Reapportionment; Citing this act as the "Voter Protection in Redistricting Act"; providing that congressional and state legislative district boundaries may be drawn only in the second year after the most recent federal decennial statewide census, during an extraordinary apportionment session or judicial reapportionment session, or according to federal law or court order, etc.
Oaths of Classroom Teachers; Requires persons employed as classroom teachers to take specified oath before entering upon duties of classroom teacher; & provides requirements for such oath.
HB 109 prohibits all school district employees in Florida public schools from using corporal punishment on students. The bill removes existing provisions that allowed limited use of corporal punishment under strict conditions, such as principal approval, an adult witness, and parent notification. It amends multiple statutes to eliminate references to corporal punishment as an allowable disciplinary tool and requires school boards to adopt alternative discipline programs instead. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, directly affecting all public school students and staff in Florida.
Educational Facilities; Deleting a provision authorizing a school of hope to colocate with another school in a public school facility; deleting a provision requiring a school district to permit a school of hope to use an underused, vacant, or surplus school district facility; deleting a requirement for students enrolled in a school of hope to be included in the school district’s total capital outlay full-time equivalent membership, etc.
Educator Certifications and Training; Revising the core curricula for certain teacher preparation programs to include training relating to mass casualty incidents; revising the certified educator eligibility criteria to require training in mass casualty incidents; requiring the Department of Education to develop a list of approved trainings relating to mass casualty incidents, etc.
Individual Education Plans; Requiring a school district to complete an evaluation to determine if a student is eligible for an individualized education plan (IEP) within a specified timeframe; providing that a parent or guardian has the right to request provider logs or notes within a specified timeframe; requiring each school district to provide an individualized orientation to each parent or guardian of a student newly identified to be eligible for exceptional student education services, etc.
Career and Academic Planning For Middle and High School Students; Requires district school boards to annually provide students & their parents with certain information relating to career & technical education programs beginning in specified grade; requires middle schools to hold career & academic planning meeting for specified students & their parents; requires certain information to be included in meeting; revises information included in student's personalized academic & career plan; requires students in specified grades to annually review personalized academic & career plan; requires such review to include certain demonstration.
Discrimination in Education; Requires each district school board, Florida College System institution, & state university to designate Title VI coordinator; provides requirements for such coordinators; & establishes process for complaints relating to violations of Title VI of Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel Membership in the Senior Management Service Class; Providing that participation in the Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for each district’s assistant regional counsel supervisors, beginning on a specified date, etc. APPROPRIATION: $950,000
Oaths of School Personnel; Requiring specified persons employed as members of school personnel to take a specified oath before entering upon the duties of a member of the school personnel; requiring persons employed in an administrative or instructional capacity at a Florida College System institution or state university to take a specified oath before entering upon the duties of a person employed in an administrative or instructional capacity, etc.
Use of Substances Affecting Cognitive Function; Requiring medical examiners to take specified actions when performing an autopsy on a decedent who is a violent offender; requiring that autopsy reports for such individuals include certain findings and information; authorizing the release of certain patient records to law enforcement agencies without patient authorization under certain circumstances; requiring school safety specialists to provide school district staff with certain training on the adverse effects of specified substances, etc.
Student Elopement; Requiring public schools to create a School Staff Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Team and a school elopement plan; providing requirements for the plan; providing for membership and responsibilities of the SAFE Team; requiring the SAFE Team to create student-specific elopement quick reference guides for certain students, etc.
