SB 1546 requires independent athletic sanctioning authorities in Florida to conduct mandatory level 2 background checks on all current and prospective athletic coaches by January 1, 2025 (earlier than the original 2026 deadline). This law directly affects athletic coaches and the organizations that oversee them, such as school districts or sports leagues. The key provision mandates that no coach can be authorized to work without a completed background check that does not result in disqualification. The bill amends Florida Statutes section 943.0438 and became law on May 27, 2025.
Legal Tender; Revising the sales and use tax exemption for certain coin or currency; specifying that a person who claims the sales tax exemption bears the burden for determining whether the gold coin or silver coin meets a specified definition; providing a presumption regarding the purity requirements of gold coin and silver coin, etc.
Children with Developmental Disabilities; Revising the scope of the Dr. and Mrs. Alfonse and Kathleen Cinotti Health Care Screening and Services Grant Program to allow grant funds to be used for screenings, referrals for treatment, and related services for autism; revising requirements for the annual grant application submitted by the Department of Health for the Early Steps Program to conform to changes made by the act; providing a purpose for the Early Steps Extended Option; authorizing the department to implement the Early Steps Extended Option regardless of certain federal funding; requiring the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment to fund specialized summer programs for children with autism spectrum disorder, etc. APPROPRIATION: $755,904
Unlawful Demolition of Historical Buildings and Structures; Authorizing a code enforcement board or special magistrate to impose a fine that exceeds certain limits for the unlawful demolition of certain historical buildings or structures under certain circumstances; providing that such fine may not exceed a certain percentage of just market valuation, etc.
Holocaust Remembrance Day; Requiring the Governor to proclaim a specified day annually as “Holocaust Remembrance Day”; authorizing “Holocaust Remembrance Day” to be observed in this state’s public schools and be observed by public exercise as the Governor may designate, etc.
Public Records/Lethality Assessment Forms; Providing an exemption from public records requirements for a lethality assessment form that contains certain information and responses; authorizing the disclosure of a lethality assessment form to a domestic violence center and to the office of the state attorney; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing for retroactive application of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Ethics; Prohibiting candidates, elected public officers, appointed public officers, and public employees from knowingly misrepresenting their Armed Forces of the United States service records, awards, or qualifications or wearing any uniform, medal, or insignia that they are not authorized to wear; requiring the Attorney General to attempt to determine whether an individual owing certain penalties is a current public officer or public employee, etc.
Public Records and Meetings/NG911 Systems; Expanding an exemption from public records requirements for certain components of 911, E911, and public safety radio communication systems to include NG911 systems; extending the date for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; expanding an exemption from public meetings requirements for certain portions of meetings that would reveal certain components of 911, E911, and public safety radio communication systems to include NG911 systems; extending the date for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Children’s Medical Services Program; Transferring operation of the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan from the Department of Health to the Agency for Health Care Administration, effective on a specified date; requiring the CMS program to conduct clinical eligibility screening for certain children and youth with special health care needs; revising the purposes and functions of the CMS program, etc.
Probation for Misdemeanor Offenses; Increasing probationary periods for certain misdemeanor offenses involving controlled or chemical substances, etc.
Installation or Use of Tracking Devices or Applications; Providing enhanced criminal penalties for a person who, to commit or facilitate the commission of a dangerous crime, knowingly installs or places a tracking device or tracking application on another person’s property without consent or uses such a device or application to determine a person’s or their property’s location or movement without consent, etc.
Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances Resulting in Death; Defining the terms “dangerous fentanyl or fentanyl analogs” and “distribute”; creating an offense of murder in the third degree, etc.
