Fla. Stat. § 1012.715 — Florida Code / Title XLVIII / Chapter 1012 / Part III / Section 1012.715
1012.715 Heroes in the classroom sign-on bonus.
Status: in_force

(1) PURPOSE. — Subject to legislative appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide a one-time sign-on bonus, as provided in the General Appropriations Act, to honorably discharged or retired military veterans and retired first responders, as defined in s. 112.1815(1), who commit to joining the teaching profession as a full-time classroom teacher. An honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder may receive an additional bonus for teaching a course in a high-demand teacher need area, as identified by the department pursuant to paragraph (3)(e).

(2) ELIGIBILITY. — To be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus, an applicant must be an honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder and provide the following to the department: (a) Documentation of his or her honorable discharge or retirement. (b) Documentation that he or she was not subject to any disciplinary action during the last 5 years of his or her employment as a servicemember in the United States Armed Forces or as a first responder. The term “disciplinary action” includes suspensions, dismissals, and involuntary demotions that were associated with disciplinary actions. (c) A copy of his or her professional certificate or temporary certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56(7). (d) Documentation that he or she agrees to maintain employment with the school district or charter school for a minimum of 2 consecutive school years upon receipt of the sign-on bonus. An individual who accepts a sign-on bonus pursuant to this section but fails to maintain his or her employment pursuant to this paragraph must reimburse the department the amount of the sign-on bonus in a manner prescribed by the department.

(3) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES. — The department shall distribute bonuses pursuant to this section and, at a minimum, must: (a) Establish a method for determining the estimated number of eligible honorably discharged or retired military veterans and retired first responders to be hired in the applicable fiscal year. (b) Establish additional minimum criteria necessary for an individual to be eligible for a sign-on bonus. (c) Establish an estimated cost to the department for developing and administering the bonus program. (d) Establish a method for an individual to reimburse the department if he or she receives the sign-on bonus but does not maintain employment for the required consecutive 2-year period. (e) Identify courses that are in high-demand teacher need areas in which honorably discharged or retired military veterans or retired first responders may teach to be eligible for an additional bonus.

(4) SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES. — A school district that employs an eligible honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder must: (a) Provide any necessary information requested by the department. (b) In a manner established by the department, notify the eligible honorably discharged or retired military veteran or retired first responder that employment may impact his or her pension from a previous employer.

(5) RULEMAKING. — The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this section.

History: s. 9, ch. 2023-38; s. 51, ch. 2023-245.