M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Roger Coriat, Council Member Seat 3
Date: March 20, 2019
Re: Opposing Florida Senate Proposed Bill 7030
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO FLORIDA SENATE BILL 7030 WHICH PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS COMMISSION REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On March 9, 2018, Senate Bill (SB) 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (the "Act"), was signed into law in the wake of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that took the lives of 17 Florida students and educators. This legislation outlines significant reforms to make Florida schools safer, while keeping firearms out of the hands of mentally ill and dangerous individuals.
On February 12, 2019, the Senate Committee on Education, chaired by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr. (R-Hialeah), voted to pass Senate Bill (SB) 7030, School Safety and Security (Attachment "A"). The legislation builds on the school safety and security foundation established in SB 7026 by addressing the school safety and security recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission (the "Commission"), and strengthening accountability and compliance oversight authority.
One of the key components of SB 7030 contains provisions to arm public school teachers in Florida. Currently under Florida Statute 30.15, sheriffs have the discretion to establish a Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program within each school district to meet the safe-school officer requirement under the Act (Attachment "B"). School employees, with the exception of classroom instructors, may participate in the program. If SB 7030 is passed, the prohibition against classroom teachers serving as school guardians will be removed and instructors will be able to volu...
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