UPDATE: Post #4 - Florida Senate Passes Bill To Arm Teachers

[Watchdog]

SB 7030 passed the Florida Senate with a 22-17 margin today.

The bill passed with a clause that includes an expansion of the Guardian Program that was created in 2018. That program allows teachers to carry guns after completing psychological screening and at least 144 hours of training from a sheriff's office. At eight hours a day, that's eighteen days of training at a minimum.

As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the vote was mostly along party lines, and the bill seems almost guaranteed to pass the House. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated he will sign it into law if it passes the House.

Even if does become law, the arming of qualified teachers will still be subject to approval by local school boards.

If anyone wants to read the bill, click here. If you want to track the bill, click here.

News sources are here and here. I'm sure there are more sources, but two are enough for now, I think.

 

[Watchdog]

UPDATE: May 1, 2019 - Bill to Arm Teachers

Florida SB7030 was passed in the House by a margin of 65-47 today, May 1, 2019.

It had passed in the Florida Senate on April 23, 2019.

The bill has been ordered enrolled, and will be sent to Governor DeSantis for his signature.

 

[soFlaNative]

Dade, Broward and likely some other counties have opted out of the program.
Whether teachers in these counties are allowed to carry remains to be seen.
My father spent 35 years with Dade Co. schools, I really can't offer opinion on this matter in any productive manner.

 

[Watchdog]

UPDATE: Florida Governor Signs Bill Allowing Teachers To Be Armed Into Law

On Wednesday, May 8, Florida's governor signed HB7030 into law.

Quoting from the Associated Press:

"' More Florida teachers will be eligible to carry guns in the classroom under a bill Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Wednesday that immediately implements recommendations from a commission formed after a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland.

DeSantis signed the bill in private and didn’t issue a statement afterward. But he previously made it clear he supports the changes made to the law enacted after a rifle-toting former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17 people in February 2018.

'We did a lot for public safety,' DeSantis said immediately after the legislative session ended Saturday. 'The Marjory Stoneman Douglas bill, people had disagreements on, but ultimately ... I think we’re going to be safer.'”

A major change in this law is that classroom teachers can now be armed, whereas before with the Guardian Program, only non-teachers could be armed.

Quoting from The Hill:

"Teachers who choose to be armed on school property will be required to undergo a psychological test and at least 144 hours of training, the results of which must be approved by law enforcement."

Florida counties/school districts have the option of opting out of any programs to arm teachers. Broward County, scene of the Parkland school shooting has opted out of programs to arm school personnel.

Quoting an anti-gun group:

"DeSantis, 'has further jeopardized the lives of every student in Florida. Our schools and teachers don’t need more guns.'”

The law takes effect immediately.