TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Session:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
HB 719 – Education Personnel by Spano – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
Authorizing certain information to be used for educator certification discipline and review; authorizing certain employees or agents of the Department of Education to have access to certain reports and records; authorizing rather than requiring the Department of Education to sponsor a job fair; requiring the department to coordinate a best practice community; eliminating State Board of Education rulemaking authority for certain teacher assignments; providing requirements regarding liability insurance for students performing clinical field experience; requiring the department to approve school leader preparation programs; providing program requirements; providing for rulemaking; requiring annual notification of liability insurance to specified personnel; abrogating the scheduled expiration of the educator liability insurance program; revising membership of the Education Practices Commission; authorizing the Commissioner of Education to appoint emeritus members to the commission; authorizing the commissioner to issue a letter of guidance in response to a complaint against a certified teacher or administrator.
SB 1220 – Award of Attorney Fees / Public Records by Garcia – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; IN MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE
Revising the circumstances under which a court must assess and award the reasonable costs of enforcement against an agency in a civil action to enforce Chapter 119, F.S.; prohibiting a court from assessing and awarding the reasonable costs of enforcement against an agency if certain conditions exist; specifying circumstances under which a complainant is not required to provide certain written notice of a public record request.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 520 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by Lee – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 793; SB 520 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 793 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by O’Toole – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 520; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
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 986 – Workers’ Compensation by Simpson – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
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 436 – Terroristic Threats by Simpson – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Creating the crime of falsely reporting the use of firearms in a violent manner against a person or persons; defining the terms “family member of a person” and “law enforcement officer”; providing a criminal penalty for a violation of specified provisions under certain circumstances; requiring payment of restitution; reenacting ss. 1006.07(2)(m) and 1006.13(3)(b), F.S., relating to district school board duties relating to student discipline and school safety and a policy of zero tolerance for crime and victimization, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 790.163, F.S., in references thereto.
SB 1538 – Veterans’ Employment by Evers – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Requiring each state agency and authorizing other political subdivisions of the state to develop and implement a veterans recruitment plan; requiring specified goals for veterans recruitment plans; requiring the Department of Management Services to collect specified data and to include the data in its annual workforce report and on its website.
SB 524 – Education by Gaetz – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED; RETAINED ON SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR
HB 7043 – Education Funding by Education – NOT CONSIDERED; RETAINED ON SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR
Creating a Florida College System Performance-Based Incentive for Florida College System institutions; establishing a collaboration between the state board and the Legislature to designate certain Florida College System institutions as distinguished colleges; revising the academic and research excellence standards for the preeminent state research universities program; requiring the Board of Governors to designate a state university that meets specified requirements as an “emerging preeminent state research university”; requiring a school district to add a specified number of points to the calculation of a matrix of services for a student who is deaf and enrolled in an auditory-oral education program; revising eligibility for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; revising the online course requirement; creating a federally connected student supplement for school districts; creating the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative; providing requirements regarding liability insurance for students performing clinical field experience; establishing the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program; deleting provisions relating to priorities for charter school capital outlay funding; deleting provisions relating to a charter school’s allocation; providing that a charter school is not eligible for funding unless it meets certain requirements; revising the funding allocation calculation; providing that a school district may not receive funds from the Special Facility Construction Account under certain circumstances; revising the criteria for a request for funding; prohibiting certain consultants from specified employment and compensation; providing an exception to prohibiting the cost per student station from exceeding a certain amount; requiring OPPAGA to conduct a study, in consultation with the department, on cost per student station amounts and on the State Requirements for Education Facilities; providing sanctions for school districts that exceed certain costs; deleting a provision relating to applicability of certain restrictions on the cost per student station of new construction; authorizing a university board of trustees to expend reserve or carry-forward balances for certain projects; establishing a competency-based innovation pilot program within the Department of Education; defining the term “competency-based education”; authorizing certain schools to apply to the department for approval of a competency-based innovation pilot program; requiring the department to compile certain information and provide access to statewide, standardized assessments; etc.
SB 1570 – School Bus Stop Safety by Simmons – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Revising the terms of violation and the penalties for failure to stop a vehicle upon approaching a school bus that displays a stop signal; providing for criminal penalties under certain circumstances; requiring an additional fee to be added to a fine imposed for a specified violation; providing for distribution of the fee; etc.
