In the House SESSION:
Bills on 2nd Reading:
HB 383 – Private Property Rights by Edwards – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Authorizes governmental entity to treat written claim as pending litigation for certain purposes; provides that certain settlement agreements reached between owner & governmental entity apply irrespective of when agreement was executed; authorizes property owner to bring action to recover damages caused by prohibited exaction; requires owner to provide written notice of such action to governmental entity; authorizes governmental entity to treat such claim as pending litigation for certain purposes; specifies burdens of proof; authorizes award of attorney fees & costs under certain circumstances; waives state’s sovereign immunity for certain causes of action; specifies that action concerning prohibited exaction is not to be construed in pari materia with certain other provisions of law.
HB 163 – Public Records / Contractors by Beshears – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 224; HB 163 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 224 – Public Records / Contractors by Simpson – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 163; READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Requires certain public agency contracts for services to include contact information of custodian of public records; revises provision in such contracts regarding contractor’s compliance with public records laws; requires records request relating to such contracts be made to agency; requires contractor to produce requested records; specifies penalties & attorney fee awards for reasonable costs of enforcement.
HB 113 – Local Government Construction Preferences by Perry – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 778; HB 113 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 778 – Local Government Construction Preferences by Hays – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 113; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Prohibits local ordinances & regulations from restricting competition for award of construction services based upon certain conditions; requires state college, school district, or other political subdivision to make specified disclosures in competitive solicitation documents.
HB 1145 – Education / Parent and Student Rights by Sprowls – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Revises provisions relating to public and private school choice, fiscal transparency, controlled open enrollment, educational funding accountability, assignment of teachers, salary incentives, and certification of adjunct educators. [NOTE: Although the bill has been improved through recent amendments (including a delay in the implementation timeline), concerns remain about the logistics of implementing the public school choice provisions of this bill without trespassing on the rights of certain parents and students and without jeopardizing existing programs. In addition, today the bill was further amended to incorporate provisions relating to charter schools – this amendment DOES NOT include any provision calling for school districts to provide discretionary capital outlay millage revenue to charter schools. This amendment brings the House charter schools provisions into closer alignment with the Senate’s position. Another amendment today incorporated provisions relating to standard student attire, provisions relating to instruction to students who are hospitalized or home bound, provisions relating the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program.]
HB 7095 – Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts by Education – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 602; HB 7095 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 602 – Students with Disabilities by Gaetz – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 7095, READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Revises provisions of Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts Program relating to definitions, use of funds, terms of program, DOE obligations, commissioner authority & obligations, parent & student responsibilities, administration of accounts, funding & payments, & audits; revises provisions of Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program relating to applications & audits; provides requirements for use of program funds in Florida Prepaid College Program.
HB 7125 – Postsecondary Access & Affordability by Higher Education – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Revises provisions relating to apprenticeships, postsecondary tuition & fees, tuition differentials, career education, textbooks & instructional materials, & Higher Education Coordinating Council; creates Florida Apprenticeship Grant Program & Rapid Response Education & Training Program; provides requirements for programs.
HB 7017 – Early Learning by Education – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Includes large family child care homes in local zoning regulation requirements; revises certain minimum standards for child care facilities & requirements for certain personnel; provides for inspection of programs regulated by DCF; provides exemptions from child care facility licensing standards; revises restrictions on residential property insurance coverage to include coverage for large family child care homes & Child Care Executive Partnership; provides OEL with authority to allocate certain funds.
HB 153 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by L. Lee – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Requires Office of Early Learning to establish pilot project in St. Lucie County to assist low-income, at-risk children in developing emergent literacy skills; requires OEL to select organization to implement pilot project; provides eligibility requirements for participation; requires background screening for childcare personnel; requires OEL to allocate funds for pilot project.
HB 935 – Individuals with Disabilities by Rodrigues – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 642; HB 935 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 642 — Individuals with Disabilities by Benacquisto – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 935; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Creates “Florida Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act”; requires Florida Prepaid College Board to establish direct-support organization known as “Florida ABLE, Inc.”; authorizes organization to use certain services, property, & facilities of Florida Prepaid College Board; provides that specified moneys, assets, & income of qualified ABLE program, including Florida ABLE program, are not subject to attachment, levy, garnishment, or certain legal process in favor of certain creditors or claimants.
