Bill Text: FL S1014 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Pilot Program

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-03-04 - Introduced [S1014 Detail]

Download: Florida-2025-S1014-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2025                                    SB 1014
       
       
        
       By Senator Rouson
       
       
       
       
       
       16-01791-25                                           20251014__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Youth Conflict Resolution and
    3         Peer Mediation Pilot Program; amending s. 1003.64,
    4         F.S.; creating the Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer
    5         Mediation Pilot Program within the Community School
    6         Grant Program for a specified period; providing the
    7         purpose of the pilot program; requiring the Center for
    8         Community Schools at the University of Central Florida
    9         to implement the pilot program and a specified
   10         curriculum; requiring the center to implement a
   11         certain curriculum for the pilot program; requiring
   12         the center to work with the Department of Education to
   13         identify and implement the curriculum; requiring the
   14         center to identify certain schools to participate in
   15         the program; providing participating school
   16         responsibilities; requiring the center to provide a
   17         report to the department; providing requirements for
   18         the report; providing for the future expiration of the
   19         pilot program; providing an effective date.
   20          
   21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   22  
   23         Section 1. Subsection (5) is added to section 1003.64,
   24  Florida Statutes, to read:
   25         1003.64 Community School Grant Program.—It is the intent of
   26  the Legislature to improve student success and well-being by
   27  engaging and supporting parents and community organizations in
   28  their efforts to positively impact student learning and
   29  development.
   30         (5) YOUTH CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PEER MEDIATION PILOT
   31  PROGRAM.—No later than the 2026-2027 school year, the center
   32  shall administer the Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer
   33  Mediation Pilot Program for a period of 3 school years. The
   34  center shall implement a conflict resolution and peer mediation
   35  curriculum to reduce juvenile violence by equipping students
   36  with essential skills for peaceful conflict resolution. The
   37  center shall:
   38         (a) Seek input from the Department of Education on the
   39  selection of a conflict resolution and peer mediation curriculum
   40  to implement at each selected school and identify potential ways
   41  to integrate the curriculum during the school day to maximize
   42  exposure to and use of conflict resolution skills.
   43         (b) Identify middle or high schools to participate in the
   44  program. Priority must be given to schools with a high rate of
   45  juvenile violence which have community partners who will assist
   46  with implementation.
   47         (c) Require each participating school to:
   48         1. Provide training on the curriculum and, where possible,
   49  include community partners who interact with the students at the
   50  school in such training.
   51         2. Provide students with skills to resolve conflicts at
   52  school and away from school without undermining the school’s
   53  existing disciplinary framework.
   54         3. Provide data and information requested by the center.
   55         4. Complete a pre-pilot program and post-pilot program
   56  survey created by the center.
   57         (d) Monitor the implementation of the pilot program and
   58  assist participating schools with integrating the curriculum and
   59  reinforcing the conflict resolution skills throughout the school
   60  day.
   61         (e) Collect relevant student discipline data and
   62  information relating to the rates of juvenile violence in
   63  selected schools before and after implementation of the pilot
   64  program.
   65         (f) Create a pre-pilot program and post-pilot program
   66  survey that must be completed by the school administrators,
   67  teachers, and parents at participating schools.
   68         (g) Provide periodic updates to the department on the
   69  implementation of the pilot program.
   70         (h) Upon completion of the pilot program, provide a report
   71  to the department. The report must include, at a minimum, the
   72  following:
   73         1. The number of students enrolled at the participating
   74  schools.
   75         2. The rates of student discipline and juvenile violence in
   76  selected schools before the pilot program.
   77         3. The rates of student discipline and juvenile violence in
   78  selected schools after implementation of the pilot program.
   79         4. The results from the pre-pilot program and post-pilot
   80  program survey.
   81         5. Recommendations for the inclusion of the curriculum at
   82  middle and high schools across this state.
   83  
   84  This subsection expires upon the submission of the report
   85  required under paragraph (h).
   86         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.