Senate Committee OKs bill to expand guardians program to higher education

A bill that would allow Florida public universities and state colleges to start their own guardian programs so faculty could be armed on campus has passed its first Committee test. 

SB 896, sponsored by Sen. Don Gaetz, cleared the Senate Criminal Justice Committee with a 7-1 vote.

Republicans and Democrats were divided on whether the guardian program, allowing faculty and staff to carry guns on campus, was the best way to keep college students safe.

“I fundamentally don’t believe that adding more guns to the equation, particularly in the hands of civilians, is something that will help us,” said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat and the lone dissenting vote. “I worry that bills like this are the camel’s nose underneath the tent to bring us a full campus carry, which I know this Committee rejected last Session.”

Currently public universities and state colleges currently ban guns on campus despite Florida becoming an open carry state.

Gaetz argued universities would not be required to participate and could decide whether or not to opt into the Guardian program that is already allowed in K-12 schools from a post-Parkland school shooting law.

“It’s entirely optional,” said Gaetz, a Crestview Republican. “And so if they want to join 53 School Districts who have reported no problems and are very highly satisfied with the guardian program, they can. If they don’t want to, they don’t have to.”

SB 896 sets the training requirements for guardians and would require the local Sheriff’s Office to assist setting up guardian programs as post-secondary educational institutions.

Although he did not attend Wednesday’s hearing, State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues signaled he was in support of the bill.

SB 896 has two Committee stops to go before the bill reaches the full Senate floor.

The school safety bill comes following a high-profile shooting last year at Florida State University that killed two adults and wounded five others. 

Critics of the guardian program argue having armed security guards doesn’t provide the same level of protection as employing experienced law enforcement officers. However, supporters say guardians offer a more affordable protection for schools struggling financially, and point out that guardians receive training to deescalate situations.