TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the Senate Session:
Bills on 2nd Reading
SB 790 – Education Technology by Legg – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED ON 2ND READING
Providing the purpose for the Florida digital classrooms allocation; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt a Florida digital classrooms plan that establishes certain protocols, parameters, requirements, and digital tools; repealing provisions relating to a pilot program for the transition to electronic and digital instructional materials; establishing the Florida Center for Library Automation, etc.
SB 1702 – Early Learning by Education – TEMPORARILY POSTPONED ON 2ND READING
Providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision and Information; including large family child care homes in local zoning regulation requirements; providing requirements for nonpublic schools delivering certain voluntary prekindergarten education programs and school readiness programs; revising provisions for licensure, registration, and operation of family day care homes; requiring a child care facility operating as a provider of certain voluntary prekindergarten education programs or child care programs to comply with minimum standards, etc.
SB 1318 – Public Records / Public-Private Partnerships by Evers – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE
Creating an exemption from public records requirements for unsolicited proposals for a qualifying public-private project received by a responsible public entity for a specified period; creating an exemption from public meetings requirements for portions of meetings at which confidential and exempt information is discussed; requiring a recording to be made of a closed portion of a meeting; providing for future repeal and legislative review of the exemptions; providing statements of public necessity, etc.
SB 886 – Teachers Classroom Supply Program by Montford – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 337; SB 886 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 337 – Teachers Classroom Supply Program by Fresen – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 886; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Revising procedures for distributing program funds to classroom teachers, etc.
SB 698 – Sexual Misconduct with Students by Stargel – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 485; SB 698 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 485 – Sexual Misconduct with Students by Raburn – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 698; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Citing this act as the “Sexual Misconduct with Students by Authority Figures Act”; providing for reclassification of specified sexual offenses committed against a student by an authority figure; providing for severity ranking of offenses; providing for application of the severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment Code, etc.
SB 444 – Workers’ Compensation by Galvano – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 271; SB 444 LAID ON THE TABLE
HB 271 – Workers’ Compensation by Cummings – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 444; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Revising powers of the Department of Financial Services relating to compliance with and enforcement of workers’ compensation coverage requirements; revising requirements for the release of stop-work orders; revising rate formulas related to the determination of compensation for disability and death; revising provisions relating to the assessment rate of the Special Disability Trust Fund, etc.
Bills on 3rd Reading
SB 732 – Florida Prepaid College Program by Galvano – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; IN MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE
Redefining the term “tuition differential”; prohibiting the amount of the aggregate sum of registration fees, the tuition differential fee, and local fees paid by the board to a state university on behalf of a qualified beneficiary of an advance payment contract from exceeding a certain percentage of the amount charged by the state university for the aggregate sum of those fees; prohibiting the amount of the dormitory fees paid for by the board to a state university on behalf of a qualified beneficiary of an advance payment contract from exceeding a certain percentage of the amount charged by the state university for those fees, etc.
HB 487 – Agricultural Industry Certifications by Raburn – READ 3RD TIME; PASSED THE SENATE; PASSED THE LEGISLATURE
Requires DOACS to annually provide to SBE & DOE industry certifications for farm occupations to be considered for placement on industry certification funding lists; defines industry certification as part of career education programs; requires rules for implementing industry certification process for farm occupations.
In the House Session:
Bills on 2nd Reading
HB 7117 – Education Accountability by Education – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 1642; HB 7117 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 1642 – Education Accountability by Education – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUED FOR HB 7117; PLACED ON 3RD READING
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: These bills are the state’s effort to bridge the transition to new state standards and assessments. While the bill contains several excellent provisions, FSBA is concerned that it does not go far enough to ensure a smooth transition that will be fair and equitable for students, parents, teachers, schools, and school districts. Several legislators attempted to persuade their colleagues to recognize the need for additional time for the transition, but these efforts were unsuccessful.]