SB 1160 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Detert – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
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 700 – Juvenile Criminal History Records by Soto – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 293; SB 700 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 293 – Juvenile Criminal History Records by Pritchett – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 700; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
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.
In the House Session:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
HB 1125 – Child Care Personnel by McBurney – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
Providing criteria for disqualification from employment for child care personnel; requiring that certain persons who have been granted an exemption from disqualification from child care employment be rescreened by a specified date; providing applicability with respect to specified provisions adopted during the same legislative session.
HB 1083 – Agency for Persons with Disabilities by Renner – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
Repeals provisions relating to program for prevention & treatment of severe self-injurious behavior; adds client needs that qualify as extraordinary needs, which may result in increase in client’s allocated funds; requires APD to conduct utilization review; provides for annual reviews for persons involuntarily committed to residential services; abrogates scheduled expiration & reversion of amendments to ss. 393.067(15) & 393.18, F.S.; specifies that AHCA is not required to contract with certain licensed facilities; revises residency limitations for comprehensive transitional education programs. [NOTE: In addition to other provisions, the bill revises the purposes of comprehensive transitional education programs, revises the organization and operation of components of such a program, and provides for the integration of educational components with the local school district.]
Bills on 2nd Reading:
HB 613 – Workers’ Compensation by Sullivan – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
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.
HB 981 – Administrative Procedures by Richardson — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Provides additional requirements for calculation of estimated adverse impacts & regulatory costs.
HB 499 – Ad Valorem Taxation by Avila — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
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.
HB 1219 – Veterans’ Employment by Raburn — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Requires state agencies, & authorizes political subdivisions of state, to develop & implement veterans’ recruitment plan; requires DMS to collect specified data & include such data in its annual workforce report & on its website; provides applicability.
HB 701 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Lee — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Creates the “Art in the Capitol Competition” for students in specified grades; provides procedures for student participation, notification, & selection & display of winning submissions.
HB 1361 – Growth Management by La Rosa – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR3/3/16
Authorizes governing body of county to employ tax increment financing for certain purposes; revises provisions regarding developments of regional impact; revises certain provisions regarding recommended orders & final orders; revises provisions to require state land planning agency to approve comprehensive plan amendments & land development regulations in Apalachicola Bay Area of critical state concern.
HB 535 – Building Codes by Eagle — READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Revises provisions related to Florida Building Code; revises provisions regarding Florida Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program; restricts application of Florida Building Code for certain aspects of construction; revises provisions related to portable pools; revises provisions regarding Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund; revises minimum requirements for certificate of completion for residential swimming pools; revises provisions regarding authority of building officials to issue building permits; revises provisions regarding appeal boards; revising provisions addressing certain fire service access elevators; creates task force to study electrical safety in swimming pools; creates construction industry workforce task force to study issues associated with training of construction workforce.
HB 89 – Florida Kidcare Program by Diaz – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/3/16
Provides eligibility for optional payments for medical assistance & related services for certain lawfully residing children; clarifies that undocumented immigrants are excluded from eligibility for optional Medicaid payments or related services; provides appropriation.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[NOTE: Nearly all meetings and floor sessions may be viewed via the Florida Channel athttp://thefloridachannel.org/.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet (8:00 – 10:00 am) to consider the following bills and others:
SB 314 – Juvenile Justice by Diaz de la Portilla
Revising the circumstances under which a state attorney may file an information when a child of a certain age range commits or attempts to commit specified crimes; revising the crimes and the age of a child who is subject to the jurisdiction of a circuit court; requiring the adult court to render an order including specific findings of fact and the reasons for its decision; removing a provision that requires a court to impose adult sanctions under certain circumstances, etc.
SB 686 – Government Accountability by Gaetz
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 824 – Dual Enrollment Program by Stargel
Exempting dual enrollment students from paying technology fees; requiring a home education secondary student to be responsible for his or her own instructional materials and transportation in order to participate in the dual enrollment program unless the articulation agreement provides otherwise; authorizing certain instructional materials to be made available free of charge to dual enrollment students in home education programs and private schools if provided for in the articulation agreement; requiring a postsecondary institution eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program to enter into an articulation agreement with certain eligible private schools, etc.
