TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
[NOTE: The bills listed below are linked to the each bill’s website where you can find information about the bill including the bill sponsor, committees of reference, and staff analysis. The committees/subcommittees are linked to each committee’s website where you can find information about the committee including the committee’s leadership, membership and staff, the committee’s meeting packets, contact information, and related materials. We have linked some of the meeting packets below for your convenience.]
In the Senate Session:
SB 672 – Educational Options by Gaetz – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; IN MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE
Creating the “Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program Act”; establishing student eligibility requirements for enrollment in the program; establishing the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities; establishing a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program Scholarship for certain qualified students; authorizing certain school districts and charter schools to be eligible to receive incentive payments for implementing a standard student attire policy that meets certain criteria, etc. [NOTE: Today’s amendment renamed the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts as the Gardiner Scholarship in honor of Senate President Andy Gardiner. The House is expected to take up and pass the bill during their Session on Thursday afternoon (see Coming Up Tomorrow below).]
SB 7010 – Individuals with Disabilities by Governmental Oversight – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Revising the state’s equal employment opportunity policy to include individuals who have a disability; requiring the Department of Management Services to develop and implement certain programs geared toward individuals who have a disability; requiring the department to compile and post data regarding the hiring practices of executive agencies regarding the employment of individuals who have a disability; creating the “Employment First Act”, etc. APPROPRIATION: $330,182.00.
In the House Government Operations Subcommittee:
HB 293 – Juvenile Criminal History Records by Pritchett — PASSED
Specifies that certain confidential information obtained under ch. 985, F.S., relating to juvenile justice, is exempt from public records requirements; revises applicability of public records requirements with respect to arrest records of certain juvenile offenders; provides for future review & repeal of such applicability provisions; provides exemption from public records requirements for juvenile information compiled by Criminal Justice Information Program from intrastate sources; provides exceptions; provides for future review & repeal of exemption; provides for release by FDLE of criminal history information of juvenile which has been deemed confidential & exempt; provides statement of public necessity.
HB 505 – Voter Identification by Burgess — PASSED
Expands list of acceptable forms of identification for certain voter registration applicants & for identification at polls, to include veteran health identification cards & licenses to carry concealed weapon or firearm.
HB 4041 – Write-in Candidates by Geller — PASSED
Repeals requirement that write-in candidate reside within district of office sought at time of qualification.
In the House K-12 Subcommittee:
HB 719 – Education Personnel by Spano – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Revises provisions relating to confidentiality of reports & records in cases of child abuse or neglect, trust fund exemptions, teacher recruitment & retention, educator liability insurance, Education Practices Commission, & complaints against teachers & administrators; requires DOE to approve school leader preparation programs; provides program requirements.
The Department of Education and several district school safety administrators provided testimony about district school safety programs and policies, particularly with respect to school resource officers. The Subcommittee Meeting Packet provides some of information and materials presented during this meeting.
In the House Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee:
PCB EDTS 16-01 — Workforce Development – AMENDED AND SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
Modifies Florida’s workforce development system to begin the process of the state’s implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
In the House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee:
HB 793 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by O’Toole — PASSED
Provides that initial award period & renewal period for students who are unable to accept initial award immediately after high school due to specific obligations begins upon completion of obligation; requires student, as prerequisite for certain awards, to identify social or civic issue or professional area of interest & develop specified plan.
In the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee:
HB 613 – Workers’ Compensation by Sullivan — PASSED
Requires members of limited liability companies to submit specified notices; deletes required item to be listed on notice of election to be exempt; revises specified rules regarding maintenance of business records by an officer of corporation; provides and removes duties of DFS; prohibits application of specified credit unless employer provides specified documentation & proof of payment to department within specified period; revises penalty calculation for imputed weekly payroll for an employee; eliminates certification requirements when expert medical advisor is selected by judge of compensation claims; deletes requirement that employers notify department within 24 hours of any injury resulting in death; revises requirements for filing claim; deletes preferred worker program; deletes notification fees on certain filed claims which supplement Special Disability Trust Fund; deletes fee for certain registration of insurance carriers.
In the House Local Governmental Affairs Subcommittee:
HB 791 – Local Tax Referenda by Ingoglia – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Requires local government discretionary sales surtax referenda to be held on day of general election; requires approval of specified percentage of electors voting in referendum to adopt or amend such surtax; prohibits use of certain funds and materials to advertise proposed surtax referenda for certain discretionary sales surtaxes; provides exception. [NOTE: Today’s amendment sets the effective date of the bill at July 1, 2017. This delays implementation of the bill’s provisions until after the 2016 election cycle.]
