter school’s county of the contract prior to its
111 execution. The public postsecondary educational institution must
112 notify the sheriff in the public postsecondary educational
113 institution’s county of the contract prior to its execution. The
114 security agency employing a school security guard is responsible
115 for all training and screening-related costs for a school
116 security guard, but such charges may not exceed the actual cost
117 incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.
118 c. A private school or child care facility in a school
119 district that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a
120 guardian program may request that the sheriff in the county of
121 the private school or child care facility establish a guardian
122 program for the purpose of training private school employees,
123 child care facility employees, or school security guards. If the
124 county sheriff denies the request, the private school or child
125 care facility may contract with a sheriff from another county
126 who has established a guardian program under subparagraph 2. to
127 provide such training. The private school or child care facility
128 must notify the sheriff in the private school’s or child care
129 facility’s county of the contract with a sheriff from another
130 county before its execution. The private school, child care
131 facility, or security agency is responsible for all training and
132 screening-related costs for a school guardian program. The
133 sheriff providing such training must ensure that any moneys paid
134 by a private school, child care facility, or security agency are
135 not commingled with any funds provided by the state to the
136 sheriff as reimbursement for screening-related and training
137 related costs of any school district or charter school employee.
138 d. The training program required in sub-subparagraph 2.b.
139 is a standardized statewide curriculum, and each sheriff
140 providing such training shall adhere to the course of
141 instruction specified in that sub-subparagraph. This
142 subparagraph does not prohibit a sheriff from providing
143 additional training. A school guardian or school security guard
144 who has completed the training program required in sub
145 subparagraph 2.b. may not be required to attend another
146 sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph
147 unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her
148 appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as
149 a school security guard in a school.
150 e. The sheriff conducting the training pursuant to
151 subparagraph 2. for school district, and charter school, or
152 public postsecondary educational institution employees will be
153 reimbursed for screening-related and training-related costs and
154 for providing a one-time stipend of $500 to each school guardian
155 who participates in the school guardian program.
156 f. The sheriff may waive the training and screening-related
157 costs for a private school or child care facility for a school
158 guardian program. Funds provided pursuant to sub-subparagraph e.
159 may not be used to subsidize any costs that have been waived by
160 the sheriff. The sheriff may not waive the training and
161 screening-related costs required to be paid by a security agency
162 for initial training or ongoing training of a school security
163 guard.
164 g. A person who is certified and in good standing under the
165 Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, who
166 meets the qualifications established in s. 943.13, and who is
167 otherwise qualified for the position of a school guardian or
168 school security guard may be certified as a school guardian or
169 school security guard by the sheriff without completing the
170 training requirements of sub-subparagraph 2.b. However, a person
171 certified as a school guardian or school security guard under
172 this sub-subparagraph must meet the requirements of sub
173 subparagraphs 2.c.-e.
174 2. A sheriff who establishes a program shall consult with
175 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding
176 principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as
177 school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees,
178 as specified in s. 1006.12(3), or shall certify as school
179 security guards those persons employed by a security agency who
180 meet the criteria specified in s. 1006.12(4), and who:
181 a. Hold a valid license issued under s. 790.06 or are
182 otherwise eligible to possess or carry a concealed firearm under
183 chapter 790.
184 b. After satisfying the requirements of s. 1006.12(7),
185 complete a 144-hour training program, consisting of 12 hours of
186 training to improve the school guardian’s knowledge and skills
187 necessary to respond to and de-escalate incidents on school
188 premises and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and
189 proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and
190 Training Commission-certified instructors, which must include:
191 (I) Eighty hours of firearms instruction based on the
192 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s Law
193 Enforcement Academy training model, which must include at least
194 10 percent but no more than 20 percent more rounds fired than
195 associated with academy training. Program participants must
196 achieve an 85 percent pass rate on the firearms training.
197 (II) Sixteen hours of instruction in precision pistol.
198 (III) Eight hours of discretionary shooting instruction
199 using state-of-the-art simulator exercises.
200 (IV) Sixteen hours of instruction in active shooter or
201 assailant scenarios.
202 (V) Eight hours of instruction in defensive tactics.
203 (VI) Four hours of instruction in legal issues.
