CS/CS/HB 757 full text · Session Watch

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 a sheriff to establish a guardian

9 training program or contract with certain other

10 sheriff's offices to do so in certain circumstances;

11 removing provisions relating to certain private school

12 and child care facility guardian programs; amending s.

13 790.115, F.S.; creating the offense of discharging a

14 weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school;

15 providing an exception; providing that a person

16 arrested for certain offenses must be held in custody

17 until brought before the court for admittance to bail;

18 amending s. 921.0022, F.S.; ranking an offense created

19 by the act on the offense severity ranking chart of

20 the Criminal Punishment Code; amending s. 943.082,

21 F.S.; requiring that postsecondary institutions be

22 made aware of the mobile suspicious activity reporting

23 tool in a specified manner; requiring certain public

24 postsecondary educational institutions to promote the

25 use of such tool; amending s. 1003.25, F.S.; requiring

26 specified educational records for certain students to

27 be transferred to a Florida College System institution

28 or state university under certain circumstances;

29 requiring the State Board of Education and the Board

30 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,

31 respectively; amending s. 1006.07, F.S.; requiring

32 certain trainings to include specified information

33 relating to school safety; authorizing, in certain

34 circumstances, state universities and Florida College

35 System institutions to share specified records or

36 information that are confidential or exempt from

37 disclosure with specified agencies; creating s.

38 1006.601, F.S.; providing a short title; defining the

39 term "public postsecondary educational institution";

40 authorizing such institutions to participate in

41 certain programs; authorizing such institutions to

42 appoint certified school guardians; authorizing

43 specified persons to serve as school guardians;

44 requiring such institutions to adopt specified

45 emergency response plans; requiring such institutions

46 to provide specified training, post specified

47 information, and adopt threat management processes;

48 requiring such institutions to develop policies for

49 specified student, faculty, and staff supports;

50 authorizing the State Board of Education and the Board

51 of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,

52 respectively; reenacting ss. 402.305(19)(a), 843.08,

53 943.03(16), 1001.212(1) and (4), and 1006.12(3)(a),

54 (4)(a), and (7), F.S., relating to licensing standards

55 for child care facilities, false personation, the

56 Department of Law Enforcement, the Office of Safe

57 Schools, and safe-school officers at each public

58 school, respectively; providing effective dates.

60 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

62 Section 1. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section

63 30.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

64 30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.—

65 (1) Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or

66 by deputy, shall:

67 (k) Assist district school boards and charter school

68 governing boards in complying with, or private schools or child

69 care facilities, as defined in s. 402.302, in exercising options

70 in, s. 1006.12. A sheriff must also assist public postsecondary

71 educational institutions, as described in s. 1000.04(3), in

72 implementing a guardian program under s. 1006.601. A sheriff

73 shall, at a minimum, provide access to a Chris Hixon, Coach

74 Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to aid in

75 the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on

76 school premises, as required under this paragraph. Persons

77 certified as school guardians pursuant to this paragraph have no

78 authority to act in any law enforcement capacity except to the

79 extent necessary to prevent or abate an active assailant

80 incident.

81 1.a. If a local school board has voted by a majority to

82 implement a guardian program or has contracted for the use of

83 school security guards to satisfy the requirements of s.

84 1006.12, the sheriff in that county must establish a guardian

85 program to provide training for school guardians or school

86 security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to meet the demand

87 for the training of school district, charter school, public

88 postsecondary educational institution, private school, child

89 care facility, or security agency employees, either directly or

90 through a contract with other ~~another~~ sheriff's offices ~~office~~

91 that have ~~has~~ established a guardian program. The security

92 agency employing a school security guard is responsible for all

93 training and screening-related costs for a school security

94 guard, but such charges may not exceed the actual cost incurred

95 by the sheriff to provide the training.

96 b. Upon the request of a private school, child care

97 facility, public postsecondary educational institution, or A

98 charter school governing board in a school district that has not

99 implemented ~~voted, or has declined, to implement~~ a guardian

100 program, ~~may request~~ the sheriff in the county must to establish

101 a guardian training program or contract with other sheriff's

102 offices that have established a guardian training program to

103 meet demand for the ~~purpose of~~ training of ~~the~~ private school,

104 child care facility, public postsecondary educational

105 institution, or charter school employees or school security

106 guards consistent with the requirements of subparagraph 2. If

107 ~~the county sheriff denies the request, the charter school~~

108 ~~governing board may contract with a sheriff that has established~~

109 ~~a guardian program to provide such training.~~ The charter school

110 governing board must notify the superintendent ~~and the sheriff~~

111 in the charter school's county of the contract prior to its

112 execution. The security agency employing a school security guard

113 is responsible for all training and screening-related costs for

114 a school security guard, but such charges may not exceed the

115 actual cost incurred by the sheriff to provide the training.

