S 430

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 430
By Senator Yarborough
4-00518A-26  2026430__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to oaths of school personnel; creating
3s. 1012.591, F.S.; requiring specified persons
4employed as members of school personnel to take a
5specified oath before entering upon the duties of a
6member of the school personnel; creating s. 1012.802,
7F.S.; requiring persons employed in an administrative
8or instructional capacity at a Florida College System
9institution or state university to take a specified
10oath before entering upon the duties of a person
11employed in an administrative or instructional
12capacity; providing an effective date.
13
14Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16Section 1. Section 1012.591, Florida Statutes, is created
17to read:
181012.591 Oath of school personnel.—Before entering upon the
19duties of a member of the instructional or administrative
20personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, or
21of a prekindergarten instructor as defined in s. 1002.51(6), a
22person must subscribe to the following oath:
23
24I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support,
25protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of
26the United States and the Constitution and Government
27of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified for
28employment as a member of the school personnel in this
29state; that I will well and faithfully perform the
30duties of a member of the school personnel in a
31professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan
32manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of
33academic integrity and professional ethics; that I
34will foster a respectful learning environment for all
35students which promotes critical thinking, civic
36responsibility, and lifelong learning; and that I will
37serve as a positive role model in both conduct and
38character, so help me God.
39Section 2. Section 1012.802, Florida Statutes, is created
40to read:
411012.802 Oath of administrative and instructional
42employees.—Before entering upon the duties of a person employed
43in an administrative or instructional capacity of a Florida
44College System institution or state university, a person
45employed in such capacity must subscribe to the following oath:
46
47I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support,
48protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of
49the United States and the Constitution and Government
50of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified as a
51person employed in an administrative or instructional
52capacity in this state; that I will well and
53faithfully perform the duties of a person employed in
54an administrative or instructional capacity in a
55professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan
56manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of
57academic integrity and professional ethics; that I
58will foster a respectful learning environment for all
59students which promotes critical thinking, civic
60responsibility, and lifelong learning; and that I will
61serve as a positive role model in both conduct and
62character, so help me God.
63Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.