204 c. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
205 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
206 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
207 evaluation to the sheriff’s office. The Department of Law
208 Enforcement is authorized to provide the sheriff’s office with
209 mental health and substance abuse data for compliance with this
210 paragraph.
211 d. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
212 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
213 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office.
214 e. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
215 inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual
216 basis.
217
218 The sheriff who conducts the guardian training or waives the
219 training requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g.
220 shall issue a school guardian certificate to persons who meet
221 the requirements of this section to the satisfaction of the
222 sheriff, and shall maintain documentation of weapon and
223 equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification,
224 inspection, and qualification records of each school guardian
225 certified by the sheriff. A person who is certified under this
226 paragraph may serve as a school guardian under s. 1006.12(3)
227 only if he or she is appointed by the applicable school district
228 superintendent, charter school principal, public postsecondary
229 educational institution president, private school head of
230 school, or child care facility owner. A sheriff who conducts the
231 training for a school security guard or waives the training
232 requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g. and
233 determines that the school security guard has met all the
234 requirements of s. 1006.12(4) shall issue a school security
235 guard certificate to persons who meet the requirements of this
236 section to the satisfaction of the sheriff and shall maintain
237 documentation of weapon and equipment inspections, training,
238 certification, and qualification records for each school
239 security guard certified by the sheriff.
240 3.a. Within 30 days after issuing a school guardian or
241 school security guard certificate, the sheriff who issued the
242 certificate must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the
243 name, date of birth, and certification date of the school
244 guardian or school security guard.
245 b. By February 1 and September 1 of each school year, each
246 school district, charter school, employing security agency,
247 public postsecondary educational institution, private school,
248 and child care facility must report in the manner prescribed to
249 the Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and
250 appointment date of each person appointed as a school guardian
251 or employed as a school security guard. The school district,
252 charter school, employing security agency, public postsecondary
253 educational institution, private school, and child care facility
254 must also report in the manner prescribed to the Department of
255 Law Enforcement the date each school guardian or school security
256 guard separates from his or her appointment as a school guardian
257 or employment as a school security guard in a school.
258 c. The Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain a list
259 of each person appointed as a school guardian or certified as a
260 school security guard in the state. The list must include the
261 name and certification date of each school guardian and school
262 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school
263 guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the
264 name of the school district, charter school, public
265 postsecondary educational institution, private school, or child
266 care facility in which the school guardian is appointed, or the
267 employing security agency of a school security guard, any
268 information provided pursuant to s. 1006.12(5), and, if
269 applicable, the date such person separated from his or her
270 appointment as a school guardian or the last date a school
271 security guard served in a school as of the last reporting date.
272 The Department of Law Enforcement shall remove from the list any
273 person whose training has expired pursuant to sub-subparagraph
274 1.d.
275 d. Each sheriff shall report on a quarterly basis to the
276 Department of Law Enforcement the schedule for upcoming school
277 guardian trainings, to include guardian trainings for school
278 security guards, including the dates of the training, the
279 training locations, a contact person to register for the
280 training, and the class capacity. If no trainings are scheduled,
281 the sheriff is not required to report to the Department of Law
282 Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement shall publish on
283 its website a list of the upcoming school guardian trainings.
284 The Department of Law Enforcement shall update such list
285 quarterly.
286 e. A sheriff who fails to report the information required
287 by this subparagraph may not receive reimbursement from the
288 Department of Education for school guardian trainings. Upon the
289 submission of the required information, a sheriff is deemed
290 eligible for such funding and is authorized to continue to
291 receive reimbursement for school guardian training.
292 f. A school district, charter school, public postsecondary
293 educational institution, private school, child care facility, or
294 employing security agency that fails to report the information
295 required by this subparagraph is prohibited from operating a
296 school guardian program or employing school security guards in
297 the following school year unless the missing information is
298 provided.
299 g. By March 1 and October 1 of each school year, the
300 Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the Department of
301 Education of any sheriff, school district, charter school,
302 public postsecondary educational institution, private school, or
303 child care facility that has not complied with the reporting
304 requirements of this subparagraph.
305 h. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to
306 implement the requirements of this subparagraph, including
307 requiring additional reporting information only as necessary to
308 uniquely identify each school guardian and school security guard
309 reported.
