Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 By Senator Burgess 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 1 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to school safety; amending s. 30.15, 2 F.S.; requiring a sheriff to establish a school 3 guardian program if a school board contracts for the 4 use of security guards; providing that the security 5 agency is responsible for training and screening 6 costs; requiring a sheriff who conducts training for 7 security guards or who waives certain training 8 requirements for a person and makes a certain 9 determination to issue a school security guard 10 certificate; requiring the sheriff to maintain 11 specified documentation; deleting an obsolete 12 requirement for a sheriff to report information 13 relating to school guardians to the Department of Law 14 Enforcement; deleting an obsolete requirement for a 15 school district, charter school, or private school to 16 report information relating to a school guardian to 17 the Department of Law Enforcement; conforming 18 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 19 1001.212, F.S; requiring the Office of Safe Schools to 20 create and maintain a list of exceptions to school 21 safety requirements under certain circumstances; 22 deleting a requirement for the office to evaluate the 23 methodology for the safe school allocation; requiring 24 the office to partner with the Florida Association of 25 School Safety Specialists to recommend a structure to 26 provide training and certification for school safety 27 specialists; requiring the office to make specified 28 recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by 29

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 2 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. a specified date; amending s. 1006.07, F.S.; revising 30 school safety requirements that must be followed by a 31 school district or charter school governing board; 32 defining the term “school supervision hours”; 33 providing certain exceptions; amending s. 1006.12, 34 F.S.; requiring that a person who serves as a school 35 security guard be approved by the sheriff; providing 36 that the sheriff’s approval authorizes the school 37 security guard to work at any school in the county; 38 requiring the Office of Safe Schools to provide to the 39 Department of Law Enforcement certain information 40 relating to a school security guard; amending s. 41 1006.121, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 42 “firearm detection canine”; providing an effective 43 date. 44 45 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 46 47

Section 1. Paragraph (

k) of subsection (1) of

section 48 30.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 49 30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.— 50

(1) Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or by 51 deputy, shall: 52 (

k) Assist district school boards and charter school 53 governing boards in complying with, or private schools in 54 exercising options in, s. 1006.12. A sheriff shall must, at a 55 minimum, provide access to a Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and 56 Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to aid in the prevention or 57 abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises, as 58

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 3 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. required under this paragraph. Persons certified as school 59 guardians pursuant to this paragraph have no authority to act in 60 any law enforcement capacity except to the extent necessary to 61 prevent or abate an active assailant incident. 62 1.a.

If a local school board has voted by a majority to 63 implement a guardian program or has contracted for the use of 64 school security guards to satisfy the requirements of s. 65 1006.12, the sheriff in that county must shall establish a 66 guardian program to provide training for school guardians or 67 school security guards, pursuant to subparagraph 2., to school 68 district, charter school, or private school, or security agency 69 employees, either directly or through a contract with another 70 sheriff’s office that has established a guardian program. 71 b.

A charter school governing board in a school district 72 that has not voted, or has declined, to implement a guardian 73 program may request the sheriff in the county to establish a 74 guardian program for the purpose of training the charter school 75 employees or school security guards consistent with the 76 requirements of subparagraph 2. If the county sheriff denies the 77 request, the charter school governing board may contract with a 78 sheriff that has established a guardian program to provide such 79 training.

The charter school governing board must notify the 80 superintendent and the sheriff in the charter school’s county of 81 the contract prior to its execution. The security agency 82 employing a school security guard is responsible for all 83 training and screening-related costs for a school security 84 guard. 85 c. A private school in a school district that has not 86 voted, or has declined, to implement a guardian program may 87

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 4 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. request that the sheriff in the county of the private school 88 establish a guardian program for the purpose of training private 89 school employees or school security guards. If the county 90 sheriff denies the request, the private school may contract with 91 a sheriff from another county who has established a guardian 92 program under subparagraph 2. to provide such training.

