Legislative updates

At-Promise students deserve a promising future.

Charter School Related Legislation

No New Budget News

Since the House and Senate Appropriations Committees released competing initial budgets a few weeks ago, there has been little in the way of new developments. With the session concluding in 14 days, negotiations will run fast and furious as the legislature moves toward meeting its one legal requirement — to pass a budget. We will keep you updated on new developments.

Gov. Declares State of Emergency in Wake of Coronavirus

Governor Ron DeSantis this week declared a health emergency with the arrival of two confirmed cases of the COVID-19 strand of Coronavirus in Sarasota and Hillsborough counties, and more expected. There are more than 90,000 confirmed cases globally; more than 3,000 have died from it since its early-January emergence. Of confirmed cases, 91 are in the U.S., where four have died. Officials across school and university campuses have ramped up handwashing education and many are installing more hand-sanitizer stations around campuses.

According to the Governor, Florida has a Coronavirus Incident Management Team in place and is getting multiple daily updates from the CDC. In addition, the state has hundreds of Department of Health professionals ready to respond to potential patients. The Department of Health has created a web page where Floridians can access the latest news on Coronavirus.

For questions related to Coronavirus in Florida, contact the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Week 8: Legislative Session Update: Talent, Education & Workforce

SB 130 / HB 71: Florida Job Growth Grant Fund: Authorizes the Governor to approve workforce training grants to certain charter schools under the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund…MORE

In Context: Florida Job Growth Grant Funds are eligible to fund certain types of training at certain state colleges and technical education institutions. This bill authorizes the Governor to approve workforce training grants to public schools that offer Career and Technical Education graduation pathway options. It also authorizes charter schools that exclusively offer the Career and Technical Education graduation pathway to apply for the same funds.

Status: Both of these bills have transitioned into the budget process at this point. The Senate has included $20 million for this item in its budget, and the House has included no funding for it. Governor Desantis’ budget released in November supports holding the funding line at this year’s $40 million.

SB 1194 / HB 889 – Employment Practices: Creates “Florida Family Leave Act”; requires employer to allow certain employees to take paid family leave to bond with minor child upon child’s birth, adoption or foster care placement; provides requirements, limitations and duties; provides for civil action and penalties and criminal penalty…MORE

In Context: Employers with more than 50 employees are currently required by federal law to offer employees 12 weeks of leave (unpaid) to address critical medical issues. This measure would require employers to provide up to three months of paid family leave for parents of newborn children.

Status: The House bill is in review in the House Business & Professions Committee. The Senate bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce & Tourism Committee.

SB 664 – Verification of Employment Eligibility: Requires employers to register with and use the E-Verify system beginning on a specified date to verify the employment eligibility of new employees…MORE

In Context: This bill would require public and private employers to use the E-Verify system to check the citizenship of all new hires to verify their eligibility to work.

Status: This bill — which last week exempted agricultural employers with fewer than 150 employees — has changed and now will generally apply to employers with 20 or more employees if passed in its current form. It also provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for an employer’s reliance on an approved employment verification system. The House bill has passed all reference committees and now is ready for review by the full House. Passing an E-Verify law remains one of the Governor’s top priorities.

SB 1244 / HB 1271 – State Workforce Development Boards: Defines terms “for cause” and “state board.” Replaces CareerSource Florida Inc. with the state board or the Department of Economic Opportunity in provisions relating to the implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Revises provisions related to the operation of CareerSource Florida and authorizes a chief elected official for a local workforce development board to remove a certain person from the board for cause…MORE In Context: CareerSource Florida has carried out policy development and oversight for the state workforce system as prescribed by the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This bill would shift some of its responsibilities to a State Board, which would establish uniform performance accountability measures and design a workforce development strategy for the state. Status: SB 1244 was approved last week by the Senate Industry, Innovation & Technology Committee. Its House companion, HB 1271, remains in review by the House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. Update: SB 1244 was approved yesterday by the Senate Rules Committee. Its House companion, HB 1139, which replaces HB1271 as a true companion bill, is ready to be heard on the House Floor. (3.3.2020)

SB 434 / HB 957 – Designation of School Grades: Revises the components on which a school’s grade is based, etc…MORE In Context: This bill modifies the school grading model to include in its calculation students who complete career certificate dual enrollment courses at a certain threshold. Status: The Senate bill is set to hit the Senate floor for discussion tomorrow. HB 957 has been passed in all reference committees and is ready for hearing by the full House. Update: The Senate approved the bill last week. HB 957 has been passed in all reference committees and is ready for hearing by the full House. (3.3.2020)

SB 576 – Research & Development Tax Credit: Deletes a limitation on industries that qualify for the research and development credit against the corporate income tax…MORE In Context: Florida law allows for certain businesses with qualified research expenses to receive a tax credit against state corporate income taxes. This bill seeks to increase the annual limit on the total amount available to fund the tax credit from $9 million to $50 million in an effort to recruit qualified target industry businesses with higher than average wages in industries expected to positively impact the economy. Status: SB 576 has stalled in the Finance & Tax Committee with no House companion.

