Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on May 21 signed legislation that aims to enhance school safety in Florida public schools.
The bipartisan bill (SB 1470), set to take effect July 1, was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) and in the House by Rep. Brad Yeager (R-New Port Richey) and State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland).
In part, the legislation builds upon the state’s Guardian Program by expanding participation to childcare centers, Parkland Talk reports. The program, named after Marjory Stoneman Douglas staff members Chris Hixon, Aaron Feis, and Scott Beigel — all of whom were killed in the 2018 mass shooting — allows school staff to voluntarily carry weapons.
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“This bill builds upon past legislation to secure our campuses while providing a positive school campus experience for our students,” said Yeager.
The new law also requires the Office of Safe Schools to create a workgroup responsible for making recommendations to the Florida Institute of School Safety for improving statewide safety standards in educational settings.
SB 1470 Security Technology Enhancements
The legislation has several security technology enhancements, including the expansion of the hours during which school perimeter security and locked access policies are enforced, now covering 30 minutes before the school day begins and 30 minutes after it ends.
Classrooms with permanently installed door locks are also able to use additional temporary locks during active assailant incidents. The temporary locks must be integrated into the school’s active assailant response plan and comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, among other requirements, according to Miami Times Online.
The legislation also directs the Florida Department of Education and the Department of Management Services to collaborate to create a centralized safety system that integrates digital school maps with panic alarm systems.
SB 1470 Staff Training Enhancements
The legislation also enhances training requirements for staff and law enforcement. Substitute teachers must be fully informed of a school’s safety protocols and procedures before their first day in the classroom.
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“Florida knows the importance of school safety all too well,” said Hunschofsky. “This new law ensures that every substitute teacher is prepared from day one, should a crisis situation arise.
Sheriffs are also required to maintain training, certification, and firearm records for each school security guard certified as a safe school officer.
Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Anti-Swatting Bill
Also on May 21, DeSantis signed House Bill 279 into law, increasing penalties for the misuse of emergency communication systems, particularly false 911 calls, that lead to a public safety response.
“Swatting is a tactic of cowards who use fake reports to law enforcement to harass people who they disagree with politically. Today, Florida gets even tougher on swatting,” said DeSantis. “I signed HB 279 which introduces felony charges for individuals who make false 911 reports that result in significant harm. If you try this in our state, you will face punishment.”
The bill enhances penalties for false 911 calls to a second degree felony if the false reporting leads to death and to a third degree felony if it results in serious injury. It also requires repeat offenders to face enhanced charges and mandates restitution to repay law enforcement and compensate victims.