The 93 private school must notify the sheriff in the private school’s 94 county of the contract with a sheriff from another county before 95 its execution. The private school or security agency is 96 responsible for all training and screening-related costs for a 97 school guardian program. The sheriff providing such training 98 must ensure that any moneys paid by a private school or security 99 agency are not commingled with any funds provided by the state 100 to the sheriff as reimbursement for screening-related and 101 training-related costs of any school district or charter school 102 employee. 103 d.

The training program required in sub-subparagraph 2.b. 104 is a standardized statewide curriculum, and each sheriff 105 providing such training shall adhere to the course of 106 instruction specified in that sub-subparagraph. This 107 subparagraph does not prohibit a sheriff from providing 108 additional training.

A school guardian or school security guard 109 who has completed the training program required in sub-110 subparagraph 2.b. may not be required to attend another 111 sheriff’s training program pursuant to that sub-subparagraph 112 unless there has been at least a 1-year break in his or her 113 appointment as a guardian or employment by a security agency as 114 a school security guard in a school. 115 e. The sheriff conducting the training pursuant to 116

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 5 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. subparagraph 2. for school district and charter school employees 117 will be reimbursed for screening-related and training-related 118 costs and for providing a one-time stipend of $500 to each 119 school guardian who participates in the school guardian program. 120 f. The sheriff may waive the training and screening-related 121 costs for a private school for a school guardian program.

Funds 122 provided pursuant to sub-subparagraph e. may not be used to 123 subsidize any costs that have been waived by the sheriff. The 124 sheriff may not waive the training and screening-related costs 125 required to be paid by a security agency for initial training or 126 ongoing training of a school security guard. 127 g.

A person who is certified and in good standing under the 128 Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, who 129 meets the qualifications established in s. 943.13, and who is 130 otherwise qualified for the position of a school guardian or 131 school security guard may be certified as a school guardian or 132 school security guard by the sheriff without completing the 133 training requirements of sub-subparagraph 2.b. However, a person 134 certified as a school guardian or school security guard under 135 this sub-subparagraph must meet the requirements of sub-136 subparagraphs 2.c.-e. 137 2.

A sheriff who establishes a program shall consult with 138 the Department of Law Enforcement on programmatic guiding 139 principles, practices, and resources, and shall certify as 140 school guardians, without the power of arrest, school employees, 141 as specified in s. 1006.12(3), or shall certify as school 142 security guards those persons employed by a security agency who 143 meet the criteria specified in s. 1006.12(4), and who: 144 a. Hold a valid license issued under s. 790.06 or are 145

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 6 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. otherwise eligible to possess or carry a concealed firearm under 146

chapter 790. 147 b. After satisfying the requirements of s. 1006.12(7), 148 complete a 144-hour training program, consisting of 12 hours of 149 training to improve the school guardian’s knowledge and skills 150 necessary to respond to and de-escalate incidents on school 151 premises and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and 152 proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and 153 Training Commission-certified instructors, which must include: 154 (

I) Eighty hours of firearms instruction based on the 155 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s Law 156 Enforcement Academy training model, which must include at least 157 10 percent but no more than 20 percent more rounds fired than 158 associated with academy training. Program participants must 159 achieve an 85 percent pass rate on the firearms training. 160 (II) Sixteen hours of instruction in precision pistol. 161 (III) Eight hours of discretionary shooting instruction 162 using state-of-the-art simulator exercises. 163 (IV) Sixteen hours of instruction in active shooter or 164 assailant scenarios. 165 (

V) Eight hours of instruction in defensive tactics. 166 (VI) Four hours of instruction in legal issues. 167 c. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a 168 psychologist licensed under

chapter 490 and designated by the 169 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the 170 evaluation to the sheriff’s office. The Department of Law 171 Enforcement is authorized to provide the sheriff’s office with 172 mental health and substance abuse data for compliance with this 173 paragraph. 174

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 7 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. d. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent 175 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s. 176 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office. 177 e. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon 178 inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual 179 basis. 180 181 The sheriff who conducts the guardian training or waives the 182 training requirements for a person under sub-subparagraph 1.g. 183 shall issue a school guardian certificate to persons who meet 184 the requirements of this

section to the satisfaction of the 185 sheriff, and shall maintain documentation of weapon and 186 equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification, 187 inspection, and qualification records of each school guardian 188 certified by the sheriff. A person who is certified under this 189 paragraph may serve as a school guardian under s. 1006.12(3) 190 only if he or she is appointed by the applicable school district 191 superintendent, charter school principal, or private school head 192 of school.

