ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida lawmakers have recently made progress on Senate Bill 1470, geared for a major school safety overhaul.
The bill will focus on a way to design a standardized security protocol, enhance emergency response systems and expand training for officers tasked with protecting K-12 campuses.
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SB 1470, sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess, cleared its final committee hurdle on Wednesday, April 2, and is now on the special-order calendar for Wednesday, April 9, when the full Senate will vote.
Key points of SB 1470
1. Training for security officers
The bill requires that all public school security guards and guardians will undergo training aligned with the state’s Guardian Program, which requires rigorous firearms practice, psychological evaluations and ongoing requalification.
For private schools partnering with sheriffs for security, services must now use state-certified guards.
2. Emergency communication upgrades
A centralized panic alert system and digital school mapping platform will be developed to improve real-time coordination between schools and first responders during crises.
3. Locked campus policies
Districts must ensure school buildings remain locked during supervision hours, with exceptions only for staff-monitored entrances. Substitute teachers will receive safety briefings before assignments.
4. Florida Institute of School Safety
A new workgroup will propose recommendations by January 2026 to establish an institute focused on advancing safety research, training and threat management strategies.
What could this mean for Central Florida schools?
While the bill applies statewide, Central Florida districts, like Volusia County, are already ahead of some requirements.
Last year, Volusia implemented locked-door protocols under HB 1473, a related law enacted after the 2018 Parkland shooting.
News 6 reached out via email to the following nine counties for comment:
- Marion: " Our School Board has indicated they will continue contracting with three Marion County law enforcement agencies to continue having School Resource Officers in each of our schools."
- Orange: “The staff continues to monitor the progress of the bill as it works through the legislative process.”
- Volusia: “VCS remains committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students and staff, and we will continue working closely with state and local partners to ensure that our policies and practices align with updated legislation. Should this legislation pass, we will review implementation guidance, assess any necessary adjustments to our safety protocols and communicate those as appropriate.”
We are waiting for a response from:
- Brevard
- Flager
- Lake
- Osceola
- Seminole
- Sumter
Senate President Ben Albritton cited the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission as pivotal to the legislation.
