FL S0494

Requires every public school in Florida to establish a School Staff Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Team and create a school elopement plan for students with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities who have a documented history of leaving designated areas unsupervised

SAFE Team must include the school principal, assistant principal, school resource officer, and at least three other appointed members responsible for creating and annually updating the elopement plan, responding to incidents, and training all school personnel

Schools must develop student-specific elopement quick reference guides for at-risk students, containing identifying information, a current photo, communication level, behavioral preferences, health considerations, GPS technology information, and likely elopement locations

Elopement plans must include procedures for immediately contacting parents/guardians, conducting coordinated on-campus searches, and contacting emergency services when a student is believed to have left school grounds and is at risk of harm

Each public school must submit its elopement plan annually to the district school board, effective July 1, 2026