Bill Text: FL S0384 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Medical Use of Marijuana in Schools
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2019-05-03 - Died in Health Policy [S0384 Detail]
Download: Florida-2019-S0384-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2019 SB 384 By Senator Montford 3-00903-19 2019384__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to medical use of marijuana in 3 schools; amending s. 381.986, F.S.; conforming 4 provisions to changes made by the act; authorizing a 5 qualified patient to designate more than one caregiver 6 to assist with the qualified patient’s medical use of 7 marijuana if the qualified patient is a student whose 8 parent has requested that a county-designated 9 caregiver assist the student with the medical use of 10 marijuana during the school day; authorizing a county 11 designated caregiver to register as a caregiver for 12 more than one qualified patient if the patients are 13 students whose parents have requested that a county 14 designated caregiver assist them with the medical use 15 of marijuana during the school day; conforming cross 16 references; creating s. 381.9867, F.S.; defining 17 terms; providing a procedure for a parent of a student 18 who is a qualified patient to request that marijuana 19 be administered to the student during the school day; 20 requiring certain information to be included in the 21 written request to a school principal; specifying that 22 a registered caregiver of a student who is authorized 23 by that student’s parent to administer marijuana to 24 the student during the school day is responsible for 25 obtaining, accounting for, and storing the marijuana 26 and any marijuana delivery devices; requiring a school 27 principal who receives a request authorizing a county 28 designated caregiver to administer marijuana to the 29 student to notify the county health department for the 30 county in which the school is located; requiring a 31 county health department that has received such 32 notification to notify the Department of Health of the 33 request; requiring the department to designate no more 34 than two employees of the county health department to 35 serve as county-designated caregivers; requiring such 36 employees to obtain registration and to meet certain 37 criteria; requiring a county-designated caregiver to 38 follow any procedures adopted by department rule; 39 requiring the caregiver of the student to provide an 40 appropriate supply of marijuana, and any marijuana 41 delivery devices, needed to be administered during the 42 school day to a county-designated caregiver at a 43 county health department building; requiring the 44 county-designated caregiver to receive, document, and 45 account for the marijuana and any marijuana delivery 46 devices; requiring marijuana in its original container 47 and marijuana delivery devices to be stored under lock 48 and key when not in use or when being transported for 49 use; providing that a county-designated caregiver is 50 not liable for civil damages as a result of his or her 51 actions if certain criteria are met; requiring a 52 school principal who has received a request for 53 marijuana to be administered during the school day to 54 a student who is a qualified patient to designate an 55 isolated area on school grounds where marijuana may be 56 administered to the student; requiring that a 57 caregiver or a county-designated caregiver 58 administering marijuana to the student do so in the 59 area designated by the school principal; prohibiting 60 marijuana and marijuana delivery devices from being 61 stored on school grounds; prohibiting a school from 62 obstructing a student who is a qualified patient from 63 accessing marijuana during the school day; providing 64 that funding needed to administer this section shall 65 be provided from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund 66 within the Department of Health from certain fees 67 collected by the department; requiring the department 68 to adopt rules; amending s. 1006.062, F.S.; deleting a 69 requirement that each district school board adopt a 70 policy and a procedure for allowing a student who is a 71 qualified patient to access marijuana for medical use; 72 providing an effective date. 73 74 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 75 76 Section 1. Paragraph (j) of subsection (1), subsection (6), 77 paragraph (c) of subsection (12), and paragraphs (f) and (g) of 78 subsection (14) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, are 79 amended to read: 80 381.986 Medical use of marijuana.— 81 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 82 (j) “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, 83 delivery, transfer, or administration of marijuana authorized by 84 a physician certification. The term does not include: 85 1. Possession, use, or administration of marijuana that was 86 not purchased or acquired from a medical marijuana treatment 87 center. 88 2. Possession, use, or administration of marijuana in a 89 form for smoking, in the form of commercially produced food 90 items other than edibles, or of marijuana seeds or flower, 91 except for flower in a sealed, tamper-proof receptacle for 92 vaping. 93 3. Use or administration of any form or amount of marijuana 94 in a manner that is inconsistent with the qualified physician’s 95 directions or physician certification. 96 4. Transfer of marijuana to a person other than the 97 qualified patient for whom it was authorized or the qualified 98 patient’s caregiver on behalf of the qualified patient. 99 5. Use or administration of marijuana in the following 100 locations: 101 a. On any form of public transportation, except for low-THC 102 cannabis. 103 b. In any public place, except for low-THC cannabis. 