STORAGE NAME: h1403a.EAS
DATE: 3/11/2025
1
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: HB 1403
TITLE: Safety of Students
SPONSOR(S): Yeager
COMPANION BILL: SB 1470 (Burgess)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Education Administration
16 Y, 0 N
Criminal Justice
PreK-12 Budget
Education & Employment
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill adds Florida’s licensed child care facilities to the list of entities authorized to participate in the Chris Hixon,
Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel School Guardian Program. The bill clarifies requirements regarding school
perimeter and door security measures implemented by the Legislature in 2024. The bill creates an exception to the
school perimeter and door security measures for Career and Technical Education classrooms. The bill requires that
each substitute teacher be provided all school safety protocols and procedures prior to his or her first day of
substitute teaching.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
None
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
The bill adds Florida’s licensed child care facilities to the list of entities authorized to participate in the Chris Hixon,
Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel School Guardian Program (Guardian Program). As with other entities that
participate in the guardian program, child care facilities that elect to participate are required to verify that
guardians meet the statutory requirements as well as report guardian information to the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement (FDLE). The bill authorizes child care facilities, in counties where the sheriff does not operate a
Guardian Program, to have their guardians trained in another county. Additionally, the bill authorizes sheriffs that
provide guardian training to waive the costs of such training for child care facility guardians. (Section 1)
The bill also clarifies requirements regarding school perimeter and door security measures implemented by the
Legislature in 2024. The bill clarifies that school perimeter and door security measure requirements established in
2024 must be enforced at a minimum 30 minutes before and after the school day and that outer gates are not
subject to the perimeter security requirements if another locked gate or access point separates the outer gate from
areas occupied by students. The bill allows for doors to school buildings to remain unlocked if actively staffed,
similar to current law for campus access points. Additionally, the bill clarifies that common areas, such as
cafeterias, auditoriums, and media centers must comply with the school perimeter and door security measure only
when such spaces are being used for instructional time or student testing.
The bill creates an exception to the school perimeter and door security measures for Career and Technical
Education (CTE) classrooms that require open doors for health and safety reasons so long as these reasons are
documented and locked doors separate the CTE classroom from other student occupied spaces.
The bill requires that each substitute teacher be provided all school safety protocols and procedures prior to his or
her first day of substitute teaching. (Section 2).
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
2
The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2025. (Section 3)
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel School Guardian Program
The Guardian Program authorizes qualified school personnel to serve as an armed guard to aid in the prevention
or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises.
1 A school district or charter school employee may
serve as a guardian if the individual is appointed by the district school superintendent or charter school principal
and is certified by a sheriff. The individual must also satisfy the following requirements:
hold a concealed weapons license;
pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed psychologist;
pass an initial drug test and subsequent random drug tests;
successfully complete a 144-hour training program
2 that includes:
o at least 12 hours of training to improve the school guardian’s knowledge and skills necessary to
respond to and de-escalate incidents on school premises; and
o 132 total hours of specified, comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training conducted by
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission-certified instructors, and ongoing training,
weapon inspection, and firearm qualification on at least an annual basis.
3
An individual must satisfy the background screening, psychological evaluation, and drug testing requirements
prior to participating in the required guardian training. All training for the guardian program must be conducted
by a sheriff.
4
An individual certified under, and in good standing with, the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training
Commission, and who is otherwise qualified to serve as a guardian, is exempt from the 144-hour training
requirement prior to certification as a guardian.
5
A county sheriff must establish a program if the district school board elects to participate. The sheriff may contract
with another county sheriff who has already established a program to provide training. Charter school governing
boards may directly request guardian training from the county sheriff even if the school district decides not to
participate. Should the sheriff deny the request, the charter school may contract with a county sheriff who is
willing to provide the training.
6 A sheriff who establishes a program may consult with the FDLE on programmatic
guiding principles, practices, and resources.
7
A school guardian has no authority to act in any law enforcement capacity except to the extent necessary to
prevent or abate an active assailant incident on a school premises. The sheriff who conducts the guardian training
must issue a school guardian certificate to individuals who meet these requirements and maintain documentation
of weapon and equipment inspections, as well as the training, certification, inspection, and qualification records of
each school guardian certified by the sheriff.
8
Private School Participation in the Guardian Program
1
Section 30.15(1)(k), F.S.
2
This is the standardized training requirement for the state. A sheriff may provide additional training but cannot require an
individual who has completed the standard training to undergo additional training unless they have not served as a school
guardian for over a year. Section 30.15(1)(k)1.d., F.S.
3
Id.
4
Section 1006.12(7), F.S.
5
Section 30.15(1)(k)1.g., F.S.
6
Section 30.15(1)(k), F.S.
7
Section 943.03(16), F.S.