116 ~~c. A private school or child care facility in a school~~

117 ~~district that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a~~

118 ~~guardian program may request that the sheriff in the county of~~

119 ~~the private school or child care facility establish a guardian~~

120 ~~program for the purpose of training private school employees,~~

121 ~~child care facility employees, or school security guards. If the~~

122 ~~county sheriff denies the request, the private school or child~~

123 ~~care facility may contract with a sheriff from another county~~

124 ~~who has established a guardian program under subparagraph 2. to~~

125 ~~provide such training. The private school or child care facility~~

126 ~~must notify the sheriff in the private school's or child care~~

127 ~~facility's county of the contract with a sheriff from another~~

128 ~~county before its execution.~~ The private school, child care

129 facility, or security agency is responsible for all training and

130 screening-related costs for a school guardian program. The

131 sheriff providing such training must ensure that any moneys paid

132 by a private school, child care facility, or security agency are

133 not commingled with any funds provided by the state to the

134 sheriff as reimbursement for screening-related and training-

135 related costs ~~of any school district or charter school employee.~~

136 c.d. The training program required in sub-subparagraph

137 2.b. is a standardized statewide curriculum, and each sheriff

138 providing such training shall adhere to the course of

139 instruction specified in that sub-subparagraph. The costs for

140 the training program shall be consistent with guidelines

141 established by the Florida Sheriffs Association. This

142 subparagraph does not prohibit a sheriff from providing

143 additional training. Any additional training shall be provided

144 at no cost to a private school, child care facility, or security

145 agency. A school guardian or school security guard who has

146 completed the training program required in sub-subparagraph 2.b.

147 may not be required to attend another sheriff's training program

148 pursuant to that sub-subparagraph unless there has been at least

149 a 1-year break in his or her appointment as a guardian or

150 employment by a security agency as a school security guard in a

151 school.

152 d.e. The sheriff conducting the training pursuant to

153 subparagraph 2. for school district, ~~and~~ charter school, or

154 public postsecondary educational institution employees will be

155 reimbursed for screening-related and training-related costs and

156 for providing a one-time stipend of $500 to each school guardian

157 who participates in the school guardian program.

158 e.f. The sheriff may waive the training and screening-

159 related costs for a private school or child care facility for a

160 school guardian training program. Funds provided pursuant to

161 sub-subparagraph e. may not be used to subsidize any costs that

162 have been waived by the sheriff. The sheriff may not waive the

163 training and screening-related costs required to be paid by a

164 security agency for initial training or ongoing training of a

165 school security guard.

166 f.g. A person who is certified and in good standing under

167 the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission,

168 who meets the qualifications established in s. 943.13, and who

169 is otherwise qualified for the position of a school guardian or

170 school security guard may be certified as a school guardian or

171 school security guard by the sheriff without completing the

172 training requirements of sub-subparagraph 2.b. However, a person

173 certified as a school guardian or school security guard under

174 this sub-subparagraph must meet the requirements of sub-

175 subparagraphs 2.c.-e.

176 2. A sheriff who establishes a program shall consult with

177 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding

178 principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as

179 school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees,

180 as specified in s. 1006.12(3), or shall certify as school

181 security guards those persons employed by a security agency who

182 meet the criteria specified in s. 1006.12(4), and who:

183 a. Hold a valid license issued under s. 790.06 or are

184 otherwise eligible to possess or carry a concealed firearm under

185 chapter 790.

186 b. After satisfying the requirements of s. 1006.12(7),

187 complete a 144-hour training program, consisting of 12 hours of

188 training to improve the school guardian's knowledge and skills

189 necessary to respond to and de-escalate incidents on school

190 premises and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and

191 proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and

192 Training Commission-certified instructors, which must include:

193 (I) Eighty hours of firearms instruction based on the

194 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission's Law

195 Enforcement Academy training model, which must include at least

196 10 percent but no more than 20 percent more rounds fired than

197 associated with academy training. Program participants must

198 achieve an 85 percent pass rate on the firearms training.

199 (II) Sixteen hours of instruction in precision pistol.

200 (III) Eight hours of discretionary shooting instruction

201 using state-of-the-art simulator exercises.

202 (IV) Sixteen hours of instruction in active shooter or

203 assailant scenarios.

204 (V) Eight hours of instruction in defensive tactics.

205 (VI) Four hours of instruction in legal issues.

