SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 494

Student Elopement
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SPONSOR
Arrington
FILED BY
Kristen Aston Arrington — District 25, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Education Pre-K - 12

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Student Elopement; Requiring public schools to create a School Staff Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Team and a school elopement plan; providing requirements for the plan; providing for membership and responsibilities of the SAFE Team; requiring the SAFE Team to create student-specific elopement quick reference guides for certain students, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates SAFE teams and elopement plans in every public school.

Every public school must form a SAFE Team and write an elopement plan by July 2026. This creates a new, recurring administrative duty for all districts.

The plan must include immediate parent contact and a coordinated on-campus search. Emergency services may only be called if the student is reasonably believed to be off-campus and at risk of harm.

Schools must create individualized quick reference guides for students prone to elopement. These guides must include a current photo, communication level, and potential locations the student may go.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory SAFE Team and Plan majors. 1003.211(2)

AIEvery public school must create a School Staff Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Team and a school elopement plan.

“each public school shall create a School Staff Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Team and a school elopement plan” bill text, line 38 →
§ 2 Emergency Response Limits majors. 1003.211(2)

AISchools must contact parents immediately upon elopement, but may only contact emergency services if the student is reasonably believed to have left grounds and be at risk of harm.

“contacting emergency services only when the student is reasonably believed, based on verified information or direct observation, to have left school grounds and to be at risk of” bill text, line 44 →
§ 3 Student-Specific Guides majors. 1003.211(4)(a)

AIFor students prone to elopement, the SAFE Team must create a quick reference guide containing a photo, communication level, interests, health considerations, and GPS technology details.

“must create a student-specific elopement quick reference guide” bill text, line 60 →
§ 4 Annual Reporting and Training moderates. 1003.211(3)(a)

AISchools must annually update the plan, train all personnel, and provide the plan to the district school board.

“Create and annually update the school elopement plan” bill text, line 53 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Education Pre-K - 12
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/1/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Children, Families, and Elder...
11/13/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.211
+476 / −0