The bill amends Section 1003.574 of the Florida Statutes to establish new requirements regarding the use of video cameras in self-contained classrooms within public schools. It removes references to the now-obsolete Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program and mandates that district school boards, except those in fiscally constrained counties, must vote to create a policy for installing video cameras in self-contained classrooms upon parental request. The bill also prohibits schools from concealing the identity of employees in video recordings and requires that any video made available after a request must include accompanying audio.

Additionally, the bill outlines the operational requirements for video cameras, including monitoring capabilities and retention periods for recorded footage. It specifies that recordings must be retained for at least three months or until the conclusion of any related investigations. The bill also establishes protocols for notifying parents about the placement of cameras and the viewing of recordings, ensuring that confidentiality and privacy are maintained for students not involved in any incidents documented by the recordings. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 257 Filed: 1003.57
H 257 c1: 1003.574