Florida Senate - 2026                                      SB 52
       
       
        
       By Senator Gaetz
       
       
       
       
       
       1-00208A-26                                             202652__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to security services at places of
    3         worship; amending s. 493.6102, F.S.; providing an
    4         exemption from licensure requirements for certain
    5         volunteers who provide armed security services for
    6         places of worship under certain circumstances;
    7         reenacting s. 493.6201(4), F.S., relating to classes
    8         of licenses, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
    9         493.6102, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
   10         effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Subsection (16) is added to section 493.6102,
   15  Florida Statutes, to read:
   16         493.6102 Inapplicability of this chapter.—This chapter
   17  shall not apply to:
   18         (16) Any person who, on a voluntary basis and without
   19  compensation, provides armed security services on the premises
   20  of a church, mosque, synagogue, or other place of worship,
   21  provided that all of the following conditions are met:
   22         (a) Such services are provided subject to an armed security
   23  plan approved by the sheriff’s office in that county.
   24         (b) The volunteer passes a level 2 background screening
   25  pursuant to s. 435.04.
   26         (c) The volunteer holds a valid Florida concealed weapon or
   27  concealed firearm license under s. 790.06.
   28         (d) The security services are provided exclusively on the
   29  premises of the church, mosque, synagogue, or other place of
   30  worship, including any property owned or leased by the religious
   31  institution for worship, education, or religious activities.
   32         (e) The volunteer does not receive compensation for the
   33  security services. For purposes of this subsection, compensation
   34  does not include reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually
   35  incurred and related to the cost of the volunteer’s training.
   36         Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
   37  made by this act to section 493.6102, Florida Statutes, in a
   38  reference thereto, subsection (4) of section 493.6201, Florida
   39  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
   40         493.6201 Classes of licenses.—
   41         (4) Class “C” or Class “CC” licensees shall own or be an
   42  employee of a Class “A” agency, a Class “A” and Class “B”
   43  agency, or a branch office. This does not include those who are
   44  exempt under s. 493.6102, but who possess a Class “C” license
   45  solely for the purpose of holding a Class “G” license.
   46         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.