BUDGET UPDATE
This evening the House and Senate Appropriations Committee chairs – Representative Corcoran and Senator Lee – sat down for the first time to formally work through some of the budget differences that had been “bumped” up to them for resolution. This evening’s meeting focused on health care, agriculture, and natural resources issues. The chairs stated that they would continue to meet over the weekend to work through the remaining issues — including the education portions of the budget — and they expect to have all issues resolved by early next week.
As we reported to you last week, the FEFP portion of the education section of the budget is essentially settled. As things stand now, total FEFP funding would increase by about $458 million (2.33%) and Total FEFP Funds Per FTE would increase to $7,178.49, in increase of about $71 (1%). This FEFP Funding Per FTE exceeds the previous highpoint – in 2007-2008 — by about $35 per student. Even so, these increases are below those that had been offered in the original House and Senate Education budget proposals. In an unusual step, both chambers negotiated down from their original budget proposals in order to roll-back the Required Local Effort millage rate to produce the same amount produced during the current fiscal year. This decision gives rise to both benefits and concerns. One major benefit is that school boards will not have to ask local property tax payers to contribute more in 2016-2017 than they were asked to contribute in 2015-2016. A major concern is that there will be less flexible funding available to school districts to meet the costs associated with inflation, salary increases, or other operating expenses. We encourage school board members to begin now to consider the implications of this decision as you begin to shape your district budgets for next year. We have posted the FEFP Spreadsheets from the House and Senate offers (though they are essentially identical and do not offer district-by-district information). We have also prepared a simple comparison of the FEFP totals from the current year, the House and Senate Budget proposals, and the current conference committee position on the FEFP. These documents, and related materials, are available on the FSBA website in our Legislative Session Resource Center at https://fsba.org/2016-
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Appropriations Committee:
SB 314 – Juvenile Justice by Diaz de la Portilla — PASSED
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 – NOT CONSIDERED
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 – NOT CONSIDERED
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 – NOT CONSIDERED
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 — PASSED
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 – NOT CONSIDERED
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 – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
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.
HB 7099 – Taxation by Finance & Tax – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
Revises certain documentary stamp tax provisions; specifies uses of community redevelopment agency redevelopment trust fund moneys for youth centers; revises provisions regarding payment of aerial photographs; expands exemptions & discounts from ad valorem taxes; revises excise taxes on certain aviation fuels; reduces tax on leasing of real property; authorizes credit of tax for certain resales; revises provisions regarding sales of certain aircraft; revises sales tax exemptions for a variety of entities & activities; adopts 2016 version of IRC; extends rehabilitation tax credits; extends renewable energy technology corporate income tax credits; revises due dates for partnership information & corporate tax returns; revises tax credits available for rehabilitation of certain drycleaning contaminated sites; specifies excise tax for cider made from pears; creates method of tax for certain alcoholic beverages & tobacco products; exempts certain items for specified periods from sales & use tax; provides finding of important state interest. [NOTE: This is the House version of the tax cut package. Today’s amendments significantly reduced the overall value of the tax relief to align with available funding. As amended, the tax relief package is valued at approximately $130 million and includes, among other things, an abbreviated back-to-school sales tax holiday.]
In the House Session:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
HB 613 – Workers’ Compensation by Sullivan – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
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. [NOTE: Later today, this bill was received in the Senate, taken up, substituted for the Senate version of the bill, and passed. (see Senate Session notes below).]
HB 981 – Administrative Procedures by Richardson — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
Provides additional requirements for calculation of estimated adverse impacts & regulatory costs.
HB 499 – Ad Valorem Taxation by Avila — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
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 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
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. [NOTE: Later today, this bill was received in the Senate, taken up, substituted for the Senate version of the bill, and passed. (see Senate Session notes below).]
HB 701 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Lee — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
Creates the “Art in the Capitol Competition” for students in specified grades; provides procedures for student participation, notification, & selection & display of winning submissions. [NOTE: Later today, this bill was received in the Senate, taken up, substituted for the Senate version of the bill, and passed. (see Senate Session notes below).]
HB 1361 – Growth Management by La Rosa — READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
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 3RD TIME; AMENDED; PASSED THE HOUSE
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 3RD TIME; PASSED THE HOUSE; IN MESSAGES TO THE SENATE
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.
In the Senate Session:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
SB 7076 – Convening the 2018 Legislative Session by Ethics & Elections – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; IN MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE
Fixing the date for convening the 2018 Regular Legislative Session for January 9, 2018.
HB 793 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by O’Toole – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
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 3RD TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 613; SB 986 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 613 – Workers’ Compensation by Sullivan – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 986; READ 2ND TIME; READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
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. [NOTE: HB 613 was passed in the House earlier today (see above) and arrived in Messages to the Senate where it was subsequently passed. This type of activity – i.e. a bill passes in one chamber, arrives in Messages in the other chamber, and is acted upon in the second chamber on the same day – becomes more frequent in the final days of the session.]
SB 436 – Terroristic Threats by Simpson – READ 3RD TIME; AMENDED; PASSED THE SENATE; IN MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE
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. [NOTE: Today’s amendment was not substantive — it deleted a duplicated phrase in the title.]
SB 1538 – Veterans’ Employment by Evers – READ 3RD TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 1219; SB 1538 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 1219 – Veterans’ Employment by Raburn – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 1538; READ 2ND TIME; READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
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. [NOTE: HB 1219 was passed in the House earlier today (see above) and arrived in Messages to the Senate where it was subsequently passed.]