104 c. In a qualified patient’s place of employment, except 105 when permitted by his or her employer. 106 d. In a state correctional institution, as defined in s. 107 944.02, or a correctional institution, as defined in s. 944.241. 108 e. On the grounds of a preschool, primary school, or 109 secondary school, except as provided in s. 381.9867s. 1006.062. 110 f. In a school bus, a vehicle, an aircraft, or a motorboat, 111 except for low-THC cannabis. 112 (6) CAREGIVERS.— 113 (a) The department must register an individual as a 114 caregiver on the medical marijuana use registry and issue a 115 caregiver identification card if an individual designated by a 116 qualified patient meets all of the requirements of this 117 subsection and department rule. 118 (b) A caregiver must: 119 1. Not be a qualified physician and not be employed by or 120 have an economic interest in a medical marijuana treatment 121 center or a marijuana testing laboratory. 122 2. Be 21 years of age or older and a resident of this 123 state. 124 3. Agree in writing to assist with the qualified patient’s 125 medical use of marijuana. 126 4. Be registered in the medical marijuana use registry as a 127 caregiver for no more than one qualified patient, except as 128 provided in this paragraph. 129 5. Successfully complete a caregiver certification course 130 developed and administered by the department or its designee, 131 which must be renewed biennially. The price of the course may 132 not exceed $100. 133 6. Pass a background screening pursuant to subsection (9), 134 unless the patient is a close relative of the caregiver. 135 (c) A qualified patient may not designatenomore than one 136 caregiver to assist with the qualified patient’s medical use of 137 marijuana, unless: 138 1. The qualified patient is a minor and the designated 139 caregivers are parents or legal guardians of the qualified 140 patient; 141 2. The qualified patient is an adult who has an 142 intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the 143 patient from being able to protect or care for himself or 144 herself without assistance or supervision and the designated 145 caregivers are the parents or legal guardians of the qualified 146 patient;or147 3. The qualified patient is admitted to a hospice program; 148 or 149 4. The qualified patient is a student whose parent has 150 requested that a county-designated caregiver assist the student 151 with the medical use of marijuana during the school day pursuant 152 to s. 381.9867. 153 (d) A caregiver may not be registered in the medical 154 marijuana use registry as a designated caregiver fornomore 155 than one qualified patient, unless: 156 1. The caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than 157 one minor who is a qualified patient; 158 2. The caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than 159 one adult who is a qualified patient and who has an intellectual 160 or developmental disability that prevents the patient from being 161 able to protect or care for himself or herself without 162 assistance or supervision;or163 3. All qualified patients whom the caregiver has agreed to 164 assist are admitted to a hospice program and have requested the 165 assistance of that caregiver with the medical use of marijuana; 166 the caregiver is an employee of the hospice; and the caregiver 167 provides personal care or other services directly to clients of 168 the hospice in the scope of that employment; or 169 4. All qualified patients whom the caregiver has agreed to 170 assist are students whose parents have requested the assistance 171 of a county-designated caregiver to assist them with the medical 172 use of marijuana during the school day pursuant to s. 381.9867, 173 and the caregiver is a county-designated caregiver. 174 (e) A caregiver may not receive compensation, other than 175 actual expenses incurred, for any services provided to the 176 qualified patient. 177 (f) If a qualified patient is younger than 18 years of age, 178 only a caregiver may purchase or administer marijuana for 179 medical use by the qualified patient. The qualified patient may 180 not purchase marijuana. 181 (g) A caregiver must be in immediate possession of his or 182 her medical marijuana use registry identification card at all 183 times when in possession of marijuana or a marijuana delivery 184 device and must present his or her medical marijuana use 185 registry identification card upon the request of a law 186 enforcement officer. 187 (h) The department may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 188 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this subsection. 189 (12) PENALTIES.— 190 (c) A qualified patient who uses marijuana, not including 191 low-THC cannabis, or a caregiver who administers marijuana, not 192 including low-THC cannabis, in plain view of or in a place open 193 to the general public; in a school bus, a vehicle, an aircraft, 194 or a boat; or on the grounds of a school, except as provided in 195 s. 381.9867s. 1006.062, commits a misdemeanor of the first 196 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 197 (14) EXCEPTIONS TO OTHER LAWS.— 198(f) Notwithstanding s. 893.13, s. 893.135, s. 893.147, or199any other provision of law, but subject to the requirements of200this section and pursuant to policies and procedures established201pursuant to s. 1006.62(8), school personnel may possess202marijuana that is obtained for medical use pursuant to this203section by a student who is a qualified patient.204 (f)(g)Notwithstanding s. 893.13, s. 893.135, s. 893.147, 205 or any other provision of law, but subject to the requirements 206 of this section, a research institute established by a public 207 postsecondary educational institution, such as the H. Lee 208 Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc., established 209 under s. 1004.43, or a state university that has achieved the 210 preeminent state research university designation under s. 211 1001.7065 may possess, test, transport, and lawfully dispose of 212 marijuana for research purposes as provided by this section. 