Florida News Straight From the Source
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie has invited Florida’s 66 other school districts to virtually join Broward County Public Schools in the one-year commemoration of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy. [Read more…] about Statewide Moment of Silence in 67 Counties’ Schools to be held in Remembrance of MSD High School Victims
The Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart today announced long-time law enforcement officer Damien Kelly as director of the newly created Office of Safe Schools. Following the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Governor Rick Scott signed into law the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. One component of the comprehensive law is the creation of the Office of Safe Schools within the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and the appointment of its director.
On March 23, Governor Rick Scott sent a letter to district superintendents and school board members that set deadlines FDOE and each school district must meet. Governor Scott directed FDOE to hire a director for the newly created Office of Safe Schools by May 1, 2018.
The MSD Commission created a website page for information on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, including posts of upcoming commission meetings.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission was established during the 2018 legislative session and is staffed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The legislation represents a comprehensive approach to identifying and addressing issues presented by the tragedy that occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The Commission was formed to specifically analyze information from the school shooting and other mass violence incidents in the state and address recommendations and system improvements.
To visit the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission website, click here.
Governor Rick Scott today signed Executive Order 18-81 directing the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enhance collaboration with law enforcement offices in each Florida county to improve the coordination of behavioral health services for individuals in need. Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Governor Scott convened emergency meetings with education officials, mental health experts and law enforcement to develop strategies to make our schools safer and improve mental health treatment services in Florida. Today’s Executive Order complements the provision established in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB 7026) which increases the sharing of information between sheriff’s offices, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), DCF, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and any community behavioral health providers to better coordinate services and provide prevention or intervention strategies. Read more about the new law, signed by Governor Rick Scott on March 9th, HERE.
Governor Scott said, “After the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, I met with legislators, members of law enforcement, school administrators, teachers, mental health experts, and state agency leadership to find solutions which make sure our schools and communities are safe. Last month, I proposed a major action plan, and then signed into law the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act to protect our schools, bolster out state’s mental health system of care and keep guns away from dangerous people. Today, to enhance the policies I just signed into law, I am using my executive authority to make sure we are supporting those most in need while protecting Florida families.
“In issuing this executive order, I have directed DCF to closely collaborate with local sheriffs’ offices and police chiefs in each county to further increase communication between these agencies and increase access to substance abuse and mental health services in every community. My goal is to ensure DCF is integrated in every local department, so we have a person working hand-in-hand with law enforcement and dedicated solely to being a crisis welfare worker focused on repeat cases in each community. We will continue ensure that all Floridians have the opportunity to get the treatment they need.”
The Executive Order takes five major steps:
To view Executive Order 18-81, click HERE.
Governor Rick Scott, Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran today announced appointments to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Governor Scott also named Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri as Chairman. The Commission was established by SB 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, signed into law by Governor Scott.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to appoint five dedicated Floridians to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission including fathers of two of the victims who were critical in helping a bill get passed quickly. Since the shooting in Parkland, our number one focus has been to make our schools safer while doing everything possible to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again. I’m confident that these appointees will continue the work that has already started in our state to keep our students safe.”
Senate President Joe Negron said, “The Senate appointees include a former classroom teacher and nationally-recognized child advocate, a school board member, a law enforcement officer, a retired school resource officer, and a renowned mental health treatment clinician. This diverse cross-section of professional experience and subject matter expertise, will serve the state well as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission embarks on the critically important task before it. We can never replace the 17 lives lost, and we can never erase the traumatic experience that lives on in the memories of those who survived this horrific attack. However, this Commission will help ensure we do everything we can to reduce the possibility of a tragedy like this ever happening again.”
House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “I’m honored to appoint five members to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission. The work and recommendations of this commission will, I believe, serve as a model for the nation in addressing school safety and protecting individual liberty. The appointees to the commission bring decades of experience in law enforcement, prosecution, and training civilians to handle firearms and protect a school. Most importantly, an appointee, Max Schachter, brings the tragic experience of being a father who lost his son in that day’s awful events and who is driven to ensure it never happens to another family ever again. I thank those willing to participate, I commend the courage of the family members who will take on this task, and pray that all the efforts of this commission will meet with success.”
