Florida 2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 1 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 1655 — Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools

Last action — Died in PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Revising provisions relating to exceptional student education; removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

294 added · 226 removed

294 line(s) added, 226 removed.

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 A bill to be entitled An act relating to exceptional students and video cameras in public schools;
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 A bill to be entitled An act relating to exceptional students and video cameras in public schools;
prohibiting district school superintendents and principals from increasing the total number of students in certain classes by more than a specified percentage;
requiring district school boards to include specified procedures in the exceptional student education policies and procedures;
creating s.
providing that changes to the schedules and assigned classrooms of specified exceptional students may only be made in accordance with specified State Board of Education rules;
1003.5741, F.S.;
requiring the state board to adopt rules to administer specified provisions;
providing definitions;
amending s.
requiring a video camera be placed in certain public school classrooms, including certain charter school classrooms;
1003.574, F.S.;
providing requirements for such video cameras;
deleting references to the Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program;
requiring a written explanation if the operation of such cameras is interrupted;
deleting an obsolete definition of the term "school district";
requiring such explanation to be maintained for a specified time period;
requiring, rather than authorizing, the state board to adopt rules for specified provisions;
requiring a school or charter school to provide written notice of the placement of a video camera to certain persons;
providing requirements for retaining and deleting video recordings;
providing prohibitions for the use of such video cameras and recordings;
providing that a school or charter school principal is the custodian of such video cameras and recordings;
providing requirements for such principals and video recordings;
providing requirements relating to student privacy;
providing requirements for the viewing of such video recordings;
providing an appeal process for actions of a school, Page 1of 9 CODING:
Words strickenare deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 school district, or charter school;
providing that incidental viewings of video recordings by specified persons are not a violation of certain provisions;
providing construction;
requiring the Department of Education to collect specified information;
authorizing the State Board of Education to adopt rules;
Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 1003.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 1003.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1003.57 Exceptional students instruction.— (1) (e) In providing for the education of exceptional students, the district school superintendent, principals, and teachers shall utilize the regular school facilities and adapt them to the needs of exceptional students to the maximum extent appropriate.
1003.57 Exceptional students instruction.— (1) (b) Each district school board shall provide for an Page 1of 11 CODING:
To the extent appropriate, students with disabilities, including those students in public or private institutions or other facilities, shall be educated with students who are not disabled.
Segregation of exceptional students shall occur only if the nature or severity of the exceptionality is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved Page 2of 9 CODING:
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 satisfactorily.
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 appropriate program of special instruction, facilities, and services for exceptional students as prescribed by the State Board of Education as acceptable.
During the school year, a district school superintendent or principal may not impact the special instruction or services being provided to an exceptional student in a separate class by increasing the total number of students in the class by more than 50 percent.
Each district program must:
Section 2.
1.a.
Section 1003.5741, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
Provide the necessary professional services for diagnosis and evaluation of exceptional students.
1003.5741 Video cameras in certain public school classrooms.— (1) As used in this section, the term:
At least once every 3 years, the district school board must submit to the department its proposed procedures for the provision of special instruction and services for exceptional students.
Each district school board shall include the staffing and scheduling procedures for exceptional student education centers, special day schools, or separate classes in the exceptional student education policies and procedures.
The exceptional student education policies and procedures must include the following:
(I) Procedures to notify parents of teacher assignments within the first 10 school days of the school year or upon student's entry to the school.
(II) Procedures to notify parents of any changes in teacher assignments before the change in a teacher assignment occurs if such change is not due to a temporary or incidental teacher absence.
(III) Procedures to notify parents of any permanent changes in physical classroom assignments before the change in a classroom assignment occurs.
(IV) Procedures to quarterly maintain records of the student to staff ratio data for exceptional student education Page 2of 11 CODING:
Words strickenare deletions;
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words underlined are additions.
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 centers, special day schools, or separate classes, including the funding levels generated for each student's services in these settings.
The records shall be available to the department upon request or as part of monitoring processes.
b.
For students in exceptional student education centers, special day schools, or separate classes, a student's schedule may only be changed and a student's class may only be dissolved or combined with other such classes in accordance with the conditions set forth in State Board of Education rule.
c.
The State Board shall adopt rules to implement this subparagraph.
2.
Provide the special instruction, classes, and services, either within the district school system, in cooperation with other district school systems, or through contractual arrangements with approved private schools or community facilities that meet standards established by the commissioner.
3.
Annually provide information describing the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and all other programs and methods of instruction available to the parent of a sensory- impaired student.
4.
Provide instruction to homebound or hospitalized students in accordance with this section and rules adopted by the state board, which must establish, at a minimum, the following:
a.
Criteria for the eligibility of K-12 homebound or Page 3of 11 CODING:
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words underlined are additions.
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 hospitalized students for specially designed instruction.
b.
Procedures for determining student eligibility.
c.
