Wednesday, March 5, 2014
FSBA DAY IN THE LEGISLATURE CONFERENCE
We hope you are planning to attend our Day in the Legislature Conference scheduled for March 19-20, 2014 in Tallahassee. Information, including a link to online registration, is available on the FSBA website at www.fsba.org – please click on “Event Schedule” in the drop down menu under “Events” on the top menu bar or use this direct link: https://fsba.org/fsba-events/event-schedule/fsba-day-in-the-legislature-conference. Many interesting and controversial issues have already arisen during the session so please don’t miss this opportunity to join school board members throughout the state to advocate for public education. If you have any questions about the Day in the Legislature conference, please contact the FSBA office.
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 548 – Bullying by Simmons – PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
This bill creates a criminal statute penalizing bullying/cyberbullying and aggravated bullying/cyberbullying. The newly created statute provides a second degree misdemeanor penalty for bullying/cyberbullying and a first degree misdemeanor penalty for aggravated bullying/cyberbullying. This bill is significant to school districts because students and others who commit acts of bullying would be subject to criminal penalties in addition to, or in place of, of other sanctions.
In the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 732 – Florida Prepaid College Program by Galvano — PASSED
The bill prohibits the amount of the aggregate sum of registration fees, the tuition differential fee, and local fees paid under an advance payment contract from exceeding a certain percentage of the amount charged by the state university for the aggregate sum of those fees; Similarly, it prohibits the amount of the dormitory fees paid under an advance payment contract from exceeding a certain percentage of the amount charged by the state university for those fees, etc. In effect, this bill reduces the increases in costs for individuals to purchase a pre-paid college contract. At the same time, it reduces the amount paid to post-secondary institutions who accept students under this program.
In the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
HB 433 – Educator Certification by Spano — PASSED
The bill provides requirements for certain instructional personnel who supervise or direct pre-service field experience; revises acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of general knowledge, subject area knowledge, and professional preparation and education competence; revises components of competency-based professional development certification and education competency program; repeals study to compare performance of certain certificate-holders; revises certain requirements for renewal or reinstatement of professional certificate.
HB 533 – Student Eligibility / Athletics by M. Diaz — PASSED
The bill revises provisions enabling home education, charter school, virtual education, and certain private school students to participate in extracurricular activities at public school; authorizes students attending certain public schools to participate in extracurricular activities at another public school; requires district school board eligibility policies to apply evenly to all students regardless of student’s extracurricular activity; requires FHSAA bylaws to specify that pre-participation physical evaluation form advise students to complete cardiovascular assessment that includes electrocardiogram.
HB 851 – Resident Status for Tuition Purposes by Nuñez – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill revises certain residency requirements for tuition purposes for dependent children; prohibits denial of classification as resident for tuition purposes based on certain immigration status; revises requirements for documentation of residency and classification as resident; provides that certain persons are not classified as residents for tuition purposes but are not required to pay out-of-state fees; provides requirements for receipt of state financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Several competing bills have been filed on this subject and it’s likely that efforts will continue to amend these bills to arrive at a compromise.
HB 7033 – Middle Grades Education by K-12 — PASSED
The bill requires a school that includes certain grades to include information in its school improvement plan and implement early warning system to identify students in need of additional academic support; includes middle grades schools under provisions prohibiting hazing; revises penalties; specifies requirements relating to additional FTE funding based on completion of courses or programs and issuance of industry certification; provides requirements for professional development for middle grades educators. [NOTE: Much of the content of this bill was amended on to SB 850 to create a companion bill in the Senate for this House bill.]
HB 7057 – Career & Charter Technical Career Centers by Education – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill authorizes career center and charter technical career center to offer college credit courses applicable toward specific certificates or degrees; provides process for approval to offer specific degree programs; renames and clarifies applied technology diploma program; revises and clarifies tuition and fees for specific workforce education programs.
In the Senate Finance & Tax Subcommittee:
SB 66 – Discretionary Sales Surtaxes by Flores — PASSED
The bill authorizes a county defined in s. 125.011(1), F.S., (currently this identifies Miami-Dade County only) to levy a surtax up to a specified amount for the benefit of a Florida College System institution and a state university in the county pursuant to an ordinance conditioned to take effect upon approval in a county referendum, etc.
