SB 1470: School Safety - Florida

S 1470 e2 → S 1470 er · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Florida's school safety laws to expand the Guardian Program to include child care facilities, establish new training and certification requirements for school security guards, and create a centralized panic alert system for schools. The changes clarify cost responsibilities between sheriffs and facilities, update firearm training standards, and add new reporting requirements to improve school safety oversight.

Scope change

Expanded from primarily public schools to include private schools and child care facilities in the Guardian Program and safe-school officer provisions.

ELIGIBILITY

Child care facilities and private schools can now access the Chris Hixon Guardian Program and establish safe-school officers, previously limited to public schools.

REQUIREMENT

School security guards must complete 144 hours of training including 80 hours of firearms instruction with an 85% pass rate, plus psychological evaluations and drug testing.

New centralized panic alert system required to integrate digital maps and receive alerts from all school panic alert systems.

All school classrooms must be locked when occupied by students, with temporary door locks permitted during active assailant incidents.

FISCAL

Sheriffs must provide a $500 stipend to each school guardian who participates in the program, with sheriffs reimbursed for training costs.

ENFORCEMENT

Facilities that fail to submit required safety reports are prohibited from operating guardian programs or employing security guards for the following school year.

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'exclusive zone' (area within gate allowing access to interior perimeter) and 'nonexclusive zone' (area outside exclusive zone on school property).

TIMELINE

Updated reporting deadlines and workgroup submission dates, with some dates appearing inconsistent (e.g., September 1, 2024 for 2025 legislation).

S 1470 e1 → S 1470 e2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

SB 1470 was revised to expand school safety protections by adding child care facilities to the guardian program, clarifying cost responsibilities between sheriffs and security agencies, updating training requirements, and strengthening reporting obligations. The bill also added new provisions for safe-school officers in child care facilities and revised panic alert system requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include child care facilities alongside schools, extending guardian program protections to these facilities and their employees.

SCOPE

Child care facilities are now included in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program, allowing them to partner with law enforcement or security agencies for safe-school officers.

FISCAL

Security agencies employing school security guards are now explicitly responsible for all training and screening costs, with charges limited to the sheriff's actual costs, and sheriffs may not waive initial training costs for security guards.

REQUIREMENT

Training requirements were updated to include a 144-hour program with specific breakdowns: 12 hours on de-escalation, 80 hours on firearms, and 132 hours on comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency.

New reporting requirements mandate quarterly reports from sheriffs and biannual reports from schools and child care facilities to the Department of Law Enforcement regarding guardian certifications and appointments.

Schools must now confirm with district boards that their panic alert systems are connected to a centralized system, with digital maps also required to be integrated.

TIMELINE

Several deadlines were adjusted, including a new requirement for the Office of Safe Schools to convene a workgroup by January 1, 2026, and updated reporting dates for various entities.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'exclusive zone' and 'nonexclusive zone' to clarify which areas of school campuses must remain locked and which may remain open.

S 1470 c1 → S 1470 e1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Florida's school safety laws by requiring sheriffs to establish guardian training programs when school boards contract for security guards, clarifies cost responsibilities between agencies and schools, and enhances centralized panic alert system integration. It also adds new requirements for substitute teacher safety training and expands reporting obligations to law enforcement.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability to include private schools and charter schools in guardian program training arrangements, and adds new requirements for substitute teachers to receive safety protocols before beginning work.

REQUIREMENT

Sheriffs must establish guardian training programs when school boards contract for security guards, with standardized statewide curriculum requirements.

Substitute teachers must receive all school safety protocols and policies before their first day of substitute teaching.

Schools must confirm panic alert systems are connected to a centralized Department of Education system for public safety answering points.

Expanded guardian program provisions to include private schools with specific training cost responsibilities and inter-county contract options.

FISCAL

Security agencies are now responsible for training and screening costs for school security guards, with costs capped at actual sheriff-provided training expenses.

$450,000 appropriated for 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement new safety system requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Enhanced reporting requirements added for sheriffs, school districts, and private schools to Department of Law Enforcement with penalties for non-compliance.

TIMELINE

New deadline of July 1, 2025 for act effectiveness, with various reporting deadlines throughout 2024-2026.

S 1470 Filed → S 1470 c1 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates Florida's school safety laws to strengthen sheriff-led guardian programs, require centralized panic alert integration, and establish new behavioral threat management requirements. Key changes include cost-sharing rules for security guard training, expanded sheriff responsibilities, and new reporting requirements for school safety personnel.

Scope change

The bill expands from primarily sheriff training programs to include broader school safety infrastructure requirements including panic alert system integration and behavioral threat management protocols.

FISCAL

Added cost-sharing requirements where security agencies must pay for training and screening costs, with caps on charges to sheriffs

Appropriates $450,000 for implementing new panic alert system integration requirements

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for sheriffs to maintain documentation of weapon inspections and training records for certified school guardians

Requires Department of Education to establish centralized system integrating panic alert systems and digital school maps

Mandates substitute teachers receive all school safety protocols and policies before first day

Requires schools to mark safest shelter areas in classrooms and notify students within first 10 days of school year

Requires quarterly reporting of school guardian training schedules by sheriffs to Department of Law Enforcement

TIMELINE

Changed behavioral threat assessment evaluation deadline from December 1, 2023 to August 1, 2025

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'exclusive zone' and 'nonexclusive zone' for school campus access control

ENFORCEMENT

Added penalties for unauthorized access to threat assessment portal records

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