TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee:
HB 231 – Transportation by Passidomo — PASSED
Revises provisions relating to rights & safety of vulnerable users of public roadway; prohibits assault of bicycle riders; revises provisions for careless driving; provides penalties for specified infractions contributing to bodily injury or death.
HB 933 – Growth Management by La Rosa – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
Authorizes specified agricultural landowners to apply for amendments to local government comprehensive plans; revises provisions regarding developments of regional impacts; revises provisions regarding detailed specific area plans; revises provisions regarding regional planning councils; revises provisions relating to mitigation and impact fees; revises provisions for governmental funding as a result of ground subsidence; requires governments to address private property rights in comprehensive plans; etc. [NOTE: This bill contains several provisions that give rise to questions and concerns, including a provision that would limit the amount of mitigation that a school district may negotiate with a developer.]
In the Senate Criminal Justice Committee:
SB 908 – Transportation by Altman – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Revising provisions relating to the passing of a vehicle; prohibiting passing and turning in front of a vulnerable user in an unsafe manner; prohibiting harassing, taunting, or throwing an object at a person riding a bicycle; providing criminal penalties; requiring traffic law and substance abuse education courses to include instruction on traffic laws relating to rights and safety of vulnerable users, etc.
In the Senate Finance & Tax Committee:
SB 572 – School Support Organizations by Montford — PASSED
Defining the term “school support organization”; authorizing such organizations to pay tax on specified items purchased for resale in lieu of collecting the tax upon resale, etc.
In the Senate Higher Education Committee:
SB 1478 – Florida Resident Access Grant Program by Soto – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
Providing that an independent college or university that was a successor by merger to certain independent colleges or universities is eligible to receive William L. Boyd, IV, Florida resident access grant payments, etc.
In the House Appropriations Committee:
HB 695 – Value Adjustment Boards by Avila – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Revises provisions related to VAB proceedings; revises the composition of the VAB; revises provisions related to appointments & selection of special magistrates; authorizes property appraisers to contract to examine & audit homestead exemption claims; revises provisions addressing payment plans for payment of certain taxes, interest, & penalties; specifies that certain unpaid tax liens be included in next assessment roll; revises provisions providing information required on notice of proposed property taxes & non-ad valorem assessments; specifies that certain persons may seek or obtain funds from the failure of other persons to comply with certain tax laws; provides statement of important state interest. [NOTE:The bill contains several provisions that give rise to questions and concerns. Of particular concern, the bill amends the composition of the VAB by removing representatives of the county commission and school board and providing that the membership be comprised entirely of citizens appointed by the legislative delegation. However, the commission and school board would continue to be responsible for funding the activities of the VAB.]
HB 1063 – Government Accountability by Metz – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Revises audit provisions to exclude water management districts; revises responsibilities of department heads, Supreme Court, Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, Justice Administrative Commission, each state attorney & public defender, criminal conflict & civil regional counsel, capital collateral counsel, Guardian Ad Litem program, local governmental entities, & governing bodies of charter schools to include responsibility of establishing certain internal controls; revises responsibilities of district school board’s internal auditor to permit certain audits & reviews; requires each Florida College System institution to file certain annual financial statements with State Board of Education; requires each school district, Florida College System institution, & state university to establish certain internal controls.
In the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee:
SB 984 – Exemption/Legislative Lobbying Requirements by Braynon — PASSED
Revising the definition of the term “expenditure”; specifying that the term does not include use of a public facility or public property that is made available by a governmental entity to a legislator for a public purpose, to exempt such use from legislative lobbying requirements, etc.