HB 937 – Trust Fund / Florida ABLE Program by Rodrigues — READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 644; HB 937 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 644 — Trust Fund / Florida ABLE Program by Benacquisto — SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 937; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Creates Florida ABLE Trust Fund within State Board of Administration; authorizes sources of funds; specifies purpose of trust fund & authorized uses of assets; provides for future review & termination or re-creation of trust fund; provides for contingent effect.
HB 939 – Public Records / Florida ABLE Program by Rodrigues — READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 646; HB 939 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 646 — Public Records / Florida ABLE Program by Benacquisto — SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 939; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Provides exemption from public records requirements for certain personal financial & health information held by Florida Prepaid College Board, Florida ABLE, Inc., Florida ABLE program, or agent or service provider thereof; authorizes release of such information under specified circumstances; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides for contingent effect.
HB 549 – Associations of Government Officials by M. Diaz – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Defines “membership association”; requires membership association to file annual report with Legislature; specifies required elements of report; prohibits membership association from expending moneys received from public funds on litigation against state. [NOTE: The bill was amended today to more narrowly target the bill’s provisions on the Florida School Boards Association. Another amendment revised the membership dues structure to require that dues be assessed and submitted on a per member basis.]
HB 99 – Juvenile Justice Civil Citations by Clarke-Reed – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 378; HB 99 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 378 – Juvenile Justice by Garcia – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 99; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Authorizes law enforcement officer to issue warning to juvenile who admits having committed misdemeanor or to inform juvenile’s parent or guardian of infraction; allows law enforcement officer who does not exercise one of these options to issue civil citation or require participation in similar diversion program; limits number of civil citations that may be issued to a juvenile; requires law enforcement officer to provide written documentation in certain circumstances; provides that repeat misdemeanor offenders may participate in civil citation program or similar diversion program.
In the Senate SESSION:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
SB 960 – Bright Futures Scholarship Program by T. Lee – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
Requiring a student, as a prerequisite for the Florida Academic Scholars award, the Florida Medallion Scholars award, or the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award, to identify a social or civic issue or a professional area of interest and develop a plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area; prohibiting the student from receiving remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work performed, etc.
SB 538 – Disclosure of Sexually Explicit Images by Simmons – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE
Prohibiting an individual from electronically disclosing a sexually explicit image of an identifiable person with the intent to harass such person if the individual knows or should have known that such person did not consent to the disclosure; requiring a court to order that a person convicted of such offense be prohibited from having contact with the victim, etc.
SB 954 – Involuntary Examinations of Minors by Garcia — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE
Requiring school health services plans to include notification requirements when a student is removed from school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity for involuntary examination; requiring a receiving facility to provide notice of the whereabouts of an adult or emancipated minor patient held for involuntary examination; providing conditions for delay in notification, etc.
HB 461 – Higher Educational Facilities by Sullivan — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
Expanding the definition of the term “project” as it relates to the Higher Educational Facilities Financing Act, etc.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 7070 – Mental Health & Substance Abuse by Judiciary – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
Requiring school health services plans to include notification requirements when a student is removed from school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity for involuntary examination; adding substance abuse services as a program focus for which the Department of Children and Families is responsible; providing authority of facilities of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct certain examinations and provide certain treatments; creating the “Jennifer Act”; requiring the Department of Children and Families to implement a Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program in five specified judicial circuits, etc.
SB 908 – Traffic Safety by Altman – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Providing criminal penalties for certain noncriminal traffic infractions that cause serious bodily injury or death to a person; defining the term “serious bodily injury”; prohibiting passing and turning in front of a vulnerable user in an unsafe manner; providing penalties; prohibiting harassing, taunting, or throwing an object at a person riding a bicycle; providing mandatory revocation of license for a specified conviction, etc.
SB 574 – Electronic Auction Services by Montford — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/24/15
Revising the powers and duties of the district school board to authorize the adoption of rules regarding procurement practices; authorizing a district school board’s use of electronic auction services in conjunction with bid pooling for school buses and related purchases, etc.
