In the House Government Operations Subcommittee:
HB 565 – Retirement by Beshears – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Authorizes local agency employers to reassess designation of positions for inclusion in SMS Class; provides for removal of certain positions.
In the Senate Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 380 – Persons with Developmental Disabilities by Bradley — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Requiring the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to allow an applicant whose parent or guardian is a member of the United States Armed Forces, the Florida National Guard, or the United States Reserve Forces to receive Medicaid home and community-based waiver program services under certain conditions, etc.
In the Senate Transportation, Tourism, & Economic Devel. Appropriations Subcommittee:
SB 346 – School Bus Stop Safety by Simmons — PASSED
Citing this act as the “Gabby’s Law for School Bus Stop Safety”; revising penalties for failure to stop a vehicle upon approaching a school bus that displays a stop signal; providing for criminal penalties under certain circumstances; amending provisions relating to application of specified provisions, disposition of penalty amounts received, and trauma payments, etc.
In the House Children, Families, & Seniors Subcommittee:
HB 177 – Persons with Developmental Disabilities by Hill — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Allows eligible individual whose parent or guardian is member of U.S. Armed Forces, Florida National Guard, or U.S. Reserve Forces to receive Medicaid home and community-based waiver services under certain conditions.
HB 291 – Involuntary Examinations of Minors by Harrell — PASSED
Provides requirements for notification of involuntary examination of minors by public schools, charter schools, & receiving facilities.
In the House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee:
HB 231 – Transportation by Passidomo — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Revises provisions relating to the rights & safety of vulnerable users of public rights-of-way; prohibits assault of bicycle riders; revises provisions for careless driving; provides penalties for specified infractions contributing to bodily injury of vulnerable users; requires traffic law & substance abuse education courses to include certain instruction; requires driver license examinations to include test of applicant’s knowledge of certain traffic laws; requires driver education courses offered by school district to include certain information.
In the House K-12 Subcommittee:
HB 19 – School Safety by Steube — PASSED
Permits school superintendent, with approval of the school board, to authorize school safety designee to carry concealed weapon or firearm on school property; provides requirements for school safety designees; provides exception to prohibition on possession of firearms or other specified devices on school property or other specified areas; provides for fingerprint processing & retention; requires that fees be borne by school safety designee or school; requires school boards to formulate policies & procedures for dealing with active shooters & hostage situations in consultation with law enforcement; requires district school boards & private schools allow campus tours by local law enforcement agencies for specified purposes & that their recommendations be documented; permits district school boards to commission one or more school safety officers on each school campus. [NOTE: Representative Steube has worked diligently to address concerns that have been raised about this bill and has revised the bill to ensure school district local control and authority in any district that may wish to pursue these provisions. However, FSBA remains gravely concerned about the potential tragedies and unintended consequences that may result in any district that may choose to pursue the policies outlined in this bill.]
HB 85 – Public School Instruction / Terrorist Attacks by Hill — PASSED
Requires that instructional staff of public schools provide instruction to students about terrorist attacks occurring on September 11, 2001, and impact of those events.
HB 181 – Educational Facilities / SREF Flexibility by Bileca — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Provides for school district construction flexibility; authorizes exceptions to certain SREF educational facilities construction requirements under certain circumstances.
HB 587 – Educational Professional Practices by Spano — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Authorizes certain employees or agents of DOE to have access to certain reports & records; revises membership of Education Practices Commission; authorizes Commissioner of Education to appoint emeritus members to commission; authorizes commissioner to issue letter of guidance in response to complaint against teacher or administrator in lieu of probable cause determination.
In the House Judiciary Committee:
HB 493 – Concealed Weapon / Evacuations by Fitzenhagen — AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Provides exemption from criminal penalties for carrying concealed weapon or concealed firearm while in the act of evacuating pursuant to mandatory evacuation order during declared state of emergency; defines “in the act of evacuating.”