A sheriff who conducts the training for a school 193 security guard or waives the training requirements for a person 194 under sub-subparagraph 1.g. and determines that the school 195 security guard has met all the requirements of s. 1006.12(4) 196 shall issue a school security guard certificate to persons who 197 meet the requirements of this

section to the satisfaction of the 198 sheriff and shall maintain documentation of weapon and equipment 199 inspections, training, certification, and qualification records 200 for each school security guard certified by the sheriff. 201 3.a.(

I) Within 30 days after issuing a school guardian or 202 school security guard certificate, the sheriff who issued the 203

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 8 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. certificate must report to the Department of Law Enforcement the 204 name, date of birth, and certification date of the school 205 guardian or school security guard. 206 (II) By September 1, 2024, each sheriff who issued a school 207 guardian certificate must report to the Department of Law 208 Enforcement the name, date of birth, and certification date of 209 each school guardian who received a certificate from the 210 sheriff. 211 b.(

I) By February 1 and September 1 of each school year, 212 each school district, charter school, employing security agency, 213 and private school must report in the manner prescribed to the 214 Department of Law Enforcement the name, date of birth, and 215 appointment date of each person appointed as a school guardian 216 or employed as a school security guard.

The school district, 217 charter school, employing security agency, and private school 218 must also report in the manner prescribed to the Department of 219 Law Enforcement the date each school guardian or school security 220 guard separates from his or her appointment as a school guardian 221 or employment as a school security guard in a school. 222 (II) By September 1, 2024, each school district, charter 223 school, and private school must report to the Department of Law 224 Enforcement the name, date of birth, and initial and end-of-225 appointment dates, as applicable, of each person appointed as a 226 school guardian. 227 c.

The Department of Law Enforcement shall maintain a list 228 of each person appointed as a school guardian or certified as a 229 school security guard in the state. The list must include the 230 name and certification date of each school guardian and school 231 security guard and the date the person was appointed as a school 232

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 9 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. guardian or certified as a school security guard, including the 233 name of the school district, charter school, or private school 234 in which the school guardian is appointed, or the employing 235 security agency of a school security guard, any information 236 provided pursuant to s. 1006.12(5), and, if applicable, the date 237 such person separated from his or her appointment as a school 238 guardian or the last date a school security guard served in a 239 school as of the last reporting date.

The Department of Law 240 Enforcement shall remove from the list any person whose training 241 has expired pursuant to sub-subparagraph 1.d. 242 d. Each sheriff shall must report on a quarterly basis to 243 the Department of Law Enforcement the

schedule for upcoming 244 school guardian trainings, to include guardian trainings for 245 school security guards, including the dates of the training, the 246 training locations, a contact person to register for the 247 training, and the class capacity. If no trainings are scheduled, 248 the sheriff is not required to report to the Department of Law 249 Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement shall publish on 250 its website a list of the upcoming school guardian trainings. 251 The Department of Law Enforcement shall must update such list 252 quarterly. 253 e.

A sheriff who fails to report the information required 254 by this subparagraph may not receive reimbursement from the 255 Department of Education for school guardian trainings. Upon the 256 submission of the required information, a sheriff is deemed 257 eligible for such funding and is authorized to continue to 258 receive reimbursement for school guardian training. 259 f. A school district, charter school, or private school, or 260 employing security agency that fails to report the information 261

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 10 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. required by this subparagraph is prohibited from operating may 262 not operate a school guardian program or employing school 263 security guards in for the following school year, unless the 264 missing school district, charter school, or private school has 265 submitted the required information is provided. 266 g.