SB 166 – Charter Schools: Requires a charter school to demonstrate that it meets certain needs that the local school district does not or is unable to provide…MORE In Context: Before it could be approved, a charter school would have to demonstrate that it meets needs that the local school district either did not or could not provide to students in that district. Status: This bill has stalled in the Senate Education Committee with no House companion.

SB 1550 / HB 993 – High School Graduation Rates: Requires students to submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be awarded a standard high school diploma…MORE In Context: Florida is experiencing a critical shortage of teachers and guidance counselors. This bill is intended to ensure students access all of the financial assistance they are entitled to by requiring them to complete a Federal Student Aid form in order to receive their diploma. Status: SB 1550 last week was approved by the Senate Education Committee. HB 993 remains stalled in the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee. Update: Though circumstances can always change, both of these bills appear permanently stalled in the committee process (3.3.2020)

SB 1088 – Teacher Salary Enhancement: Establishes a teacher salary enhancement allocation in the General Appropriations Act; requires each school district to use the allocated funds to increase teacher salaries; authorizes school districts that meet the teacher salary requirements specified in the appropriations act to use any additional funds provided in the allocation for any lawful operating expenditure…MORE In Context: The state is considering a minimum $47,500 salary for public school teachers–a major jump from the current level of compensation for many teachers, which is far below that amount. This bill aims to provide school districts the money they need to enhance teacher salaries and would include the amount in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Status: In both Chambers, this legislation has moved into the budget process with varying levels of support ranging from $400 million in the House to $500 million in the Senate to $600 million in Governor DeSantis’ November proposal.

SB 534 / HB 883 – Education: Requires DOE to maintain a disqualification list of certain individuals; revises provisions relating to employment and termination of certain public school and private school employees …MORE In Context: This bill tasks the state Department of Education to maintain a list of people who are permanently barred from employment in a public or private school that participates in a state educational scholarship program. Individuals affected would be those who are ineligible for employment due to a conviction of certain offenses. Status: HB 883 is ready for hearing by the full House. A committee substitute for SB 534 has stalled in the Appropriations Committee but is highly likely to come back during the budget conference process. Update: SB534 has stalled in the Appropriations Committee, but is highly likely to come back during the budget conference process as well as the process of reconciling several other education-related bills. (3.3.2020)

SB 1578 / HB 953 – Charter Schools: Authorizes state universities and Florida College System institutions to sponsor charter schools…MORE In Context: In addition to many other provisions, SB 1578 would add Florida College System member institutions to the list of entities that are authorized to sponsor charter schools. SB 1578 includes the provision in the larger context of comprehensively addressing the need for “career landscape” information. MORE Status: A Committee Substitute for SB 1578 is now in review in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. HB 953 was last week approved by the House Education Committee and is now ready for hearing on the House floor, along with a related bill, HB 7065. Update: HB 953 is ready for the House Floor, along with HB 7065. SB 1578 remains in committee and whether it will advance in its current iteration is unclear. (3.30.2020)

SB 1216 / HB 157 – Limitation on Terms of Office for Members of a District School Board: Proposes amendments to the State Constitution to limit the terms of office for a member of a district school board…MORE In Context: Florida law does not limit the amount of time a district school board member can serve. This bill would prohibit a school board member from seeking reelection if, by the end of his/her current term, they will have served for 12 consecutive years. A nearly identical Senate proposal would enforce a limit of eight consecutive years. Status: The full House passed this measure last week, while the Senate bill is in its final reference committee. If approved, this bill would give voters the chance to decide if the same “eight is enough” term limits that apply to members of the Florida Legislature and Cabinet should apply to school board members. The provision would operate prospectively beginning with the 2020 general election. The likely earliest date that any currently serving school board member could be “termed-out” would be in November 2028. Update: Passed by full House. SB1216 passed out of its final reference committee. If approved, this bill would give voters the chance to decide if the same “eight is enough” term limits that apply to members of the Florida Legislature and Cabinet should apply to school board members. The provision would operate prospectively beginning with the 2020 general election. The likely earliest date that any currently serving school board member could be “termed-out” would be in November 2028. (3.3.2020)

SB 1220 – Education: Requires that the rules establish uniform core curricula for each state-approved teacher preparation program include evidence-based reading instructional strategies and mental health strategies and support…MORE In Context: This bill seeks to enhance and make more consistent the mechanism for determining teacher preparedness and qualifications. Another bill, SB 632 (and companion HB 859) also seek to enhance teacher qualification, in addition to requiring private schools to participate in the statewide assessment program. Status: A Committee Substitute for SB 1220 is on today’s Senate Education Committee agenda. HB 7067, which also contains teacher-prep elements, is on the Appropriations Committee agenda for today. Update: SB 1220 is on today’s Senate Appropriations Committee agenda. HB 7067, which also contains teacher-prep elements, passed out of the House Appropriations Committee last week and is ready for hearing by the full house (3.3.2020)

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