THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1025
Notification of Sexual Violence Policies and Supportive Measure in K-20 Education
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to the notification of sexual violence
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policies and supportive measure in K-20 education;
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creating s. 1000.09, F.S.; providing definitions;
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requiring public and private K-20 educational
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institutions to have specified sexual violence
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policies; authorizing such educational institutions to
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have specified supportive measures; providing
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requirements for such policies and measures; requiring
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schools to notify students, parents, school staff, and
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school volunteers of such policies and measures;
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providing requirements for such notifications;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 1000.09, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1000.09 Notification of sexual violence policies and
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supportive measure in K-20 education.—
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(1) For purposes of this section, the term:
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(a) "Child advocacy center" means a center that
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coordinates the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of
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child abuse cases by using multidisciplinary teams of
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professionals involved in child protective and victim advocacy
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services, law enforcement and prosecution, and physical and
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mental health services.
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(b) "Frequently encountered language" means a language
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that is the primary language spoken by:
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1. At least 5 percent of the overall student population or
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employee population of the school;
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2. At least 5 percent of the population of the county in
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which the school is located; or
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3. At least 1,000 people in the county in which the school
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is located.
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(c) "School" means a public K-12 school, a public
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postsecondary educational institution, a private K-12 school, or
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a private postsecondary educational institution.
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(d) "Sexual assault service provider" means an agency that
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provides victim advocacy and support services to survivors of
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sexual violence.
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(e) "Sexual violence policies" means any policy,
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procedure, protocol, guideline, or rule regarding sexual
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assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence, dating violence, and
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stalking that occurs on school premises, on school
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transportation, or at a school-sponsored, off-campus event and
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where a student, school staff member, or school volunteer is the
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purported victim or offender of such offense.
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(f) "Supportive measures" means individualized measures
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related to sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence,
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dating violence, or stalking that are nondisciplinary or
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nonpunitive measures that are offered to a student, school staff
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member, or school volunteer to protect the safety of all
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parties, provide reasonable accommodations, and support
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educational success.
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(2)(a) Each school must have sexual violence policies.
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Such policies must:
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1. Be written in clear, plain language in a color, size,
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and font that enhances readability.
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2. Be available in frequently encountered languages to
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ensure timely and meaningful access for students, parents,
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school staff, and school volunteers with limited English
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proficiency. Processes should be in place for access to the
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material in less frequently encountered languages.
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3. Include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
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a. Options for a student to report an incident of sexual
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assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence, dating violence, or
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stalking to the school or law enforcement.
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b. The rights of victims and offenders during any
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investigation or disciplinary proceeding conducted by the
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school.
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c. The process the school will use for an investigation or
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disciplinary proceeding, including any rights to an appeal.
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d. Whether the school has an affirmative duty to report to
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law enforcement when a report of sexual assault, sexual abuse,
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domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking is made to the
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school.
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(b) Each school may have supportive measures. Such
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measures may include, but are not limited to, all of the
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following:
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1. Where available, the name, title, e-mail, address, and
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telephone number of the person designated by the school to
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receive reports of violations of the sexual violence policies
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and provide information regarding such policies and supportive
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measures.
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2. Where available, the name, telephone number, and
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website address for a local, state, or national hotline that
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provides information to victims of sexual assault or sexual
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abuse.
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3. Where available, the name, telephone number, and
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website address of the nearest child advocacy center and sexual
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assault service provider.
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4. Access to counseling, health care, and mental health
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care.
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5. Access to victim advocacy or legal assistance.
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6. Extensions to deadlines or other class-related
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adjustments or modifications of work or class schedules.
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7. Campus safety escorts.
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(3) Each school shall notify students, parents, school
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staff, and school volunteers of the school's existing sexual
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violence policies and supportive measures by:
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(a) Including such policies and measures in student,
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parent, staff, or volunteer handbooks, catalogs, or other school
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publications that list the rights, responsibilities, or
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standards of conduct for students, school staff, and school
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volunteers.
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(b) Providing such policies and measures directly to
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students, parents, school staff, and school volunteers using the
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process by which such person has selected to receive
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communications from the school.
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1. A school shall provide such policies and measures to
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students and parents at the student's time of enrollment or
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registration, and each academic year thereafter within 30 days
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of the first day of school.
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2. A school shall provide such policies and measures to
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school staff and school volunteers at the time such staff is
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hired or when the volunteer begins his or her volunteer work.
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The school shall require school staff and school volunteers to
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annually review such policies and measure within 30 days of the
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first of school.
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(c) Placing a physical copy of such policies and measures
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in a clearly visible location and public area of the school that
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is readily accessible to and widely used by students and in a
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location that is widely used by parents, school staff, and
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school volunteers.
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(d) Posting such policies and measures on the school's
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website in a prominent location that is accessible from the
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website's homepage by use of not more than three clicks. Such
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policies and measures must also be published on the school
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district's or governing body of the school's website in a
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prominent location that is accessible from the website's
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homepage by use of not more than three clicks.
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(4) To provide notice to a student under the age of 18,
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the school shall provide such notice to the student's parent.
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However, a school may also provide notice to the student in an
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age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate manner.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.