206 c. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a

207 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the

208 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the

209 evaluation to the sheriff's office. The Department of Law

210 Enforcement is authorized to provide the sheriff's office with

211 mental health and substance abuse data for compliance with this

212 paragraph.

213 d. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent

214 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.

215 112.0455 and the sheriff's office.

216 e. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon

217 inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual

218 basis.

220 The sheriff who conducts the guardian training or waives the

221 training requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g.

222 shall issue a school guardian certificate to persons who meet

223 the requirements of this section to the satisfaction of the

224 sheriff, and shall maintain documentation of weapon and

225 equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification,

226 inspection, and qualification records of each school guardian

227 certified by the sheriff. A person who is certified under this

228 paragraph may serve as a school guardian under s. 1006.12(3)

229 only if he or she is appointed by the applicable school district

230 superintendent, charter school principal, public postsecondary

231 educational institution president, private school head of

232 school, or child care facility owner. A sheriff who conducts the

233 training for a school security guard or waives the training

234 requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g. and

235 determines that the school security guard has met all the

236 requirements of s. 1006.12(4) shall issue a school security

237 guard certificate to persons who meet the requirements of this

238 section to the satisfaction of the sheriff and shall maintain

239 documentation of weapon and equipment inspections, training,

240 certification, and qualification records for each school

241 security guard certified by the sheriff.

242 3.a. Within 30 days after issuing a school guardian or

243 school security guard certificate, the sheriff who issued the

244 certificate must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the

245 name, date of birth, and certification date of the school

246 guardian or school security guard.

247 b. By February 1 and September 1 of each school year, each

248 school district, charter school, employing security agency,

249 public postsecondary educational institution, private school,

250 and child care facility must report in the manner prescribed to

251 the Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and

252 appointment date of each person appointed as a school guardian

253 or employed as a school security guard. The school district,

254 charter school, employing security agency, public postsecondary

255 educational institution, private school, and child care facility

256 must also report in the manner prescribed to the Department of

257 Law Enforcement the date each school guardian or school security

258 guard separates from his or her appointment as a school guardian

259 or employment as a school security guard in a school.

260 c. The Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain a list

261 of each person appointed as a school guardian or certified as a

262 school security guard in the state. The list must include the

263 name and certification date of each school guardian and school

264 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school

265 guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the

266 name of the school district, charter school, public

267 postsecondary educational institution, private school, or child

268 care facility in which the school guardian is appointed, or the

269 employing security agency of a school security guard, any

270 information provided pursuant to s. 1006.12(5), and, if

271 applicable, the date such person separated from his or her

272 appointment as a school guardian or the last date a school

273 security guard served in a school as of the last reporting date.

274 The Department of Law Enforcement shall remove from the list any

275 person whose training has expired pursuant to sub-subparagraph

276 1.d.

277 d. Each sheriff shall report on a quarterly basis to the

278 Department of Law Enforcement the schedule for upcoming school

279 guardian trainings, to include guardian trainings for school

280 security guards, including the dates of the training, the

281 training locations, a contact person to register for the

282 training, and the class capacity. If no trainings are scheduled,

283 the sheriff is not required to report to the Department of Law

284 Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement shall publish on

285 its website a list of the upcoming school guardian trainings.

286 The Department of Law Enforcement shall update such list

287 quarterly.

288 e. A sheriff who fails to report the information required

289 by this subparagraph may not receive reimbursement from the

290 Department of Education for school guardian trainings. Upon the

291 submission of the required information, a sheriff is deemed

292 eligible for such funding and is authorized to continue to

293 receive reimbursement for school guardian training.

294 f. A school district, charter school, public postsecondary

295 educational institution, private school, child care facility, or

296 employing security agency that fails to report the information

297 required by this subparagraph is prohibited from operating a

298 school guardian program or employing school security guards in

299 the following school year unless the missing information is

300 provided.

301 g. By March 1 and October 1 of each school year, the

302 Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the Department of

303 Education of any sheriff, school district, charter school,

304 public postsecondary educational institution, private school, or

305 child care facility that has not complied with the reporting

306 requirements of this subparagraph.

307 h. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to

308 implement the requirements of this subparagraph, including

309 requiring additional reporting information only as necessary to

310 uniquely identify each school guardian and school security guard

311 reported.