310 Section 2. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (d) of
311 subsection (2) of section 790.115, Florida Statutes, is amended,
312 and subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
313 790.115 Possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a
314 school-sponsored event or on school property prohibited;
315 penalties; exceptions.—
316 (2)
317 (d) A person commits a felony of the second degree,
318 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084,
319 if he or she: who
320 1. Discharges any weapon or firearm while in violation of
321 paragraph (a), unless discharged for lawful defense of himself
322 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose; or
323 2. Discharges any weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a
324 school, during school hours or during the time of a sanctioned
325 school activity, unless discharged for lawful defense of himself
326 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose. This subparagraph
327 does not apply to the discharge of a weapon or firearm on
328 private real property within 1,000 feet of a school by the owner
329 of such property or by a person whose presence on such property
330 has been authorized, licensed, or invited by the owner, commits
331 a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
332 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
333 (4) A person arrested for a violation of paragraph (2)(d)
334 must be held in custody until brought before the court for
335 admittance to bail in accordance with chapter 903.
336 Section 3. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (f) of
337 subsection (3) of section 921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended
338 to read:
339 921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
340 chart.—
341 (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
342 (f) LEVEL 6
343
344 FloridaStatute FelonyDegree Description
345 316.027(2)(b) 2nd Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.
346 316.193(2)(b) 3rd Felony DUI, 4th or subsequent conviction.
347 316.1935(4)(a) 2nd Aggravated fleeing or eluding.
348 327.30(5)(a)3. 2nd Vessel accidents involving serious bodily injury; leaving scene.
349 400.9935(4)(c) 2nd Operating a clinic, or offering services requiring licensure, without a license.
350 499.0051(2) 2nd Knowing forgery of transaction history, transaction information, or transaction statement.
351 499.0051(3) 2nd Knowing purchase or receipt of prescription drug from unauthorized person.
352 499.0051(4) 2nd Knowing sale or transfer of prescription drug to unauthorized person.
353 775.0875(1) 3rd Taking firearm from law enforcement officer.
354 784.021(1)(a) 3rd Aggravated assault; deadly weapon without intent to kill.
355 784.021(1)(b) 3rd Aggravated assault; intent to commit felony.
356 784.041 3rd Felony battery; domestic battery by strangulation.
357 784.048(3) 3rd Aggravated stalking; credible threat.
358 784.048(5) 3rd Aggravated stalking of person under 16.
359 784.07(2)(c) 2nd Aggravated assault on law enforcement officer.
360 784.074(1)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on sexually violent predators facility staff.
361 784.08(2)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older.
362 784.081(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on specified official or employee.
363 784.082(2) 2nd Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee.
364 784.083(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on code inspector.
365 787.02(2) 3rd False imprisonment; restraining with purpose other than those in s. 787.01.
366 787.025(2)(a) 3rd Luring or enticing a child.
367 790.115(2)(d) 2nd Discharging firearm or weapon on school property or within 1,000 feet of a school.
368 790.161(2) 2nd Make, possess, or throw destructive device with intent to do bodily harm or damage property.
369 790.164(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.
370 790.19 2nd Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles.
371 794.011(8)(a) 3rd Solicitation of minor to participate in sexual activity by custodial adult.
372 794.05(1) 2nd Unlawful sexual activity with specified minor.
373 800.04(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.
374 800.04(6)(b) 2nd Lewd or lascivious conduct; offender 18 years of age or older.
375 806.031(2) 2nd Arson resulting in great bodily harm to firefighter or any other person.
376 810.02(3)(c) 2nd Burglary of occupied structure; unarmed; no assault or battery.
377 810.145(8)(b) 2nd Digital voyeurism; certain minor victims; 2nd or subsequent offense.
378 812.014(2)(b)1. 2nd Property stolen $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, grand theft in 2nd degree.
379 812.014(2)(c)5. 3rd Grand theft; third degree; firearm.
380 812.014(6) 2nd Theft; property stolen $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
381 812.015(9)(a) 2nd Retail theft; property stolen $750 or more; second or subsequent conviction.
382 812.015(9)(b) 2nd Retail theft; aggregated property stolen within 120 days is $3,000 or more; coordination of others.
