TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
[For those who are new to this process, a brief explanation of what is meant by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Reading may be helpful in understanding how bills are handled in each chamber. In order for any legislation to be passed and enacted into law, the bill must be “Read” three times – usually only the bill Title is read, not the full text of the bill. 1st Reading occurs when the bill is introduced and is then referred to one or more committees for consideration. After the bill has been considered in each committee of reference, it is ready to be considered by the full chamber and is said to be placed on calendar on 2nd Reading. 2nd Reading occurs after the bill is placed on the Special Order Calendar for the day’s Session. The bill is brought up for consideration, discussed, and may be amended – a simple majority vote is needed to approve an amendment to a bill at this stage. If the bill is amended, it is order “Engrossed” — i.e. the amendment(s) are incorporated into the text of the bill. The bill is then placed on calendar on 3rd Reading. 3rd Reading occurs when the bill is called up for consideration (usually, but not always, on a day subsequent to 2nd Reading) and is again discussed and may be amended – a 2/3 vote is needed to approve an amendment to the bill at this stage. After the bill has been discussed and amended, the chamber votes on final passage of the bill. A simple majority vote is needed for final passage. Once a bill has passed in one chamber, it is sent – “In Messages” – to the other chamber for consideration. For more information on the Legislative Process, please see our self-guided presentation “Understanding the Legislative Process” located under “2014 Legislative Session Toolkit” located at https://fsba.org/services/
In the House Session:
HB 313 – Gender-Specific School Pilot Project by M. Diaz – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
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 433 – Educator Certification by Spano – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING
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, & professional preparation & education competence; revises components of competency-based professional development certification & 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 – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Revises provisions enabling home education, charter school, virtual education, & 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 707 – Background Screening by M. Diaz – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Revises requirement relating to background screening of instructional personnel in virtual instruction programs; provides additional offenses that determine ineligibility for educator certification or employment; revises requirements for submission, retention, search, & reporting of fingerprints of educational personnel & contractual personnel; provides for FDLE participation in national retained print arrest notification program.
HB 7057 – Career & Charter Technical Career Centers by Education – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Authorizes career center & 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 & clarifies applied technology diploma program; revises & clarifies tuition & fees for specific workforce education programs; revises funding calculation & allocation for workforce education programs.
HB 9 – Legislative Session Dates by Nuñez – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Fixes date for convening regular session of Legislature in even-numbered years.
In the Senate Session:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
SB 846 – Governmental Ethics by Latvala – READ 3RD TIME; AMENDED; PASSED THE SENATE
Prohibiting a local officer from registering to lobby the Legislature or an agency on behalf of another person or entity other than his or her political subdivision; specifying 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; authorizing the Commission on Ethics to initiate an investigation and hold a public hearing without receipt of a complaint in certain circumstances, etc.
SB 1648 – Public Records by Governmental Oversight – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE
Revising the general state policy on public records; providing that public records requests need not be in writing unless otherwise required by law; revising contract requirements between a public agency and a contractor; requiring each agency to provide training on the requirements of ch. 119, F.S.; specifying a reasonable cost of enforcement; 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.
SB 160 – Food Distributed Free of Charge by Bullard – TEMPORARILIY POSTPONED ON 3RD READING
Limiting the liability of public schools with respect to canned or perishable food donated to charitable or nonprofit organizations, etc.
SB 188 – Education Data Privacy by Hukill – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE
Providing for annual notice to K-12 students and parents of rights relating to education records; providing limitations on the collection of information and the disclosure of confidential and exempt student records; revising provisions relating to the submission of student social security numbers and the assignment of student identification numbers; requiring the Department of Education to establish a process for assigning student identification numbers, etc.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 358 – Coaches / Organized Youth Sports by Ring – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED ON 2ND READING; RETAINED ON SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR FOR 4/3/14
Revising the definition of the term “athletic coach”; expanding provisions relating to athletic coaches for independent sanctioning authorities to require such authorities to conduct specified background screening of certain coaches of youth athletic teams; providing that the duty may not be delegated; providing for disqualification; providing for exemption from disqualification; requiring that specified documentation be maintained for a specified period by such authorities, etc.
SB 852 – Education Assessments by Education — TEMPORARILY POSTPONED ON 2ND READING; RETAINED ON SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR FOR 4/3/14
Prohibiting a student from taking certain local assessments during a specified time, etc.
In the House Appropriations Committee:
APC-9 – General Appropriations Act by Appropriations – AMENDED; SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
One amendment removes $50,000,000 from the allocation for the Survey of Recommended Needs — Public Schools and adds $50,000,000 to the allocation for Maintenance, Repair, Renovation, and Remodeling to be used by public schools. The same line item allocation provides $100,000,000 for use by charter schools.