In the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee:
Proposed SB 7046 – Education by Education PreK-12 – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
Requiring a state research university to enter into and maintain a formal agreement with a specified organization to offer college-sponsored merit scholarship awards as a condition of designation as a preeminent state research university; authorizing a low-performing elementary school to administer the required additional hours of instruction in a summer program; revising the types and amounts of bonuses that a teacher may receive in any given school year, etc. [NOTE: An amendment by Senator Gaetz calling for school districts to provide 50% of the district 1.5 mill capital outlay millage to charter schools was temporarily passed — a step that may indicate that the amendment will be offered again at a later date. A second amendment by Senator Gaetz PASSED. The amendment calls for a low-performing elementary school to provide an additional hour of instruction during the school year “AND” (rather than “or”) provide an equivalent number of hours of instruction in a summer program.]
SB 518 – Voluntary Prekindergarten Program by Gibson — PASSED
Revising provisions relating to calculation of the kindergarten readiness rate for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program providers and schools; requiring the administration of a pre-assessment and post-assessment to students based upon adopted performance standards, etc.
SB 954 – Involuntary Examinations of Minors by Garcia — PASSED
Requiring school health services plans to include notification requirements when a student is removed from school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity for involuntary examination; requiring a receiving facility to provide notice of the whereabouts of an adult or emancipated minor patient held for involuntary examination; providing conditions for delay in notification, etc.
SB 1116 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by Abruzzo — PASSED
Requiring the Office of Early Learning to establish the pilot project in St. Lucie County to assist low-income, at-risk children in developing emergent literacy skills; requiring the office to select an organization to implement the pilot project; encouraging the coordination of basic health screening and immunization services in conjunction with emergent literacy instruction, etc.
SB 1264 – Digital Classrooms by Legg – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
Establishing requirements for digital classrooms technology infrastructure planning by the Agency for State Technology or a contracted organization; requiring the Office of Technology and Information Services of the Department of Education to consult with the Agency for State Technology in developing the 5-year strategic plan for Florida digital classrooms; specifying conditions for a school district to maintain eligibility for Florida digital classrooms allocation funds, etc.
The Committee also conducted a Workshop on School Choice Issues, including discussion of the following bills (no votes were taken):
SB 254 – Charter Schools by Clemens
Requiring a charter school to demonstrate it meets certain needs that the local school district does not or is unable to provide to students in that district in order to obtain approval, etc.
SB 692 – Charter Schools by Brandes
Providing an exception to the prohibition on a high-performing charter school establishing more than one charter school in this state under specified circumstances; authorizing certain out-of-state entities to apply for designation as a high-performing charter school system; requiring that charter schools established by such entities receive a reduction in certain administrative fees, etc.
SB 720 – School Choice by Ring
Requiring a person or officer of an entity who submits a charter school application to undergo background screening; prohibiting a sponsor from approving a charter school application until completion and receipt of the results of such screening; requiring a charter school applicant to provide evidence of accreditation, etc.
SB 906 – Charter Schools by Sobel
Requiring an application for a charter school to contain a list of certain information regarding all charter schools currently or previously operated by the applicant, applicant group, or proposed management company; requiring a sponsor to consider current or previous charter school performance by the applicant, applicant group, or proposed management company; authorizing a sponsor to deny an application based on charter school failures, etc.
SB 952 – Charter School District Pilot Program by Garcia
Creating the Charter School District Pilot Program; requiring district school boards participating in the pilot program to allocate a specified percentage of certain funds to participating schools; providing additional authority and responsibilities of the principal of a participating school in a charter school district, etc.
SB 1036 – Charter Schools by Montford
Requiring a charter school application and charter to document that the governing board is independent of a management company; specifying circumstances under which a student is considered to have voluntarily withdrawn from a charter school; establishing procedures and requirements for audits and investigations of charter schools; deleting provisions relating to performance contracts for innovation schools of technology, etc.
SB 1038 – Charter Schools by Montford
Creating the “Charter School Excellence Act”; specifying the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Education with respect to the issuance of statements of need; requiring an applicant to file a letter of intent with the department before applying for a statement of need; authorizing the department to hold a public hearing regarding a proposed project under certain circumstances; prohibiting a person from undertaking a project subject to review without holding a statement of need, etc.
SB 1336 – Charter Schools by Braynon
Requiring a charter school applicant to provide verified evidence of a surety bond or secured escrow account in a certain amount within a specified timeframe, etc.