A list of appropriate methods for providing instruction to homebound or hospitalized students.
d.
Requirements for providing instructional services for a homebound or hospitalized student once the student is determined to be eligible.
Eligible students receiving treatment in a children's specialty hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395 must be provided educational instruction from the school district in which the hospital is located until the school district in which the hospital is located enters into an agreement with the school district in which the student resides.
The department shall develop a standard agreement for use by school districts to provide seamless educational instruction to students who transition between school districts while receiving treatment in the children's specialty hospital.
93 No later than August 15, 2016, each school district in which a children's specialty hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395 is located shall enter into an agreement with the hospital which establishes a process by which the hospital must notify the school district of students who may be eligible for instruction consistent with this subparagraph and the timelines for determining student eligibility and providing educational instruction to eligible students.
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hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 Section 2.
Section 1003.574, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1003.574 Video cameras in public school classrooms;
pilot program.—Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program is created for a period of 3 school years.
(1) As used in this section, the term:
An employee of a public school, school district, or charter school;
An employee of a public school or school district;
(b) "Self-contained classroom" means a classroom at a public school or a charter school in which at least one student in regular attendance is nonverbal and is provided special education services and is assigned to one or more such classrooms for at least 50 percent of the instructional day.
(b) "School district" means the Broward County Public Schools.
(2) A school district must provide a video camera to each school with a self-contained classroom.
(b)(c) "Self-contained classroom" means a classroom at a public school in which a majority of the students in regular attendance are provided special education services and are assigned to one or more such classrooms for at least 50 percent of the instructional day.
A charter school must provide a video camera to each self-contained classroom.
(2)(a) A school district shall provide a video camera to any school with a self-contained classroom upon the written request of a parent of a student in the classroom.
(3)(a) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom Page 3of 9 CODING:
(b) Within 30 days after receipt of the request from a parent, a video camera shall be operational in each self- contained classroom in which the parent's student is in regular Page 5of 11 CODING:
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 must be capable of all of the following:
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 attendance for the remainder of the school year, unless the parent withdraws his or her request in writing.
(3) If the student who is the subject of the initial request is no longer in attendance in the classroom and a school discontinues operation of a video camera during a school year, no later than the 5th school day before the date the operation of the video camera is discontinued, the school must notify the parents of each student in regular attendance in the classroom that operation of the video camera will cease unless the continued use of the camera is requested by a parent.
No later than the 10th school day before the end of each school year, the school must notify the parents of each student in regular attendance in the classroom that operation of the video camera will not continue during the following school year unless a written request is submitted by a parent for the next school year.
(4)(a) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom must be capable of all of the following:
(b) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom may not monitor a restroom or any other area in the self- contained classroom in which a student changes his or her clothes, except for the entryway, exitway, or hallway outside a restroom or other area in which a student changes his or her clothes because of the layout of the self-contained classroom.
(b) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom Page 6of 11 CODING:
(c) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom is not required to be in operation when students are not present in the self-contained classroom.
(d) If there is an interruption in the operation of the video camera for any reason, an explanation must be submitted in writing to the school or charter school principal and, if applicable, the district school board which explains the reason for and duration of the interruption.
The written explanation must be maintained at the charter school or district school board office for at least 1 year.
(4) Before a school or charter school initially places a video camera in a self-contained classroom pursuant to this Page 4of 9 CODING:
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 section, the school or charter school shall provide written notice of the placement of such video camera to all of the following:
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 may not monitor a restroom or any other area in the self- contained classroom where a student changes his or her clothes, except for the entryway, exitway, or hallway outside a restroom or other area where a student changes his or her clothes because of the layout of the self-contained classroom.
(c) A video camera placed in a self-contained classroom is not required to be in operation when students are not present in the self-contained classroom.
(d) If there is an interruption in the operation of the video camera for any reason, an explanation must be submitted in writing to the school principal and the district school board which explains the reason for and duration of the interruption.
The written explanation must be maintained at the district school board office for at least 1 year.
(5) Before a school initially places a video camera in a self-contained classroom pursuant to this section, the school shall provide written notice of the placement of such video camera to all of the following:
(c) The school district, if applicable.
(c) The school district.
(d) Each school or charter school employee who is assigned to work with one or more students in the self-contained classroom.
(d) Each school employee who is assigned to work with one or more students in the self-contained classroom.
(5) A school or charter school shall:
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(a) Retain video recorded from a video camera placed pursuant to this section for at least 3 months after the date the video was recorded, after which the recording shall be deleted or otherwise made irretrievable;
or (b) Retain the recording until the conclusion of any investigation or any administrative or legal proceedings that result from the recording have been completed, including, without limitation, the exhaustion of all appeals.
(6) A school, school district, or charter school may not:
(a) Allow regular, continuous, or continual monitoring of video recorded under this section;
or (b) Use video recorded under this section for teacher evaluations or any purpose other than for ensuring the health, Page 5of 9 CODING:
