The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Education Pre-K -12
BILL: SB 1396
INTRODUCER: Senator Gruters
SUBJECT: Security for Jewish Day Schools and Preschools
DATE: February 5, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Bouck Bouck ED Favorable
2. AED
3. FP
I. Summary:
SB 1396 establishes a program under the Department of Education to provide recurring funds for
school hardening of facilities at Jewish day schools and preschools. The bill specifies that, based
on a risk assessment, funds may be used for:
Security cameras, lighting, fencing, and shatter-resistant glass.
Licensed security personnel.
Transportation expenses that minimize security exposure.
Nonhardening security measures such as detection, prevention, and security services.
The funding is as determined in the General Appropriations Act.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
Funding for School Safety
Safe School Allocation
A safe schools allocation was created in 2017
1
to provide funding to assist school districts in
their compliance with laws relating to student discipline and school safety,
2
with priority given to
establishing a school resource officer program.
Under the safe schools allocation each school district receives a minimum amount provided in
the General Appropriations Act (GAA), with the balance allocated to school districts based on
the most recent official Florida Crime Index and two-thirds based on each school district’s
1
Chapter 2017-116, s. 4, Laws of Fla.
2
Sections 1006.07-1006.148, F.S. (2017)
REVISED: BILL: SB 1396 Page 2
proportionate share of the state’s total unweighted full-time equivalent (FTE) student
enrollment.
3
In every year of the allocation each school districts has received a minimum of
$250,000.
Fiscal Year Safe Schools Allocation
2023-2024 $250 million
4
2022-2023 $210 million
5
2021-2022 $180 million
6
2020-2021 $180 million
7
2019-2020 $180 million
8
2018-2019 $161,956,019
9
School Hardening Grant Program
The School Hardening Grant Program (grant) provides awards to schools for fixed capital outlay
costs to improve the physical security for school buildings based on the security risk assessment
under the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool (FSSAT).
10
School districts and charter schools
receiving the grant must report to the Department of Education the total estimated costs of their
unmet school campus hardening needs as identified by the FSSAT. Funds are awarded based on
district application, and are allocated initially based on each district's capital outlay FTE student
membership and charter school FTE. Each school district allocation is no less than $42,000.
Fiscal Year School Hardening Grant
2022-2023 $20 million
11
2021-2022 $42 million
12
2020-2021 $42 million
13
2019-2020 $50 million
14
2018-2019 $98,962,286
15
3
Section 1011.62(12), F.S. Distribution of funds is also contingent upon the school district’s compliance with reporting
requirements related to bullying and harassment. Section 1006.147(7), F.S.
4
Specific Appropriation 80, ch. 2023-239, Laws of Fla.
5
Specific Appropriation 86, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla.
6
Specific Appropriation 90, ch. 2021-36, Laws of Fla.
7
Specific Appropriation 92, ch. 2020-111, Laws of Fla.
8
Specific Appropriation 93, ch. 2019-115, Laws of Fla.
9
Specific Appropriation 92, ch. 2018-9, Laws of Fla. Chapter 2018-2, s. 42, Laws of Fla.
10
See e.g. Specific Appropriation 108, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla. The Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool (FSSAT) is an
online platform for enhanced risk assessment and domain awareness at the state, district and school levels — providing a
broad array of security risk assessment, field reporting, data analytics and information-sharing capabilities for all school
safety stakeholders, from state administrators to district security directors and school personnel responsible for the safety and
security of students, staff and campus facilities. Florida Department of Education, Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool
(FSSAT), https://www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/fssat-tool.stml (last visited Jan. 31, 2024). The FSSAT must help school
officials identify threats, vulnerabilities, and appropriate safety controls for the schools that they supervise, pursuant to the
public school security risk assessment required in law. Section 1006.1493, F.S.
11
Specific Appropriation 108, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla.
12
Specific Appropriation 113A, ch. 2021-36, Laws of Fla.
13
Specific Appropriation 117A, ch. 2020-111, Laws of Fla.