383 812.015(9)(d) 2nd Retail theft; multiple thefts within specified period.
384 812.015(9)(e) 2nd Retail theft; committed with specified number of other persons and use of social media platform.
385 812.13(2)(c) 2nd Robbery, no firearm or other weapon (strong-arm robbery).
386 817.4821(5) 2nd Possess cloning paraphernalia with intent to create cloned cellular telephones.
387 817.49(2)(b)2. 2nd Willful making of a false report of a crime resulting in death.
388 817.505(4)(b) 2nd Patient brokering; 10 or more patients.
389 817.5695(3)(b) 2nd Exploitation of person 65 years of age or older, value $10,000 or more, but less than $50,000.
390 825.102(1) 3rd Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
391 825.102(3)(c) 3rd Neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult.
392 825.1025(3) 3rd Lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
393 825.103(3)(c) 3rd Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000.
394 827.03(2)(c) 3rd Abuse of a child.
395 827.03(2)(d) 3rd Neglect of a child.
396 827.071(5) 3rd Possess, control, or intentionally view any photographic material, motion picture, etc., which includes child pornography.
397 828.126(3) 3rd Sexual activities involving animals.
398 836.05 2nd Threats; extortion.
399 836.10 2nd Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
400 843.12 3rd Aids or assists person to escape.
401 847.011 3rd Distributing, offering to distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors.
402 847.012 3rd Knowingly using a minor in the production of materials harmful to minors.
403 847.0135(2) 3rd Facilitates sexual conduct of or with a minor or the visual depiction of such conduct.
404 893.131 2nd Distribution of controlled substances resulting in overdose or serious bodily injury.
405 914.23 2nd Retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, with bodily injury.
406 918.13(2)(b) 2nd Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence relating to a capital felony.
407 944.35(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.
408 944.40 2nd Escapes.
409 944.46 3rd Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners.
410 944.47(1)(a)5. 2nd Introduction of contraband (firearm, weapon, or explosive) into correctional facility.
411 951.22(1)(i) 3rd Firearm or weapon introduced into county detention facility.
412 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
413 943.082, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
414 added to that subsection, to read:
415 943.082 School Safety Awareness Program.—
416 (4)(a) Law enforcement dispatch centers, school districts,
417 schools, postsecondary institutions, and other entities
418 identified by the department must be made aware of the mobile
419 suspicious activity reporting tool.
420 (c) Each public postsecondary educational institution, as
421 defined in s. 1000.04(3), shall promote the use of the mobile
422 suspicious activity reporting tool by advertising it on the
423 institution website, by installing it on all mobile devices
424 issued by the institution, and by bookmarking the website on all
425 computer devices maintained by the institution.
426 Section 5. Subsection (4) is added to section 1003.25,
427 Florida Statutes, and subsection (2) of that section is
428 republished, to read:
429 1003.25 Procedures for maintenance and transfer of student
430 records.—
431 (2) The procedure for transferring and maintaining records
432 of students who transfer from school to school is prescribed by
433 rules of the State Board of Education. The transfer of records
434 must occur within 5 school days. The records must include, if
435 applicable:
436 (a) Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior
437 patterns, including any threat assessment report, all
438 corresponding documentation, and any other information required
439 by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument
440 pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) which contains the evaluation,
441 intervention, and management of the threat assessment
442 evaluations and intervention services.
443 (b) Psychological evaluations, including therapeutic
444 treatment plans and therapy or progress notes created or
445 maintained by school district or charter school staff, as
446 appropriate.
447 (4) When the education records of a student contain the
448 documents described in subsection (2) and the student enrolls in
449 a Florida College System institution or state university, such
450 records must be transferred to his or her institution or
451 university of enrollment. The State Board of Education and the
452 Board of Governors shall adopt rules and regulations,
453 respectively, to establish the procedures for the transfer of a
454 student’s threat assessment report pursuant to this subsection.
455 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
456 1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
457 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student
458 discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall
459 provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the
460 attendance and control of students at school, and for proper
461 attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the
462 welfare of students, including:
463 (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district
464 school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures
465 for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the
466 assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior
467 poses a threat to the safety of the school community.
