Thursday, March 6, 2014
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee:
SB 622 – Paper Recycling by Clemens — PASSED
The bill requires each district school board to develop a paper recycling program to be implemented within each classroom of the school district; requires money received for the recycling of paper or paper products to be deposited into the school district’s general fund, etc.
In the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee:
SB 612 – Preference in the Award of State Contracts by Hays – PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
The bill expands provisions that require an agency, university, college, school district, or other political subdivision of the state to provide preferential consideration to a Florida business in awarding competitively bid contracts to purchase personal property to include the purchase of construction services; requiring counties and municipalities to provide such preferential consideration, etc
SB 7064 – Public Records & Meetings by Governmental Oversight – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
The bill revises the general state policy on public records; authorizing a person to make a request to inspect or copy a public record at certain agency offices; providing that public records requests need not be in writing unless otherwise required by law; providing that a party filing an action against certain agencies is not required to serve a copy of a pleading claiming attorney fees on the Department of Financial Services, etc.
In the House Education Committee:
HB 173 – Juvenile Justice Education Programs by Adkins – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill revises requirements for multiagency education plan for students in juvenile justice education programs; revises requirements effective education programs for youth in DJJ programs; revises contract & cooperative agreement requirements for delivery of appropriate education services to youth in DJJ programs; revises requirements for activities to be coordinated by coordinators for juvenile justice education programs; requires that educational program shall be based on each youth’s reentry plan & assessed needs; provides requirements for prevention & day-treatment juvenile justice education programs; requires progress monitoring plans for all non-exceptional student students; requires that DOE, in partnership with DJJ, ensure that school districts & juvenile justice education providers develop educational transition plans; requires DOE to establish student performance measures & program performance ratings; requires comprehensive accountability & school improvement process; provides requirements for such process. [This was the last committee of reference for this bill so it is now available for 2nd Reading – i.e. debate and amendment by the full House.]
HB 195 – Education Data Privacy by Raburn – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill codifies recommendations by the Commissioner of Education regarding student data collection and dissemination; clarifies that parents must be notified annually regarding their rights with respect to education records; clarifies that that a parent may be awarded attorney’s fees and court costs if the parent is granted injunctive relief in an action to enforce his or her rights regarding education records, prohibits any agency or institution from collecting information regarding political affiliation, voting history, religious affiliation, or biometric information of a student or student’s parent or sibling; prohibits the disclosure of confidential and exempt education records to any person, public body, body politic, or political subdivision unless disclosure is authorized by FERPA or in response to a subpoena or court order (disclosure to federal government agencies is also prohibited, unless authorized by FERPA, required by federal law, or in response to a subpoena or court order); requires that governing boards of agencies or institutions may only designate directory information in accordance with FERPA at a regularly scheduled meeting at which time the board must consider any potential risks to student privacy from such designation, requires DOE to create a statewide process for assigning students identification numbers that are not Social Security Numbers. [This was the last committee of reference for this bill so it is now available for 2nd Reading in the House.]
HB 313 – Gender-Specific School Pilot Project by M. Diaz — PASSED
The bill provides requirements for district school board when establishing gender-specific elementary, middle, or high school; requires school administrative & instructional personnel to participate in professional development; provides accountability requirements. [This was the last committee of reference for this bill so it is now available for 2nd Reading in the House.]
HB 7029 – Code of Student Conduct by K-12 — PASSED
The bill provides that simulating firearm or weapon while playing or wearing certain clothing or accessories is not grounds for disciplinary action or referral to criminal justice or juvenile justice system; provides criteria for determining whether certain student conduct warrants disciplinary action; provides criteria for determining appropriate consequences for conduct. [This was the ONLY committee of reference for this bill so it is now available for 2nd Reading in the House.]
HB 7031 – Education / Repeal / Revise / Audits by K-12 — PASSED
The bill revises & repeals various provisions relating to education; revises course & assessment requirements for promotion to high school & for award of standard high school diploma; provides course & assessment requirements for graduation for certain cohorts of high school students transitioning to new graduation requirements; revises & conforms provisions relating to selection & purchase of instructional materials, statewide assessment program, education personnel, & educational facilities. [This was the ONLY committee of reference for this bill so it is now available for 2nd Reading in the House.]
The Committee also conducted a workshop on the Accountability System. The committee discussed an outline of a proposed accountability system transition plan, similar to the model recommended by DOE and, with regard to school grading. (We will post the outline on the FSBA website shortly). Our next issue of Boarder-Line — to be published on Monday — will focus on the proposals to amend the state’s accountability system and on proposals to expand school voucher programs.
In the House Regulatory Affairs Committee:
HB 7009 – Security for Public Deposits by Banking & Insurance — PASSED
The bill revises collateral-pledging level for public deposits; repeals provisions relating to Qualified Public Depository Oversight Board; provides that notice of default or insolvency of qualified public depository is not required; requires information from nonqualified bank, savings bank, or savings association that acquires public depository by default or insolvency; revises notice requirements for public depositors; revises restrictions on loss protection provisions in certain circumstances in which public depositor fails to comply with notice requirements [This was the ONLY committee of reference for this bill so it is now available for 2nd Reading in the House.]
In the House Finance & Tax Subcommittee:
FTSC-2 – Tax Credit Scholarship Programs by Finance & Tax – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
The bill revises and expands the existing Tax Credit Scholarship program. The bill would significantly increase the funding that is diverted from state general revenue and expands student eligibility for this program. FSBA opposes voucher programs that are not subject to the same accountability system that is applied to traditional public schools. We will provide a detailed summary of this bill – and other voucher programs under consideration – in our next issue of Boarder-Line which will be published on Monday.
COMING UP TOMORROW
There are no legislative committee meetings of interest scheduled for Friday, so we will publish our next FSBA Daily Update on Monday, March 10. The full legislative meeting agenda for Monday is not yet available, but so far we know that meetings on Monday afternoon will include discussion of education budget plans, the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, and a proposal that would allow teachers and other school personnel to have firearms on school grounds.
IN THE NEWS
Miami Herald – 3/5/14
Big money, powerful lobbying groups push school voucher proposal
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/05/3976575/big-money-powerful-lobbying-groups.html
Orlando Sentinel Editorial – 3/1/14
Ensure school choice leads to advancement
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-03-01/news/os-ed-private-school-accountability-20140228_1_vouchers-mckay-scholarships-gaetz
Tampa Bay Times Gradebook – 3/6/14
Hot button bills win early support
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/hot-button-education-bills-win-early-support/2168862