In the Senate General Government Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 564 – Security for Public Deposits by Richter — PASSED
The bill clarifies provisions relating to public deposits that are exempt from state security requirements; provides that a notice of the default or insolvency of a qualified public depository is not required if the Florida public deposits are acquired by another insured depository; provides that the depository institution acquiring the Florida public deposits is subject to certain requirements; provides that a protection from loss is effective when a public depositor does not comply with certain provisions under specified circumstances, etc.
In the House K-12 Subcommittee:
HB 87 – Fine Arts Courses by McBurney — PASSED
The bill requires Commissioner of Education to prepare annual report relating to student access to and participation in fine arts courses and information on educators, facilities, and instruction in such courses.
HB 297 – Public School Instruction by Hill — PASSED
The bill requires that instructional staff of public schools provide instruction to students about terrorist attacks occurring on September 11, 2001, and the impact of those events.
HB 707 – Background Screening by M. Diaz – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill provides additional offenses that determine ineligibility for educator certification or employment; revises requirements for submission, retention, search, and reporting of fingerprints of educational personnel and contractors; provides for FDLE participation in national retained print arrest notification program.
In the Senate Community Affairs Committee:
SB 358 – Volunteers / Organized Youth Sports by Ring — PASSED
The bill expands provisions relating to athletic coaches for independent sanctioning authorities to require youth sports or recreation authorities to conduct specified background screening of all volunteers with any youth athletic team or organized youth recreational program using publicly owned facilities; prohibits a youth sports or recreation authority from delegating such duty; requiring that specified documentation be maintained for a specified period by such authorities, etc.
SB 846 – Governmental Ethics by Latvala – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill specifies the applicability of certain provisions of the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees to members of the executive council of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation; requires an officer required to participate in annual ethics training to certify participation on his or her full and public disclosure of financial interests; specifies the applicability of certain provisions of the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees to division officers of Enterprise Florida, Inc., etc.
SB 806 – Value Adjustment Board Proceedings by Bradley — PASSED
The bill requires the clerk of the value adjustment board to have available and distribute specified forms; authorizes the owner of multiple items of tangible personal property to file a joint petition with the value adjustment board under certain circumstances; requires the property appraiser to include the property record card in an evidence list for a value adjustment board hearing under certain circumstances, etc.
In the House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee:
HB 355 – Instructional Materials Affordability by Porter – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill revises textbook affordability policies & procedures to include other instructional materials; requires policies & procedures to be adopted by Florida College System institutions & state universities; requires institution to post information on course schedule relating to required & recommended textbooks & costs; requires recommendations to Governor & Legislature to reduce student costs.
HB 487 – Agricultural Industry Certifications by Raburn – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill requires DOACS to annually provide to SBE & DOE industry certifications for farm occupations to be placed on industry certification funding lists; defines industry certification as part of career education programs; requires rules for implementing industry certification process for farm occupations; requires placement on funding lists to determine annual funding distributions to school districts & postsecondary institutions.
HB 147 – Concrete Masonry Education by Caldwell – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill designates act as “Concrete Masonry Education Act; creates Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council, Inc.; provides powers & duties of council; provides for appointment & terms of council’s governing board; authorizes council to accept grants, donations, contributions, & gifts; authorizes council to make payments to other organizations; provides for collection of voluntary assessment on concrete masonry units; requires manufacturers who elect to pay assessment to commit to paying assessment for specified period; requires council to adopt bylaws.
COMING UP TOMORROW
The Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee will meet – 9:00 – 11:00 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following item and others:
SB 622 – Paper Recycling by Clemens
The bill requires each district school board to develop a paper recycling
program to be implemented within each classroom of the school district;
requiring money received for the recycling of paper or paper products to be
deposited into the school district’s general fund, etc.
The Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee will meet – 9:00 – 11:00 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items and others:
SB 612 – Preference in the Award of State Contracts by Hays
The bill expands provisions that require an agency, university, college, school district, or other political subdivision of the state to provide preferential consideration to a Florida business in awarding competitively bid contracts to purchase personal property to include the purchase of construction services; requiring counties and municipalities to provide such preferential consideration, etc.