8
Section 30.15(1)(k), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
In 2023, the Legislature authorized private schools to partner with a law enforcement or security agency to
establish or assign a safe-school officer to their schools. The private school is responsible for any costs associated
with implementing a safe-school officer, including training under the Guardian Program. A private school electing
to establish a safe-school officer must comply with the same statutory requirements for these officers as school
districts and charter schools.
9
If the county in which a private school operates does not currently participate in the Guardian Program, the private
school may request their local sheriff to initiate a Guardian Program for the purpose of training private school
employees. If the local sheriff declines, the private school may contract with a sheriff of a county that has
implemented a Guardian Program to provide the necessary training. The private school is responsible for notifying
the local sheriff prior to entering into such a contract and is responsible for all costs associated with the training of
private school employees to serve as guardians. The sheriff providing guardian training to private school
employees is prohibited from comingling funds received for such training with funds received from the state for
the purposes of training school district or charter school employees to serve as guardians.
10
While the private school is responsible for all costs associated with its participation in the Guardian Program, a
sheriff may waive training and background screening costs for a private school participating in the school guardian
program. Funds provided to the sheriff by the Department of Education (DOE) for the school guardian program
may not be used to subsidize any costs that have been waived by the sheriff.
11
Reporting Requirements for the Guardian Program
In 2024, the Legislature implemented new reporting requirements related to individuals certified as school
guardians and serving as school guardians in school districts, charter schools, and private schools. The FDLE serves
as the central repository of information regarding certified and appointed school guardians.
12
Each sheriff must report to the FDLE, within 30 days of such certification, each individual certified as a school
guardian. Each sheriff must also make a one-time report, by September 1, 2024, of every individual previously
certified as a school guardian by the sheriff. The required reports must include the name, date of birth, and
certification date of the guardian.
13
Additionally, each school district, charter school, and private school participating in the guardian program must
report to the FDLE, each February 1 and September 1, the name, date of birth, and appointment date of each
individual appointed as a school guardian. The school district, charter school, and private school must also report
the end date of any appointment as a school guardian. Each participating school must make a one-time report to
the FDLE, by September 1, 2024, providing a current list of appointed school guardians that includes, name, date of
birth, and initial and end-of-appointment date of each school guardian, as applicable.
14
Using the information from these reports, the FDLE must maintain a list of all individuals appointed as school
guardians that includes name, certification date, date of appointment, including the name of the school,
information reported by the DOE related to a school guardian discharging their firearms or being subject to
discipline, and end date of appointment, if applicable. The FDLE must remove anyone from the list whose required
guardian training has expired.
15
Each sheriff must report to the FDLE, on a quarterly basis, the schedule for upcoming guardian trainings, including
the dates, locations, contact person for registration, and class capacity. The FDLE is required to publish, and update
quarterly, the information related to such trainings on its website.
16
9
Section 1002.42(20), F.S.
10
Section 30.15(1)(k)1.c., F.S.
11
Section 30.15(1)(k)1.f., F.S.
12
Section 1, ch. 2024-155, F.S.
13
Section 30.15(1)(k)3.a., F.S.
14
Section 30.15(1)(k)3.b., F.S.
15
Section 30.15(1)(k)3.c., F.S.
16
Section 30.15(1)(k)3.d., F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
4
For any sheriff that fails to comply with the above reporting requirements, the sheriff is prohibited from receiving
reimbursements from the DOE for costs associated with the school guardian program. For any school district,
charter school, or private school that fails to comply with the above reporting requirements, the entity is
prohibited from operating a school guardian program the following school year, unless the school district, charter
school, or private school has submitted the required information. Such prohibition is lifted as soon as the sheriff,
school district, charter school, or private school complies with reporting requirements. In order for the DOE to be
able to enforce these prohibitions, the FDLE is required to report any non-compliance to the DOE each year by
March 1 and October 1.
17
Each school district, charter school, or private school, before employing an individual as a school guardian, must
contact the FLDE and review all information maintained by the FDLE related to the individual’s school guardian
certification and employment as a school guardian.
18
Child Care Facilities
The child-care licensing program is a component of the services provided by Department of Children and Families
(DCF). The program is accountable for the statewide licensure of Florida's child-care facilities, specialized child-
care facilities for the care of mildly ill children, large family child-care homes, and licensure or registration of
family day care homes. The purpose of the program is to ensure a healthy and safe environment for the children in
child-care settings and to improve the quality of their care through regulation and consultation. DCF ensures that
licensing requirements are met through on-going inspections of child-care facilities and homes, thus preventing
the continued operation of substandard child-care programs.
19 There are over 8,000 licensed child care programs
in Florida.