312 Section 2. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (d) of

313 subsection (2) of section 790.115, Florida Statutes, is amended,

314 and subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:

315 790.115 Possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a

316 school-sponsored event or on school property prohibited;

317 penalties; exceptions.—

318 (2)

319 (d) A person commits a felony of the second degree,

320 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084,

321 if he or she: ~~who~~

322 1. Discharges any weapon or firearm while in violation of

323 paragraph (a), unless discharged for lawful defense of himself

324 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose; or,

325 2. Discharges any weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a

326 school, during school hours or during the time of a sanctioned

327 school activity, unless discharged for lawful defense of himself

328 or herself or another or for a lawful purpose. This subparagraph

329 does not apply to the discharge of a weapon or firearm on

330 private real property within 1,000 feet of a school by the owner

331 of such property or by a person whose presence on such property

332 has been authorized, licensed, or invited by the owner ~~commits a~~

333 ~~felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.~~

334 ~~775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.~~

335 (4) A person arrested for a violation of paragraph (2)(d)

336 must be held in custody until brought before the court for

337 admittance to bail in accordance with chapter 903.

338 Section 3. Effective October 1, 2026, paragraph (f) of

339 subsection (3) of section 921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended

340 to read:

341 921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity

342 ranking chart.—

343 (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART

344 (f) LEVEL 6 Florida Felony Statute Degree Description 316.027(2)(b) 2nd Leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury. 316.193(2)(b) 3rd Felony DUI, 4th or subsequent conviction. 316.1935(4)(a) 2nd Aggravated fleeing or eluding. 327.30(5)(a)3. 2nd Vessel accidents involving serious bodily injury; leaving scene. 400.9935(4)(c) 2nd Operating a clinic, or offering services requiring licensure, without a license. 499.0051(2) 2nd Knowing forgery of transaction history, transaction information, or transaction statement. 499.0051(3) 2nd Knowing purchase or receipt of prescription drug from unauthorized person. 499.0051(4) 2nd Knowing sale or transfer of prescription drug to unauthorized person. 775.0875(1) 3rd Taking firearm from law enforcement officer. 784.021(1)(a) 3rd Aggravated assault; deadly weapon without intent to kill. 784.021(1)(b) 3rd Aggravated assault; intent to commit felony. 784.041 3rd Felony battery; domestic battery by strangulation. 784.048(3) 3rd Aggravated stalking; credible threat. 784.048(5) 3rd Aggravated stalking of person under 16. 784.07(2)(c) 2nd Aggravated assault on law enforcement officer. 784.074(1)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on sexually violent predators facility staff. 784.08(2)(b) 2nd Aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older. 784.081(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on specified official or employee. 784.082(2) 2nd Aggravated assault by detained person on visitor or other detainee. 784.083(2) 2nd Aggravated assault on code inspector. 787.02(2) 3rd False imprisonment; restraining with purpose other than those in s. 787.01. 787.025(2)(a) 3rd Luring or enticing a child. 790.115(2)(d) 2nd Discharging firearm or weapon on school property or within 1,000 feet of a school. 790.161(2) 2nd Make, possess, or throw destructive device with intent to do bodily harm or damage property. 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. 790.19 2nd Shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles. 794.011(8)(a) 3rd Solicitation of minor to participate in sexual activity by custodial adult. 794.05(1) 2nd Unlawful sexual activity with specified minor. 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. 800.04(6)(b) 2nd Lewd or lascivious conduct; offender 18 years of age or older. 806.031(2) 2nd Arson resulting in great bodily harm to firefighter or any other person. 810.02(3)(c) 2nd Burglary of occupied structure; unarmed; no assault or battery. 810.145(8)(b) 2nd Digital voyeurism; certain minor victims; 2nd or subsequent offense. 812.014(2)(b)1. 2nd Property stolen $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, grand theft in 2nd degree. 812.014(2)(c)5. 3rd Grand theft; third degree; firearm. 812.014(6) 2nd Theft; property stolen $3,000 or more; coordination of others. 812.015(9)(a) 2nd Retail theft; property stolen $750 or more; second or subsequent conviction. 812.015(9)(b) 2nd Retail theft; aggregated property stolen within 120 days is $3,000 or more; coordination of others. 812.015(9)(d) 2nd Retail theft; multiple thefts within specified period. 812.015(9)(e) 2nd Retail theft; committed with specified number of other persons and use of social media platform. 812.13(2)(c) 2nd Robbery, no firearm or other weapon (strong-arm robbery). 817.4821(5) 2nd Possess cloning paraphernalia with intent to create cloned cellular telephones. 817.49(2)(b)2. 2nd Willful making of a false report of a crime resulting in death. 817.505(4)(b) 2nd Patient brokering; 10 or more patients. 817.5695(3)(b) 2nd Exploitation of person 65 years of age or older, value $10,000 or more, but less than $50,000. 825.102(1) 3rd Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult. 825.102(3)(c) 3rd Neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult. 825.1025(3) 3rd Lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly person or disabled adult. 825.103(3)(c) 3rd Exploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at less than $10,000. 827.03(2)(c) 3rd Abuse of a child. 827.03(2)(d) 3rd Neglect of a child. 827.071(5) 3rd Possess, control, or intentionally view any photographic material, motion picture, etc., which includes child pornography. 828.126(3) 3rd Sexual activities involving animals. 836.05 2nd Threats; extortion. 836.10 2nd Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism. 843.12 3rd Aids or assists person to escape. 847.011 3rd Distributing, offering to distribute, or possessing with intent to distribute obscene materials depicting minors. 847.012 3rd Knowingly using a minor in the production of materials harmful to minors. 847.0135(2) 3rd Facilitates sexual conduct of or with a minor or the visual depiction of such conduct. 893.131 2nd Distribution of controlled substances resulting in overdose or serious bodily injury. 914.23 2nd Retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, with bodily injury. 918.13(2)(b) 2nd Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence relating to a capital felony. 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. 944.40 2nd Escapes. 944.46 3rd Harboring, concealing, aiding escaped prisoners. 944.47(1)(a)5. 2nd Introduction of contraband (firearm, weapon, or explosive) into correctional facility. 951.22(1)(i) 3rd Firearm or weapon introduced into county detention facility.