Governor Scott’s appointees are as follows:
Sheriff Larry Ashley, of Okaloosa, is the Okaloosa County Sheriff. Sheriff Ashley has nearly thirty years of law enforcement experience and has earned numerous awards and commendations during his career. He participated in the Governor’s emergency meetings to help develop the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
Superintendent Desmond Blackburn, Ph.D., of Brevard County is the Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools. He previously served as a teacher, principal, district trainer, director of school improvement, an area superintendent, and as the chief school performance and accountability office for the Broward County School District. Superintendent Blackburn participated in the Governor’s emergency meetings to help develop the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
Chief Kevin Lystad, of Miami Shores, is the Chief of the Miami Shores Police Department. He is the President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association. Chief Lystad will serve as Vice Chair of the Commission.
Ryan Petty, of Parkland, is the father of Aliana Petty, who was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He played an integral role in ensuring the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act moved through the Florida Legislature.
Andrew Pollack, of Parkland, is the father of Meadow Pollack, who was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Following the shooting, Pollack met with local, state, and federal officials, including Governor Scott, to help create a plan to keep our schools safe.
In addition, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen will serve as a member of the commission, and the following members shall serve as ex officio members:
President Negron’s appointees are as follows:
State Senator Lauren Book, M.S. Ed, is an internationally respected and renowned child advocate, former classroom teacher and best-selling author. In 2016, she was elected to represent State Senate District 32, which includes portions of Broward County.
Douglas Dodd is a member of the Citrus County School Board. He served in the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office for over 26 years, retiring as a captain. During his career in law enforcement, Mr. Dodd served as a school resource officer for ten years.
James Harpring is the undersheriff for Indian River County and serves as general counsel to the Sheriff’s Department. He also works as an adjunct professor at Indian River State College and as an instructor at the Treasure Coast Law Enforcement Academy.
Melissa Larkin-Skinner, MA, LMHC, is the Chief Executive Officer at Centerstone Florida. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, she has nearly 25 years of experience in mental health and addictions treatment programs including hospital, outpatient, crisis, community based, forensic and child welfare services.
Marsha Powers is a member of the Martin County School Board. She was elected to the School Board in 2012 and re-elected subsequently.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s appointees are as follows:
Max Schachter is the father of Alex Schacter, who was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Schachter advocated for school safety improvements and urged members of the Florida Legislature to enact effective legislation.
Sheriff Grady Judd is the Sheriff of Polk County. Prior to becoming Sheriff in 2004, Sheriff Judd graduated from the FBI National Academy, as well as several other prestigious law enforcement academies, and taught 23 years at both the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is the Sheriff of Pinellas County and has served with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office for 35 years. Sheriff Gualtieri also serves on the board of directors for the Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA), the Major County Sheriff’s Association (MCSA) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.
Chief Asst. State Attorney Mr. Bruce Bartlett – Serving in the State Attorney’s Office for over 22 years, Mr. Bartlett has prosecuted or taken part in the prosecutions of some of Pinellas’ most notorious criminals. He has practiced since 1979 and is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law.
Chief Chris Nelson currently serves as the Chief of Police for the City of Auburndale, a position he has held since 2012. A graduate of Bartow High School, he started his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Bartow Police Department.
Following a meeting with the families of victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Governor Rick Scott today signed SB 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This legislation makes significant reforms to make Florida schools safer, while keeping firearms out of the hands of mentally ill and dangerous individuals. To view the Governor’s major action plan, which was announced on February 23rd, click HERE.
Governor Scott’s full remarks as prepared for delivery upon the signing of SB 7026 are available HERE.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act includes the following provisions:
Keeping Guns Away from Dangerous and Violent Individuals
$400 Million Investment to Keep Students Safe & Enhance Mental Health Treatment
To view the transmittal letters, click HERE.
Florida Governor Rick Scott today signed Senate Bill 7026, The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The legislation represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues presented by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, including firearm and school safety, and community mental health resources.