SB 884 – Youth Suicide Awareness by Benacquisto
Requiring the Department of Education to incorporate training in youth suicide awareness and prevention into certain instructional personnel continuing education or inservice training requirements; requiring the department, in consultation with the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention and suicide prevention experts, to develop a list of approved materials for the training, etc.
SB 1088 – McKay Scholarship Program by Stargel
Exempting a foster child from specified eligibility provisions; creating a transition-to-work program for specific students enrolled in the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; exempting a John M. McKay Scholarship award from a specified funding calculation for purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program, 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 7054 – Persons with Disabilities by Children, Families, & Elder Affairs
Repealing provisions relating to a program for the prevention and treatment of severe self-injurious behavior; adding client needs that qualify as extraordinary needs, which may result in the approval of an increase in a client’s allocated funds; requiring the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to conduct a certain utilization review; providing for annual reviews for persons involuntarily committed to residential services, etc.
The Senate will be in Session (10:00 am – 6:00 pm) to consider the following bills and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
HB 793 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by O’Toole
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 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 436 – Terroristic Threats by Simpson
Creating the crime of falsely reporting the use of firearms in a violent manner against a person or persons; defining the terms “family member of a person” and “law enforcement officer”; providing a criminal penalty for a violation of specified provisions under certain circumstances; requiring payment of restitution; reenacting ss. 1006.07(2)(m) and 1006.13(3)(b), F.S., relating to district school board duties relating to student discipline and school safety and a policy of zero tolerance for crime and victimization, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 790.163, F.S., in references thereto.
SB 1538 – Veterans’ Employment by Evers
Requiring each state agency and authorizing other political subdivisions of the state to develop and implement a veterans recruitment plan; requiring specified goals for veterans recruitment plans; requiring the Department of Management Services to collect specified data and to include the data in its annual workforce report and on its website.
SB 1570 – School Bus Stop Safety by Simmons
Revising the terms of violation and the penalties for failure to stop a vehicle upon approaching a school bus that displays a stop signal; providing for criminal penalties under certain circumstances; requiring an additional fee to be added to a fine imposed for a specified violation; providing for distribution of the fee; 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.
HB 293 – Juvenile Criminal History Records by Pritchett
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.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 944 – Out of State Fee Waivers / Active Duty Service by Richter
HB 799 – Out of State Fee Waivers / Active Duty Service by Avila
Requiring state universities, Florida College System institutions, and certain centers to waive out-of-state fees for active duty members of the United States Armed Forces residing or stationed outside of this state; prohibiting tuition and fees charged to such students from exceeding a specified amount, etc.
SB 372 – Administrative Procedures by Lee
HB 183 – Administrative Procedures by Adkins
Providing procedures for agencies to follow when initiating rulemaking after certain public hearings; providing for publication of notices of rule development and of rules filed for adoption; specifying legal authority to file a petition challenging an agency rule as an invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority, etc.
SB 1420 – Child Care Personnel by Bean
HB 1125 – Child Care Personnel by McBurney
Prohibiting certain job applicants from employment with a child care facility, 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 124 – Public Procurement Practices by Evers
Deleting provisions creating the Public-Private Partnership Guidelines Task Force; requiring a private entity that submits an unsolicited proposal to pay an initial application fee and additional amounts if the fee does not cover certain costs; deleting provisions relating to notice to affected local jurisdictions; authorizing a negotiated portion of revenues from fee-generating uses to be returned to the responsible public entity, etc.
