TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida legislative leaders are rejecting Gov. Rick Scott's push to give school districts an additional $58 million to hire more campus police officers.
Incoming House Speaker Jose Oliva and incoming Senate President Bill Galvano said Wednesday the money should remain budgeted for the state's guardian program, which allows districts to hire armed civilian security guards and arm non-teaching employees.
After a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Scott and the Legislature passed a law requiring all public schools have armed security whenever open.
An Associated Press survey found a third of the state's 67 districts are using guardians - the rest are hiring police. That meant only $9 million of the $67 million guardian budget has been spent.
Scott said Tuesday he wants the extra money freed for police officers.
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