SB 686 – Military Housing Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions by T. Lee – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
Providing that certain leasehold interests and improvements to land owned by the United States, a branch of the United States Armed Forces, or any agency or quasi-governmental agency of the United States are exempt from ad valorem taxation under specified circumstances; providing that such leasehold interests and improvements are entitled to an exemption from ad valorem taxation without an application being filed for the exemption or the property appraiser approving the exemption, etc.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[REMINDER: Most meetings are available via Florida Channel webcasts at http://thefloridachannel.org]
The House will be in SESSION (9:00 am – completion of business) to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
HB 383 – Private Property Rights by Edwards
Authorizes governmental entity to treat written claim as pending litigation for certain purposes; provides that certain settlement agreements reached between owner & governmental entity apply irrespective of when agreement was executed; authorizes property owner to bring action to recover damages caused by prohibited exaction; requires owner to provide written notice of such action to governmental entity; authorizes governmental entity to treat such claim as pending litigation for certain purposes; specifies burdens of proof; authorizes award of attorney fees & costs under certain circumstances; waives state’s sovereign immunity for certain causes of action; specifies that action concerning prohibited exaction is not to be construed in pari materia with certain other provisions of law.
SB 224 – Public Records / Contractors by Simpson
Requires certain public agency contracts for services to include contact information of custodian of public records; revises provision in such contracts regarding contractor’s compliance with public records laws; requires records request relating to such contracts be made to agency; requires contractor to produce requested records; specifies penalties & attorney fee awards for reasonable costs of enforcement.
SB 778 – Local Government Construction Preferences by Hays
Prohibits local ordinances & regulations from restricting competition for award of construction services based upon certain conditions; requires state college, school district, or other political subdivision to make specified disclosures in competitive solicitation documents.
HB 1145 – Education / Parent and Student Rights by Sprowls
Revises provisions relating to public and private school choice, fiscal transparency, controlled open enrollment, educational funding accountability, assignment of teachers, salary incentives, and certification of adjunct educators; revises provisions relating to charter schools; authorizes and provides guidance for district policy on standard student attire; revises and clarifies provisions relating to instruction for students who are hospitalized or homebound; establishes the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program; etc. [NOTE: Although the bill has been improved through recent amendments (including a delay in the implementation timeline), concerns remain about the logistics of implementing the public school choice provisions of this bill. However, it’s important to note that most of the charter school provisions contained in this bill add welcome accountability measures and this bill does not include any reference to requiring school districts to provide discretionary capital outlay millage revenue to charter schools.]
SB 602 – Students with Disabilities by Gaetz
Revises provisions of Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts Program relating to definitions, use of funds, terms of program, DOE obligations, commissioner authority & obligations, parent & student responsibilities, administration of accounts, funding & payments, & audits; revises provisions of Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program relating to applications & audits; provides requirements for use of program funds in Florida Prepaid College Program.
HB 7125 – Postsecondary Access & Affordability by Higher Education
Revises provisions relating to apprenticeships, postsecondary tuition & fees, tuition differentials, career education, textbooks and instructional materials, and Higher Education Coordinating Council; creates Florida Apprenticeship Grant Program and Rapid Response Education and Training Program; provides requirements for programs.
HB 7017 – Early Learning by Education
Includes large family child care homes in local zoning regulation requirements; revises certain minimum standards for child care facilities & requirements for certain personnel; provides for inspection of programs regulated by DCF; provides exemptions from child care facility licensing standards; revises restrictions on residential property insurance coverage to include coverage for large family child care homes & Child Care Executive Partnership; provides OEL with authority to allocate certain funds.
HB 153 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by L. Lee
Requires Office of Early Learning to establish pilot project in St. Lucie County to assist low-income, at-risk children in developing emergent literacy skills; requires OEL to select organization to implement pilot project; provides eligibility requirements for participation; requires background screening for childcare personnel; requires OEL to allocate funds for pilot project.
SB 642 — Individuals with Disabilities by Benacquisto
Creates “Florida Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act”; requires Florida Prepaid College Board to establish direct-support organization known as “Florida ABLE, Inc.”; authorizes organization to use certain services, property, & facilities of Florida Prepaid College Board; provides that specified moneys, assets, & income of qualified ABLE program, including Florida ABLE program, are not subject to attachment, levy, garnishment, or certain legal process in favor of certain creditors or claimants.
SB 644 — Trust Fund / Florida ABLE Program by Benacquisto
Creates Florida ABLE Trust Fund within State Board of Administration; authorizes sources of funds; specifies purpose of trust fund & authorized uses of assets; provides for future review & termination or re-creation of trust fund; provides for contingent effect.
SB 646 — Public Records / Florida ABLE Program by Benacquisto
Provides exemption from public records requirements for certain personal financial & health information held by Florida Prepaid College Board, Florida ABLE, Inc., Florida ABLE program, or agent or service provider thereof; authorizes release of such information under specified circumstances; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides for contingent effect.