“I am pleased to see this comprehensive public safety legislation become law today. The Florida Legislature and Governor Scott worked diligently in the days following this horrific shooting to seek input from survivors and their families, as well as concerned citizens across the state,” said Florida Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “We can never replace the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, but in their memory we can, and through this legislation we will, do more to prevent a senseless tragedy like this from ever happening again.”
“The safety of our children is the top priority for all of us in public service. I appreciate the hard work of my colleagues and Governor Scott as we crafted an immediate plan of action to identify where the gaps exist in funding and policy for firearm and school safety, as well as community mental health resources,” said Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) who authored Senate Bill 7026. “The advice of survivors and the family members of the victims played a key role in the development of this legislation, and I was reassured to see the families of the victims join Governor Scott to see this legislation become law today.”
A summary of The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act is below.
Mental Health
In the area of mental health the legislation makes significant changes to keep firearms out of the hands of those suffering from mental illness:
Firearm Safety
The legislation also provides new provisions to ensure full and complete background checks when a firearm is purchased:
The bill addresses two of the most frequent requests Senators heard from the families of victims simply to raise the age for purchasing a firearm and ban devices that turn a legal firearm into an illegal weapon.
School Safety
The bill improves school safety through the following provisions:
The legislation also:
Funding
The legislation appropriates $400 million to implement the bill provisions, including the following:
The Florida Senate today passed Senate Bill 7026, The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The legislation represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues presented by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, including firearm and school safety, and community mental health resources.
“The opportunity to meet with and listen to survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting as well as the families of the victims has had a tremendous impact on each and every Senator and has significantly influenced the development of this important legislation,” said Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) who presented Senate Bill 7026 today. “We are listening. The Senate hears you and we are taking the appropriate steps to help ensure that a senseless tragedy like this never happens again.”
“We can never replace the 17 lives that were lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and we can never erase the traumatic experience that lives on in the memories of those who survived this horrific attack. However, we will do everything we can to address the failure of government to effectively address the numerous warning signs that should have identified the perpetrator as a danger to others. We can and we will increase the resources available to identify and treat those suffering from mental illness, improve the safety and security of our schools, and ensure those suffering from mental illness do not have access to firearms,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart).
A summary of The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act is below.
Mental Health
In the area of mental health the legislation makes significant changes to keep firearms out of the hands of those suffering from mental illness:
Firearm Safety
The legislation also provides new provisions to ensure full and complete background checks when a firearm is purchased:
The bill addresses two of the most frequent requests Senators heard from the families of victims simply to raise the age for purchasing a firearm and ban devices that turn a legal firearm into an illegal weapon.
School Safety
The bill improves school safety through the following provisions:
The legislation also:
Funding
The legislation appropriates $400 million to implement the bill provisions, including the following:
Tomorrow, members of The Florida Legislative Black Caucus will hold a press conference to announce their opposition to legislation moving through the Florida House and Senate that would provide incentives to arm schoolteachers in Florida.
“Putting firearms in the hands of our educators is absurd,” said Sen. Perry Thurston Jr., the Caucus Chair and a Senator representing Broward County where the Parkland shooting occurred. “That’s clearly a job for law enforcement. What lawmakers should be doing is finding ways to keep guns out of our schools, something the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have told us repeatedly.”
The lawmakers will also discuss strategies to amend legislation on the floor of the Florida House and Senate respectively to ban semi-automatic weapons, like the AR 15 that was used to kill 14 students and three adults at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
11:30 AM
4th Floor Rotunda by Senate Chambers
Florida Capitol, 400 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
Governor Rick Scott today visited Tampa, Jacksonville and DeFuniak Springs to highlight his action plan to make major changes to help keep Florida students safe, including a $500 million investment in school safety and mental health. The Governor’s proposal, which was announced last week, followed the emergency meetings Governor Scott organized with law enforcement, school administrators, teachers, mental health experts, and state agency leadership, as well as meetings the Governor hosted with students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Read the Governor’s full action plan HERE.