414 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section

415 943.082, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is

416 added to that subsection, to read:

417 943.082 School Safety Awareness Program.—

418 (4)(a) Law enforcement dispatch centers, school districts,

419 schools, postsecondary institutions, and other entities

420 identified by the department must be made aware of the mobile

421 suspicious activity reporting tool.

422 (c) Each public postsecondary educational institution, as

423 defined in s. 1000.04(3), that does not have an existing public

424 safety reporting application as of July 1, 2026, shall promote

425 the use of the mobile suspicious activity reporting tool by

426 advertising it on the institution website, by installing it on

427 all mobile devices issued by the institution, and by bookmarking

428 the website on all computer devices maintained by the

429 institution.

430 Section 5. Subsection (4) is added to section 1003.25,

431 Florida Statutes, and subsection (2) of that section is

432 republished, to read:

433 1003.25 Procedures for maintenance and transfer of student

434 records.—

435 (2) The procedure for transferring and maintaining records

436 of students who transfer from school to school is prescribed by

437 rules of the State Board of Education. The transfer of records

438 must occur within 5 school days. The records must include, if

439 applicable:

440 (a) Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior

441 patterns, including any threat assessment report, all

442 corresponding documentation, and any other information required

443 by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument

444 pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) which contains the evaluation,

445 intervention, and management of the threat assessment

446 evaluations and intervention services.

447 (b) Psychological evaluations, including therapeutic

448 treatment plans and therapy or progress notes created or

449 maintained by school district or charter school staff, as

450 appropriate.

451 (4) When the education records of a student contain the

452 documents described in subsection (2) and the student enrolls in

453 a Florida College System institution or state university, such

454 records must be transferred to his or her institution or

455 university of enrollment. The State Board of Education and the

456 Board of Governors shall adopt rules and regulations,

457 respectively, to establish the procedures for the transfer of a

458 student's threat assessment report pursuant to this subsection.

459 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) and paragraph

460 (g) of subsection (7) of section 1006.07, Florida Statutes, are

461 amended to read:

462 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student

463 discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall

464 provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the

465 attendance and control of students at school, and for proper

466 attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the

467 welfare of students, including:

468 (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district

469 school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures

470 for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the

471 assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior

472 poses a threat to the safety of the school community.

473 (a) School safety specialist.—Each district school

474 superintendent shall designate a school safety specialist for

475 the district. The school safety specialist must be a school

476 administrator employed by the school district or a law

477 enforcement officer employed by the sheriff's office located in

478 the school district. Any school safety specialist designated

479 from the sheriff's office must first be authorized and approved

480 by the sheriff employing the law enforcement officer. Any school

481 safety specialist designated from the sheriff's office remains

482 the employee of the office for purposes of compensation,

483 insurance, workers' compensation, and other benefits authorized

484 by law for a law enforcement officer employed by the sheriff's

485 office. The sheriff and the school superintendent may determine

486 by agreement the reimbursement for such costs, or may share the

487 costs, associated with employment of the law enforcement officer

488 as a school safety specialist. The school safety specialist must

489 earn a certificate of completion of the school safety specialist

490 training provided by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year

491 after appointment and is responsible for the supervision and

492 oversight for all school safety and security personnel,

493 policies, and procedures in the school district. The school

494 safety specialist, or his or her designee, shall:

495 1. In conjunction with the district school superintendent,

496 annually review school district policies and procedures for

497 compliance with state law and rules, including the district's

498 timely and accurate submission of school environmental safety

499 incident reports to the department pursuant to s. 1001.212(8).