By March 1 and October 1 of each school year, the 267 Department of Law Enforcement shall notify the Department of 268 Education of any sheriff, school district, charter school, or 269 private school that has not complied with the reporting 270 requirements of this subparagraph. 271 h. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to 272 implement the requirements of this subparagraph, including 273 requiring additional reporting information only as necessary to 274 uniquely identify each school guardian and school security guard 275 reported. 276

Section 2. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (

c) of subsection (11) 277 and subsection (17) of

section 1001.212, Florida Statutes, are 278 amended, and subsection (18) is added to that section, to read: 279 1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the 280 Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office 281 is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The 282 office shall serve as a central repository for best practices, 283 training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters 284 regarding school safety and security, including prevention 285 efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness 286 planning. The office shall: 287

(11) Develop a statewide behavioral threat management 288 operational process, a Florida-specific behavioral threat 289 assessment instrument, and a threat management portal. 290

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 11 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (a)1. By December 1, 2023, The office shall maintain the 291 develop a statewide behavioral threat management operational 292 process to guide school districts, schools, charter school 293 governing boards, and charter schools through the threat 294 management process. The process must be designed to identify, 295 assess, manage, and monitor potential and real threats to 296 schools. This process must include, but is not limited to: 297 a.

The establishment and duties of threat management teams. 298 b. Defining behavioral risks and threats. 299 c. The use of the Florida-specific behavioral threat 300 assessment instrument developed pursuant to paragraph (

b) to 301 evaluate the behavior of students who may pose a threat to the 302 school, school staff, or other students and to coordinate 303 intervention and services for such students. 304 d. Upon the availability of the threat management portal 305 developed pursuant to paragraph (c), the use, authorized user 306 criteria, and access specifications of the portal. 307 e. Procedures for the implementation of interventions, 308 school support, and community services. 309 f. Guidelines for appropriate law enforcement intervention. 310 g. Procedures for risk management. 311 h.

Procedures for disciplinary actions. 312 i. Mechanisms for continued monitoring of potential and 313 real threats. 314 j. Procedures for referrals to mental health services 315 identified by the school district or charter school governing 316 board pursuant to s. 1012.584(4). 317 k. Procedures and requirements necessary for the creation 318 of a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, 319

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 12 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. and any other information required by the Florida-specific 320 behavioral threat assessment instrument under paragraph (b). 321 2. Upon availability, Each school district, school, charter 322 school governing board, and charter school shall must use the 323 statewide behavioral threat management operational process. 324 3.

The office shall provide training to all school 325 districts, schools, charter school governing boards, and charter 326 schools on the statewide behavioral threat management 327 operational process. 328 4. The office shall coordinate the ongoing development, 329 implementation, and operation of the statewide behavioral threat 330 management operational process. 331 (b)1.

By August 1, 2023, The office shall maintain the 332 develop a Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment 333 instrument for school districts, schools, charter school 334 governing boards, and charter schools to use to evaluate the 335 behavior of students who may pose a threat to the school, school 336 staff, or students and to coordinate intervention and services 337 for such students. The Florida-specific behavioral threat 338 assessment instrument must include, but is not limited to: 339 a.

An assessment of the threat, which includes an 340 assessment of the student, family, and school and social 341 dynamics. 342 b. An evaluation to determine whether a threat exists and 343 if so, the type of threat. 344 c. The response to a threat, which includes the school 345 response, the role of law enforcement agencies in the response, 346 and the response by mental health providers. 347 d. Ongoing monitoring to assess implementation of threat 348

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 13 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. management and safety strategies. 349 e. Ongoing monitoring to evaluate interventions and support 350 provided to the students. 351 f. A standardized threat assessment report, which must 352 include, but need not be limited to, all documentation 353 associated with the evaluation, intervention, management, and 354 any ongoing monitoring of the threat. 355 2. A report, all corresponding documentation, and any other 356 information required by the instrument in the threat management 357 portal under paragraph (

c) is an education record and may not be 358 retained, maintained, or transferred, except in accordance with 359 State Board of Education rule. 360 3. Upon availability, Each school district, school, charter 361 school governing board, and charter school shall must use the 362 Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument. 363 4.

The office shall provide training for members of threat 364 management teams established under s. 1006.07(7) and for all 365 school districts and charter school governing boards regarding 366 the use of the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment 367 instrument. 368 (c)1. By August 1, 2025, the office shall develop, host, 369 maintain, and administer a threat management portal that will 370 digitize the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment 371 instrument for use by each school district, school, charter 372 school governing board, and charter school.

