The bill CS/CS/CS/HB 1403 amends Florida statutes to enhance student safety by expanding the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to include child care facilities. It mandates that sheriffs establish a guardian program under specific conditions and sets training and screening standards for security guards. The costs associated with the program must not exceed those established by the Department of Education, with annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. While child care facilities or security agencies are responsible for all costs, sheriffs may waive costs for child care facilities, excluding initial training for school security guards.

Additionally, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for sheriffs, who must report quarterly to the Department of Law Enforcement on upcoming trainings for school guardians and security guards. Schools that fail to report required information will be prohibited from operating guardian programs or employing security guards for the following school year. The legislation also clarifies the roles of school security guards, mandates safety protocol training for substitute teachers, and emphasizes secure access points on campuses. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, aiming to strengthen safety measures in both educational and child care environments.

Statutes affected:
H 1403 Filed: 30.15
H 1403 c1: 30.15
H 1403 c2: 30.15
H 1403 c3: 30.15