In the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 434 – Principal Autonomy Pilot Program by Garcia – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Creating the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative; providing a procedure for a school district to participate in the pilot program; requiring principals of participating schools and specified personnel to participate in the University of Virginia School Turnaround Program; requiring participating district school boards to allocate a specified percentage of certain funds to participating schools, etc.
SB 468 – Computer Coding Instruction by Ring – PASSED
Requiring high schools to offer computer coding courses; requiring the Commissioner of Education to identify the computer coding courses that satisfy two credits of foreign language instruction under certain circumstances; requiring Florida College System institutions and state universities to recognize the credits as foreign language credits, etc.
The subcommittee also conducted a workshop on Alternative Assessments and a discussion of FEFP local tax dollars. The Subcommittee Meeting Packet provides some of the information and materials presented during the meeting.
In the Senate Transportation, Tourism, & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 7000 – Developments of Regional Impact by Community Affairs — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Providing that a proposed development that is consistent with certain comprehensive plans is not required to undergo review pursuant to the state coordinated review process, etc.
In the House Judiciary Committee:
HB 147 – Criminal Records / Minors by Latvala — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Provides for nonjudicial expunction of criminal history of an offense after specified period for minor who is not serious or habitual juvenile offender; provides exception for specified minors to apply for expunction before attaining 21 years of age; eliminates deadline for submission of application by minor for prearrest or postarrest diversion expunction.
In the House State Affairs Committee:
HB 181 – Public Works Projects by Van Zant — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Prohibits state & political subdivisions that contract for public works projects from imposing restrictive conditions on certain contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers or carriers; provides an exception; prohibits state & political subdivisions from restricting qualified bidders from submitting bids or being awarded contracts.
HB 541 – Addresses of Legal Residence by Spano — PASSED
Defines “address of legal residence”; requires voter registration application to include applicant’s address of legal residence; provides that list of valid addresses maintained by supervisor of elections must include certain additional distinguishing information.
In the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee:
The Committee conducted hosted a panel discussion on Class Size, Innovation, and Public School Choice. The panel included Escambia County School Board member Patty Hightower, Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning, Seminole County Superintendent Walt Griffin, Marion Superintendent George Tomyn, and Broward Chief Portfolio Service Officer Leslie Brown. The panelists did an excellent job discussing the need for local flexibility in designing a public school choice program that is responsive to the needs of their individual communities and how this can be properly balanced with class size requirements. The committee also heard presentations by House Education Appropriations Chair Eric Fresen and by the Department of Education on the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program. The Committee Meeting Packet provides some of the information and materials presented during the meeting.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[NOTE: Nearly all meetings may be viewed via live webcast or archived videos on the Florida Channel at http://thefloridachannel.org/.
The House Education Committee will meet (8:00 – 10:00 am) to consider the following items:
HB 31 – High School Athletics by Spano
Provides requirements regarding fees & contest receipts collected by FHSAA; provides that school may join FHSAA as full-time member or on per-sport basis; prohibits FHSAA from taking retributory or discriminatory action against specified schools; authorizes Commissioner of Education to identify other associations in compliance with specified provisions.
HB 117 – Education Funding by Beshears
Prohibits school district with specified student population from receiving sparsity wealth adjustment.
HB 119 – Educational Facilities by Bileca
Provides for school district construction flexibility; authorizes exceptions to educational facilities construction requirements under certain circumstances.
HB 149 – Maximum Class Size by Moraitis
Revises calculation of school district’s class size categorical allocation reduction to school average when maximum class size requirements are not met; provides for expenditure of funds; requires that specified district plan be posted to district website & provided to specified school advisory councils; authorizes that plan be posted on noncompliant school’s website.
HB 189 – Teacher Certification by Diaz
Provides alternative requirements for earning professional educator certificate covering certain grades.
HB 585 – Homebound & Hospitalized Students by Burgess
Requires school districts to provide instruction to homebound or hospitalized students; provides for student eligibility, methods of providing instruction to homebound or hospitalized students, & initiation of services.
