Lawmakers trying again to improve safety at schools
TALLAHASSEE For the third time since the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida lawmakers are on the brink of passing legislation to try to bolster school safety.
“With the second anniversary of the horrific Parkland shooting fresh on our minds, I am pleased to see key school safety legislation advance to the Senate floor,” Senate President Bill Galvano, RBradenton, said in a statement Thursday.
In preparation for the issue going to the floor, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday made several tweaks to the Senate school safety bill (SB 7040), including removing a provision that would have allowed school districts to assign expelled students to school-based prearrest diversion programs.
Under current law, school districts have the option to refer students to other disciplinary programs, such as second-chance schools, during the period of their expulsion.
Senate Education
Chairman
Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican who is spearheading the bill, said the provision was removed to “alleviate concerns over unintended consequences” that could have prevented students who are not eligible for pre-arrest diversion programs from participating in other disciplinary programs.
The House version school safety bill (HB of the 7065),
Left: sponsored by Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Lecanto, also is ready for consideration by the full House.
Lawmakers rushed in 2018 to pass a school safety measure after a gunman killed 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. They followed up with additional school safety moves last year.