20
Florida's child-care laws
21 defines child care facility to any child care center or child care arrangement which
provides child care for more than five children unrelated to the operator and which receives a payment, fee, or
grant for any of the children receiving care, wherever operated, and whether or not operated for profit. The
following are not included:
Public schools and nonpublic schools;
Summer camps having children in full-time residence;
Summer day camps;
Bible schools normally conducted during vacation periods; and
Operators of transient establishments which provide child care services solely for the guests of their
establishment or resort, provided that all child care personnel are background screened.
22
School Perimeter and Door Security Measures
In 2024, the Legislature established new perimeter and door safety requirements that school districts and charter
school governing boards must comply with by August 1, 2024.
23 The law requires compliance with the following:
24
All gates or other access points that restrict ingress to or egress from a school campus must remain closed
and locked when students are on campus. A gate or access point may not be open or unlocked, regardless of
whether it is during normal school hours, unless the:
o gate or access point is attended or actively staffed by a person when students are on campus;
o use of the school campus is in accordance with a shared use agreement; or
o school safety specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools
Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools (OSS) that the gate or access point
is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at the school.
17
Section 30.15(1)(k)3.e.-g., F.S.
18
Section 1006.12(3)(b), F.S.
19
Florida Department of Children and Families, About Child Care Licensure, https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-
family/child-care/child-care-providers-and-staff/about-child-care-licensure (last visited March 11, 2025).
20
Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Care Provider List, 3-1-2023, available at
https://www.myflfamilies.com/sites/default/files/2023-03/Public%20-%202023-3-1%20-%20Statewide.pdf.
21
Section 402.301-319, F.S.
22
Section 402.302(2), F.S.
23
Section 5, ch. 2024-155, L.O.F.
24
Section 1001.212(6)(f)1.-3., F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
5
All school classrooms and other instructional spaces must be locked to prevent ingress when occupied by
students, except between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other
instructional spaces.
All campus access doors, gates, and other access points that allow ingress to or egress from a school
building shall remain closed and locked at all times to prevent ingress, unless a person is actively entering
or exiting the door, gate, or other access point. The school safety specialist, or his or her designee, may
document in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the OSS that the gate or other
access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at the school. The OSS
may conduct a compliance visit to review if such determination is appropriate. All campus access doors,
gates, and other access points may be electronically or manually controlled by school personnel to allow
access by authorized visitors, students, and school personnel.
In relation to the locking of doors and access points, any time a door or access point is left open or unlocked it must
be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at the door, except where a school safety specialist has
determined and documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal that these requirements do not
apply.
25
Additionally, all school classrooms and other instructional spaces must clearly and conspicuously mark the safest
areas in each classroom or other instructional space where students must shelter in place during an emergency.
Students must be notified of these safe areas within the first 10 days of the school year. If it is not feasible to clearly
and conspicuously mark the safest areas in a classroom or other instructional space, the school safety specialist, or
his or her designee, must document such determination in in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal
identifying where affected students must shelter in place. The OSS shall conduct a compliance inspection of this
requirement during each triennial inspection.
26
Any person who becomes aware of a violation of these requirements must report the violation to the school
principal. The school principal must report the violation to the school safety specialist no later than the next
business day after receiving such report. If the school principal or charter school administrator allegedly violated
these requirements, then the report must be made directly to the district school superintendent or charter school
governing board, as applicable.
27
The OSS must annually notify all administrative and instructional personnel by electronic mail of the perimeter
and door safety requirements.
28 The OSS must refer any instructional or administrative personnel that knowingly
violated the perimeter and door safety requirements to the district school superintendent or charter school
administrator for disciplinary action. The superintendent or charter school administrator must notify the OSS of
the outcome of the disciplinary proceeding within three school days of the conclusion of the proceedings.
29
District school boards and charter school governing boards must adopt a progressive discipline policy for
addressing any instructional personnel and any administrative personnel who knowingly violate school safety
requirements.
30
25
Id.
26
Section 1006.07(6)(f)d., F.S.
27
Section 1006.07(6)(f), F.S. (flush left provision at the end of the paragraph).
28
Section 1001.212(16), F.S.
29
Section 1001.212(13)(e), F.S.
30
Section 1006.07(6)(g), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
6
RECENT LEGISLATION:
YEAR BILL # HOUSE SPONSOR(S) SENATE SPONSOR OTHER INFORMATION
2024 CS/CS/HB 1473 Trabulsy, Hunschofsky Calatayud Became law on July 1, 2024.
2023 CS/HB 543 Brannan, Payne Collins Became law on July 1, 2023.
2022 CS/CS/CS/HB
1421
Hawkins, Hunschofsky Gruters Became law on July 1, 2022.
BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Education Administration
Subcommittee
16 Y, 0 N 3/11/2025 Sleap Wolff
Criminal Justice Subcommittee
PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
Education & Employment
Committee