The bill amends section 1012.55 of the Florida Statutes to provide an exemption from certain teacher certification requirements for individuals employed as school social workers. Specifically, it introduces a new subsection (5) that states that school social workers are not required to meet the educator certification requirements outlined in section 1012.56(2)(g) and (h). Additionally, the existing subsection (5) is redesignated as subsection (6) to accommodate this change.

The effective date for this legislation is set for July 1, 2025, allowing time for implementation and adjustment within the educational system. This bill aims to streamline the hiring process for school social workers by removing barriers related to certification, thereby potentially increasing the availability of these professionals in schools.