Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 14 bills Monday, including one that makes a series of changes related to the Florida Cyber Security Center at the University of South Florida.
The bill authorizes, but does not require, the Center to provide assistance to state agencies upon request. Such assistance could include cybersecurity training and improving the cybersecurity effectiveness of technology platforms, according to an analysis of the House bill.
The bill also allows the center to be called “CyberFlorida.” Another bill signed by Mr. DeSantis, HB 353, would give local appellate court judges additional options on where to set up their chambers. Such facilities would be allowed to be established in counties adjacent to the judge's county of residence.
Read: Florida Rep. Greg Steube introduces Iran Terrorism Prevention Act
Among other bills, DeSantis signed a bill (SB 544) that would require the state Department of Health to establish a network of swim lesson providers to participate in the swim lesson voucher program.
The program would cover tuition costs for families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, for example $60,000 for a family of four. To qualify, her family must have at least one child under her age of 4.
The voucher program is funded with $500,000 included in the bill.
On Monday, the Legislature also formally sent DeSantis an education bill (HB 1285) that would partially limit the number of book challenges that people without children in a school district can file.
The measure is seen as a clean-up of a 2022 law that will increase public scrutiny of school library books and classroom materials. DeSantis is expected to sign the new bill, which he discussed during a news conference in Pensacola on Monday.
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