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 safety, and well-being of students receiving special education services in a self-contained classroom.
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 (6) A school shall:
(7) The school or charter school principal is the custodian of a video camera operated pursuant to this section, all recordings generated by that video camera, and access to such recordings.
(a) Retain video recorded from a video camera placed pursuant to this section for at least 3 months after the date the video was recorded, after which the recording shall be deleted or otherwise made unretrievable;
or (b) Retain the recording until the conclusion of any investigation or any administrative or legal proceedings that result from the recording have been completed, including, without limitation, the exhaustion of all appeals.
(7) A school or school district may not:
(a) Allow regular, continuous, or continual monitoring of video recorded under this section;
or (b) Use video recorded under this section for teacher evaluations or any purpose other than for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of students receiving special education services in a self-contained classroom.
(8) The principal of the school is the custodian of a video camera operated pursuant to this section, all recordings generated by that video camera, and access to such recordings.
(b) A school, school district, or charter school shall:
(b) A school or school district shall:
Conceal the identity of each student who appears in a video recording but is not involved in the alleged incident documented by the video recording, which the school allows to be viewed under subsection (8), including, without limitation, blurring the face of the uninvolved student.
Conceal the identity of any student who appears in a video recording, but is not involved in the alleged incident documented by the video recording, which the school allows to be Page 8of 11 CODING:
Words strickenare deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 viewed under subsection (9), including, without limitation, blurring the face of the uninvolved student.
(8)(a) Within 7 days after receiving a request to view a video recording, a school, school district, or charter school shall allow the following persons to view a video recording made under this section:
(9)(a) Within 7 days after receiving a request to view a video recording, a school or school district shall allow the following individuals to view a video recording made under this section:
A school, school district, or charter school employee who is involved in an alleged incident that is documented by the video recording as part of the investigative process;
A school or school district employee who is involved in an alleged incident that is documented by the video recording as part of the investigative process;
A parent of a student who is involved in an alleged incident that is documented by the video recording and has been Page 6of 9 CODING:
A parent of a student who is involved in an alleged incident that is documented by the video recording and has been reported to the school or school district;
Words strickenare deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 reported to the school, school district, or charter school;
A school, school district, or charter school employee as part of an investigation into an alleged incident that is documented by the video recording and has been reported to the school, school district, or charter school;
A school or school district employee as part of an investigation into an alleged incident that is documented by the video recording and has been reported to the school or school district;
(b) A person who requests to view a recording shall make himself or herself available for viewing the recording within 30 days after being notified by the school, school district, or charter school that the person's request has been granted.
(b) A person who requests to view a recording shall make Page 9of 11 CODING:
(c) A person who views the recording and suspects that child abuse has occurred must report the suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Families.
(9)(a) A person may appeal to the State Board of Education an action by a school, school district, or charter school which the person alleges to be in violation of this section.
(b) The state board shall grant a hearing on an appeal under this subsection within 45 days after receiving the appeal.
(10) A school, school district, or charter school does not violate subsection (7) if a contractor or other employee of the Page 7of 9 CODING:
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 school, school district, or charter school incidentally views a video recording made under this section in connection with the performance of his or her duties related to the following:
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 himself or herself available for viewing the recording within 30 days after being notified by the school or school district that the person's request has been granted.
(c) A person who views the recording and suspects that child abuse has occurred must report the suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Families.
(10)(a) Any individual may appeal to the State Board of Education an action by a school or school district which the individual alleges to be in violation of this section.
(b) The state board shall grant a hearing on an appeal under this subsection within 45 days after receiving the appeal.
(11) A school or school district does not violate subsection (8) if a contractor or other employee of the school or school district incidentally views a video recording made under this section in connection with the performance of his or her duties related to either of the following:
(11) This section does not:
(12) This section does not:
(b) Waive any immunity from liability of a school district or charter school or an employee of a school district or charter school.
(b) Waive any immunity from liability of a school district Page 10 of11 CODING:
(c) Create any liability for a cause of action against a school, school district, or charter school or an employee of a school, school district, or charter school carrying out the duties and responsibilities required by this section.
(d) Apply to self-contained classrooms in which the only students receiving special education services are those who have been deemed gifted.
(12) The department shall collect information relating to the installation and maintenance of video cameras under this section.
(13) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to Page 8of 9 CODING:
hb1655-00 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HB1655 2024 implement this section.
hb1655-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB1655 2024 or an employee of a school district.
(c) Create any liability for a cause of action against a school or school district or an employee of a school or school district carrying out the duties and responsibilities required by this section.
(d) Apply to self-contained classrooms in which the only students receiving special education services are those who have been deemed gifted.
(13) The department shall collect information relating to the installation and maintenance of video cameras under this section.
(14) The State Board of Education shall may adopt rules to implement this section.
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hb1655-00
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Action History