The portal will also 373 facilitate the electronic threat assessment reporting and 374 documentation as required by the Florida-specific behavioral 375 threat assessment instrument to evaluate the behavior of 376 students who may pose a threat to the school, school staff, or 377

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 14 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. students and to coordinate intervention and services for such 378 students. The portal may not provide the office with access to 379 the portal unless authorized in accordance with State Board of 380 Education rule. The portal must include, but need not be limited 381 to, the following functionalities: 382 a. Workflow processes that align with the statewide 383 behavioral threat management operational process. 384 b.

Direct data entry and file uploading as required by the 385 Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument. 386 c. The ability to create a threat assessment report as 387 required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment 388 instrument. 389 d. The ability of authorized personnel to add to or update 390 a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, or 391 any other information required by the Florida-specific 392 behavioral threat assessment instrument. 393 e.

The ability to create and remove connections between 394 education records in the portal and authorized personnel. 395 f. The ability to grant access to and securely transfer any 396 education records in the portal to other schools or charter 397 schools in the district. 398 g. The ability to grant access to and securely transfer any 399 education records in the portal to schools and charter schools 400 not in the originating district. 401 h. The ability to retain, maintain, and transfer education 402 records in the portal in accordance with State Board of 403 Education rule. 404 i.

The ability to restrict access to, entry of, 405 modification of, and transfer of education records in the portal 406

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 15 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. to a school district, school, charter school governing board, or 407 charter school and authorized personnel as specified by the 408 statewide behavioral threat management operational process. 409 j. The ability to designate school district or charter 410 school governing board system administrators who may grant 411 access to authorized school district and charter school 412 governing board personnel and school and charter school system 413 administrators. 414 k.

The ability to designate school or charter school system 415 administrators who may grant access to authorized school or 416 charter school personnel. 417 l. The ability to notify the office’s system administrators 418 and school district or charter school governing board system 419 administrators of attempts to access any education records by 420 unauthorized personnel. 421 2. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter 422 school governing board, and charter school shall use the portal. 423 3.

A threat assessment report, including, but not limited 424 to, all corresponding documentation, and any other information 425 required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment 426 instrument which is maintained in the portal, is an education 427 record and may not be retained, maintained, or transferred, 428 except in accordance with State Board of Education rule. 429 4.

The office and the office system administrators may not 430 have access to a threat assessment report, all corresponding 431 documentation, and any other information required by the 432 Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument which 433 is maintained in the portal, except in accordance with State 434 Board of Education rule. 435

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 16 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 5. A school district or charter school governing board may 436 not have access to the education records in the portal, except 437 in accordance with State Board of Education rule. 438 6. The parent of a student may access his or her student’s 439 education records in the portal in accordance with State Board 440 of Education rule, but may not have access to the portal. 441 7. The office shall develop and implement a quarterly 442 portal access review audit process. 443 8.

Upon availability, each school district, school, charter 444 school governing board, and charter school shall comply with the 445 quarterly portal access review audit process developed by the 446 office. 447 9. By August 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the office 448 shall provide role-based training to all authorized school 449 district, school, charter school governing board, and charter 450 school personnel. 451 10.

Any individual who accesses, uses, or releases any 452 education record contained in the portal for a purpose not 453 specifically authorized by law commits a noncriminal infraction, 454 punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000. 455

(17) By August 1, 2025, create and maintain a list of 456 exceptions, with examples, to the requirements of s. 457 1006.07(6)(f)1., 2., and 3. for special circumstances and 458 conditions in which a school is not able to safely or reasonably 459 comply with the requirements for locked doors, gates, and access 460 points included therein By December 1, 2024, evaluate the 461 methodology for the safe schools allocation in s. 1011.62(12) 462 and, if necessary, make recommendations for an alternate 463 methodology to distribute the remaining balance of the safe 464

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 17 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. schools allocation as indicated in s. 1011.62(12). 465

