FSBA LEGISLATIVE WEEKLY VIDEO UPDATE
Our first Video Update for the 2015 Legislative Session has been posted on the FSBA website at www.fsba.org – you may access the video by clicking on the link to 2015 Legislative Session Video Update 1 under “Legislative Session Updates” (located below the pictures on our main page) or by using this direct link: https://fsba.org/2015-
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
The House Education Committee:
Proposed Committee Bill (PCB) EDC4 – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
Revises school start date to allow the opening date to be as early as August 10; eliminates requirement to regularly assess K-3 students; repeals required remediation for middle grades students who score level 1 or 2 on the ELA FSB; repeals required remediation of high school students who score level 1 or 2 on ELA assessment or Algebra I EOC; eliminates administration of the 11th grade ELA assessment; eliminates specific assessment requirements for subjects and grade levels not measured by state assessments; eliminates requirements for progress monitoring; removes requirements for an additional hour of instruction in lowest performing elementary schools; requires instructional personnel or school administrator evaluation to be based on at least 1/3 on student performance, at least 1/3 on instructional practice or instructional leadership, and remainder on other criteria, requires evaluation of teachers and administrators to be based on the students assigned to them; etc. [NOTE: This PCB is much more comprehensive than the main Senate assessment and accountability bill – SB 616 — in addressing many of the concerns raised by FSBA, FADSS, parents, teachers, and others about the state assessment and accountability system. FSBA has expressed support for this bill. However, this bill does not address the need for a longer transition period for the implementation of new standards and assessments (though the bill would mitigate some of the sanctions that would be triggered). The bill also does not address the gap in technology infrastructure and need for paper and pencil alternatives. In addition, though the bill provides some welcome flexibility in the evaluation of instructional personnel and school administrators, it does not address all concerns such as VAM and evaluation equity.]
COMING UP TOMORROW
[REMINDER: Florida Channel webcasts available at http://thefloridachannel.org]
The Local Government Affairs Subcommittee will meet (8:00-11:00 am; Florida Channel webcast) to consider following item and others:
HB 527 – Public Works Projects by Van Zant
Prohibits state & political subdivisions that contract for construction, maintenance, repair, or improvement of public works from imposing certain conditions on certain contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers or carriers; provides exception; prohibits state & political subdivisions from restricting qualified bidders from submitting bids, being awarded any bid or contract, or performing work on public works project.
The Senate Higher Education Committee will meet (10:00 am-12:00 pm; Florida Channel webcast) to consider:
SB 802 – Vocational Rehabilitation by Gaetz
Providing for the future repeal of the designation of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as the administrative unit for purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, subject to legislative review of a required report; requiring the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to initiate, by a specified date, a performance improvement plan designed to achieve specified goals; requiring the division to develop and implement a pilot program to improve the state vocational rehabilitation program, etc.
SB 960 – Bright Futures Scholarship Program by T. Lee
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; prohibiting the student from receiving remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work performed, etc.
SB 1140 – Bright Futures Scholarship Program by Montford
Providing that the initial award and 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 begins upon the completion of the religious or service obligation, etc.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee will meet (1:30-3:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast) to consider the following items and others:
SB 924 – Property Prepared for Tax-Exempt Use by Hays
Consolidating and revising provisions relating to obtaining an ad valorem exemption for property owned by an exempt organization, including the requirement that the owner of an exempt organization take affirmative steps to demonstrate an exempt use; authorizing the property appraiser to serve a notice of tax lien on exempt property that is not in actual exempt use after a certain time; providing that the provisions authorizing the tax lien do not apply to a house of public worship, etc.
SB 782 – County Officers by Montford
Providing that the salaries of a clerk of circuit court, county comptroller, sheriff, supervisor of elections, property appraiser, tax collector, and district school superintendent may not be decreased under specific circumstances as the county population increases, etc.
SB 242 – Publicly Funded Retirement Plans by Brandes
Requiring that actuarial reports for certain retirement plans include mortality tables; revising information to be included in a defined benefit system or plan’s annual report to the Department of Management Services; providing a declaration of important state interest, etc.
SB 562 – Growth Management by Simpson
Requiring plan amendments proposing a development that qualifies as a development of regional impact to be subject to the state coordinated review process; providing that new proposed developments are subject to the state coordinated review process and not the development of regional impact review process, etc.
SB 484 – Regional Planning Councils by Simpson
Requiring the state land planning agency to identify parties that may enter into mediation relating to the compatibility of developments with military installations; requiring electric utilities to notify the county, rather than the regional planning council, of its current plans to site electric substations; authorizing local governments to enter into agreements to create regional planning entities; revising the requirements for the statewide emergency shelter plan to include the general location and square footage of special needs shelters by county rather than by regional planning council region, etc.
The Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee will meet (1:30-3:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast) to consider the following items and others:
SB 848 – Employment of Individuals with Disabilities by Richter
Citing this act as the “Employment First Act”; requiring specified state agencies and organizations to develop and implement an interagency cooperative agreement; requiring the interagency cooperative agreement to provide the roles, responsibilities, and objectives of state agencies and organizations, etc.
SB 574 – Government Procurement by Montford
Defining the term “reverse auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to maintain a program for reverse auctions; authorizing the Department of Education to use reverse auctions and other online procurement programs in assisting district school boards with transportation services contracts; authorizing the Board of Governors to adopt regulations establishing procedures governing a state university’s participation in reverse auctions and other online procurement programs, etc.
SB 934 – Public Works Projects by Brandes
Prohibiting state and political subdivisions that contract for the construction, maintenance, repair, or improvement of public works from imposing certain conditions on certain contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers or carriers; providing an exception; prohibiting state and political subdivisions from restricting qualified bidders from submitting bids, being awarded any bid or contract, or performing work on a public works project, etc.
SB 1504 – Retirement by Evers
Authorizing local agency employers to reassess designation of positions for inclusion in the Senior Management Service Class; providing for removal of certain positions, etc.
SB 946 – Holidays & Observances / Sir Lancelot Jones by Bullard
Designating the second Monday in October of each year as “Sir Lancelot Jones Day”; authorizing the Governor to issue proclamations commemorating the occasion; encouraging public officials, schools, private organizations, and citizens to commemorate the occasion, etc.
SB 7042 – Florida Retirement System by Governmental Oversight
Authorizing renewed membership in the retirement system for retirees who are reemployed in a position eligible for the Elected Officers’ Class under certain circumstances; authorizing renewed membership in the retirement system for retirees who are reemployed in a position eligible for the Elected Officers’ Class under certain circumstances; authorizing renewed membership in the retirement system for retirees who are reemployed in a position eligible for the Elected Officers’ Class under certain circumstances, etc.
I hope you find this information useful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Ruth Haseman Melton
Director of Government Relations
Florida School Boards Association
Office: 850 / 414-2578
Cell: 850 / 509-6411
Email: melton@fsba.org
