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Committee advances Evan B. Hartsell Act to add disability history and awareness instruction
Summary
The Senate education committee adopted an amendment and voted to report favorably CS/ SB 540, the Evan B. Hartsell Act, which directs the Florida Department of Education to develop age‑graded disability history and awareness curricula and allows consultation with the Evan B. Hartsell Foundation.
Senators on the Committee on Education Pre‑K–12 on Thursday adopted an amendment and voted to report favorably CS/ SB 540, the Evan B. Hartsell Act, a bill that would require the Florida Department of Education to develop grade‑level curricula about physical and intellectual disabilities.
The amendment, offered by sponsor Senator Collins, structures the curriculum by grade bands: kindergarten through grade 3 would introduce physical disabilities and address bullying; grades 4–6 would focus on autism spectrum disorders; grades 7–9 would cover hearing impairments; and grades 10–12 would address learning styles and intellectual disabilities. The amendment also authorizes the department to consult with the Evan B. Hartsell Foundation on curriculum development.
The measure’s sponsor framed the bill as an effort to reduce stigma and increase understanding. Melissa Hartsell, mother of Evan Bradford Hartsell and a representative of the Evan B. Hartsell Foundation, testified in support and described her son’s life and the classroom lessons she said his peers gained from being included with him. "Evan wanted people to see his ability and not just his disability," Hartsell told the committee.
Senator Burgess and other members praised the bill during debate, noting existing academic programs that use the curriculum at higher‑education institutions. The committee adopted the sponsor’s delete‑all amendment by voice vote and later moved CS/ SB 540 to be reported favorably by roll call.
Votes and formal action: the committee adopted amendment barcode 729,992 presented by Senator Collins and then voted to report CS/ SB 540 favorably. The chair announced the committee report after the roll call.
Background and context: the proposal is presented as K–12 curricular guidance rather than a mandate to districts about how to deliver instruction. The bill text allows consultation with the named foundation to inform content and age appropriateness. Supporters said the measure aims to reduce bullying and increase empathy; no statutory citation or required funding appropriation was referenced during the committee discussion.
What’s next: CS/ SB 540 was reported favorably by the committee and will move to the next step in the Senate process.
