6A-1.0020. Florida Safe Schools Canine Program

(1) The purpose of this rule is to set forth requirements relating to the Florida Safe Schools Canine Program whereby a person, school, or business entity can be designated as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner (FSSCP) if the person, school, or business entity provides a monetary or in-kind donation to a law enforcement agency to purchase, train, or care for a firearm detection canine.

(2) Definitions.

(a) “Firearm detection canine” means any canine that is owned or the service of which is employed by a law enforcement agency for use in Florida’s K-12 schools for the primary purpose of aiding in the detection of firearms and ammunition. A firearm detection canine must be trained to interact with children and must complete behavior and temperament training.

(b) “Law enforcement agency” means any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency located in Florida.

(c) “School” means a K-12 public school, as defined in Section 1003.01(2), F.S., a charter school, as defined in Section 1002.33, F.S., or a private school as defined in Section 1002.01, F.S.

(3) Eligibility. Individuals, schools, or businesses must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the designation as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner:

(a) Donation. A law enforcement agency may nominate a person, school, or business entity to be designated as a FSSCP, or such person, school, or business entity may apply to the Office to be designated as a FSSCP if a monetary or in-kind donation is made to a law enforcement agency for the purchase, training, or care of a firearm detection canine.

1. Individuals must make a minimum monetary or in-kind donation valued at $500.00, and schools or business entities must make a minimum monetary or in-kind donation valued at $1,000.00.

2. In-kind donations are non-cash gifts and must be accompanied by verification of the value of the gift as determined by the donor, such as a receipt, appraisal, or other documentation accepted by the receiving law enforcement agency.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, the Department retains sole discretion to determine eligibility.

(4) Nomination and Application Process. Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, nominations and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, as follows:

(a) A law enforcement agency may nominate a person, school, or business entity for the designation by submitting an online Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner Nomination Form available at www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/canine.

(b) A person, school, or business entity may apply for the designation for themselves by submitting an online Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner Application Form, available at www.fldoe.org/safe-schools/canine.

(c) A Nomination or Application must include documentation from the law enforcement agency certifying the date of the donation and that the donation is for the purchase, training, or care of a firearm detection canine.

(d) The Office of Safe Schools (“Office”) will review the Nomination or Application and will notify the law enforcement agency or applicant in writing that the form was received, whether there are any missing or deficient elements, and whether there is a need for additional information.

(5) Designation. The Office will notify applicants and nominees who meet the eligibility criteria in subsection (3), and nominees will be given the opportunity to accept the designation. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice, the nominee must:

(a) Certify the information in the notice is true and accurate and accept the nomination;

(b) Provide corrected information for consideration by the Office and indicate an intention to accept the nomination; or

(c) Decline the nomination.

(d) If the nominee declines the nomination or does not accept the nomination within thirty (30) days, it will not be awarded.

(e) Once awarded, individuals, schools, and businesses will maintain their designation as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner for one (1) calendar year.

(f) Florida Safe Schools Canine Partners may elect to discontinue their designated status by contacting the Office at [e-mail].

(6) Use of the Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner logo.

(a) A person, school, or business that has been designated a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner will be provided electronic copies of the FSSCP logo.

(b) The logo may be displayed by Florida Safe Schools Canine Partners in print or digital formats and may only be reproduced from approved artwork provided by the Office. The logo may not be recreated by any other means, in any other form, or altered in any way, including the use of unapproved tag lines, abbreviations, or translations.

(c) Display of the FSSCP logo does not mean that the Florida Department of Education approves of or endorses the individual or entity displaying the logo. Use of the Florida Department of Education’s name or logo is prohibited.

(d) A person, school, or business entity that has not been designated as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner, whose designation has expired, or has elected to discontinue its designated status may not display the logo.

(7) The following forms are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

(a) Nomination Form for a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner, Form FSSCP-001 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15902) effective September 2023.

(b) Application Form for a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner, Form FSSCP-002 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15903) effective September 2023.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(l), (2)(n), 1006.121(8) FS. Law Implemented 1001.212, 1006.121 FS. History‒New 9-26-23.