(1) PURPOSE.—Subject to legislative appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide a one-time sign-on bonus, as provided in the General Appropriations Act, to honorably discharged or retired military veterans and retired first responders, as defined in s. 112.1815(1), who commit to joining the teaching profession as a full-time classroom teacher. An honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder may receive an additional bonus for teaching a course in a high-demand teacher need area, as identified by the department pursuant to paragraph (3)(e). (2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus, an applicant must be an honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder and provide the following to the department:(a) Documentation of his or her honorable discharge or retirement.
(b) Documentation that he or she was not subject to any disciplinary action during the last 5 years of his or her employment as a servicemember in the United States Armed Forces or as a first responder. The term “disciplinary action” includes suspensions, dismissals, and involuntary demotions that were associated with disciplinary actions.
(c) A copy of his or her professional certificate or temporary certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56(7). (d) Documentation that he or she agrees to maintain employment with the school district or charter school for a minimum of 2 consecutive school years upon receipt of the sign-on bonus. An individual who accepts a sign-on bonus pursuant to this section but fails to maintain his or her employment pursuant to this paragraph must reimburse the department the amount of the sign-on bonus in a manner prescribed by the department.
(3) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES.—The department shall distribute bonuses pursuant to this section and, at a minimum, must:(a) Establish a method for determining the estimated number of eligible honorably discharged or retired military veterans and retired first responders to be hired in the applicable fiscal year.
(b) Establish additional minimum criteria necessary for an individual to be eligible for a sign-on bonus.
(c) Establish an estimated cost to the department for developing and administering the bonus program.
(d) Establish a method for an individual to reimburse the department if he or she receives the sign-on bonus but does not maintain employment for the required consecutive 2-year period.
(e) Identify courses that are in high-demand teacher need areas in which honorably discharged or retired military veterans or retired first responders may teach to be eligible for an additional bonus.
(4) SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES.—A school district that employs an eligible honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder must:(a) Provide any necessary information requested by the department.
(b) In a manner established by the department, notify the eligible honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder that employment may impact his or her pension from a previous employer.
(5) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this section.
1Note.—As created by s. 51, ch. 2023-245. For a description of multiple acts in the same session affecting a statutory provision, see preface to the Florida Statutes, “Statutory Construction.” Section 1012.715 was also created by s. 9, ch. 2023-38, and that version reads:1012.715 Heroes in the Classroom Bonus Program.—
(1) PURPOSE.—Subject to legislative appropriation, the Department of Education must provide a one-time sign-on bonus, as provided in the General Appropriations Act, to retired first responders and veterans who commit to joining the teaching profession as a full-time classroom teacher. A retired first responder or veteran may receive an additional bonus for teaching a course in a critical teacher shortage area as defined in s. 1012.07.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Retired first responder” means an individual who can document his or her full retirement as a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1), a firefighter as defined in s. 633.102(9), or an emergency medical technician or paramedic as defined in s. 401.23.
(b) “Veteran” has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(14).
(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a bonus under this section, an individual must:
(a) As applicable, document that he or she has not been the subject of any disciplinary action during the most recent 5 years of his or her employment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “disciplinary action” includes suspensions, dismissals, and involuntary demotions associated with disciplinary actions;
(b) Document his or her honorable discharge from the military;
(c) Document receipt of a professional certificate or temporary certificate under s. 1012.56(7)(a) and (b)1., respectively; and
(d) Commit to maintaining employment with the district or charter school for a minimum of 2 school years.
(4) DEPARTMENT DUTIES.—The Department of Education shall administer the bonus program. At a minimum, the department shall:
(a) Establish a method for determining the estimated number of eligible military veterans and first responders hired in the applicable fiscal year.
(b) Establish additional minimum criteria necessary to receive the bonus.
(c) Establish an estimated cost to the department associated with developing and administering the program.
(d) Establish a method by which a teacher must reimburse the state if he or she receives the bonus payment under the program but fails to maintain continuous employment for the required 2-year school period.
(e) Identify critical teacher shortage areas in which a military veteran or retired first responder who teaches may be eligible for an additional bonus.
(5) DISTRICT DUTIES.—A school district that hires eligible participants must:
(a) Provide any necessary information requested by the department.
(b) Notify, in a manner established by the department, eligible employees for whom such employment may impact their pension from a previous position.
(6) RULES.—The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this section.
