SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 662

Corporal Punishment
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SPONSOR
Bernard
FILED BY
Mack Bernard — District 24, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Education Pre-K - 12
OFFICIAL RECORD
flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/662

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Corporal Punishment; Prohibiting school district employees from using corporal punishment on public school students, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Bans corporal punishment in all public schools.

Starting July 1, 2026, no school district employee may use corporal punishment on a public school student. This applies to every public school in the state.

The bill removes the existing legal framework that allowed teachers and principals to administer corporal punishment under specific guidelines and with parental consent.

School district boards can no longer adopt policies authorizing corporal punishment, and the requirement for a written alternative discipline program is eliminated.

The bill also removes corporal punishment from the list of duties assigned to school principals and from the required student code of conduct procedures.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Prohibition on Corporal Punishment majors. 1002.20(4)(c)

AIBans all school district employees from using corporal punishment on public school students.

“A school district employee may not use corporal punishment, as defined in s. 1003.01, on a public school student.”
§ 2 Removal of Teacher Authority majors. 1003.32(1)(k)

AIDeletes the statutory authority for teachers and principals to administer corporal punishment.

“Use corporal punishment according to school board policy and at least the following procedures, if a teacher feels that corporal punishment is necessary” bill text, line 61 →
§ 3 Removal of Board Policy Option moderates. 1006.07(1)(a)

AIDeletes the option for district school boards to prohibit corporal punishment via alternative discipline programs.

“The district school board may prohibit the use of corporal punishment, if the district school board adopts or has adopted a written program of alternative control or discipline.” bill text, line 97 →
§ 4 Removal from Code of Conduct moderates. 1006.07(2)(b)

AIRemoves corporal punishment from the required procedures in district codes of student conduct.

“Procedures to be followed for acts requiring discipline, including corporal punishment”
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Education Pre-K - 12
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/9/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Judiciary; Rules
11/25/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1002.20
+14 / −199
s. 1003.32
+0 / −163
s. 1006.07
+0 / −32
s. 1012.28
+0 / −4