(18) In partnership with the Florida Association of School 466 Safety Specialists, recommend a structure to provide initial and 467 advanced training and certification for school safety 468 specialists, develop additional professional learning 469 opportunities, identify research and best practices in school 470 safety, administer school safety grants, and provide policy 471 recommendations to improve school safety requirements. Such 472 recommendations must be submitted to the Governor, the President 473 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 474 no later than September 1, 2025. 475

Section 3. Paragraph (

f) of subsection (6) of

section 476 1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 477 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student 478 discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall 479 provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the 480 attendance and control of students at school, and for proper 481 attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the 482 welfare of students, including: 483

(6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district 484 school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures 485 for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the 486 assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior 487 poses a threat to the safety of the school community. 488 (

f) School safety requirements.—By August 1, 2024, Each 489 school district and charter school governing board shall comply 490 with the following school safety requirements: 491 1. All gates or other access points that restrict ingress 492 to or egress from a school campus shall remain closed and locked 493

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 18 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. when students are on campus during school supervision hours. For 494 the purposes of this section, “school supervision hours” means 495 the hours of the school day plus the reasonable time immediately 496 before and after school during which student supervision is 497 available per school district policy.

A gate or other campus 498 access point may only not be open or unlocked during school 499 supervision hours if one of the following conditions is met, 500 regardless of whether it is during normal school hours, unless: 501 a. It is attended or actively staffed by a person when 502 students are on campus; 503 b. The use complies is in accordance with a shared use 504 agreement pursuant to s. 1013.101; 505 c. Another closed and locked gate or access point separates 506 the open or unlocked gate from areas occupied by students; or 507 d.c.

The school safety specialist, or his or her designee, 508 has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool 509 portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the gate or 510 other access point is exempt from not subject to this 511 requirement based upon other safety measures in place at the 512 school or an exception recognized by the office pursuant to s. 513 1001.212(17). The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant 514 to s. 1001.212(14) to review if such determination is 515 appropriate. 516 2.

During school supervision hours, all school classrooms 517 and other instructional spaces must be locked to prevent ingress 518 when occupied by students, except between class periods when 519 students are moving between classrooms or other instructional 520 spaces, unless the school safety specialist, or his or her 521 designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment 522

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 19 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the 523 open and unlocked door, gate, or other access point is not 524 subject to this requirement based upon an exception recognized 525 by the office pursuant to s. 1001.212(17).

If a classroom or 526 other instructional space door must be left unlocked or open for 527 any other reason other than between class periods when students 528 are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces, the 529 door must be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at 530 the door. The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant to 531 s. 1001.212(14) to review if a documented exception is 532 appropriate. 533 3.

Unless another closed and locked door, gate, or access 534 point prevents access to a specific school building’s entry, all 535 campus access doors, gates, and other access points that allow 536 ingress to or egress from a school building shall remain closed 537 and locked during school supervision hours at all times to 538 prevent unauthorized access, except when: ingress, unless 539 a. A person is actively entering or exiting the door, gate, 540 or other access point; 541 b. The door, gate, or access point is actively staffed by 542 school personnel to prevent unauthorized entry; or 543 c.

The school safety specialist, or his or her designee, 544 has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool 545 portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the open 546 and unlocked door, gate, or other access point is not subject to 547 this requirement based upon other safety measures at the school 548 or an exception recognized by the office pursuant to s. 549 1001.212(17). The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant 550 to s. 1001.212(14) to review if such determination is 551

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 20 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. appropriate. All campus access doors, gates, and other access 552 points may be electronically or manually controlled by school 553 personnel to allow access by authorized visitors, students, and 554 school personnel. 555 4. All school classrooms and other instructional spaces 556 must clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in each 557 classroom or other instructional space where students must 558 shelter in place during an emergency.

Students must be notified 559 of these safe areas within the first 10 days of the school year. 560 If it is not feasible to clearly and conspicuously mark the 561 safest areas in a classroom or other instructional space, the 562 school safety specialist, or his or her designee, must document 563 such determination in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool 564 portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools, identifying 565 where affected students must shelter in place.