HB 549 – Associations of Government Officials by M. Diaz
Defines “membership association”; requires membership association to file annual report with Legislature; specifies required elements of report; prohibits membership association from expending moneys received from public funds on litigation against state.
SB 378 – Juvenile Justice by Garcia
Authorizes law enforcement officer to issue warning to juvenile who admits having committed misdemeanor or to inform juvenile’s parent or guardian of infraction; allows law enforcement officer who does not exercise one of these options to issue civil citation or require participation in similar diversion program; limits number of civil citations that may be issued to a juvenile; requires law enforcement officer to provide written documentation in certain circumstances; provides that repeat misdemeanor offenders may participate in civil citation program or similar diversion program.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
HB 151 – Sexual Cyberharassment by Goodson
Prohibits person from willfully & maliciously sexually cyberharassing another person; authorizes law enforcement officer to arrest, without warrant, person that he or she has probable cause to believe has committed sexual cyberharassment; authorizes search warrant to be issued in specified instances; provides civil remedies; provides exceptions; authorizes law enforcement officer to arrest, without warrant, person that he or she has probable cause to believe has committed sexual cyberharassment; provides exception to prohibition on search warrants being issued to search private dwellings.
The Senate will be in SESSION (10:00 am – 6:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
SB 960 – Bright Futures Scholarship Program by T. Lee
Requiring a student, as a prerequisite for the Florida Academic Scholars award, the Florida Medallion Scholars award, or the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award, to identify a social or civic issue or a professional area of interest and develop a plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area; prohibiting the student from receiving remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work performed, etc. [NOTE: The similar House bill that has already passed the House — HB 747 – is also on the agenda. It is expected that one version of the bill will be laid on the table and the other version will move forward to final passage.]
SB 908 – Traffic Safety by Altman
Providing criminal penalties for certain noncriminal traffic infractions that cause serious bodily injury or death to a person; defining the term “serious bodily injury”; prohibiting passing and turning in front of a vulnerable user in an unsafe manner; providing penalties; prohibiting harassing, taunting, or throwing an object at a person riding a bicycle; providing mandatory revocation of license for a specified conviction, etc.
SB 574 – Electronic Auction Services by Montford
Revising the powers and duties of the district school board to authorize the adoption of rules regarding procurement practices; authorizing a district school board’s use of electronic auction services in conjunction with bid pooling for school buses and related purchases, etc.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 7070 – Mental Health & Substance Abuse by Judiciary
Requiring school health services plans to include notification requirements when a student is removed from school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity for involuntary examination; adding substance abuse services as a program focus for which the Department of Children and Families is responsible; providing authority of facilities of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct certain examinations and provide certain treatments; creating the “Jennifer Act”; requiring the Department of Children and Families to implement a Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program in five specified judicial circuits, etc.
SB 686 – Military Housing Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions by T. Lee
Providing that certain leasehold interests and improvements to land owned by the United States, a branch of the United States Armed Forces, or any agency or quasi-governmental agency of the United States are exempt from ad valorem taxation under specified circumstances; providing that such leasehold interests and improvements are entitled to an exemption from ad valorem taxation without an application being filed for the exemption or the property appraiser approving the exemption, etc. [NOTE: The similar House bill that has already passed the House — HB 361 – is also on the agenda. It is expected that one version of the bill will be laid on the table and the other version will move forward to 3rd Reading.]
SB 1372 – Government Accountability by Gaetz
Specifying that the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, or the designee of the Governor or of the Commissioner of Education may notify the Legislative Auditing Committee of an entity’s failure to comply with certain auditing and financial reporting requirements; revising reporting requirements applicable to the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation; expanding the types of governmental entities that are subject to lobbyist registration requirements; revising the responsibilities of the governing board of a charter school to include the establishment and maintenance of internal controls, etc.
SB 1054 – Retirement by Evers
Authorizing local agency employers to reassess designation of positions for inclusion in the Senior Management Service Class; providing for removal of certain positions, etc. [NOTE: The similar House bill that has already passed the House — HB 565 – is also on the agenda. It is expected that one version of the bill will be laid on the table and the other version will move forward to 3rd Reading.]
Ruth Haseman Melton
Director of Government Relations
Florida School Boards Association
Office: 850 / 414-2578
Cell: 850 / 509-6411
Email: melton@fsba.org