468 (a) School safety specialist.—Each district school
469 superintendent shall designate a school safety specialist for
470 the district. The school safety specialist must be a school
471 administrator employed by the school district or a law
472 enforcement officer employed by the sheriff’s office located in
473 the school district. Any school safety specialist designated
474 from the sheriff’s office must first be authorized and approved
475 by the sheriff employing the law enforcement officer. Any school
476 safety specialist designated from the sheriff’s office remains
477 the employee of the office for purposes of compensation,
478 insurance, workers’ compensation, and other benefits authorized
479 by law for a law enforcement officer employed by the sheriff’s
480 office. The sheriff and the school superintendent may determine
481 by agreement the reimbursement for such costs, or may share the
482 costs, associated with employment of the law enforcement officer
483 as a school safety specialist. The school safety specialist must
484 earn a certificate of completion of the school safety specialist
485 training provided by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year
486 after appointment and is responsible for the supervision and
487 oversight for all school safety and security personnel,
488 policies, and procedures in the school district. The school
489 safety specialist, or his or her designee, shall:
490 1. In conjunction with the district school superintendent,
491 annually review school district policies and procedures for
492 compliance with state law and rules, including the district’s
493 timely and accurate submission of school environmental safety
494 incident reports to the department pursuant to s. 1001.212(8).
495 At least quarterly, the school safety specialist must report to
496 the district school superintendent and the district school board
497 any noncompliance by the school district with laws or rules
498 regarding school safety.
499 2. Provide the necessary training and resources to students
500 and school district staff in matters relating to youth mental
501 health awareness and assistance; emergency procedures, including
502 active shooter training; and school safety and security. Such
503 training for classroom teachers and other members of
504 instructional staff must explain the purpose, importance, and
505 proper execution of school safety protocols and emergency
506 procedures.
507 3. Serve as the school district liaison with local public
508 safety agencies and national, state, and community agencies and
509 organizations in matters of school safety and security.
510 4. In collaboration with the appropriate public safety
511 agencies, as that term is defined in s. 365.171, by October 1 of
512 each year, conduct a school security risk assessment at each
513 public school using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
514 developed by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
515 1006.1493. Based on the assessment findings, the district’s
516 school safety specialist shall provide recommendations to the
517 district school superintendent and the district school board
518 which identify strategies and activities that the district
519 school board should implement in order to address the findings
520 and improve school safety and security. Each district school
521 board must receive such findings and the school safety
522 specialist’s recommendations at a publicly noticed district
523 school board meeting to provide the public an opportunity to
524 hear the district school board members discuss and take action
525 on the findings and recommendations. Each school safety
526 specialist, through the district school superintendent, shall
527 report such findings and school board action to the Office of
528 Safe Schools within 30 days after the district school board
529 meeting.
530 5. Conduct annual unannounced inspections, using the form
531 adopted by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.
532 1001.212(13), of all public schools, including charter schools,
533 while school is in session and investigate reports of
534 noncompliance with school safety requirements.
535 6. Report violations of paragraph (f) by administrative
536 personnel and instructional personnel to the district school
537 superintendent or charter school administrator, as applicable.
538 Section 7. Section 1006.601, Florida Statutes, is created
539 to read:
540 1006.601 Student safety.—
541 (1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “public
542 postsecondary educational institution” has the same meaning as
543 in s. 1000.04(3).
544 (2) SCHOOL GUARDIANS.—
545 (a) Public postsecondary educational institutions are
546 authorized to participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis,
547 and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program and may appoint
548 certified school guardians pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k).
549 (b) An employee or faculty member of a public postsecondary
550 educational institution may serve as a school guardian, in
551 support of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s.
552 790.115, upon satisfactory completion of the requirements under
553 s. 30.15(1)(k) and certification by a sheriff.
554 (3) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—
555 (a) Response plans.—Each public postsecondary educational
556 institution shall:
557 1. Adopt an active assailant response plan, including
558 methods for issuing campus-wide alerts, and annually certify
559 that all faculty, staff, and students have completed active
560 assailant preparedness training. The plan must clearly identify
561 who may issue an emergency alert.
562 2. Adopt, in cooperation with local law enforcement
563 agencies and local government, a family reunification plan to
564 reunite students and employees with their families in the event
565 that an institution is closed or unexpectedly evacuated due to a
566 natural or manmade disaster. This reunification plan must be
567 reviewed annually and updated as necessary.
