New FL Law Lets “Patriotic” Groups Recruit In Schools

Florida Politics reports:

K-12 students are one step closer to getting some lessons from designated “patriotic” groups after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on allowing certain groups access to K-12 campuses.

Rep. Wyman Duggan’s bill (HB 1317) allows representatives of so-called “patriotic organizations” time to meet with students and distribute recruitment materials, with schools providing designated time for these groups to pitch their attendees.

The bill stipulates that these groups can use school buildings even after the instructional day is over, and stipulates that other groups don’t have the legal right to “equal time.” It also requires that schools set a time and date for the group to speak to students after “reasonable notice” was provided by one of these organizations.

Read the full article. A press release from DeSantis lists the Little League, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and Future Farmers of America as among the groups to be given recruitment time, but you can bet that there will be very shady others.

We’re establishing a statewide school chaplain program in Florida to support students and ensuring that patriotic organizations can visit schools and encourage student participation. pic.twitter.com/w8VVeyYzM0

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 18, 2024