As we reported yesterday, the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees have released some preliminary budget documents. For the Senate PreK-12 Education Appropriations Chair David Simmons and the House PreK-12 Appropriations Chair Manny Diaz, these included the highlights and a short Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) funding summary. We have prepared a quick snapshot that compares the FEFP funding amounts in these proposals with current year funding and Governor Scott’s proposed funding. This comparison is posted on our 2017 Legislative Session page under the “2017-2018 Education Budget Materials” tab – please click HERE for a direct link to the comparison). In today’s Senate PreK-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee meeting, Chair Simmons released an outline of his proposed education funding implementing bill, conforming bill, and budget provisio language. In addition, more details on the House budget are expected to be released by Friday. With this additional information in hand, we will begin work on a more detailed analysis as soon as possible.
Below are links to our abbreviated daily report on the results of today’s committee actions and the schedule of meetings coming up on Thursday.
[toggle title=”Today’s Happenings – March 29, 2017“]
We will provide a more detailed report on this week’s bill action at the end of the week, but for more immediate information on each of the bills listed below, please click on the bill number to access the bill’s web page for the bill text, short summary, and related information.
In the House Government Accountability Committee meeting:
HB 493 – Enhanced Safety for School Crossings by Toledo — PASSED
HB 599 – Public Works Projects by Williamson – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
GAC3 – Elections by Government Accountability (links to bill text) – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
GAC4 – Florida Retirement System by Government Accountability (links to bill text) – SUBMITTED AS A COMMITTEE BILL
In the House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee meeting:
HB 1283 – Inspector General & Auditors by Raulerson — PASSED
HB 1285 – Public Records/Inspector General by Raulerson — PASSED
In the Senate PreK-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee meeting, Chair Simmons released additional budget information (discussed briefly above)
In the House Appropriations Committee meeting:
HB 7069 – Best & Brightest Teachers & Principals by Education – AMENDED AND PASSED WITH A CS
In the House Session:
HB 7021 – Local Government Ethics Reform by Public Integrity & Ethics – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/30/17
HB 7023 – Trust Fund/Local Government Lobbyist Registration – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/30/17
HB 11 – Labor Organizations by Plakon — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 3/30/17
In the Senate Session:
SB 80 – Public Records/Attorney Fees by Steube – READ 3RD TIME; AMENDED; PASSED THE SENATE
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[toggle title=”Coming Up on Thursday – March 30, 2017“]
Please note that the meetings listed below may be viewed via live webcast or archived videos on the Florida Channel. Also, for real-time updates on these meetings and other legislative activities, please click HERE to access our Twitter feed.
The House Education Committee will meet (9:00 am-12:00 pm; 102 HOB) to consider the following item(s) and others:
HB 845 — Direct-support Organization/Florida Prepaid by Mariano
HB 1139 — Minority Teacher Education Scholars by Davis
HB 1391 — Home Education by Eisnaugle
HB 6037 — Direct-support Organization/Blind Services by Fischer
PCB EDC3 — School Improvement by Education
The Senate will be in Session (10:00 am-12:00 pm; Senate Chamber) to consider the following item(s) and others on Special Order (2nd Reading):
SB 78 – Public School Recess – Flores
The House will be in Session (1:30 pm-completion) to consider the following item(s) and others on 3rd Reading:
HB 7021 – Local Government Ethics Reform by Public Integrity & Ethics
HB 7023 – Trust Fund/Local Government Lobbyist Registration
HB 479 – Government Accountability by Metz
HB 11 – Labor Organizations by Plakon
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