TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Criminal Justice Committee:
SB 408 – Juvenile Civil Citations by Altman – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Requiring the establishment of civil citation or similar diversion programs for juveniles; providing definitions; specifying program eligibility, participation, and implementation requirements; providing exceptions; providing applicability; etc. [NOTE: The bill was amended with a strike all amendment. This short summary reflects the changes made to the bill today.]
In the Senate Finance & Tax Committee:
SB 766 – Ad Valorem Taxation by Flores – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Specifying deadlines for value adjustment boards to hear petitions and issue the second tax roll certification; requiring a property appraiser to provide notice to nonhomestead residential property owners who were determined to not be entitled for a certain property assessment limitations; providing a specified timeframe for such property owners to pay taxes, penalties, and interest; prohibiting the assessment of a penalty or interest for property assessment limitations granted as a result of a clerical mistake or an omission by the property appraiser; specifying procedures for filing petitions to the value adjustment board; revising the entities authorized to determine under certain circumstances that a petitioner owes ad valorem taxes or is owed a refund of overpaid taxes; revising the rate at which interest accrues on unpaid and overpaid ad valorem taxes; authorizing the school board and county commission to audit certain expenses of the value adjustment board; requiring a property appraiser to notify a petitioner when a property record card is available online; authorizing a property appraiser to reschedule a hearing relating to an assessment for good cause; revising the entities that may represent a taxpayer before the value adjustment board; extending the dates for certain counties to hold public hearings and certify non-ad valorem assessment rolls; reenacting and amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising the time period for requirements and calculations applicable to the levy and adjustment of the Prior Period Funding Adjustment Millage before and after certification of the district’s final taxable value; etc. [NOTE: The bill was substantially amended. This short summary reflects most of the changes that were made to the bill today.]
In the Senate Community Affairs Committee:
SB 686 – Government Accountability by Gaetz — PASSED
Citing this act as the “Florida Anti-Corruption Act of 2016”; requiring each house of the Legislature to provide by rule reporting requirements regarding lobbying firm’s lobbying activities; 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; prohibiting a member of the Legislature from accepting employment with a private entity that directly receives state funds, etc.
SB 1100 – Local Tax Referenda by Brandes – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Providing that a referendum to adopt or amend a local government discretionary sales surtax, including a school capital outlay surtax, may not be held during a special election; providing that such a referendum held at a presidential preference primary election or at a primary election requires the approval of at least 60 percent of the voters voting on the ballot question for passage; providing that such a referendum held at a general election requires the approval of a majority of the voters voting on the ballot question for passage. [NOTE: The bill was amended with a strike all amendment. This short summary reflects the changes made by the amendment. In effect, today’s amendment makes this bill identical to its House companion bill — HB 791.]
In the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee:
SB 724 – Public Records / Custodian by Joyner – NOT CONSIDERED
Authorizing a court to hold a custodian of a public record personally liable for the reasonable costs of enforcement, including attorney fees, in a civil action to enforce Chapter 119, F.S., if certain conditions exist, etc.
In the House Appropriations Committee:
HB 11 – Missing Persons with Special Needs by Porter –AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Creates pilot projects in specified counties to provide personal devices to aid search-and-rescue efforts for persons with special needs; provides for administration of projects; requires reports; provides for expiration; provides appropriations. [NOTE: Today’s amendments revised the districts that will engage in the pilot projects and the revised some provisions of the projects.]
HB 117 – Education Funding / Sparsity Supplement by Beshears — PASSED
Prohibits school district with specified student population from receiving sparsity wealth adjustment.
HB 499 – Ad Valorem Taxation by Avila – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Revises provisions related to value adjustment board proceedings; revises provisions related to appointments & selection of special magistrates; revises dates in computing school district required local effort; provides statement of important state interest. [NOTE: This lengthy bill was substantially amended today. We are still reviewing the amendments and will provided a revised summary as soon as possible.]
HB 593 – Government Accountability by Metz – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Revises auditing protocols for certain agencies, councils, & state schools; revises responsibilities of certain state officials & employment or contractual relationships; revises provisions governing collection methods for certain unpaid automatic fines; requires counties, municipalities, & special districts to maintain certain budget documents on entities’ websites for specified period; revises certain compensation protocols; revises requirements for financial statements & audits of certain governmental entities.
