FL H1473

Expands the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program by allowing persons certified under the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to be certified as school guardians without completing the 144-hour training program, and requires sheriffs, school districts, charter schools, and private schools to report school guardian information to the Department of Law Enforcement by September 1, 2024, with noncompliance resulting in loss of reimbursement or inability to operate guardian programs.

Prohibits the operation of drones over public and private schools serving voluntary prekindergarten through grade 12, with violations classified as a second-degree misdemeanor (first offense) escalating to a first-degree misdemeanor or third-degree felony for repeat offenses or when video is recorded; exemptions apply for those with prior written school consent or law enforcement agencies.

Requires the Office of Safe Schools to develop a school safety compliance inspection report by August 1, 2024, conduct triennial unannounced inspections of all public schools while in session, and provide bonuses to principals or charter school administrators of schools that comply with all safety requirements; schools must keep all campus gates, building access points, and classroom doors locked when students are present, with limited exceptions.

Mandates that district school boards and charter school governing boards provide instruction on the FortifyFL suspicious activity reporting tool within the first 5 days of each school year, adopt progressive discipline policies for personnel who knowingly violate school safety requirements, and requires notification to postsecondary institution police when dual-enrolled students are taken into custody for felony offenses.

Subject to legislative appropriation, directs the Department of Law Enforcement to provide grants to sheriffs' offices and law enforcement agencies for physical site security assessments, active assailant response training, and threat management guidance for private schools, with no single applicant receiving more than 10% of total appropriated funds.