House Bill 1071 introduces significant amendments to Florida's education laws, focusing on parental rights, health education, and school safety. The bill mandates that schools notify parents of their right to opt their children out of reproductive health education, including instruction on human embryologic and fetal development, replacing previous requirements for comprehensive health education. It also establishes a new section that prohibits public schools from using funds for organizations that discriminate based on various factors and restricts state or federal funds for programs advocating diversity, equity, and inclusion. The State Board of Education is tasked with implementing these provisions, which include the use of FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices in K-12 schools for students at risk of anaphylaxis.

In addition to these provisions, the bill enhances safety protocols by requiring that all access points to school campuses remain locked during school hours and that classrooms be secured when occupied. It also modifies the responsibilities of the Council for Early Grade Success and raises the threshold for identifying students with literacy deficiencies. The bill emphasizes the need for tailored professional development for educators and includes measures to improve instructional materials management, ensuring that publishers disclose authorship and comply with content laws. Overall, HB 1071 aims to strengthen educational standards, enhance parental involvement, and improve safety within Florida's schools.

Statutes affected:
H 1071 Filed: 1002.42, 1002.421, 1002.55, 1002.61, 1002.63, 1002.82, 1002.88, 1002.91, 1003.46, 1006.07, 1006.38, 1008.2125