Florida Announces Major Legislation To Combat Critical Race Theory In Schools With A Bill That Would Allow Video, Audio Recording in Classrooms

A new bill filed in the Florida state legislature seeks to allow video and audio recordings in public school classrooms and also require teachers to wear microphones and allow parents to review video of “incidents”

This bill, HB1055 is sponsored by Florida Republican State Representative Bob Rommel from Naples.

“[HB1055] would allow school districts to install video cameras in classrooms for the purposes of recording an ‘incident’ — which it defines as abuse or neglect of a student by an employee or another student,” WFLA reported.

“Parents of a child involved in an incident must be allowed to review the video within a week, with a stipulation that the identity of other students who aren’t involved must be blurred. Teachers in schools that adopt cameras would be required to wear microphones. Cameras must be placed at the front of the classroom, capable of monitoring video and audio from all areas except a restroom or other changing areas.” The report adds.

Parents, students, and employees would have to be notified before cameras are installed.

The school principal would be in-charge of the recordings and all recordings must be preserved for at least three months or “until the conclusion of any investigation or any administrative or legal proceedings.” According to this bill.

“The cameras cannot be livestreamed or continually monitored, and videos cannot be used for teacher evaluations,” the WFLA report adds. “The law would require all school districts to complete and vote on whether to implement classroom cameras by Jan. 1, 2023.” It continues.

This announcement comes shortly after the state’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced earlier last month a “first of its kind in the nation” legislation to fight Critical Race Theories in schools.

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