The office shall 566 assist the school safety specialist with compliance during the 567 inspection required under s. 1001.212(14). 568 569 Persons who are aware of a violation of this paragraph must 570 report the violation to the school principal. The school 571 principal must report the violation to the school safety 572 specialist no later than the next business day after receiving 573 such report.

If the person who violated this paragraph is the 574 school principal or charter school administrator, the report 575 must be made directly to the district school superintendent or 576 charter school governing board, as applicable. 577

Section 4. Subsections (4) and (5) of

section 1006.12, 578 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 579 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the 580

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 21 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. protection and safety of school personnel, property, students, 581 and visitors, each district school board and school district 582 superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or 583 security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school 584 officers at each school facility within the district, including 585 charter schools.

A district school board shall must collaborate 586 with charter school governing boards to facilitate charter 587 school access to all safe-school officer options available under 588 this section. The school district may implement any combination 589 of the options in subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of 590 the school district and charter schools. 591

(4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district, or charter 592 school governing board, or private school, as authorized under 593 s. 1002.42(20), may contract with a security agency as defined 594 in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard an 595 individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license pursuant 596 to

chapter 493, provided the following training and contractual 597 conditions are met: 598 (

a) An individual who serves as a school security guard, 599 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section, 600 must: 601 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required training 602 conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2. 603 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a 604 psychologist licensed under

chapter 490 and designated by the 605 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the 606 evaluation to the sheriff’s office and, school district, or 607 charter school governing board, private school, or employing 608 security agency as applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement 609

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 22 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. is authorized to provide the sheriff’s office, school district, 610 or charter school governing board, private school, or employing 611 security agency with mental health and substance abuse data for 612 compliance with this paragraph. 613 3.

Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent 614 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s. 615 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office, school district, or charter 616 school governing board, private school, or employing security 617 agency, as applicable. 618 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the 619 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will 620 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in 621 that county.

The sheriff’s approval authorizes the security 622 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the 623 county, and the sheriff’s approval is not limited to any 624 particular school. 625 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon 626 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff 627 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and 628 provide documentation to the sheriff’s office, school district, 629 or charter school governing board, private school, or employing 630 security agency as applicable. 631 (

b) The contract between a security agency and a school 632 district, private school, or a charter school governing board 633 regarding requirements applicable to school security guards 634 serving in the capacity of a safe-school officer for purposes of 635 satisfying the requirements of this

section must shall define 636 the entity or entities responsible for training and the 637 responsibilities for maintaining records relating to training, 638

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 23 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. inspection, and firearm qualification. 639 (

c) School security guards serving in the capacity of a 640 safe-school officer pursuant to this subsection are in support 641 of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s. 790.115, and 642 must aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant 643 incidents on school premises. 644 (

d) The Office of Safe Schools shall provide the Department 645 of Law Enforcement any information related to a school security 646 guard that it receives pursuant to subsection (5). 647

(5) Notification.—The district school superintendent or 648 charter school administrator, private school administrator, or a 649 respective designee, shall notify the county sheriff and the 650 Office of Safe Schools immediately after, but no later than 72 651 hours after: 652 (

a) A safe-school officer is dismissed for misconduct or is 653 otherwise disciplined. 654 (

b) A safe-school officer discharges his or her firearm in 655 the exercise of the safe-school officer’s duties, other than for 656 training purposes. 657 658 If a district school board, through its adopted policies, 659 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any 660 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school 661 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety 662 officer to the charter school.

Under such circumstances, the 663 charter school’s share of the costs of the school resource 664 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school 665 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s. 666 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district. 667

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1470 23-01031-25 20251470__ Page 24 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

Section 5. Subsection (2) of

section 1006.121, Florida 668 Statutes, is amended to read: 669 1006.121 Florida Safe Schools Canine Program.— 670

(2) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “firearm 671 detection canine” means any canine that is owned or the service 672 of which is employed by a law enforcement agency or school 673 district for use by a sworn law enforcement officer in K-12 674 schools for the primary purpose of aiding in the detection of 675 firearms and ammunition. 676

Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 677