  1. Died in PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee

  2. Now in PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee

  3. Referred to Education & Employment Committee

  4. Referred to PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee

  5. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

  6. CS Filed

  7. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

  8. Reported out of Choice & Innovation Subcommittee

  9. Favorable with CS by Choice & Innovation Subcommittee

  10. PCS added to Choice & Innovation Subcommittee agenda

  11. Now in Choice & Innovation Subcommittee

  12. Referred to Education & Employment Committee

  13. Referred to PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee

  14. Referred to Choice & Innovation Subcommittee

  15. 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  16. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 161 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (161)

161 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 161 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Favorable (Choice & Innovation Subcommittee)

Passed 14 Yea · 1 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4000
Republican 8003
Democrat 2100
Total 14103
% of votes cast 78%6%0%17%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Altman — Yea
Amesty — Yea
Roach — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Chambliss, Kevin D. Democrat Yea
Dunkley, Lisa Democrat Yea
Nixon, Angela "Angie" Democrat Nay
Baker, Jessica Republican Yea
Bankson, Douglas Michael "Doug" Republican Not Voting
Basabe, Fabián Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Not Voting
Michael, Kiyan Republican Yea
Persons-Mulicka, Jenna Republican Not Voting
Porras, Juan Carlos Republican Yea
Rizo, Alex Republican Yea
Stark, Paula A. Republican Yea
Valdés, Susan L. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1655 do?
Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools; Revising provisions relating to exceptional student education; removes references to Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program.
Who sponsors HB 1655?
HB 1655 is sponsored by Tramont, Chase (Republican), Chambliss, Kevin D. (Democrat), and Choice & Innovation Subcommittee.
What is the current status of HB 1655?
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 1655?
Track HB 1655 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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