213 Section 2. Section 381.9867, Florida Statutes, is created 214 to read: 215 381.9867 Medical use of marijuana in schools.— 216 (1) As used in this section, the term: 217 (a) “Caregiver” has the same meaning as in s. 381.986(1). 218 (b) “County-designated caregiver” means an employee of a 219 county health department designated by the department pursuant 220 to subsection (4) who has an identification card and is 221 registered as a caregiver pursuant to s. 381.986(6). 222 (c) “Marijuana,” “marijuana delivery device,” “medical 223 use,” “physician certification,” and “qualified patient” have 224 the same meanings as in s. 381.986(1). 225 (2) A parent of a student who is a qualified patient may 226 request that marijuana obtained pursuant to s. 381.986 be 227 administered to the student during the school day. A request 228 must be made in writing to the school principal and must include 229 all of the following information: 230 (a) A copy of the student’s current patient identification 231 card as described in s. 381.986(7)(a). 232 (b) A copy of the student’s current physician certification 233 as described in s. 381.986(4). 234 (c) A statement that explains the necessity for 235 administration of the marijuana during the school day, including 236 any occasion when the student is away from school property on 237 official school business. 238 (d) A statement authorizing a registered caregiver of the 239 student or a county-designated caregiver to administer marijuana 240 to the student. If the parent is the registered caregiver of the 241 student, the parent may include a statement of his or her desire 242 to administer marijuana to the student. 243 (3) If the parent authorizes the registered caregiver of 244 the student to administer marijuana to the student during the 245 school day, the caregiver is responsible for obtaining, 246 accounting for, and storing the marijuana and any marijuana 247 delivery devices as provided in this section and s. 381.986. 248 (4)(a) Upon receiving a request that includes a statement 249 authorizing a county-designated caregiver to administer 250 marijuana to a student, a school principal shall promptly notify 251 the county health department for the county in which the school 252 is located. Upon receipt of the notification, the county health 253 department shall notify the department of the request, and the 254 department shall designate no more than two employees of the 255 county health department to serve as county-designated 256 caregivers. A county-designated caregiver shall follow any 257 procedures adopted by department rule under subsection (8). 258 (b) The caregiver of the student shall provide to a county 259 designated caregiver at a county health department building an 260 appropriate supply of marijuana and any marijuana delivery 261 devices necessary for administration of the marijuana during the 262 school day, all of which must be obtained pursuant to s. 263 381.986. The county-designated caregiver shall document and 264 account for the marijuana and any marijuana delivery devices 265 received. The county-designated caregiver is responsible for the 266 transportation of the marijuana and marijuana delivery devices 267 used in the administration of marijuana to the student to and 268 from the county health department building and the school. When 269 the marijuana or marijuana delivery devices are not in use or 270 being transported for use, the marijuana must be placed in its 271 original container and it and any marijuana delivery devices 272 must be stored in a secure fashion under lock and key. 273 (c) A county-designated caregiver is not liable for civil 274 damages arising out of his or her actions taken in connection 275 with assisting students who are qualified patients with the 276 medical use of marijuana, if the county-designated caregiver 277 acts as a reasonably prudent person would have acted under the 278 same or similar circumstances. 279 (5) A school principal who receives a request under 280 subsection (2) must designate an isolated area on school grounds 281 where marijuana may be administered to the student. A caregiver 282 or county-designated caregiver may administer marijuana to the 283 student on school grounds only in the designated area. Marijuana 284 and marijuana delivery devices may not be stored on school 285 grounds. 286 (6) A school may not obstruct a student who is a qualified 287 patient from accessing marijuana during the school day in 288 accordance with this section. 289 (7) Funding to administer this section must be provided 290 through the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the 291 Department of Health from fees collected by the department under 292 s. 381.986. 293 (8) The department shall adopt rules necessary to 294 administer this section. 295 Section 3. Subsection (8) of section 1006.062, Florida 296 Statutes, is amended to read: 297 1006.062 Administration of medication and provision of 298 medical services by district school board personnel.— 299(8) Each district school board shall adopt a policy and a300procedure for allowing a student who is a qualified patient, as301defined in s. 381.986, to use marijuana obtained pursuant to302that section. Such policy and procedure shall ensure access by303the qualified patient; identify how the marijuana will be304received, accounted for, and stored; and establish processes to305prevent access by other students and school personnel whose306access would be unnecessary for the implementation of the307policy.308 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.