HB 573 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb573-00
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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 disqualification from educator 2
certification and employment; amending s. 1012.315, 3
F.S.; prohibiting a person from being automatically 4
found ineligible for educator certification and 5
specified employment if certain offenses meet 6
specified criteria; providing an effective date. 7
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
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Section 1. Section 1012.315, Florida Statutes, is a mended 11
to read: 12
1012.315 Screening standards. —A person is ineligible for 13
educator certification or employment in any position that 14
requires direct contact with students in a district school 15
system, a charter school, or a private school that participates 16
in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002 if the person: 17
(1) Is on the disqualification list maintained by the 18
department under s. 1001.10(4)(b); 19
(2) Is registered as a sex offender as described in 42 20
U.S.C. s. 9858f(c)(1)(C); 21
(3) Is ineligible based on a security background 22
investigation under s. 435.04(2). Beginning January 1, 2025, or 23
a later date as determined by the Agency for Health Care 24
Administration, the Agency for Health Care Administration shall 25
HB 573 2025
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb573-00
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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
determine the eligibility of employee s in any position that 26
requires direct contact with students in a district school 27
system, a charter school, or a private school that participates 28
in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002; 29
(4) Would be ineligible for an exemption under s. 30
435.07(4)(c); or 31
(5) Has been convicted or found guilty of, has had 32
adjudication withheld for, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere 33
to: 34
(a) Any criminal act committed in another state or under 35
federal law which, if committed in this state, constitutes a 36
disqualifying offense under s. 435.04(2). 37
(b) Any delinquent act committed in this state or any 38
delinquent or criminal act committed in another state or under 39
federal law which, if committed in this state, qualifies an 40
individual for inclusion on the Registe red Juvenile Sex Offender 41
List under s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.d. 42
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a 44
person may not be automatically found ineligible for educator 45
certification or employment in any position that requires direct 46
contact with students if the disqualifying offense occurred at 47
least 20 years ago and the person pled no contest to, or had 48
adjudication withheld for, such offense. 49
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 50