500 At least quarterly, the school safety specialist must report to

501 the district school superintendent and the district school board

502 any noncompliance by the school district with laws or rules

503 regarding school safety.

504 2. Provide the necessary training and resources to

505 students and school district staff in matters relating to youth

506 mental health awareness and assistance; emergency procedures,

507 including active shooter training; and school safety and

508 security. Such training for classroom teachers and other members

509 of instructional staff must explain the purpose, importance, and

510 proper execution of school safety protocols and emergency

511 procedures.

512 3. Serve as the school district liaison with local public

513 safety agencies and national, state, and community agencies and

514 organizations in matters of school safety and security.

515 4. In collaboration with the appropriate public safety

516 agencies, as that term is defined in s. 365.171, by October 1 of

517 each year, conduct a school security risk assessment at each

518 public school using the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool

519 developed by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.

520 1006.1493. Based on the assessment findings, the district's

521 school safety specialist shall provide recommendations to the

522 district school superintendent and the district school board

523 which identify strategies and activities that the district

524 school board should implement in order to address the findings

525 and improve school safety and security. Each district school

526 board must receive such findings and the school safety

527 specialist's recommendations at a publicly noticed district

528 school board meeting to provide the public an opportunity to

529 hear the district school board members discuss and take action

530 on the findings and recommendations. Each school safety

531 specialist, through the district school superintendent, shall

532 report such findings and school board action to the Office of

533 Safe Schools within 30 days after the district school board

534 meeting.

535 5. Conduct annual unannounced inspections, using the form

536 adopted by the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s.

537 1001.212(13), of all public schools, including charter schools,

538 while school is in session and investigate reports of

539 noncompliance with school safety requirements.

540 6. Report violations of paragraph (f) by administrative

541 personnel and instructional personnel to the district school

542 superintendent or charter school administrator, as applicable.

543 (7) THREAT MANAGEMENT TEAMS.—Each district school board

544 and charter school governing board shall establish a threat

545 management team at each school whose duties include the

546 coordination of resources and assessment and intervention with

547 students whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of the

548 school, school staff, or students.

549 (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all state

550 and local agencies and programs that provide services to

551 students experiencing or at risk of an emotional disturbance or

552 a mental illness, including the school districts, charter

553 schools, school personnel, state universities, Florida College

554 System institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies,

555 the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children

556 and Families, the Department of Health, the Agency for Health

557 Care Administration, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities,

558 the Department of Education, the Statewide Guardian ad Litem

559 Office, and any service or support provider contracting with

560 such agencies, may share with each other records or information

561 that are confidential or exempt from disclosure under chapter

562 119 if the records or information are reasonably necessary to

563 ensure access to appropriate services for the student or to

564 ensure the safety of the student or others. All such state and

565 local agencies and programs shall communicate, collaborate, and

566 coordinate efforts to serve such students.

567 Section 7. Section 1006.601, Florida Statutes, is created

568 to read:

569 1006.601 Active Response and Mitigation of On-Campus Risks

570 (ARMOR) Act.—

571 (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the "Active

572 Response and Mitigation of On-Campus Risks (ARMOR) Act."

573 (2) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term "public

574 postsecondary educational institution" has the same meaning as

575 in s. 1000.04(3).

576 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIANS.—

577 (a) Public postsecondary educational institutions are

578 authorized to participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis,

579 and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program and may appoint

580 certified school guardians pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k).

581 (b) An employee or faculty member, who is not a student,

582 of a public postsecondary educational institution may serve as a

583 school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned activities for

584 purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory completion of the

585 requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and certification by a

586 sheriff.

587 (4) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—

588 (a) Response plans.—Each public postsecondary educational

589 institution shall:

590 1. Adopt an active assailant response plan, which shall

591 include methods for issuing emergency notifications pursuant to

592 20 U.S.C. s. 1092(f), and annually certify that all faculty,

593 staff, and students have completed active assailant preparedness

594 training. The plan must clearly identify all personnel who may

595 issue such emergency notifications.

