FL S1204

Expands disqualifying offenses for educator certification and employment with student contact to include 26 additional felonies and misdemeanors, including failure to report child abuse, human trafficking, bribery, treason, and weapons of mass destruction.

Requires fingerprint-based criminal history checks at least every 5 years for instructional and noninstructional personnel with student access, contractors, and virtual instruction program instructors, with fingerprints enrolled in the national retained print arrest notification program.

Establishes that arrest records identified through retained fingerprints must be reported to school districts by the Department of Law Enforcement or Federal Bureau of Investigation, with costs shared between state and federal subscription fees and school district administrative fees capped at 30 percent.

Requires virtual instruction program providers to document that all instructional personnel have undergone background screening using state and national criminal history records and to submit signed affidavits under penalty of perjury confirming compliance.

Extends notification requirements to include law enforcement agencies must notify school superintendents within 48 hours of employees charged with specified misdemeanors, acts qualifying for juvenile sex offender registration, and other crimes involving child abuse or controlled substances.