568 (b) Student mental health.—Each public postsecondary
569 educational institution shall:
570 1. Train faculty to detect and respond to mental health
571 issues as well as connect students who may experience behavioral
572 health issues with appropriate services, both on campus and in
573 the community, including crisis intervention.
574 2. Post on its website and in conspicuous locations at each
575 institution a mental health awareness and suicide prevention
576 sign that identifies ways a person can access help and services.
577 Physical signs must be at least 11 inches by 15 inches in size
578 and must be printed in an easily legible font and in at least
579 32-point type.
580 3. Establish threat management teams whose duties include
581 the coordination of resources and assessment and intervention
582 with students whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of
583 the institution, institution staff, or students. The threat
584 management team must use the statewide behavioral threat
585 management operational process and Florida-specific behavioral
586 threat assessment instrument developed by the Office of Safe
587 Schools pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) or another comparable tool
588 deemed appropriate for postsecondary institutions by the State
589 Board of Education and the Board of Governors.
590
591 The Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the State
592 University System shall provide guidance on when and how
593 administrators, mental health providers, and other appropriate
594 personnel are legally entitled to share and receive information
595 about individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others,
596 including, but not limited to, the transmission of education
597 records pursuant to s. 1003.25(4).
598 (c) Security risk assessment.—Each public postsecondary
599 educational institution shall collaborate with appropriate
600 public safety agencies as defined in s. 365.171(3)(d), and may
601 collaborate with a private sector security consulting firm, to
602 annually conduct a security risk assessment at each campus using
603 the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool developed by the Office
604 of Safe Schools pursuant to s. 1006.1493 or another comparable
605 tool deemed appropriate for postsecondary educational
606 institutions by the State Board of Education and the Board of
607 Governors. Each public postsecondary educational institution may
608 contract with a private sector security consulting firm that
609 specializes in the facilitation of security risk assessments and
610 has experience in conducting security risk assessments of public
611 facilities to develop, update, and implement a risk assessment
612 tool. Subject to an appropriation, the institution may apply for
613 grant funds for security improvements to its campus based on
614 findings in the security risk assessment and other services
615 deemed appropriate.
616 (4) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The State Board of Education and
617 the Board of Governors may adopt rules and regulations,
618 respectively, to implement this section.
619 Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
620 made by this act in references thereto, paragraph (a) of
621 subsection (3), paragraph (a) of subsection (4), and subsection
622 (7) of section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
623 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the
624 protection and safety of school personnel, property, students,
625 and visitors, each district school board and school district
626 superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or
627 security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school
628 officers at each school facility within the district, including
629 charter schools. A district school board must collaborate with
630 charter school governing boards to facilitate charter school
631 access to all safe-school officer options available under this
632 section. The school district may implement any combination of
633 the options in subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of the
634 school district and charter schools.
635 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.—
636 (a) At the school district’s or the charter school
637 governing board’s discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s.
638 30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may
639 participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach
640 Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of
641 establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals
642 may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned
643 activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory
644 completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and
645 certification by a sheriff:
646 1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined
647 under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided
648 under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school
649 guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or
650 2. An employee of a school district or a charter school who
651 is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school
652 guardian.
653 (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter
654 school governing board may contract with a security agency as
655 defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard
656 an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license
657 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and
658 contractual conditions are met:
659 (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,
660 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,
661 must:
662 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required training
663 conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.
664 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
665 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
666 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
667 evaluation to the sheriff’s office and school district, charter
668 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
669 applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to
670 provide the sheriff’s office, school district, charter school
671 governing board, or employing security agency with mental health
672 and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.
673 3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
674 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
675 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office, school district, charter
676 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
677 applicable.
678 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the
679 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will
680 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in
681 that county. The sheriff’s approval authorizes the security
682 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the
683 county, and the sheriff’s approval is not limited to any
684 particular school.
685 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
686 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff
687 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and
688 provide documentation to the sheriff’s office, school district,
689 charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as
690 applicable.
691 (7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background
692 screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements
693 and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any
694 training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only
695 by a sheriff.
