Following the Texas school shooting that recently killed 19 children and two adults, Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, signed a bill that aims to improve school safety in Florida.
“Every child needs a safe and secure learning environment,” Governor DeSantis said.
DeSantis is expected to seek the 2024 Republican nomination for President. His emphasis on school safety does not distract from his views on guns.
Last week he vetoed a proposal to build a Tampa Bay Rays sports training complex. It is alleged that his veto followed tweets by the team advocating for gun control.
In April, DeSantis pledged he would sign legislation that would allow Floridians to carry handguns without permits or licenses.
In 2019, he signed a bill that would allow more Florida teachers to carry guns in the classroom.
The HB 1421 school safety bill will require school safety officers to go through crisis intervention training. It will allow school safety officers to make arrests in charter schools. School districts will have to show that 80% of the staff in their schools have received mental health awareness training.
The bill implements these steps and others, which are part of the recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, which Florida Republicans authorized in 2018, after the Parkland, Florida school shooting that killed 17 people. The Commission’s work has also been extended. “By signing HB 1421, we continue to build on the many steps we have taken since 2019 to implement the recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, while also making record investments in mental health and school safety,” DeSantis said.
Governor DeSantis’ office states he is prioritizing school safety and funding for mental health services and has done so since he’s been governor.
The governor approved $140 million for mental health and $210 million for school safety, grants and youth mental health assistance training in Florida’s Freedom First Budget.
Legislation to improve school safety in Florida coincides with more guns on the street and in the classroom.