HB 147 – Concrete Masonry Education by Caldwell – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 286; HB 147 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 286 – Concrete Masonry Education by Richter – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 147; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Creating the “Concrete Masonry Education Act”; creating the Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council, Inc.; requiring the council to operate under a written contract with the Department of Economic Opportunity; authorizing the council to accept grants, donations, contributions, and gifts under certain circumstances; providing for collection of a voluntary assessment on concrete masonry units; requiring manufacturers who elect to pay the assessment to commit to paying the assessment for a specified period, etc.
SB 850 – Education by Legg – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING
HB 7033 – Middle Grades Education by K-12 – LAID ON THE TABLE
Revises provisions relating to middle grades education, schools, & educators; revises & adds provisions relating to digital materials & skills; revises requirements for high school diploma designations; authorizes additions to Industry Certification Funding List; specifies requirements relating to additional FTE funding based issuance of industry certifications & certificates. [NOTE: SB 850 was significantly amended via a strike-all amendment that tacked on the provisions of several other bills to the text of the existing bill. AS AMENDED, the bill includes the provisions contained in HB 7033 (listed above), the provisions of HB 277 – Joint Use of Public School Facilities, HB 173 – Juvenile Justice Education Programs, HB 87 – Fine Arts Courses, and a provision that would allow an online driver’s education course to satisfy the requirement for a student to take at least one online course for graduation.]
HB 139 – Volunteers / Organized Youth Sports by S. Jones – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 358; HB 139 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 358 – Volunteers / Organized Youth Sports by Ring – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 139; PLACED ON 3RD READING
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.
HB 7085 – Security of Personal Information by Civil Justice – SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 1534; HB 7085 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 1524 – Security of Personal Information by Thrasher – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 7085; PLACED ON 3RD READING
Citing this act as the “Florida Information Protection Act of 2014”; repealing provisions relating to a breach of security concerning confidential personal information in third-party possession; requiring specified entities to take reasonable measures to protect and secure data containing personal information in electronic form; requiring notice to individuals of data security breaches in certain circumstances, etc.
COMING UP TOMORROW
The Senate will be in Session – 10:00 am-6:00 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 2nd Reading
SB 790 – Education Technology by Legg
Providing the purpose for the Florida digital classrooms allocation; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt a Florida digital classrooms plan that establishes certain protocols, parameters, requirements, and digital tools; repealing provisions relating to a pilot program for the transition to electronic and digital instructional materials; establishing the Florida Center for Library Automation, etc.
SB 1702 – Early Learning by Education
Providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision and Information; including large family child care homes in local zoning regulation requirements; providing requirements for nonpublic schools delivering certain voluntary prekindergarten education programs and school readiness programs; revising provisions for licensure, registration, and operation of family day care homes; requiring a child care facility operating as a provider of certain voluntary prekindergarten education programs or child care programs to comply with minimum standards, etc.
SB 66 – Discretionary Sales Surtaxes by Flores
Authorizing a county as 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 1114 – Florida Retirement System by Community Affairs
Revising the definition of “vested” or “vesting” to provide that a member initially enrolled in the Florida Retirement System after a certain date is vested in the pension plan after completing 10 years of creditable service; providing for compulsory membership in the Florida Retirement System Investment Plan for certain members of the Elected Officers’ Class initially enrolled after a certain date; 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.
HB 851 – Resident Status for Tuition Purposes by Nunez
Amending provisions relating to the determination of resident status for tuition purposes; revising certain residency requirements for a dependent child; prohibiting denial of classification as a resident for tuition purposes based on certain immigration status; classifying persons who receive certain tuition exemptions or waivers as residents for tuition purposes; revising provisions relating to the tuition waiver for a recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence, etc.
SB 1394 – Education / Merit Designation by Legg
Adding a superintendent of schools to the membership of the Children and Youth Cabinet; revising the requirements to earn a Merit designation on a standard high school diploma, etc.
