A look at the gun legislation under consideration

TALLAHASSEE — It might seem as though the Florida Legislature keeps voting on the same gun bill. It has been in the news constantly since the Stoneman Douglas shooting on Feb. 14.

In reality, the proposed law has involved a series of steps to get to this point. Here’s a recap:

Both bills have gone through committee hearings in each chamber, one in the House and two in the Senate. Each hearing ended with a vote to move the bill onto the next step.

Democrats tried at every stop to add an assault-weapons ban onto the bills and remove a portion of the bill that would allow some teachers to be armed. Their efforts failed.

On Saturday, the Senate amended its bill in an eight-hour session, sending it to a vote of the full Senate. The Senate approved it Monday afternoon.

Today, the House is set to go through its amendment process. Its final vote should be Wednesday.

Identical versions of a bill need to pass both the House and Senate before it goes to Gov. Rick Scott for his consideration. Scott can sign it, veto it or do nothing so it becomes a law after 15 days. He also has the option to line-item veto funding, which could leave school districts to pay for arming teachers.

If the House version passed on Wednesday does not mirror the Senate version passed on Monday, then the Senate would have to either pass the House version, or amend it and send it back to the House for another vote.

Time is running out. The legislative session ends Friday.

The bill provides some $400 million for mental health and school safety programs. It also would allow police to take firearms from people who are involuntarily committed under the Baker Act.

The Senate version also allows police to take risk protection orders out against people who pose a violent threat to themselves or others. These legal orders would allow police to take away people’s firearms. Those who lose their guns could go to court to get them back.

The most controversial aspect of the bill is the portion arming teachers. The plan is completely voluntary — sheriffs have the option to implement it; school superintendents have the option to participate; and teachers and other staff have the option to enter the program, complete 132 hours of training and carry firearms.

The House version differs slightly in that sheriffs must implement the plan, but superintendents and staff still have the option to participate.

That’s one of several differences that will have to be ironed out before the bill goes to Scott.