HB 7017 – Career and Adult Education by Higher Education and the Workforce
Revises provisions relating to apprenticeships & job-training programs, high school equivalency programs, Higher Education Coordinating Council, applied technology diploma programs, adult general education programs, CAPE digital tool certificates, & career centers; creates Florida Apprenticeship Grant (FLAG) & Rapid Response Grant programs; provides appropriations.
The House Health & Human Services Committee will meet (8:00 – 10:00 am) to consider the following item and others:
HB 241 – Children & Youth Cabinet by Harrell
Revises membership of Children & Youth Cabinet to include a superintendent.
The House Regulatory Affairs Committee will meet (8:00 – 10:00 am) to consider the following item and others:
HB 577 – Liability Insurance Coverage by Lee
Adds company employee adjusters to list of persons who may respond to claimant’s written request for information relating to liability insurance coverage.
The House Rules, Calendar, & Ethics Committee will meet (10:30 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following:
PCB RCEC 16- 5 – Public Corruption by Rules, Calendar, & Ethics
Establishes a number of criminal offenses related to public officials or employees and the performance of their official duties, including bribery, unlawful compensation for official behavior, official misconduct, and bid tampering. In order to be convicted of an offense under ch. 838, F.S., one must act “corruptly” or “with corrupt intent,” which is defined as “acting knowingly and dishonestly for a wrongful purpose.”
The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will meet (10:45 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
SB 386 – Criminal Records / Minors by Detert
Decreasing the period of time that a minor’s criminal history record must be retained before expunction; deleting a limitation on the period of time within which a minor must submit an application for prearrest or postarrest diversion expunction to the Department of Law Enforcement after successful completion of the diversion program, etc.
SB 520 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by Lee
Providing that the initial award period and the renewal period for students who are unable to accept an initial award immediately after completion of high school due to a full-time religious or service obligation begin upon the completion of the religious or service obligation; 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, etc.
SB 576 – Postsecondary Educational Facilities by Flores
Authorizing certain Florida College System institutions to construct dormitories for up to 400 students, etc.
The House Finance & Tax Committee will meet (1:00 – 3:30 pm) to consider the following item and others:
HB 301 – Property Prepared for Tax-Exempt Use by Burton
Consolidates provisions relating to tax exemptions on property owned by certain tax-exempt organizations; authorizes property appraiser to serve notice of tax lien on certain otherwise exempt properties under certain circumstances; specifies entities to whom lien attaches; provides exemption; deletes provisions rendered obsolete by consolidation.
The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee will meet (4:00 – 6:00 pm) to consider the following:
SB 684 – Choice in Sports by Gaetz
Revising public school choice options available to students to include CAPE digital tools, CAPE industry certifications, and collegiate high school programs; requiring each district school board and charter school governing board to authorize a parent to have his or her child participate in controlled open enrollment; requiring the FHSAA to allow a school to maintain full membership in the association or to join by sport, etc.
SB 1026 – High School Athletics by Simmons
Providing requirements regarding fees and contest receipts collected by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA); requiring the FHSAA to allow a school to join the FHSAA as a full- time member or on a per-sport basis, etc.
The House will be in Session (4:00 pm – completion of business) to consider the following items and others on Special Order (2nd Reading):
HB 7003 – Individuals with Disabilities by State Affairs
Establishes Financial Literacy Program for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities within DFS; requires department to develop & implement program in consultation with specified stakeholders; requires qualified public depository to participate in Financial Literacy Program for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities; creates “Employment First Act”; requires specified state agencies & organizations to develop & implement interagency cooperative agreement; requires DEO, in consultation with other entities, to create Florida Unique Abilities Partner Program.
HB 7011 – Educational Options by Education Appropriations
SB 672 – Educational Options by Gaetz
Creates “Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program Act”; establishes student eligibility requirements for enrollment in program; establishes Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities; establishes Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program Scholarship for certain qualified students; authorizes certain school districts and charter schools to be eligible to receive incentive payments for implementing a standard student attire policy that meets certain criteria; revises provisions relating to Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts Program & Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program; provides appropriations. [NOTE: These are companion bills. The Senate passed their version – SB 672 — on Wednesday with an amendment renaming the Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts as the Gardiner Scholarship. The House is expected to accept the Senate version and pass the bill.]
I hope you find this information useful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Ruth
Ruth Haseman Melton
Director of Government Relations
Florida School Boards Association
Office: 850 / 414-2578
Cell: 850 / 509-6411
Email: melton@fsba.org