596 2. Adopt, in cooperation with local law enforcement

597 agencies and local government, a family reunification plan to

598 reunite students and employees with their families in the event

599 that an institution is closed or unexpectedly evacuated due to a

600 natural or manmade disaster. This reunification plan must be

601 reviewed annually and updated as necessary.

602 (b) Student mental health.—Each public postsecondary

603 educational institution shall:

604 1. Train faculty to detect and respond to mental health

605 issues as well as connect students who may experience behavioral

606 health issues with appropriate services, both on campus and in

607 the community, including crisis intervention.

608 2. Post on its website and in conspicuous locations at

609 each institution a mental health awareness and suicide

610 prevention sign that identifies ways a person can access help

611 and services. Physical signs must be at least 11 inches by 15

612 inches in size and must be printed in an easily legible font and

613 in at least 32-point type.

614 3. Establish threat management teams whose duties include

615 the coordination of resources and assessment and intervention

616 with students whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of

617 the institution, institution staff, or students. The threat

618 management team must use the statewide behavioral threat

619 management operational process and Florida-specific behavioral

620 threat assessment instrument developed by the Office of Safe

621 Schools pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) or another comparable tool

622 deemed appropriate for postsecondary institutions by the State

623 Board of Education and Board of Governors.

625 The Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the State

626 University System shall provide guidance on when and how

627 administrators, mental health providers, and other appropriate

628 personnel are legally entitled to share and receive information

629 about individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others,

630 including, but not limited to, the transmission of education

631 records pursuant to s. 1003.25(4).

632 (c) Security risk assessment.—Each public postsecondary

633 educational institution, in collaboration with appropriate

634 public safety agencies, as defined in s. 365.171(3)(d), shall

635 annually conduct a security risk assessment at each campus using

636 the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool developed by the Office

637 of Safe Schools pursuant to s. 1006.1493 or another comparable

638 tool deemed appropriate for postsecondary institutions by the

639 State Board of Education and Board of Governors. Subject to an

640 appropriation, the institution may apply for grant funds for

641 security improvements to its campus based on findings in the

642 security risk assessment.

643 (d) Student, faculty, and staff supports.—Each public

644 postsecondary educational institution must adopt policies and

645 procedures to support students, faculty, and staff who are the

646 victims of an incident constituting an act of violence or an

647 attempted act of violence or who are subjected to a credible

648 threat as defined in s. 784.048(1)(c). The policies shall:

649 1. Outline the supports available to affected persons,

650 which may include work or class relocation, security escorts,

651 and restricting access to certain areas by individuals who

652 created the incident.

653 2. Provide for timely updates to an affected person

654 regarding any action taken by the institution in response to the

655 incident.

656 (5) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The State Board of Education

657 and the Board of Governors may adopt rules and regulations,

658 respectively, to implement this section.

659 Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment

660 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a

661 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (19) of section

662 402.305, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

663 402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.—

664 (19) SAFE-SCHOOL OFFICERS.—

665 (a) A child care facility may partner with a law

666 enforcement agency or a security agency to establish or assign

667 one or more safe-school officers established in s. 1006.12(1)-

668 (4). The child care facility is responsible for the full cost of

669 implementing any such option, which includes all training costs

670 under the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel

671 Guardian Program under s. 30.15(1)(k).

672 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment

673 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a

674 reference thereto, section 843.08, Florida Statutes, is

675 reenacted to read:

676 843.08 False personation.—A person who falsely assumes or

677 pretends to be a firefighter, a sheriff, an officer of the

678 Florida Highway Patrol, an officer of the Fish and Wildlife

679 Conservation Commission, an officer of the Department of

680 Environmental Protection, an officer of the Department of

681 Financial Services, any personnel or representative of the

682 Division of Criminal Investigations, an officer of the

683 Department of Corrections, a correctional probation officer, a

684 deputy sheriff, a state attorney or an assistant state attorney,

685 a statewide prosecutor or an assistant statewide prosecutor, a

686 state attorney investigator, a coroner, a police officer, a

687 lottery special agent or lottery investigator, a beverage

688 enforcement agent, a school guardian as described in s.

689 30.15(1)(k), a security officer licensed under chapter 493, any

690 member of the Florida Commission on Offender Review or any

691 administrative aide or supervisor employed by the commission,

692 any personnel or representative of the Department of Law

693 Enforcement, or a federal law enforcement officer as defined in

694 s. 901.1505, and takes upon himself or herself to act as such,

695 or to require any other person to aid or assist him or her in a

696 matter pertaining to the duty of any such officer, commits a

697 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

698 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, a person who

699 falsely personates any such officer during the course of the

700 commission of a felony commits a felony of the second degree,

701 punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

702 If the commission of the felony results in the death or personal

703 injury of another human being, the person commits a felony of

704 the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

705 775.083, or s. 775.084. In determining whether a defendant has

706 violated this section, the court or jury may consider any

707 relevant evidence, including, but not limited to, whether the

708 defendant used lights in violation of s. 316.2397 or s. 843.081.