APC-10 – Implementing GAA by Appropriations – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
APC-4 – Education Capital Outlay by Appropriations – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
APC-7 – Florida Retirement System / Contribution Rates by Appropriations – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
HB 5101 – Education Funding / Conforming by Education Appropriations – PASSED; PLACED ON CALENDAR ON 2ND READING
Establishes FIRN according to specified requirements; revises provisions relating to compliance with maximum class size requirements; provides for masters in science program at New College of Florida; authorizes DOE to collect fees for instructional materials approval process & pay stipend to reviewers; revises provisions relating to dual enrollment articulation agreements, participating postsecondary institutions, student eligibility, costs, payments, & funding; revises certain postsecondary student fees; revises provisions relating to advance payment contracts; revises provisions relating to John M. McKay Scholarship amounts; creates technology supplemental allocation. [NOTE: While there are several desirable provisions in this bill, FSBA has concerns about some others, especially with regard provisions relating to FIRN and technology policies.]
HB 5103 – Students with Disabilities by Choice & Innovation – AMENDED; TEMPORARILY DEFERRED
Establishes Florida Personal Learning Account Program to enable parents of students with disabilities to customize their child’s education using wide range of instructional services; provides student eligibility, responsibilities for program participation, administration & funding of Florida Personal Learning Accounts, & DOE, nonprofit scholarship-funding organization, & school district obligations. [NOTE: FSBA has concerns about this bill as it creates a new voucher program and mechanism for funding the vouchers. Today’s amendments revise the list of allowable uses for Personal Learning Account funds and repeals a section of current law relating to special high school graduation requirements for certain exceptional students. The committee deferred further action on this bill, in part, because Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Fresen has filed a new proposed committee bill that combines the provisions of this bill with many of the provisions of HB 7099 relating to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. As we reported earlier, the sponsor of the Senate companion bill has withdrawn the Senate bill from further consideration, making it unlikely that the bill could pass. However, this move by Representative Fresen provides an avenue to keep the Tax Credit Scholarship bill “alive” in the Session. The new PCB will be considered by the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Friday, 3/28/14. We have posted a Tampa Bay Times Gradebook report on this action below under In the News.]
In the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee:
SB 864 – Instructional Materials / Adoption by Hays – PASSED WITH A CS
Providing that the district school board has the constitutional duty and responsibility to select and provide adequate instructional materials for all students; requiring a district school board or consortium of school districts to implement an instructional materials program; repealing provisions relating to bids, proposals, and advertisement regarding the adoption of instructional materials; requiring the district school board, rather than the commissioner, to conduct an independent investigation to determine the accuracy of district-adopted instructional materials, etc. [NOTE: FSBA is opposed to this bill, particularly because it imposes costs and responsibilities on school districts that are better addressed at the state level.]
COMING UP TOMORROW
The House Judiciary Committee will meet – 8:30-11:30 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following item and others:
HB 139 – Coaches / Organized Youth Sports by S. Jones
Revises definition of term “athletic coach”; expands provisions relating to athletic coaches for independent sanctioning authorities to require such authorities to conduct specified background screening of certain coaches of youth athletic teams; provides that duty may not be delegated; provides for disqualification; provides for exemption from disqualification; requires that specified documentation be maintained for specified period.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet – 9:00 am-6:00 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items and others:
SB 7090 – General Appropriations Act by Appropriations
SB 7092 – Implementing Appropriations by Appropriations
SB 2506 – Florida Retirement System / Contribution Rates by GOAC
SB 66 – Discretionary Sales Surtaxes by Flores
Authorizing a county defined in s. 125.011(1), F.S., 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; establishing an oversight board with specified duties, responsibilities, and requirements relating to the expenditure of surtax proceeds; requiring that the board of trustees of each institution receiving surtax proceeds prepare an annual plan for submission to the oversight board for approval; providing that state funding may not be reduced because an institution receives surtax funds, etc.
SB 790 – Education Technology by Legg
Requiring a school district to adopt a district digital classrooms plan and submit the plan to the Department of Education for approval; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt a Florida digital classrooms plan that establishes certain protocols, parameters, requirements, and digital tools; authorizing public schools to provide students in grades K-12 opportunities for learning computer coding and programming; authorizing elementary schools and middle schools to establish digital classrooms for specified purposes, etc.
SB 850 – Education by Legg
Requiring a school that includes certain grades to include information, data, and instructional strategies in its school improvement plan; requiring district school board, in consultation with the district school superintendent, to make digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE industry certifications available to students, including students with disabilities, in prekindergarten through grade 12 to enable students to attain digital skills; deleting calculations for paid and unpaid high school credits, etc.