SB 7064 – Public Records & Meetings by Governmental Oversight
The bill revises the general state policy on public records; authorizing a
person to make a request to inspect or copy a public record at certain agency
offices; providing that public records requests need not be in writing unless
otherwise required by law; providing that a party filing an action against
certain agencies is not required to serve a copy of a pleading claiming
attorney fees on the Department of Financial Services, etc.
The House Education Committee will meet – 9:30 – 11:30 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items:
HB 173 – Juvenile Justice Education Programs by Adkins
The bill revises requirements for multiagency education plan for students in juvenile justice education programs; revises requirements effective education programs for youth in DJJ programs; revises contract & cooperative agreement requirements for delivery of appropriate education services to youth in DJJ programs; revises requirements for activities to be coordinated by coordinators for juvenile justice education programs; requires that educational program shall be based on each youth’s reentry plan & assessed needs; provides requirements for prevention & day-treatment juvenile justice education programs; requires progress monitoring plans for all non-exceptional student students; requires that DOE, in partnership with DJJ, ensure that school districts & juvenile justice education providers develop educational transition plans; requires DOE to establish student performance measures & program performance ratings; requires comprehensive accountability & school improvement process; provides requirements for such process.
HB 195 – Education Data Privacy by Raburn
The bill revises provisions relating to remedy in circuit court with respect to education records & reports of K-12 students & parents; provides for annual notice of student & parent rights; provides limitations on collection of information & disclosure of confidential & exempt student records; revises provisions relating to submission of student social security numbers & assignment of student identification numbers. This bill addresses a controversial issue. The Senate companion bill – SB 188 – stalled in the Senate yesterday (see related news story below).
HB 313 – Gender-Specific School Pilot Project by M. Diaz
The bill provides requirements for district school board when establishing
gender-specific elementary, middle, or high school; requires school
administrative & instructional personnel to participate in professional
development; provides accountability requirements.
HB 7029 – Code of Student Conduct by K-12
The bill provides that simulating firearm or weapon while playing or wearing certain clothing or accessories is not grounds for disciplinary action or referral to criminal justice or juvenile justice system; provides criteria for determining whether certain student conduct warrants disciplinary action; provides criteria for determining appropriate consequences for conduct.
HB 7031 – Education / Repeal / Revise / Audits by K-12
The bill revises & repeals various provisions relating to education;
revises course & assessment requirements for promotion to high school & for award of standard high school diploma; provides course & assessment requirements for graduation for certain cohorts of high school students transitioning to new graduation requirements; revises & conforms provisions relating to selection & purchase of instructional materials, statewide assessment program, education personnel, & educational facilities.
The Committee will also conduct a workshop on the Accountability System.
The House Regulatory Affairs Committee will meet – 9:30 – 11:30 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following item and others:
HB 7009 – Security for Public Deposits by Banking & Insurance
The bill revises collateral-pledging level for public deposits; repeals
provisions relating to Qualified Public Depository Oversight Board; provides
that notice of default or insolvency of qualified public depository is not
required; requires information from nonqualified bank, savings bank, or savings association that acquires public depository by default or insolvency; revises notice requirements for public depositors; revises restrictions on loss protection provisions in certain circumstances in which public depositor fails to comply with notice requirements.
Finance & Tax Subcommittee will meet – 1:30 – 4:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following item and others:
FTSC-2 – Tax Credit Scholarship Programs by Finance & Tax
The bill revises and expands the existing Tax Credit Scholarship program. The bill would significantly increase the funding that is diverted from state general revenue and expands student eligibility for this program. FSBA opposes voucher programs that are not subject to the same accountability system that is applied to traditional public schools.
IN THE NEWS
Tampa Tribune – 3/4/14
Scan bill held up in Senate after technology supporters push back
http://tbo.com/news/politics/scan-ban-bill-held-up-in-senate-after-technology-supporters-push-back-0140304/
Orlando Sentinel – 3/5/14
Senate advances cyberbullying bill inspired by Polk suicide
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/blogs/political-pulse/os-senate-advances-cyberbullying-bill-inspired-by-polk-suicide-20140305,0,3588650.post
Washington Post – 3/5/14
President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/politics/president-obamas-2014-budget-proposal/94/