SB 126 – Public Procurement Practices / Public Records by Evers
Transferring, renumbering, and amending provisions relating to public-private partnerships for public facilities and infrastructure; providing an exemption from public records requirements for a specified period for unsolicited proposals received by a responsible public entity; providing an exemption from public records requirements for a specified period for the recording of, and any records generated during, a closed meeting; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemptions; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
SB 524 – Education by Gaetz
HB 7043 – Education Funding by Education
Creating a Florida College System Performance-Based Incentive for Florida College System institutions; establishing a collaboration between the state board and the Legislature to designate certain Florida College System institutions as distinguished colleges; revising the academic and research excellence standards for the preeminent state research universities program; requiring the Board of Governors to designate a state university that meets specified requirements as an “emerging preeminent state research university”; requiring a school district to add a specified number of points to the calculation of a matrix of services for a student who is deaf and enrolled in an auditory-oral education program; revising eligibility for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; revising the online course requirement; creating a federally connected student supplement for school districts; creating the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative; providing requirements regarding liability insurance for students performing clinical field experience; establishing the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program; deleting provisions relating to priorities for charter school capital outlay funding; deleting provisions relating to a charter school’s allocation; providing that a charter school is not eligible for funding unless it meets certain requirements; revising the funding allocation calculation; providing that a school district may not receive funds from the Special Facility Construction Account under certain circumstances; revising the criteria for a request for funding; prohibiting certain consultants from specified employment and compensation; providing an exception to prohibiting the cost per student station from exceeding a certain amount; requiring OPPAGA to conduct a study, in consultation with the department, on cost per student station amounts and on the State Requirements for Education Facilities; providing sanctions for school districts that exceed certain costs; deleting a provision relating to applicability of certain restrictions on the cost per student station of new construction; authorizing a university board of trustees to expend reserve or carry-forward balances for certain projects; establishing a competency-based innovation pilot program within the Department of Education; defining the term “competency-based education”; authorizing certain schools to apply to the department for approval of a competency-based innovation pilot program; requiring the department to compile certain information and provide access to statewide, standardized assessments; etc. [NOTE: This is the bill that was substantially amended last week to incorporate the substance of several bills and proposed policies including, but not limited to, SB 978 relating to the Best and Brightest Teacher awards, SB 434 relating to the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program, SB 1714 relating to the Competency Based Education Pilot Program, SB 1126 relating to Auditory-Oral Education Programs, SB 1360 relating to Student Assessments, SB 1166 relating to Education Funding; SB 1064 relating to the Special Facility Construction Account Program, and the Senate’s proposal with regard to charter school capital outlay funding. The Senate charter school capital outlay proposaldoes not include any requirement for school districts to share local capital outlay millage revenue with charter schools, but it does include provisions that call for a study of the calculation of the statutory cost per student station, provisions that would limit district spending on capital projects, and provisions that would apply sanctions on school districts that exceed the cost per student station. Several amendments have been filed for consideration. HB 7043 includes the House version of some, but not all, of the provisions that are currently in SB 524. The Senate has prepared amendments to align HB 7043 with SB 524. We will carefully watch the action on these two billstomorrow.]
The House will be in Session (10:30 am – completion of business) to consider the following bills and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
HB 613 – Workers’ Compensation by Sullivan
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.
HB 981 – Administrative Procedures by Richardson
Provides additional requirements for calculation of estimated adverse impacts & regulatory costs.
HB 499 – Ad Valorem Taxation by Avila
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.
HB 1219 – Veterans’ Employment by Raburn
Requires state agencies, & authorizes political subdivisions of state, to develop & implement veterans’ recruitment plan; requires DMS to collect specified data & include such data in its annual workforce report & on its website; provides applicability.
HB 701 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Lee
Creates the “Art in the Capitol Competition” for students in specified grades; provides procedures for student participation, notification, & selection & display of winning submissions.
HB 1361 – Growth Management by La Rosa
Authorizes governing body of county to employ tax increment financing for certain purposes; revises provisions regarding developments of regional impact; revises certain provisions regarding recommended orders & final orders; revises provisions to require state land planning agency to approve comprehensive plan amendments & land development regulations in Apalachicola Bay Area of critical state concern.
HB 535 – Building Codes by Eagle
Revises provisions related to Florida Building Code; revises provisions regarding Florida Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program; restricts application of Florida Building Code for certain aspects of construction; revises provisions related to portable pools; revises provisions regarding Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund; revises minimum requirements for certificate of completion for residential swimming pools; revises provisions regarding authority of building officials to issue building permits; revises provisions regarding appeal boards; revising provisions addressing certain fire service access elevators; creates task force to study electrical safety in swimming pools; creates construction industry workforce task force to study issues associated with training of construction workforce.
HB 89 – Florida Kidcare Program by Diaz
Provides eligibility for optional payments for medical assistance & related services for certain lawfully residing children; clarifies that undocumented immigrants are excluded from eligibility for optional Medicaid payments or related services; provides appropriation.
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