HB 701 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Lee — PASSED
Creates the “Art in the Capitol Competition” for students in specified grades; provides procedures for student participation, notification, & selection & display of winning submissions.
HB 7107 – Public Employees / Retirement by State Affairs – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Authorizes renewed membership in retirement system for certain retirees who are reemployed in position eligible for Elected Officers’ Class; provides for renewed membership in retirement system for certain retirees of Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program who are reemployed on or after specified date; requires that certain retirees who are reemployed on or after specified date be renewed members in investment plan; provides vesting requirements; prohibits renewed member from receiving specified disability benefits; requires employer & retiree to make applicable contributions to renewed member’s investment plan account; prohibits participation in pension plan; provides that retiree reemployed on or after specified date in regularly established position eligible for State University System Optional Retirement Program or State Community College System Optional Retirement Program is renewed member of that program; authorizes payment of death benefits to surviving spouse or surviving children of member in investment plan; authorizes state board & department to adopt rules; adjusts employer contribution rates in order to fund changes made by act; provides directive to the Division of Law Revision & Information; provides appropriation.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[NOTE: Nearly all meetings may be viewed via live webcast or archived videos on the Florida Channel athttp://thefloridachannel.org/.
The House Education Committee will meet (9:00 – 11:00 am) to consider the following items and others:
HB 343 – Public K-12 Education / Dating Violence by Jones
Provides short title for ch. 2010-217, Laws of Florida, relating to requirements for health education curricula & district school board policies on teen dating violence & abuse.
HB 873 – Capital Outlay Funding / Special Facility / Charter Schools by Diaz
Revises provisions relating to capital outlay funding to charter schools, Special Facility Construction Account relating to receipt of funds, criteria for requests, preapplication review, consultants, & repayment of school district’s share of project costs; revises provisions relating to use of certain funds for certain education plant space construction, & calculation of total cost per student station; requires DOE to conduct study & provide report. [NOTE: This bill contains provisions that would require school districts to allocate revenue from the local capital outlay millage levy for charter school facilities under certain circumstances. See our summary of these provisions for more information.]
HB 887 – Computer Coding Instruction by Adkins
Requires Higher Education Coordinating Council to make recommendations related to computer science instruction & provide report; requires Commissioner of Education to develop certain standards & identify certain courses in Course Code Directory; requires students have access to computer science courses through various means; requires DOE to report certain information to certain entities; requires certain entities to develop strategies relating to computer science educator certification & teacher recruitment; provides appropriation & authorizes a position.
HB 1147 – Educational Instruction / Life Skills by Latvala
Requires character-development programs to provide certain instruction to students in grades 9-12.
HB 1359 – Vocational Rehabilitation by Fresen
Requires Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to initiate, by specified date, performance improvement plan designed to achieve specified goals; requires division to submit performance report annually to Governor & Legislature which includes specified information.
HB 1403 – Pledge of Allegiance by Broxson
Requires written notice of student’s right not to participate in the pledge of allegiance to be included in specific publication; provides student may be excused from certain actions associated with pledge; requires unexcused students to show full respect to flag during pledge.
The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the followingitems and others:
SB 432 – Teacher Certification by Hutson
Providing alternative requirements for earning a professional educator certificate that covers certain grades, etc.
SB 442 – Educational Facilities by Flores
Providing for school district construction flexibility; authorizing exceptions to educational facilities construction requirements under certain circumstances, etc.
SB 1076 – Education / Acceleration Programs by Legg
Prohibiting a district school board from limiting the number of public school students who may enroll in a collegiate high school program; revising the purpose of the Credit Acceleration Program, etc.
SB 1126 – Auditory-oral Education Programs by Detert
Requiring a school district to annually add a specified number of points to the total score of all domains on a matrix of services for certain children; specifying that such children are eligible for auditory-oral education grants under certain circumstances, etc.
SB 1196 – Emergency Allergy Treatment in Schools by Hutson
Authorizing a public school and a private school, respectively, to enter into certain arrangements with wholesale distributors or manufacturers for epinephrine auto-injectors, etc.