709 Section 10. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment

710 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a

711 reference thereto, subsection (16) of section 943.03, Florida

712 Statutes, is reenacted to read:

713 943.03 Department of Law Enforcement.—

714 (16) Upon request, the department shall consult with

715 sheriffs to provide input regarding programmatic guiding

716 principles, practices, and resources in order to assist in the

717 development and implementation of the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron

718 Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program established

719 pursuant to s. 30.15. Such input and guidance may include, but

720 need not be limited to, standards, curriculum, instructional

721 strategies, evaluation, certification, records retention,

722 equipment, and other resource needs.

723 Section 11. For the purpose of incorporating the

724 amendments made by this act to sections 943.082 and 1006.07,

725 Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1), (4),

726 and (10) of section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to

727 read:

728 1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the

729 Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office

730 is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The

731 office shall serve as a central repository for best practices,

732 training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters

733 regarding school safety and security, including prevention

734 efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness

735 planning. The office shall:

736 (1) Establish and update as necessary a school security

737 risk assessment tool for use by school districts pursuant to s.

738 1006.07(6). The office shall make the security risk assessment

739 tool available for use by charter schools. The office shall

740 provide annual training to appropriate school district and

741 charter school personnel on the proper assessment of physical

742 site security and completion of the school security risk

743 assessment tool.

744 (4) Develop and implement a School Safety Specialist

745 Training Program for school safety specialists appointed

746 pursuant to s. 1006.07(6). The office shall develop the training

747 program which shall be based on national and state best

748 practices on school safety and security and must include active

749 shooter training. The office shall develop training modules in

750 traditional or online formats. A school safety specialist

751 certificate of completion shall be awarded to a school safety

752 specialist who satisfactorily completes the training required by

753 rules of the office.

754 (10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of

755 Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and

756 education materials on the proper use of the School Safety

757 Awareness Program developed pursuant to s. 943.082, including

758 the consequences of knowingly submitting false information.

759 Section 12. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment

760 made by this act to section 30.15, Florida Statutes, in a

761 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (3), paragraph

762 (a) of subsection (4), and subsection (7) of section 1006.12,

763 Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:

764 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For

765 the protection and safety of school personnel, property,

766 students, and visitors, each district school board and school

767 district superintendent shall partner with law enforcement

768 agencies or security agencies to establish or assign one or more

769 safe-school officers at each school facility within the

770 district, including charter schools. A district school board

771 must collaborate with charter school governing boards to

772 facilitate charter school access to all safe-school officer

773 options available under this section. The school district may

774 implement any combination of the options in subsections (1)-(4)

775 to best meet the needs of the school district and charter

776 schools.

777 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.—

778 (a) At the school district's or the charter school

779 governing board's discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s.

780 30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may

781 participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach

782 Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of

783 establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals

784 may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned

785 activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory

786 completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and

787 certification by a sheriff:

788 1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined

789 under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided

790 under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school

791 guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or

792 2. An employee of a school district or a charter school

793 who is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school

794 guardian.

795 (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter

796 school governing board may contract with a security agency as

797 defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard

798 an individual who holds a Class "D" and Class "G" license

799 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and

800 contractual conditions are met:

801 (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,

802 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,

803 must:

804 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required

805 training conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.

806 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a

807 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the

808 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the

809 evaluation to the sheriff's office and school district, charter

810 school governing board, or employing security agency, as

811 applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to

812 provide the sheriff's office, school district, charter school

813 governing board, or employing security agency with mental health

814 and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.

815 3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent

816 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.

817 112.0455 and the sheriff's office, school district, charter

818 school governing board, or employing security agency, as

819 applicable.

820 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the

821 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will

822 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in

823 that county. The sheriff's approval authorizes the security

824 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the

825 county, and the sheriff's approval is not limited to any

826 particular school.

827 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon

828 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff

829 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and

830 provide documentation to the sheriff's office, school district,

831 charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as

832 applicable.

833 (7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background

834 screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements

835 and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any

836 training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only

837 by a sheriff.

839 If a district school board, through its adopted policies,

840 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any

841 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school

842 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety

843 officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the

844 charter school's share of the costs of the school resource

845 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school

846 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.

847 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.

848 Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this

849 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.