Part 1 - Inside Governor Scott's comprehensive school and state safety reform plan
Bottom Line: On Friday Governor Scott unveiled a comprehensive plan to reform school safety, the mental health system and gun control. My initial takeaway was a bit of surprise regarding how detailed, considered and extensive it was for such a short window of time (one full week) in the wake of the Parkland shooting. My goal in this two-part story is to evaluate the major proposals and apply the best public sentiment to them that's available. So, here's a rundown of the major proposals.
Gun control:
People under 21 will be banned from buying or possessing firearms (excluding military & law enforcement)
Ban on bump stocks
Violent Threat Restraining Order - New program which empowers courts to be the arbiters of whether one is of sound mind for the purpose of possessing or buying firearms - with a minimum 60 day waiting period after any official sworn statement provided by law enforcement or person known by the individual in question
Mental health:
The violent Threat Restraining Order program is ultimately a mental health initiative that segs essentially within Florida's "Baker Act". The primary differences being that unlike current law in which one's free to possess and purchase after being cleared from a Baker Act detention - one would have to have rights to own and possess reinstated by the courts with a minimum stay of 60 days
Increase in mental health councilors in schools throughout the state
School Safety:
$500 million in increased funding for school security initiatives statewide
Mandatory law enforcement on campus - 1 officer per 1,000 students effective at the beginning of the new school year
Revised code for physical school security including bullet proof glass, metal detectors, improved locking mechanisms for access doors
Mandatory active shooter drills effective with the beginning of the new school year
General safety:
State run "See something, say something" program - Would allow the state, to coordinate information independent of relying on federal authorities. Would include a 24/7 maintained hotline, app & website in which all Floridians could have ease of access to report concerns and to be informed about potential threats
Notably, absent from this proposal - the governor isn't proposing or exploring the potential for qualified educators to be able to carry on campus and he also isn't calling on a ban for AR's. In part two we'll explore the political considerations of these proposals.