SB 1570 – School Bus Stop Safety by Simmons – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; IN MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE
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 3RD TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 701; SB 1160 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 701 – Art in the Capitol Competition by Lee – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 1160; READ 2ND TIME; READ 3RDTIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
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. [NOTE: HB 701 was passed in the House earlier today (see above) and arrived in Messages to the Senate where it was subsequently passed.]
HB 293 – Juvenile Criminal History Records by Pritchett – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
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 – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 799; SB 944 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 799 – Out of State Fee Waivers / Active Duty Service by Avila – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 944; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/4/16
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 1420 – Child Care Personnel by Bean – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 1125; SB 1420 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 1125 – Child Care Personnel by McBurney – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 1420; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/4/16
Prohibiting certain job applicants from employment with a child care facility, etc.
SB 1418 – Supplemental Academic Instruction by Simmons – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RDREADING FOR 3/4/16
Deleting the fiscal year for the requirement that specified school districts use certain funds toward additional intensive reading instruction; specifying the method for determining the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools; requiring categorical funds for supplemental academic instruction to be provided for in the FEFP; specifying the method of determining the allocation of categorical funding; providing for the recalculation of categorical funding; requiring an allocation to be prorated if certain conditions exist. [NOTE: The bill was amended with a strike all amendment. Among other things, today’s amendment provides that, for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools shall be based on the 2015-2016 state reading assessment; provides a new methodology for the calculation of the SAI funding to provide that the allocation shall consist of a base amount to each district and districts that have elementary schools included in the 300 lowest-performing schools designation will be allocated additional funds to assist those districts in providing intensive reading instruction; and removes all reference to a summer school program. This short summary reflects the changes made to the bill.]
SB 124 – Public Procurement Practices by Evers – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/4/16
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 – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/4/16
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 – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED; 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. [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]
COMING UP TOMORROW
[NOTE: Nearly all meetings and floor sessions may be viewed via the Florida Channel athttp://thefloridachannel.org/.
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.
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.
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
Deleting the fiscal year for the requirement that specified school districts use certain funds toward additional intensive reading instruction; specifying the method for determining the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools; requiring categorical funds for supplemental academic instruction to be provided for in the FEFP; specifying the method of determining the allocation of categorical funding; providing for the recalculation of categorical funding; requiring an allocation to be prorated if certain conditions exist.
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.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 7000 – Local Development by Community Affairs
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.
SB 1190 – Growth Management by Diaz de la Portilla
HB 1361 – Growth Management by La Rosa
Authorizing local governments to hold joint public meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest upon certain conditions; specifying that certain developments must follow the state coordinated review process; establishing deadlines for the state land planning agency to take action on recommended orders relating to certain plan amendments; revising the applicability of certain requirements and restrictions relating to areas of critical state concern to the Apalachicola Bay Area, etc.
SB 1166 – Education Funding by Gaetz
Establishing a collaboration between the state board and the Legislature to designate certain Florida College System institutions as distinguished colleges; 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; revising the purpose of the Credit Acceleration Program; requiring the FHSAA to allow a private school to maintain full membership in the association or to join by sport; revising the calculation for certain supplemental funds for exceptional student education programs, etc.
HB 7029 – School Choice by Choice & Innovation
Clarifying that a sponsor shall consider a charter school applicant’s, governing board member’s, and any education services provider’s past performance operating charter schools when deciding to approve or deny an application; authorizing a charter school that has been granted a charter to defer opening for up to two years to conduct facilities planning; requiring charter schools to begin submitting monthly financial statements upon approval of the charter contract; clarifying that charter schools that earn two consecutive grades of “F” are automatically terminated; removing the limit on replication of high-performing charter schools if the charter school is created to serve high-need areas or school district needs; prohibiting a charter school with financial emergency conditions noted in its most recent annual audit from receiving capital outlay funding; creating an incentive for charter schools to open in high need areas by reducing the administrative fee; creating a High-Impact Charter Network status for charter operators serving educationally disadvantaged students, defining eligibility criteria; clarifies that charter schools do not have to adopt the school district’s research-based reading plan in order to receive the research-based reading allocation; specifies the amount and distribution of FEFP funds based on projected and actual enrollment in a charter school; authorizes a nonprofit organization or municipality that operates a charter school to use unrestricted surplus or unrestricted net assets for K-12 educational purposes for other schools they operate in the district; prohibits the sponsor from delaying payments to charter schools based upon the timing of receipt of local funds; removes the statutory eligibility requirements for enrollment in public K-12 virtual education; revises criteria triggering automatic termination of a state-approved virtual instruction provider’s contract and removal from the list of state approved providers.
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 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 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.]
The House will be in Session (10:30 am – completion of business) to consider the following bills and others:
Bills on 2nd Reading:
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 229 – Bullying and Harassment Policies by Geller
Requires school districts to review their bullying & harassment policies at specified intervals, school principals to implement district’s bullying and harassment policy at school & integrate it with specified programs; requires policy to include procedure for reports of alleged acts of bullying & list of authorized bullying & harassment programs.
HB 7021 – Reading Instruction by K-12
Revises provisions relating to Just Read, Florida! Office, school improvement plans & early warning systems, instruction & intervention for students with substantial reading deficiencies, & parental notification for such students; revises provisions relating to educator training & certification, teacher preparation programs, & school Community Professional Redevelopment Act; provides appropriation.
HB 593 – Government Accountability by Metz
Requires each house of Legislature to provide by rule reporting requirements regarding lobbying firm’s lobbying activities; requires each house to establish procedures applicable to untimely filing of reports by rule; providing fines for late filing of reports; 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; prohibits member of the Legislature or candidate for legislative office from accepting employment with certain private entities; revises certain compensation protocols; revises requirements for financial statements & audits of certain governmental entities; requires lobbying firm to file report with Commission on Ethics.
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
