Governor Ron DeSantis received a bill Wednesday that will modify the Florida school Safety Awareness Program.
House Bill 1421, if passed, would direct the State Board of Education to create rules and regulations for school emergency drills.
The bill is set to improve “transparency around school safety and security and addresses student mental health,” according to the bill.
All recommendations in the bill were made back in January by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.
This bill is in viewed in response to the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Other information to know about HB 1421…
· Family reunification plans will be made when K-12 public schools close unexpectedly
· State Board of Education will be required to adopt rules for emergency drills, and requiring that law enforcement officers a held responsible for responding to school emergencies
· Department of Education will be required to publish school safety reports
· Safe-school officers will be required to complete mental health crisis training
· 80 percent of school personnel must receive mandatory youth mental health awareness training
If approved, the bill will take effect July 1 and extend until July 1, 2026.
