HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 1109 Security for Jewish Day Schools and Preschools
SPONSOR(S): Fine and others
TIED BILLS: None. IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1396
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Judiciary Committee 18 Y, 1 N Wolff Kramer
2) Appropriations Committee 26 Y, 0 N Potvin Pridgeon
3) Education & Employment Committee 18 Y, 0 N Wolff Hassell
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Since 2018, the Legislature has appropriated more than $1 billion in the Safe Schools Allocation in the Florida
Education Finance Program to assist school districts in their compliance with the statutory requirements for
safe schools.
For Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the Legislature appropriated $5 million in nonrecurring funds for security funding at
Jewish day schools. During special session in November 2023, an additional $25 million was appropriated for
security measures at Jewish day schools and $20 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program while
amending such program to include nonprofit schools.
HB 1109 requires the Department of Education, subject to appropriation in the General Appropriations Act, to
establish a program to provide funds to make full-time Jewish day schools and preschools in the state secure
with professional security hardening, as needed, to better secure facilities of such schools and preschools and
to protect their students.
Based on a risk assessment by law enforcement or a private security company, the bill requires funds to be
used for 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 provisions of the bill.
The bill specifies that any security funding for Jewish day school and preschools is subject to a legislative
appropriation. See Fiscal Comments, infra.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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DATE: 2/14/2024
 FULL ANALYSIS.
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Present Situation
School Safety Funding
The Safe School Allocation provides funding to assist school districts in their compliance with ss.
1006.07-1006.12, F.S., with priority given to safe-school officers.1 For the 2023-2024 school year, $250
million was appropriated for the Safe Schools Allocation. Each school district receives a minimum of
$250,000 and the remaining balance of funds is allocated by a formula based one-third on the recent
Florida Crime Index and two-thirds based on each school district’s proportionate share of the state’s
total unweighted full-time equivalent student enrollment.2
The distribution of these funds is contingent upon the school district’s compliance with all reporting
procedures related to the prevention of bullying and harassment. 3
Another program related to school safety is the School Hardening Grant program, which was designed
to improve the physical security of school buildings based on a required security risk assessment.
Funds could only be used for capital purchases and are allocated based on each school district’s
capital outlay Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) and charter school FTE. Funds must be provided based on
district application.4 In 2023, all school safety funding for public schools was rolled into the safe schools
allocation in order to provide school districts the most flexibility in the use of funds to fulfill the needs of
the school district.
Safe Schools Allocation
Fiscal Year Funding Amount
5
2018-2019 $ 162 million
2019-20206 $ 180 million
2020-20217 $ 180 million
8
2021-2022 $ 180 million
2022-20239 $ 210 million
2023-202410 $ 250 million
Total $ 1.2 billion
The Safe Schools Allocation and the school physical security improvement, 11 or school hardening grant
program, represent the most significant investments in school safety since the shooting at Marjory
Stoneman Douglas High School. Below is a summary of the appropriations associated with these
programs:
School Physical Security Improvement Grant
1 Section 1011.62(12), F.S.
2 Specific Appropriations 5 and 86, s. 2, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla. See s. 1011.62(12), F.S.
3 Section 1006.147(7), F.S.
4 See, e.g., Specific Appropriation 108, s. 2, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla.; see, also, Specific Appropriation 113A, s. 2, ch. 2021-36,
Specific Appropriation 117A, s. 2, ch. 2020-111, and Specific Appropriation 116A, s. 2, ch. 2019-115, Laws of Fla.
5 Section 42, ch. 2018-3, Laws of Fla. ($97,500,000); Specific Appropriations 6 and 92, s. 2, ch. 2018-9, Laws of Fla. ($64,456,019)
6 Specific Appropriations 6 and 93, s. 2, ch. 2019-115, Laws of Fla.
7 Specific Appropriations 8 and 92, s. 2, ch. 2020-111, Laws of Fla.
8 Specific Appropriations 7 and 90, s. 2, ch. 2021-36, Laws of Fla.
9 Specific Appropriations 5 and 86, s. 2, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla.
10 Specific Appropriations 5 and 80, s. 2, ch. 2023-239, Laws of Fla.
11 Section 44, ch. 2018-3, Laws of Fla.
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 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
2018-201912 $99 million
School Hardening Grant
Fiscal Year Funding Amount
2019-202013 $ 50 million
2020-202114 $ 42 million
2021-202215 $ 42 million
16
2022-2023 $ 20 million
Total $ 154 million
For Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the Legislature appropriated $5 million in nonrecurring funds for security
funding at Jewish day schools.17 During special session in November 2023, the Legislature
appropriated an additional $25 million for security measures at Jewish day schools and preschools 18
and $20 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program 19 while amending such program to include
nonprofit schools.20 Other than these programs, the law does not currently provide security funding for
private schools generally.
Effect of Proposed Changes
HB 1109 creates s. 1001.2921, F.S., to provide, subject to appropriation in the General Appropriations
Act, security funding for Jewish day schools and preschools. The bill requires the Department of
Education to establish a program to provide funds to make full-time Jewish day schools and preschools
in the state secure with professional security hardening, as needed, to better secure facilities of such
schools and preschools and to protect their students.
Based on a risk assessment by law enforcement or a private security company, the bill requires funds
to be used for 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 provisions of the bill.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Creates s. 1001.2921, F.S.; relating to security funding for Jewish day schools and
preschools.
12 Section 44, ch. 2018-3, Laws of Fla.
13 Specific Appropriation 116A, s. 2, ch. 2019-115, Laws of Fla.
14 Specific Appropriation 117A, s. 2, ch. 2020-111, Laws of Fla.
15 Specific Appropriation 113A, s. 2, ch. 2021-36, Laws of Fla.
16 Specific Appropriation 108, s. 2, ch. 2022-156, Laws of Fla.
17 Specific Appropriations 100 and 105, s. 2, ch. 2023-239, Laws of Fla.
18 Section 4 and 5, ch. 2023-352, Laws of Fla.
19 Established in 2023, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program allows Florida nonprofit organizations, including ho uses of worship and
community centers, that are at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes to apply for program grants to increase safety and security. S.
252.3712, F.S.
20 Section 1 and 2, ch. 2023-352, Laws of Fla.
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 Section 2: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
HB 5001, the House proposed General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, appropriates $20
million in nonrecurring funds for security funding at Jewish day schools and preschools.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
None.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
None.
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DATE: 2/14/2024