SB 1356 – Re-employment / School District Personnel by Brandes
Revising provisions relating to reemployment of retirees as instructional personnel on a contract basis; providing legislative intent and findings to clarify authorization to award contracts; providing requirements for a judgment in certain civil actions or administrative proceedings, etc.
SB 1418 – Supplemental Academic Instruction by Simmons
Requiring supplemental academic instruction categorical funds and research-based reading instruction allocation funds to be used by a school district that has one or more of the lowest-performing elementary schools for additional intensive reading instruction at the school during the summer program in addition to instruction during the school year, etc.
SB 1462 – Educational Instruction / Life Skills by Latvala
Requiring the Commissioner of Education to develop an elective course for certain students which must be included in the Course Code Directory, etc.
SB 1670 – Apprenticeships by Bean
Creating the Florida Apprenticeship Grant Program within the Department of Education to provide grants to Florida College System institutions for the creation of new apprenticeship programs or the expansion of existing apprenticeship programs; requiring the Division of Career and Adult Education to administer the program; creating the Rapid Response Grant Program, etc.
SB 1714 – Competency-Based Education by Brandes
Establishing a competency-based innovation pilot program within the Department of Education; authorizing certain schools to apply to the department for approval of a competency-based innovation pilot program; providing for expiration of the pilot program, etc.
The Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
SB 986 – Workers’ Compensation by Simpson
Requiring members of limited liability companies to submit specified notices; requiring that the Department of Financial Services allow an employer who has not previously been issued an order of penalty assessment to receive a specified credit to be applied to the penalty; eliminating the certification requirements when an expert medical advisor is selected by a judge of compensation claims; deleting the requirement that employers notify the department within 24 hours of any injury resulting in death, etc.
SB 1160 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Detert
Creating the Art in the Capitol Competition for students in specified grades; specifying procedures for student participation, notification, and the selection and display of winning submissions; authorizing rulemaking, etc.
SB 1440 – Florida Educator Hall of Fame by Montford
Establishing the Florida Educator Hall of Fame; providing procedures for the nomination, selection, and induction of members by the Florida Education Foundation and the Commissioner of Education, etc.
The Senate Transportation, Tourism, & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following item and others:
SB 1190 – Growth Management by Diaz de la Portilla
Specifying that persons do not lose the right to complete developments of regional impact upon certain changes to those developments; revising the comprehensive plan amendments that must follow the state coordinated review process; authorizing specified parties to amend certain agreements without the submission, review, or approval of a notification of proposed change when a project has been essentially built out; authorizing the exchange of one approved land use for another under certain conditions, etc.
The House will be in Session (1:00 pm – completion of business) to consider the following item(s) and others:
Bills on 2nd Reading:
HB 7017 – Career and Adult Education by Higher Education
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.
HB 7043 – Education Funding by Education
Creates Florida College System Performance-based Incentive for Florida College System institutions & Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program; revises provisions relating to preeminent state research universities program, state university system performance-based incentives, & teacher liability insurance.
HB 119 – Educational Facilities by Bileca
Provides for school district construction flexibility; authorizes exceptions to educational facilities construction requirements under certain circumstances.
HB 1171 – Interstate Compact / Military Children by Perry
Provides for payment of annual dues for Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children & future repeal of sections relating to compact; abrogates 2016 repeal of sections relating to compact.
HB 7029 – School Choice by Choice & Innovation
Revises provisions relating to charter schools, virtual education, Credit Acceleration Program, FEFP, educator professional development, & charter school capital outlay funding; creates High Impact Charter Network & Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation. [NOTE: This bill contains several provsions that enhance accountability for charter schools but also contains provisions of concern to FSBA.]
HB 669 – Educational Choice by Sprowls
Provides additional duties of internal auditor for school districts; revises list of public & private educational choice options available to students; requires certain syllabi be provided to parents & contain certain information; requires school districts to provide & publish certain information; revises controlled open enrollment process; requires school district to establish process for parent to request that his or her child be transferred to another classroom teacher; revises components of Credit Acceleration Program; requires DOE to contract with FPU for certain purposes; provides appropriation. [NOTE: FSBA has significant concerns about the logisticts of implementing this bill.]
HB 837 – McKay Scholarship Program by Bileca
Provides certain students enrolled in John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program are exempt from specific provisions & scholarship awards are not subject to specified funding calculations; creates transition-to-work program for specific students enrolled in program; provides for requirements & participation.