SB 7082 – FRS / Death Benefits by Governmental Oversight – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
Increases the monthly survivor benefits available to the spouses and children of FRS pension plan members in the Special Risk Class when killed in the line of duty from 50% of the member’s monthly salary at the time of death to 100%; permits the surviving spouse or children of an investment plan member in the Special Risk Class when killed in the line of duty to choose to transfer to the pension plan at the time of the member’s death.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee:
SB 238 – Athletic Coaches by Ring – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED
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.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[REMINDER: Most meetings are available via Florida Channel webcasts at http://thefloridachannel.org]
The House Judiciary Committee will meet (9:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
HB 151 – Sexual Cyberharassment by Goodson
Prohibits person from willfully & maliciously sexually cyberharassing another person; authorizes law enforcement officer to arrest, without warrant, person that he or she has probable cause to believe has committed sexual cyberharassment; authorizes search warrant to be issued in specified instances; provides civil remedies; provides exceptions; authorizes law enforcement officer to arrest, without warrant, person that he or she has probable cause to believe has committed sexual cyberharassment; provides exception to prohibition on search warrants being issued to search private dwellings.
HB 383 – Private Property Rights by Edwards
Authorizes government to treat written claim as pending litigation for certain purposes; provides that settlement agreement reached between owner & government applies issues are resolved; authorizes property owner to bring an action for injunctive relief or recovery of damages caused by prohibited exaction; requires owner to provide written notice of action to relevant government; specifies burdens of proof; authorizes award of prejudgment interest & attorney fees & costs; waives state’s sovereign immunity for certain causes of action; specifies that action concerning prohibited exaction is not to be construed in pari materia with certain other provisions of law.
The House State Affairs Committee will meet (9:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
HB 113 – Local Government Construction Preferences by Perry
Prohibits local ordinances & regulations from restricting competition for award of construction services based upon certain conditions; requires state college, school district, or other political subdivision to make specified disclosures in competitive solicitation documents.
HB 1083 – Employment of Individuals With Disabilities by Rooney
Provides legislative findings & purpose; requires specified state agencies & organizations to develop & implement interagency cooperative agreement for certain purposes.
The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
SB 888 – Educational Professional Practices by Detert
Authorizing certain employees or agents of the Department of Education to have access to certain reports and records; revising the membership of the Education Practices Commission; authorizing the Commissioner of Education to appoint emeritus members to the commission; authorizing the commissioner to issue a letter of guidance in response to a complaint against a teacher or administrator in lieu of a probable cause determination, etc.
SB 942 – Rapid Response Education & Training Program by D. Gaetz
Establishing the Rapid Response Education and Training Program within the Complete Florida Plus Program; requiring the Complete Florida Plus Program to work with Enterprise Florida, Inc., to offer certain education and training commitments to businesses, etc.
SB 948 – Career Education and Job Training by D. Gaetz
Revising characteristics of an apprenticeable occupation; requiring a low-performing elementary school to administer the required additional hours of instruction in a summer program during specified fiscal years; establishing the Rapid Response Education and Training Program within the Complete Florida Plus Program; 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, etc.
SB 1252 – Higher Education by Stargel
Deleting a provision prohibiting the State Board of Education from approving Florida College System institution baccalaureate degree program proposals during a certain timeframe; revising accountability measures for the Department of Education regarding career education to include program standards that reflect the quality components of the career and technical education programs, etc.
SB 1264 – Digital Classrooms by Legg
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.
SB 1522 – Workforce Training by Detert
Requiring the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Opportunity, to identify and recommend specified apprenticeship programs; requiring the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Opportunity, to identify and recommend specified preapprenticeship programs, etc.
SB 7050 – Digital Classrooms by Governmental Oversight
Requiring the Agency for State Technology to establish and publish information technology architecture standards for purposes of implementing digital classrooms by a specified date; requiring the agency’s annual assessment of the Department of Education to review specified issues with respect to school district digital classrooms plans and to provide planning assistance to address and reduce issues identified by the assessment, etc.
The Senate Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will meet (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) to consider the following item and others:
SB 1526 – Athletic Trainers by Legg
Deleting the requirement for the Governor to appoint the initial members of the Board of Athletic Training; revising the board’s authorization to adopt certain rules relating to communication between an athletic trainer and a supervising physician; revising responsibilities of athletic trainers to include requirements that a trainer must practice under the direction of a physician; revising general background screening provisions to include athletic trainers, etc.
