SPECIAL ELECTION IN HOUSE DISTRICT 64
According to unofficial election returns, James Grant (R-Tampa) was re-elected today in a special election held in House District 64. Although it appeared that Representative Grant had been re-elected in the November General Election, a legal controversy arose over whether the write-in candidate in this race was eligible to be a candidate. As a result, the House could not seat Grant and this special election became was necessary.
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Appropriations Committee:
SB 948 – Career Education by D. Gaetz – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
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. [NOTE: This bill appears to be a potential education budget conforming bill. The bill was substantially amended and extended via a strike all amendment that incorporated all or some of the provisions of several formally stand-alone bills, including provisions relating to digital classrooms, standard school attire, required additional summer reading instruction for students in low performing schools, the classroom supply program, the children and youth cabinet, the Florida High School Athletics Association, calculation of the compression supplement, calculation of the sparsity index, establishment of the Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program, school district construction flexibility, and other provisions. We are still sorting through these additions to the original bill and will provide a more detailed summary as soon as possible.]
SB 1116 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by Abruzzo – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
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 – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
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. [NOTE: Provisions in this bill were incorporated in to SB 948 – see notes above.]
SB 1522 – Workforce Training by Detert – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
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 1552 – Parent and Student Rights by Benacquisto – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
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. [NOTE: The bill was substantially amended with a strike all amendment. Several provisions addressed concerns that have been raised about the original bill’s revisions to controlled open enrollment, including changes that would delay implementation date until the 2016-2017 school year and provide for placement preference to students residing within the district.]
SB 7006 – Early Learning by Education PreK-12 – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
Including large family child care homes in local zoning regulation requirements; revising certain minimum standards for child care facilities; providing for the inspection of programs regulated by the department; providing exemptions from child care facility licensing standards; revising restrictions on residential property insurance coverage to include coverage for large family child care homes; authorizing a district school board or charter school governing board to adopt a policy to allow a child to be admitted to a public kindergarten if the child meets certain requirements, etc.
In the House SESSION:
HB 7137 – Student Extracurricular Activities by Education – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/22/15
Providing for periodic review of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s performance of its duties; providing requirements regarding fees and admission prices; revising provisions regarding eligibility, transfer, and recruiting; providing procedures for resolving student eligibility disputes; requiring the FHSAA to adopt guidelines, provide resources, and develop training courses relating to sports ethics; providing that member schools must meet certain requirements relating to the sports ethics guidelines, resources, and training courses provided by the FHSAA; revising the governing structure of the FHSAA; deleting requirements with respect to amendments to the FHSAA’s bylaws; establishing guiding principles for extracurricular activities; revising academic eligibility requirements; specifying grounds for student ineligibility for participation in interscholastic athletics; specifying conditions under which students who are enrolled in public schools, certain private schools, or home education programs may participate in the extracurricular activities of a public school; revising insurance requirements to include students who participate in nonathletic extracurricular activities; requiring that insurance coverage provided by district school boards for participants in extracurricular activities include certain students; providing a period within which an audit of a nonprofit association’s records must be provided to the Auditor General; requiring the Auditor General to conduct operational audits of the nonprofit association’s accounts and records; etc. [NOTE: The bill was substantially amended today to generally align the bill with the Senate version of the bill. The short summary above reflects the revised version of the bill. The bill still gives rise to concerns, including concerns about eligibility and recruitment.]
HB 365 – Skateboarding, Skating, or Bicycling by Gonzalez – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 408; HB 365 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 408 – Skateboarding, Skating, or Bicycling by Simmons – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 365; READ 2ND TIME; PLACE ON 3RD READING FOR 4/22/15
Removes requirement that governmental entity that provides designated area for skateboarding, inline skating, or freestyle bicycling post rules indicating written consent of parent or legal guardian of child under certain age is required to participates; provides for application of specified provisions that limit liability of governmental entity.
HB 565 – Retirement by Beshears – READ 2ND TIME; PLACE ON 3RD READING FOR 4/22/15
Authorizes local agency employers to reassess designation of positions for inclusion in SMS Class; provides for removal of certain positions.
HB 913 – State Board of Administration by Trumbull – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 7024; HB 913 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 7024 – State Board of Administration by Governmental Oversight – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 913; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/22/15
Repeals provisions relating to investments in institutions doing business in or with Northern Ireland; provides for distribution of Fund B Surplus Funds Trust Fund assets to certain participants.
