(1) CREATION AND PURPOSE.—(a) The Department of Education, through the Office of Safe Schools pursuant to s. 1001.212, shall establish the Florida Safe Schools Canine Program for the purpose of designating a person, school, or business entity as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner if the person, school, or business entity provides a monetary or in-kind donation to a law enforcement agency to purchase, train, or care for a firearm detection canine. The office shall consult with the Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Florida Sheriffs Association in creating the program. (b) The presence of firearm detection canines at K-12 schools contributes to a safe school community, furthering a communitywide investment and engagement in school safety and public safety initiatives. The program seeks to foster relationships between schools, local businesses, and law enforcement, promoting trust and confidence in the ability of law enforcement to keep schools and communities safe. Firearm detection canines act as liaisons between students and law enforcement agencies and serve as ambassadors for a law enforcement agency to improve community engagement. K-12 schools and students are encouraged to partner with law enforcement to raise funds in the local community for the monetary or in-kind donations needed to purchase, train, or care for a firearm detection canine. This includes building relationships with local businesses that support school safety by providing monetary or in-kind donations to help with the ongoing care and expenses of a firearm detection canine which include, but are not limited to, veterinary care such as wellness checks and medicine, food, interactive and training toys, grooming, and necessary equipment such as collars and leads.
(2) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “firearm detection canine” means any canine that is owned or the service of which is employed by a law enforcement agency for use in K-12 schools for the primary purpose of aiding in the detection of firearms and ammunition.
(3) CANINE REQUIREMENTS.—A firearm detection canine must be trained to interact with children and must complete behavior and temperament training. A firearm detection canine may also be trained as an animal-assisted therapy canine.
(4) ELIGIBILITY.—(a) A law enforcement agency may nominate a person, school, or business entity to be designated as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner, or such person, school, or business entity may apply to the office to be designated as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner if a monetary or in-kind donation is made to a law enforcement agency for the purchase, training, or care of a firearm detection canine.
(b) The nomination or application to the office for designation as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner must, at minimum, include all of the following:1. The name, address, and contact information of the person, school, or business entity.
2. The name, address, and contact information of the law enforcement agency.
3. Whether the donation was monetary or in-kind.
4. The amount of the donation or type of in-kind donation.
5. Documentation from the law enforcement agency certifying:a. The date of receipt of the monetary or in-kind donation by the person, school, or business entity; and
b. The monetary or in-kind donation by person, school, or business entity is for the purchase, training, or care of a firearm detection canine.
(c) The office shall adopt procedures for the nomination and application processes for a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner.
(5) DESIGNATION AND AWARD.—(a) The office shall determine whether a person, school, or business entity, based on the information provided in the nomination or application, meets the requirements in subsection (4). The office may request additional information from the person, school, or business entity.
(b)1. A nominated person, school, or business entity that meets the requirements shall be notified by the office regarding the nominee’s eligibility to be awarded a designation as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner.
2. The nominee shall have 30 days after receipt of the notice to certify that the information in the notice is true and accurate and accept the nomination, to provide corrected information for consideration by the office and indicate an intention to accept the nomination, or to decline the nomination. If the nominee accepts the nomination, the office shall award the designation. The office may not award the designation if the nominee declines the nomination or has not accepted the nomination within 30 days after receiving notice.
(c) An applicant person, school, or business entity that meets the requirements shall be notified and awarded a designation as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner.
(d) The office shall adopt procedures for the designation process of a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner. Designation as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner does not establish or involve licensure, does not affect the substantial interests of a party, and does not constitute a final agency action. The Florida Safe Schools Canine Program and designation are not subject to chapter 120.
(6) LOGO DEVELOPMENT.—(a) The office shall develop a logo that identifies a person, school, or business entity that is designated as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner.
(b) The office shall adopt guidelines and requirements for the use of the logo, including how the logo may be used in advertising. The office may allow a person, school, or business entity to display a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner logo upon designation. A person, school, or business entity that has not been designated as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner or has elected to discontinue its designated status may not display the logo.
(7) WEBSITE.—The office shall establish a page on the department’s website for the Florida Safe Schools Canine Program. At a minimum, the page must provide a list, updated quarterly, of persons, schools, or business entities, by county, which currently have the Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner designation and information regarding the eligibility requirements for the designation and the method of application or nomination.
(8) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this section.
