CS/HB 447 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb447-01-c1
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to disability history and awareness 2
instruction; providing a short title; amending s. 3
1003.4205, F.S.; requiring that disability history and 4
awareness instruction include specified material; 5
providing an effective date. 6
7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8
9
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Evin B. Hartsell 10
Act." 11
Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2 ) of section 12
1003.4205, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 13
1003.4205 Disability history and awareness instruction. — 14
(2)(a) During this 2 -week period, students may be provided 15
intensive instruction to expand their knowledge, understanding, 16
and awareness of individuals with disabilities, the history of 17
disability, and the disability rights movement. Disability 18
history may include the events and timelines of the development 19
and evolution of services to, and the civil rights of, 20
individuals with disabili ties. Disability history may also 21
include the contributions of specific individuals with 22
disabilities, including the contributions of acknowledged 23
national leaders. The instruction must include the following 24
material: 25
CS/HB 447 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb447-01-c1
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1. For kindergarten through grade 3: 26
a. Conversations on bullying. Such conversations may 27
address what students should do if they are being bullied; what 28
they should do if they see someone being bullied; why bullying 29
is not the victim's fault; what different types of bullying look 30
like; the possibility that a friend could be a bully; or the 31
school's antibullying policy. 32
b. Activities to teach about physical disabilities. 33
2. For grades 4 through 6, information about autism 34
spectrum disorder. 35
3. For grades 7 through 9, information about hearing 36
impairments. 37
4. For grades 10 through 12, information on different 38
types of learning and intellectual disabilities. 39
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 40