This bill establishes a new section in Florida law, specifically Section 1012.02, which mandates the Department of Education to create and maintain a statewide strategic plan aimed at the recruitment and retention of speech-language pathologists. The plan is required to include a comprehensive analysis of staffing needs across school districts and charter schools, tracking changes in personnel, and examining strategies to address recruitment and retention challenges. Additionally, the plan must estimate the costs associated with implementing these strategies and develop a methodology for determining appropriate caseloads and workloads for speech-language pathologists.

To facilitate the development of this plan, the Department of Education is tasked with creating a survey for school districts and charter schools to gather necessary data, which must be submitted annually by October 31. The department is also required to publish the strategic plan on its website by November 30 each year, incorporating the collected data and providing updates to legislative committees. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.