The House will be in SESSION (1:00 pm – completion of business) to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 2nd Reading:
HB 361 – Military Housing Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions by Trumbull
Grants certain leasehold interests & improvements to land owned by U.S. or agency thereof, branch of U.S. Armed Forces, or quasi-governmental agency exemption from ad valorem taxation; exempts such leasehold interests & improvements without need to apply for exemption or property appraiser approving exemption; provides nonapplicability & retroactive applicability.
HB 7141 – Taxation by Finance & Tax
Increases property tax exemptions for certain persons; reduces tax rate to certain satellite services; revises distributions of tax revenues from sales & use tax, communications services tax, & gross receipts tax; revises provisions concerning communications services tax & rates; exempts various products from sales & use tax; repeals estate tax; requires circuit court judges to provide monthly reports concerning decedents; creates Defense Works in Florida Incentive to reduce computation of adjusted federal income for certain contractors; extends date for tax credit for certain community contribution donations; increases tax credits for rehabilitation of certain contaminated sites; provides various sales tax holidays.
HB 541 – Athletic Trainers by Plasencia
Deletes requirement for Governor to appoint initial members of Board of Athletic Training; revises board’s authorization to adopt certain rules; revises requirements for licensure; authorizes board to require background screening; revises responsibilities of athletic trainers to practice under direction of physician; prohibits sexual misconduct by athletic trainers; prohibits unlicensed practice of athletic training; prohibits unlicensed person from using specified titles; revises which acts constitute grounds for disciplinary action; provides exemptions; revises general background screening provisions to include athletic trainers.
HB 493 – Concealed Weapon / Evacuations by Fitzenhagen
Provides exemption from criminal penalties for carrying concealed weapon or concealed firearm while in act of evacuating pursuant to mandatory evacuation order during declared state of emergency.
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. [NOTE: This bill passed the Senate and is now being considered by the House. This bill is similar to HB 493 above.]
The Senate will be in SESSION (4:00 – 6:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
SB 408 – Skateboarding, Skating, or Bicycling by Simmons
Deleting the requirement that a governmental entity that provides a designated area for skateboarding, inline skating, or freestyle bicycling obtain the written consent of the parent or legal guardian of a child under a certain age before allowing the child to participate in these activities in such area; requiring the governmental entity to post a rule indicating that consent forms are required for children under a certain age before participation in paintball or mountain and off-road bicycling, etc.
HB 489 – Value Adjustment Board Proceedings by Sullivan
Requires clerk of VAB to have available & distribute specified forms; authorizes owner of multiple items of tangible personal property to file joint petition with VAB; requires property appraiser to include property record card in evidence list for VAB hearing.
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 802 – Vocational Rehabilitation by D. 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.
SB 7002 – Workforce Services by Commerce & Tourism
Renaming Workforce Florida, Inc., as CareerSource Florida, Inc.; creating a task force on preparation for the state’s implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; requiring CareerSource Florida, Inc., to submit a specified state plan to the United States Department of Labor, etc.
HB 7019 – Workforce Services by Economic Development & Tourism
Renames Workforce Florida, Inc., as CareerSource Florida, Inc.; 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.
SB 778 – Local Government Construction Preferences by Hays
Prohibiting local ordinances and regulations from restricting competition for the award of a contract for construction services based upon certain conditions; requiring a state college, county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state to make specified disclosures in competitive solicitation documents, etc.
SB 378 – Juvenile Justice by Garcia
Authorizing a law enforcement officer to issue a warning to a juvenile who admits having committed a misdemeanor or to inform the child’s parent or guardian of the child’s infraction; requiring a law enforcement officer who does not exercise one of these options to issue a civil citation or require participation in a similar diversion program; providing that, in exceptional situations, a law enforcement officer may arrest a first-time misdemeanor offender in the interest of protecting public safety, etc.
Ruth Haseman Melton
Director of Government Relations
Florida School Boards Association
Office: 850 / 414-2578
Cell: 850 / 509-6411
Email: melton@fsba.org
