FL S0534

Establishes a disqualification list maintained by the Department of Education that includes individuals permanently denied educator certificates, disqualified private school owners/operators, persons terminated for misconduct affecting student health/safety, and those ineligible under s. 1012.315.

Requires district school boards, charter schools, private schools participating in scholarship programs, and virtual instruction providers to disqualify and report employees terminated or resigned for misconduct affecting student health/safety to the department for inclusion on the disqualification list.

Prohibits persons on the disqualification list from being employed by or serving on governing boards of public schools, charter schools, or private schools participating in state scholarship programs; violation constitutes a felony of the third degree.

Requires all educational institutions covered by the bill to adopt policies establishing standards of ethical conduct for educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrators, with mandatory training and reporting procedures for alleged misconduct.

Mandates immediate reporting to the Department of Education of arrests or substantiated allegations of misconduct by employees and personnel for offenses reflecting risk of harm to student health/safety, and expands the Education Practices Commission's authority to place individuals on the disqualification list.