HB 1305 – Student Health / Emergency Allergy Treatment by Eagle
Revises definition of “authorized entity”; authorizes public school or private school to receive for free or purchase at fair market value or at reduced prices supply of epinephrine auto-injectors from certain entities.
HB 287 – Principal Autonomy Pilot Program by Diaz
Creates Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative; provides requirements for participation, exemptions, professional development, funding, rulemaking, & reporting; provides authorization period for participation in program; provides for renewal or revocation of authorization to participate in program; requires district school boards participating in program to provide certain funding allocations; provides additional authority & responsibilities of principal of participating school; provides appropriation.
HB 1155 – Membership Associations by Eisnaugle
Defines “membership association”; requires membership association to file annual report with Legislature; specifies contents of report; prohibits membership association from expending public funds on litigation against state; requires Auditor General to audit membership associations. [NOTE: This bill is designed so that its provisions would apply only to the Florida School Boards Association. FSBA is opposed to this bill.]
HB 1003 – Re-employment / School District Personnel by Sullivan
Revises provisions relating to reemployment of retirees as instructional personnel on contractual basis.
HB 189 – Teacher Certification by Diaz
Provides alternative requirements for earning professional educator certificate covering certain grades.
HB 1365 – Competency-Based Education by Rodrigues
Creates Competency-Based Education Pilot Program; provides for program participation, application requirements, exemption from specified rules, student funding, & duties of DOE.
HB 719 – Education Personnel by Spano
Revises provisions relating to mandatory reports of child abuse, abandonment, & abuse, confidentiality of reports & records in cases of child abuse or neglect, teacher recruitment & retention, educator liability insurance, Education Practices Commission, & complaints against teachers & administrators; requires DOE to approve school leader preparation programs; provides program requirements.
HB 305 – Procurement Procedures by Drake
Authorizes specified educational institutions to make purchases through online procurement system, electronic auction service, or other efficient procurement tool.
HB 835 – Home Education by Eisnaugle
Revises provisions relating to home education programs, nonenrollment & nonattendance cases, dual enrollment programs, & Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.
HB 833 – Public School Recess by Plasencia
Requires district school board to provide students in certain grades with certain amount of free-play recess per day; provides that free-play recess may not be withheld for specified reasons.
HB 705 – Interpreters / Hearing Impaired by Berman
Requires SBE to establish standards for educational interpreters & school districts to notify parents if an individual providing interpreter services does not meet SBE standards & report to DOE information regarding individuals providing interpreter services.
The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will meet (4:00 – 6:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
SB 268 – Bullying and Harassment Policies by Ring
Requiring school districts to revise their bullying and harassment policy at specified intervals; requiring the policy to include mandatory reporting procedures and a list of authorized programs that provide bullying and harassment identification, prevention, and response instruction, etc.
SB 700 – Juvenile Criminal History Records by Soto
Specifying that certain confidential information obtained under chapter 985, F.S., relating to juvenile justice, is exempt from public records requirements; providing for future review and repeal of such applicability provisions; providing an exemption from public records requirements for juvenile information compiled by the Criminal Justice Information Program from intrastate sources; providing for future review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
SB 1220 – Award of Attorney Fees / Public Records by Garcia
Specifying the circumstances under which a court may assess and award the reasonable costs of enforcement against an agency in a civil action to enforce Chapter 119, F.S., etc.
SB 1226 – Administrative Procedures by Ring
Providing additional requirements for the calculation of estimated adverse impacts and regulatory costs, etc.
SB 7036 – School District Purchasing by Governmental Oversight
Requiring each district school board to use certain agreements and contracts for purchasing nonacademic commodities and contractual services under certain circumstances; requiring a district school board to post a written justification for certain determinations on the board’s website, etc.
The Senate Transportation Committee will meet (4:00 – 6:00 pm) to consider the following item and others:
SB 1570 – School Bus Stop Safety by Simmons
Citing this act as the “Gabby’s Law for School Bus Stop Safety”; revising the terms of violation and the penalties for failure to stop a vehicle upon approaching a school bus that displays a stop signal; authorizing school districts to use cameras and video recording devices under certain circumstances, etc.
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