SB 1448 – Student Choice by Legg
Authorizing a parent to enroll his or her child in and transport his or her child to any public school that has not reached capacity, including charter schools, in any school district in this state; clarifying requirements for the creation of a virtual charter school; revising conditions for termination of a virtual instruction provider’s contract; establishing the Florida Charter School Innovation Institute, etc.
SB 1552 – Parent and Student Rights by Benacquisto
Providing the right of a parent to know the average amount of money expended for the education of his or her child; deleting the definition of and provisions relating to controlled open enrollment; requiring each school district to instead establish a public school parental choice policy that allows students to attend any public school that has not reached capacity in their district; requiring each school district board to establish a classroom teacher transfer process for parents, approve or deny a request within a certain timeframe, and post an explanation of the transfer process in the student handbook, etc.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[REMINDER: Florida Channel webcasts available at http://thefloridachannel.org]
The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (8:00-11:00 am) to consider:
HB 143 – American Founders’ Month by Bileca
Designates September as “American Founders’ Month”; authorizes Governor to annually designate month; requires district school boards to celebrate American Founders by observing American Founders’ Month; provides that instruction may be integrated into existing school curriculum.
HB 153 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by L. Lee
Requires Office of Early Learning to establish pilot project in St. Lucie County to assist low-income, at-risk children in developing emergent literacy skills; requires OEL to select organization to implement pilot project; provides eligibility requirements for participation; requires background screening for childcare personnel; requires OEL to allocate funds for pilot project.
HB 357 – Principal Autonomy Pilot Program by M. Diaz
Creates Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative; provides requirements for participation, exemptions, professional development, rulemaking, & reporting; provides authorization period for participation in program; provides for renewal or revocation of authorization to participate in program; revises school district minimum classroom expenditure requirements; requires district school boards participating in program to provide certain funding allocations; provides additional authority & responsibilities to school principals of participating school districts; specifies contents of professional development program.
HB 935 – Individuals with Disabilities / Florida ABLE Program by R. Rodrigues
Creates “Florida Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act”; requires Florida Prepaid College Board to establish direct-support organization known as “Florida ABLE, Inc.”; authorizes organization to use certain services, property, & facilities of Florida Prepaid College Board; provides that specified moneys, assets, & income of qualified ABLE program, including Florida ABLE program, are not subject to attachment, levy, garnishment, or certain legal process in favor of certain creditors or claimants.
HB 937 – Florida ABLE Program Trust Fund by Rodrigues
Creates Florida ABLE Trust Fund within State Board of Administration; authorizes sources of funds; specifies purpose of trust fund & authorized uses of assets; provides for future review & termination or re-creation of trust fund; provides for contingent effect.
HB 7017 – Early Learning by Education
Includes large family child care homes in local zoning regulation requirements; revises certain minimum standards for child care facilities & requirements for certain personnel; provides for inspection of programs regulated by DCF; provides exemptions from child care facility licensing standards; revises restrictions on residential property insurance coverage to include coverage for large family child care homes & Child Care Executive Partnership; provides OEL with authority to allocate certain funds.
HB 7037 – School Choice by Choice & Innovation
Revises provisions relating to charter school application, certain appeals, funding for & payments to charter schools, long-term charters, nonrenewal, termination, & closure of charter schools, financial statements, charter school representatives & public meetings, governing board residency requirements, high-performing charter schools, termination of virtual instruction provider contracts, and charter school professional development; establishes Florida Charter School Innovation Institute.
HB 7043 – Standard Student Attire by K-12
Designates act as “Students Attired for Education (SAFE) Act”; authorizes school boards to adopt standard student attire policy; limits liability for districts that implement attire policy; creates safe schools allocation to provide funding for certain safe schools activities; provides for withholding of funds from districts that do not comply with certain school safety & student discipline reporting; authorizes additional funds for districts that implement standard student attire policy; provides appropriation.
HB 7069 – Education Accountability by Education
Revises provisions relating to uniform opening date of public schools, high-performing school districts, student and parent rights, student remediation, scholar designation for standard high school diploma, statewide standardized assessment program, administration and proctoring of assessments, student progression, student evaluation for college readiness, research-based reading instruction allocation, salary schedules, evaluation procedures and criteria, teacher certification, and professional development.