SB 1148 – Postsecondary Education by Education
Deleting a provision relating to the automatic rate of inflation increase in resident undergraduate tuition per credit hour at state universities; deleting a requirement that the Office of Economic and Demographic Research annually report the rate of inflation to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Board of Governors; lowering the annual percentage increase allowed in the aggregate sum of tuition and the tuition differential at state universities, etc.
SB 1642 – Education Accountability by Education
Providing definitions for the statewide, standardized assessment program and school grading system; requiring the Department of Education to develop a district report card; revising criteria that necessitate a school’s improvement plan to include certain strategies; revising legislative intent for the K-20 education performance accountability system, etc. [NOTE: FSBA supports many of the provisions of this bill but is concerned that the bill does not provide sufficient time for the transition to new standards and assessments nor does it address all aspects of the transition.]
The House Education Committee will meet – 1:30-3:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast — to consider the following items and others:
HB 85 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by L. Lee
Requires Office of Early Learning (OEL) 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 personnel & emergent literacy training for instructors; requires OEL to allocate funds for pilot project.
HB 87 – Fine Arts Courses by McBurney
Requires Commissioner of Education to prepare annual report relating to student access to & participation in fine arts courses & information on educators, facilities, & instruction in such courses.
HB 279 – Public School Instruction by Hil
Requires that instructional staff of public schools provide instruction to students about terrorist attacks occurring on September 11, 2001, & impact of those events.
HB 337 – Teachers Classroom Supply Program by Fresen
Revises procedures for distributing program funds to classroom teachers.
HB 355 – Instructional Materials Affordability by Porter
Requires SBE & BOG to adopt textbook & instructional materials affordability policies, procedures, & guidelines; provides requirements for use of adopted undergraduate textbooks & instructional materials; requires public postsecondary institution to post in course registration system & on website information relating to required & recommended textbooks & instructional materials & prices thereof; requires task force to research affordability issues.
HB 7083 – Charter Schools by Choice & Innovation
Revises charter school provisions relating to applications & contracts, termination of charter, student enrollment, use of school district facilities, & model forms, contracts, & evaluation instruments; revises provisions relating to high-performing charter schools & high-performing charter school systems; specifies conditions under which virtual instruction provider’s contract is automatically terminated; revises eligibility for receipt of capital outlay funding. [NOTE: The Senate version of this bill — SB 1528 — was substantially amended in the Senate yesterday. References to the use of a standard contract, out-of-state high performing charter schools, and charter school access to district school facilities that are no longer used as schools were removed. Several amendments have been filed to the House bill but they do not appear to mirror the amendments to the Senate version.]
EDC-3 – Digital Learning and Support Services by Education
Providing that the Commissioner of Education shall oversee the development and implementation of a strategic plan for establishing digital classrooms; providing that a school district shall develop and annually update a plan for establishing the digital classrooms system; providing content and reporting requirements for the plan; providing that the State Board of Education shall adopt rules to establish minimum standards for a district digital classrooms system; deleting provisions establishing the Florida Virtual Campus; establishing a Florida Library Automation Cooperative; etc.
The House will be in Session – 4:30-6:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items and others on 3rd Reading:
HB 313 – Gender-Specific School Pilot Project by M. Diaz
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 433 – Educator Certification by Spano
Provides requirements for certain instructional personnel who supervise or direct preservice field experience; revises acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of general knowledge, subject area knowledge, & professional preparation & education competence; revises components of competency-based professional development certification & education competency program; repeals study to compare performance of certain certificateholders; revises certain requirements for renewal or reinstatement of professional certificate.
HB 533 – Student Eligibility / Athletics by M. Diaz
Revises provisions enabling home education, charter school, virtual education, & 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 preparticipation physical evaluation form advise students to complete cardiovascular assessment that includes electrocardiogram.
HB 707 – Background Screening by M. Diaz
Revises requirement relating to background screening of instructional personnel in virtual instruction programs; provides additional offenses that determine ineligibility for educator certification or employment; revises requirements for submission, retention, search, & reporting of fingerprints of educational personnel & contractual personnel; provides for FDLE participation in national retained print arrest notification program.
HB 7057 – Career & Charter Technical Career Centers by Education
Authorizes career center & 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 & clarifies applied technology diploma program; revises & clarifies tuition & fees for specific workforce education programs; revises funding calculation & allocation for workforce education programs.
HB 9 – Legislative Session Dates by Nunez
Fixes date for convening regular session of Legislature in even-numbered years.
IN THE NEWS
Orlando Sentinel Editorial – 3/24/14
Don’t leave textbook vetting to local districts
http://www.orlandosentinel.
Tampa Bay Times – 3/26/14
Controversial voucher bill gets a second chance in the Florida Legislature
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/
