Florida could withhold salaries of school officials who implement mask mandates

The Florida Board of Education may withhold the salaries of superintendents and school board members who enact mask mandates in schools, Governor Ron DeSantis' office said Monday. DeSantis last week signed an executive order barring school districts in the state from requiring students to wear masks in school.

"It would be the goal of the State Board of Education to narrowly tailor any financial consequences to the offense committed," the governor's office said in a statement to CBS Miami. "For example, the State Board of Education could move to withhold the salary of the district superintendent or school board members, as a narrowly tailored means to address the decision-makers who led to the violation of law." The statement appears to clarify penalties mentioned in DeSantis' executive order, which read "The Florida Commissioner of Education shall pursue all legal means available to ensure school districts adhere to Florida law, including but not limited to withholding state funds from non-compliant school boards violating any rules or agency action taken pursuant to Section 1 above."