SB 1512 – Education / Scholarship Programs by Stargel
Authorizing the Auditor General to conduct audits of the accounts and records of nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations; establishing the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts; revising eligibility requirements for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program; providing standard high school diploma requirements for certain students with disabilities; prohibiting a school district from imposing additional requirements on private instructional personnel or charging fees, etc. [NOTE: This bill expands student eligibility and funding for the existing Tax Credit Scholarship Program and creates a new voucher program to provide funding through Personal Learning Accounts to purchase certain services for students with disabilities. FSBA is opposed to this bill: The Tax Credit voucher program has already caused the state to forego more than $1.4 billion in tax revenue, lacks sufficient operational and academic accountability, and has failed to provide evidence of student learning gains or any other significant return to this substantial investment. The proposed new voucher program is poorly defined in terms of student eligibility and administrative control and it is the proverbial “nose under the tent” that opens the door to a universal voucher program.]
SB 598 – Juvenile Justice Education Programs by Bean
Revising requirements for the multiagency education plan for students in juvenile justice education programs, including virtual education as an option; authorizing instructional personnel at all juvenile justice facilities to access specific student records at the district; providing expectations for effective education programs for students in Department of Juvenile Justice programs; requiring the Department of Education to ensure that juvenile justice students who are eligible have access to high school equivalency testing and assist juvenile justice education programs with becoming high school equivalency testing centers, etc.
Bills on 3rd Reading
HB 337 – Teachers Classroom Supply Program by Fresen
Revising procedures for distributing program funds to classroom teachers, etc.
HB 485 – Sexual Misconduct with Students by Raburn
Citing this act as the “Sexual Misconduct with Students by Authority Figures Act”; providing for reclassification of specified sexual offenses committed against a student by an authority figure; providing for severity ranking of offenses; providing for application of the severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment Code, etc.
HB 271 – Workers’ Compensation by Cummings
Revising powers of the Department of Financial Services relating to compliance with and enforcement of workers’ compensation coverage requirements; revising requirements for the release of stop-work orders; revising rate formulas related to the determination of compensation for disability and death; revising provisions relating to the assessment rate of the Special Disability Trust Fund, etc.
The House will be in Session – 11:00 am-N/A; Florida Channel webcast to consider the following items and others:
Bills on 3rd Reading
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: This bill is the state’s effort to bridge the transition to new state standards and assessments. While the bill contains several provisions that FSBA supports, we are concerned that it does not go far enough to ensure a smooth transition that will be fair and equitable for students, parents, teachers, schools, and school districts.]
SB 286 – Concrete Masonry Education by Richter
Creating the “Concrete Masonry Education Act”; creating the Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council, Inc.; requiring the council to operate under a written contract with the Department of Economic Opportunity; authorizing the council to accept grants, donations, contributions, and gifts under certain circumstances; providing for collection of a voluntary assessment on concrete masonry units; requiring manufacturers who elect to pay the assessment to commit to paying the assessment for a specified period, etc.
SB 850 – Education by Legg
Revises provisions relating to middle grades education, schools, & educators; revises & adds provisions relating to digital materials & skills; revises requirements for high school diploma designations; authorizes additions to Industry Certification Funding List; specifies requirements relating to additional FTE funding based issuance of industry certifications & certificates. The bill was amended on Tuesday to include the provisions of HB 277 – Joint Use of Public School Facilities, HB 173 – Juvenile Justice Education Programs, HB 87 – Fine Arts Courses, and a provision that would allow an online driver’s education course to satisfy the requirement for a student to take at least one online course for graduation. [NOTE: Because the original Senate bill was amended on Tuesday, if the bill is approved on 3rd Reading on Wednesday, it must be returned to the Senate for consideration of the revised bill.]
SB 1524 – Security of Personal Information by Thrasher
Citing this act as the “Florida Information Protection Act of 2014”; repealing provisions relating to a breach of security concerning confidential personal information in third-party possession; requiring specified entities to take reasonable measures to protect and secure data containing personal information in electronic form; requiring notice to individuals of data security breaches in certain circumstances, etc.
SB 358 – Volunteers / Organized Youth Sports by Ring
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.
IN THE NEWS
Tallahassee Democrat – 4/29/14
House, Senate reach deal on budget
http://mynews13.com/content/
Washington Post – 4/29/14
Do “reformers” really believe in accountability? Let’s look at Florida
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