696
697 If a district school board, through its adopted policies,
698 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any
699 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school
700 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety
701 officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the
702 charter school’s share of the costs of the school resource
703 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school
704 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.
705 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.
706 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
707 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
708 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (19) of section
709 402.305, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
710 402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.—
711 (19) SAFE-SCHOOL OFFICERS.—
712 (a) A child care facility may partner with a law
713 enforcement agency or a security agency to establish or assign
714 one or more safe-school officers established in s. 1006.12(1)
715 (4). The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of
716 implementing any such option, which includes all training costs
717 under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel
718 Guardian Program under s. 30.15(1)(k).
719 Section 10. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
720 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
721 reference thereto, section 843.08, Florida Statutes, is
722 reenacted to read:
723 843.08 False personation.—A person who falsely assumes or
724 pretends to be a firefighter, a sheriff, an officer of the
725 Florida Highway Patrol, an officer of the Fish and Wildlife
726 Conservation Commission, an officer of the Department of
727 Environmental Protection, an officer of the Department of
728 Financial Services, any personnel or representative of the
729 Division of Criminal Investigations, an officer of the
730 Department of Corrections, a correctional probation officer, a
731 deputy sheriff, a state attorney or an assistant state attorney,
732 a statewide prosecutor or an assistant statewide prosecutor, a
733 state attorney investigator, a coroner, a police officer, a
734 lottery special agent or lottery investigator, a beverage
735 enforcement agent, a school guardian as described in s.
736 30.15(1)(k), a security officer licensed under chapter 493, any
737 member of the Florida Commission on Offender Review or any
738 administrative aide or supervisor employed by the commission,
739 any personnel or representative of the Department of Law
740 Enforcement, or a federal law enforcement officer as defined in
741 s. 901.1505, and takes upon himself or herself to act as such,
742 or to require any other person to aid or assist him or her in a
743 matter pertaining to the duty of any such officer, commits a
744 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
745 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, a person who
746 falsely personates any such officer during the course of the
747 commission of a felony commits a felony of the second degree,
748 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
749 If the commission of the felony results in the death or personal
750 injury of another human being, the person commits a felony of
751 the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
752 775.083, or s. 775.084. In determining whether a defendant has
753 violated this section, the court or jury may consider any
754 relevant evidence, including, but not limited to, whether the
755 defendant used lights in violation of s. 316.2397 or s. 843.081.
756 Section 11. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
757 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a
758 reference thereto, subsection (16) of section 943.03, Florida
759 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
760 943.03 Department of Law Enforcement.—
761 (16) Upon request, the department shall consult with
762 sheriffs to provide input regarding programmatic guiding
763 principles, practices, and resources in order to assist in the
764 development and implementation of the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron
765 Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program established
766 pursuant to s. 30.15. Such input and guidance may include, but
767 need not be limited to, standards, curriculum, instructional
768 strategies, evaluation, certification, records retention,
769 equipment, and other resource needs.
770 Section 12. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
771 made by this act to sections 943.082 and 1006.07, Florida
772 Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1), (4), and (10)
773 of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
774 1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the
775 Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office
776 is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The
777 office shall serve as a central repository for best practices,
778 training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters
779 regarding school safety and security, including prevention
780 efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness
781 planning. The office shall:
782 (1) Establish and update as necessary a school security
783 risk assessment tool for use by school districts pursuant to s.
784 1006.07(6). The office shall make the security risk assessment
785 tool available for use by charter schools. The office shall
786 provide annual training to appropriate school district and
787 charter school personnel on the proper assessment of physical
788 site security and completion of the school security risk
789 assessment tool.
790 (4) Develop and implement a School Safety Specialist
791 Training Program for school safety specialists appointed
792 pursuant to s. 1006.07(6). The office shall develop the training
793 program which shall be based on national and state best
794 practices on school safety and security and must include active
795 shooter training. The office shall develop training modules in
796 traditional or online formats. A school safety specialist
797 certificate of completion shall be awarded to a school safety
798 specialist who satisfactorily completes the training required by
799 rules of the office.
800 (10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of
801 Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and
802 education materials on the proper use of the School Safety
803 Awareness Program developed pursuant to s. 943.082, including
804 the consequences of knowingly submitting false information.
805 Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
806 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.