HB 915 – Building Codes by Eagle – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/22/15
Revises educational provisions for building code inspectors, plans examiners, & building code administrators; revises provisions related to the Florida Building Code; revises provisions regarding the Florida Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program; restricts application of the Building Code for certain aspects of construction; revises provisions related to portable pools; revises provisions regarding the authority of building officials to issue building permits; revises provisions regarding appeal boards; revising provisions addressing certain fire service access elevators; authorizing DBPR to develop code-related training; creating a task force to study electrical safety in swimming pools.
COMING UP TOMORROW
[REMINDER: Most meetings are available via Florida Channel webcasts at http://thefloridachannel.org]
The House will be in SESSION (9:00 am – completion of business to consider the following items and others on 3rd Reading:
HB 7137 – Student Extracurricular Activities by Education
Providing for periodic review of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s performance of its duties; providing requirements regarding fees and admission prices; revising provisions regarding eligibility, transfer, and recruiting; providing procedures for resolving student eligibility disputes; requiring the FHSAA to adopt guidelines, provide resources, and develop training courses relating to sports ethics; providing that member schools must meet certain requirements relating to the sports ethics guidelines, resources, and training courses provided by the FHSAA; revising the governing structure of the FHSAA; deleting requirements with respect to amendments to the FHSAA’s bylaws; establishing guiding principles for extracurricular activities; revising academic eligibility requirements; specifying grounds for student ineligibility for participation in interscholastic athletics; specifying conditions under which students who are enrolled in public schools, certain private schools, or home education programs may participate in the extracurricular activities of a public school; revising insurance requirements to include students who participate in nonathletic extracurricular activities; requiring that insurance coverage provided by district school boards for participants in extracurricular activities include certain students; providing a period within which an audit of a nonprofit association’s records must be provided to the Auditor General; requiring the Auditor General to conduct operational audits of the nonprofit association’s accounts and records; etc.
SB 408 – Skateboarding, Skating, or Bicycling by Simmons
Removes requirement that governmental entity that provides designated area for skateboarding, inline skating, or freestyle bicycling post rules indicating written consent of parent or legal guardian of child under certain age is required to participates; provides for application of specified provisions that limit liability of governmental entity.
HB 565 – Retirement by Beshears
Authorizes local agency employers to reassess designation of positions for inclusion in SMS Class; provides for removal of certain positions.
SB 7024 – State Board of Administration by Governmental Oversight
Repeals provisions relating to investments in institutions doing business in or with Northern Ireland; provides for distribution of Fund B Surplus Funds Trust Fund assets to certain participants.
HB 915 – Building Codes by Eagle
Revises educational provisions for building code inspectors, plans examiners, & building code administrators; revises provisions related to the Florida Building Code; revises provisions regarding the Florida Building Code Compliance and Mitigation Program; restricts application of the Building Code for certain aspects of construction; revises provisions related to portable pools; revises provisions regarding the authority of building officials to issue building permits; revises provisions regarding appeal boards; revising provisions addressing certain fire service access elevators; authorizing DBPR to develop code-related training; creating a task force to study electrical safety in swimming pools.
The Senate will be in SESSION (10:00 am – 6:00 pm) to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading:
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.
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. [NOTE: The House companion to this bill, which has already passed the House — HB 747 – is also on the agenda. It is expected that one version will be laid on the table and the other will continue forward to final passage by the Legislature.]
Bills on 2nd Reading:
SB 538 – Disclosure of Sexually Explicit Images by Simmons
Prohibiting an individual from electronically disclosing a sexually explicit image of an identifiable person with the intent to harass such person if the individual knows or should have known that such person did not consent to the disclosure; requiring a court to order that a person convicted of such offense be prohibited from having contact with the victim, etc.
SB 954 – Involuntary Examinations of Minors by Garcia
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 622 – Higher Education Facilities Funding by Montford
Expanding the definition of the term “project” as it relates to the Higher Educational Facilities Financing Act, etc. [NOTE: The House companion to this bill which has already passed the House — HB 461 – is also on the agenda. It is expected that one version will be laid on the table and the other will continue forward to 3rd Reading.]
Ruth Haseman Melton
Director of Government Relations
Florida School Boards Association
Office: 850 / 414-2578
Cell: 850 / 509-6411
Email: melton@fsba.org