HB 665 – Maximum Class Size by Moraitis
Revises calculation of school district’s class size categorical allocation reduction to school average when maximum class size requirements are not met; provides for expenditure of funds.
The Senate Children, Families, & Elder Affairs Committee will meet (9:00-11:00 am) to consider the following items and others:
SB 238 – Athletic Coaches by Ring
Requiring an independent sanctioning authority to dismiss an athletic coach ejected from a game for the remainder of that sport season under certain circumstances; authorizing such athletic coach to resume working under certain circumstances, etc.
SB 878 – Children and Youth Cabinet by Montford
Revising the membership of the cabinet, etc.
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will meet (9:00-11:00 am) to consider the following item and others:
HB 571 – Personal Privacy by R. Rodrigues
Designates act as “Florida Privacy Protection Act”; provides that digital data is protected from unreasonable search & seizure; prohibits certain government agencies from selling personal information; prohibits use of certain radar devices by law enforcement agency without warrant; prohibits disclosure of certain Internet protocol addresses; regulates collection of images from unmanned aircraft; restricts searches of portable electronic devices; prohibits government entities from entering into nondisclosure agreements with vendors of device monitoring equipment; provides that evidence unlawfully collected is not admissible; prohibits certain state agency use of license plate readers; requires school district contracts involving student data to contain provision barring contractors from selling data; provides that student data shall not be provided to Federal Government or commercial interests without written permission of parent or guardian, or of student; prohibits companies from mining student data; prohibits DHSMV from incorporating certain devices into driver license or identification card; prohibits DHSMV from collecting fingerprints or DNA material for certain purposes.
The Senate Rules Committee will meet (9:00-11:00 am) to consider the following item and others:
SB 290 – Concealed Weapon / Evacuations by Brandes
Providing an exemption from criminal penalties for carrying a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm when evacuating pursuant to a mandatory evacuation order during a declared state of emergency, etc.
The House Transportation & Ecoomic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (9:00-11:00 am) to consider the following item and others:
HB 7019 – Workforce Services by Economic Development & Tourism
Renames Workforce Florida, Inc., as CareerSource Florida, Inc.; holds in abeyance specified provisions relating to Workforce Estimating Conference; requires EDR to develop & test labor market economic model & submit report; provides for future repeal; creates task force on preparation for state’s implementation of federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act; provides membership & duties of task force; requires task force to submit report & recommendations for approval by CareerSource Florida, Inc.; requires CareerSource Florida, Inc., to submit specified state plan to USDOL; provides for abolishment of task force.
The House Education Committee will meet (1:00-3:00 pm) to consider:
HB 7057 – School Administration by K-12
Revises provisions relating to a school district strategic plan, certain standards for certain personnel & school officers, early warning system for certain students, annual review of certain procedures, compulsory student attendance, protected school speech, parental access to homework, out-of-field teachers, related records, policies, court hearings, & penalties, high school equivalency diploma, parental notices for exceptional students, bullying & harassment, certain school districts policies, & certain policies for principals, district school boards employees, & suspension of educator certifications.
The Committee will also conduct a Workshop on:
– Draft Bill Language relating to personal learning scholarship accounts
– Draft Bill Language relating to Extracurricular Activities
The House Health & Human Services Committee will meet (1:00-3:00 pm) to consider the following item and others:
HB 55 – Children and Youth Cabinet by Harrell
Revises membership of Children & Youth Cabinet.
The House Finance & Tax Committee will meet (3:30 -5:00 pm) to consider the following item and others:
HB 37 – Voluntary Contributions for Education Facilities by Raschein
Authorizes participating business that registers with DOR to solicit and& collect contributions from customers for construction and maintenance of public education facilities; provides registration requirements; requires participating business to file return and remit contributions to DOR; requires DOR to deposit contributions into PECO & Debt Service Trust Fund; authorizes DOR to adopt emergency rules.
Ruth Haseman Melton
Director of Government Relations
Florida School Boards Association
Office: 850 / 414-2578
Cell: 850 / 509-6411
Email: melton@fsba.org
