FL H1443

Defines "comfort animal" as an animal providing emotional support to improve a person's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive condition, distinct from service animals and pets.

Requires the Division of Emergency Management to provide guidance to entities on procedures and documentation needed to receive maximum reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster-related expenditures.

Authorizes individuals to bring service animals or comfort animals to special needs shelters and requires the division to develop informational materials about shelter acceptance of pets, service animals, and comfort animals.

Establishes a registry between the Division of Emergency Management and homeless shelters and service providers to help determine the number of homeless individuals needing assistance during evacuations.

Excludes students who recently arrived from U.S. territories with declared natural disasters from certain school grade calculation components and allows school districts to pay employees for disaster closure days if time is made up later in the school year.

Requires Florida College System institutions and state universities to participate in emergency management activities and coordinate transportation assistance with local emergency management agencies.

Effective date: July 1, 2018.