Committees pass permitless carry, school safety legislation

Lydia Nusbaum and Michelle Vecerina contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida committees advanced legislation this week that allows for permitless carry and provides additional school safety measures. 

The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation 17-6 Tuesday that now includes school safety measures on top of the permitless carry provisions.

The committee passed a proposed committee substitute to match the senate’s version of the bill. Rep. Robert Charles Brannan, R-Macclenny, carried the bill in the House. 

“I think it would go well to serve the people of Florida that do want to protect themselves and want to protect their family and loved ones,” Rep. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, said in committee. 

Permitless carry would allow citizens to carry a firearm without being required to obtain a concealed carry license from the state.

Rep. Kristen Aston Arrington, D-Kissimmee, is concerned people will not have “proper training” and education. 

“How are we going to expect that folks are going to know the laws that they are going to have to tell a cop that they have a weapon on them, that they know the places that they’re going to be allowed to bring this weapon,” Arrington said. 

The Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved the bill 5-3 Monday. Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, carried the bill. 

“SB 150 is a robust public safety bill, which codifies the constitutional right of citizens to keep and bear arms and expand tools available to law enforcement educators working to keep our communities and schools safe,” Collins explained Monday.

The legislation would also require the Office of Safe Schools, which is part of the Department of Education, to develop a “behavior threat management operational process” to guide schools in identifying and handling potential and real threats.

Collins said a “Threat Management Portal” will “digitize the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument for use by each school and facilitate electronic threat assessment reporting and documentation.”

This bill also adds a member to the threat management team. The member will be someone who knows the student, who is the subject of the threat assessment, that will provide valuable information that helps differentiate behaviors.

Collins said this is critical to separating minor incidents and require correction from serious threats, which require intervention.

The proposal also expands the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, allowing private schools to establish their own programs and participate in “necessary training,” as long as the school pays for the training costs.

The bill also requires all law enforcement agencies in Florida to have an “active assailant response policy” by Oct. 1, 2023. It will include an annual training, Collins said.

It also allows private schools to assign “safe school officers” for their respective schools, and provides clarification for “zero tolerance policies” and requirements.

The bill would create the Florida Safe Schools Canine Program, which would designate a person, school, or business entity as a “Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner” who pays for, or raises funds for, utilizing a firearm detection dog.

“Those dogs will serve as public-private partnerships, integrating law enforcement, school, and members of the community to create a safe and welcoming environment,” Collins explained.

The legislation also contains necessary funding for school safety and standardization threat management, as well as funding for a grant program for local law enforcement agencies to provide firearm safety training.

Lastly, the bill provides funding for school hardening to improve the physical security of schools in Florida.

“This bill strikes the right balance. It aligns the benefits and restrictions of concealed carry, and those who lawfully want to carry without a license, while at the same time standardizing processes for school personnel and law enforcement to identify and communicate when a student possesses a significant safety threat,” Collins explained.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, proposed multiple amendments that did not pass, including one that would limit the number of firearms a person may conceal carry.

“This is purely political theater, at the expense of everybody. […] This is theater, and it’s a disservice to everybody wherever you are on the political spectrum,” said Pizzo.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, previously voiced her support for the legislation and said it “ensures our laws respect the constitutional rights of law-abiding Floridians while at the same time incorporating valuable tools recommended by law enforcement that will increase the safety of our schools and communities.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated to include coverage on the Tuesday House committee.