14
Specific Appropriation 116A, ch. 2019-115, Laws of Fla.
15
Chapter 2018-3, s. 44, Laws of Fla. BILL: SB 1396 Page 3
Nonprofit Security Grant Program
During the 2023 regular session, the Legislature directed the Division of Emergency
Management (DEM) to establish a state Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) similar to the
federal NSGP.
16
The state NSGP made funds available to houses of worship, schools, museums,
and community centers, that are at high risk for violent attacks or hate crimes. The grants ranged
from $10,000 to $150,000 and could be used to increase security and safety, including, but not
limited to:
The purchase and installation of security infrastructure, perimeter lighting, materials for door
hardening, security camera systems, perimeter fencing, barriers and bollards, and blast-
resistant film and shatter-resistant glass for windows.
Hiring security personnel.
Training for security personnel and staff on threat awareness, emergency procedures, and
first aid.
DEM rules to administer the grant program must include prioritizing applicants that are houses
of worship or whose facilities are frequented by children or students on a daily basis.
The state NSGP did not receive an appropriation during the 2023 regular legislative session.
However, in the 2023C special session the state NSGP was appropriated $20 million for the
2023-2024 fiscal year.
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Security Funding for Jewish Day Schools
Generally, security funding for Jewish day schools has been appropriated each year as projects in
the GAA, as follows:
Fiscal Year Amount
2023-2024 $5 million
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2022-2023 $4 million
19
2021-2022 $4 million
20
2020-2021 $2.5 million
21
2019-2020 $2.5 million
22
2018-2019 $2 million
23
2017-2018 $654,491
24
16
Chapter 2023-180, Laws of Fla.; codified as s. 252.3712, F.S.
17
Chapter 2023-352, s. 3, Laws of Fla.
18
Specific Appropriations 100 and 105, ch. 2023-239, Laws of Fla.
19
Specific Appropriations 104 and 109, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla.
20
Specific Appropriations 110 and 114, ch. 2021-36, Laws of Fla.
21
Specific Appropriation 118, ch. 2020-111, Laws of Fla.
22
Specific Appropriation 117, ch. 2019-115, Laws of Fla.
23
Specific Appropriation 116, ch. 2018-9, Laws of Fla.
24
Specific Appropriation 114, ch. 2017-70, Laws of Fla. BILL: SB 1396 Page 4
Additionally, in the 2023 special session for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the Legislature
appropriated the following nonrecurring funds:
Fixed capital outlay of $15,000,000 to provide grants to full-time Jewish day schools and
Jewish preschools for hardening security measures, including the purchase and installation of
security infrastructure, perimeter lighting, materials for door hardening, security camera
systems, perimeter fencing, barriers and bollards, and blast-resistant film and shatter-resistant
glass for windows.
25
Grants totaling $10,000,000 to full-time Jewish day schools and Jewish preschools for
nonhardening security measures, including hiring security personnel and training for security
personnel and staff on threat awareness, emergency procedures, and first aid.
26
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
SB 1396 creates s. 1001.2921, F.S., to establish a program under the Department of Education
(DOE) to provide recurring funds to enhance the security of full-time Jewish day schools and
preschools with professional security hardening for school facilities.
The bill specifies that based on a risk assessment by a law enforcement agency or a private
security company, recurring funds must be used for any of the following:
The purchase and installation of security cameras, perimeter lighting, perimeter fencing, and
shatter-resistant glass for windows.
Hiring or contracting with security personnel who are licensed and regulated by the state and
insured.
Expenses relating to transportation to minimize security exposure of staff, parents, and
students.
Other nonhardening security measures, including, but not limited to, providing professional
detection, prevention, and security services to such schools and preschools.
The bill authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the program.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
25
Chapter 2023-352, s. 4, Laws of Fla.
26
Chapter 2023-352, s. 5, Laws of Fla. BILL: SB 1396 Page 5
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill specifies funding will be as determined in the General Appropriations Act.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 1001.2921 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.