ADOPTION HB 633 (McInvale)
Provides for adoptive eligibility & preference for foster parents seeking to
adopt a child after caring for child for specified period of time & meeting
certain criteria; provides factors to be considered by court in determining
whether to grant adoption petition. Creates 63.0421,.139. [HB 633 has been
filed.]
ADOPTION SB 986
(Dawson) Defines standard for selecting adoptive parent; requires
individual assessment of prospective adoptive parents of minor; eliminates
ban on adoption by person who is homosexual. Amends 63.042. [SB 986 has
been referred to Children and Families; Judiciary.]
PAROLE FOR JUVENILES SB
446 (Geller): provides that child younger than specified age who is
sentenced to life or more than 10 years in prison is eligible for parole if
child has been incarcerated for minimum period & has not previously been
adjudicated for certain offenses; requires that child be incarcerated in
youthful-offender facility; requires Parole Commission to conduct initial
interview with child within minimum time, etc. Amends 985.225. [SB 446 was
referred to Criminal Justice; Justice Appropriations.]
ELECTIONS/FORMER FELONS'
VOTE SB 132 (Dawson): Cites act as "Citizens' Empowerment Act";
provides for automatic restoration of former felons' right to vote following
completion & satisfaction of sentence of incarceration & community
supervision; provides conditions for such automatic restoration; amends
provisions to conform. Amends 97.041,.052,.053, 98.0977. [SB 132 was
referred to Ethics and Elections; Criminal Justice; Judiciary]
CONVICTED FELON'S VOTING
RIGHTS HB 271 (Bendross-Mindingall): Convicted Felon's Voting Rights;
constitutional amendment to authorize Legislature to provide conditions
under which convicted felon's right to register or vote may be restored by
statute. Amends s. 4, Art. VI. [HB 271 was referred to Ethics & Elections;
Criminal Justice; Judiciary; State Administration Council]
HIV/AIDS PREVENTION
SB 230 (Wilson): HIV/AIDS Prevention; increases number of HIV &
AIDS minority coordinators within Health Dept.; requires dept. to expand its
HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in state's minority communities & establish
linkage programs for HIV-positive inmates prior to their release from jail;
deletes obsolete provisions. Amends 381.0046. [SB 230 was found favorable
by Healthcare and is now in Criminal Justice.]
PREGNANT WOMEN/HIV
TESTING SB 186 (Lynn): Requires all pregnant women to be tested for
HIV infection; provides that each woman be informed of HIV test results;
requires that information be provided to woman about medical & support
services if test results are positive; provides exemption from testing
requirements if pregnant woman objects. Amends 384.31. [SB 186 was referred
to Health Care; Judiciary; Health and Human Services Appropriations. It is
temporarily postponed by Health Care.]
FAMILY COURT EFFICIENCY
HB 145 (Planas) & SB 348 (Lynn): Authorizes Supreme court to create
system to identify cases re individuals & families within court system;
provides for limited admissibility of evidence in subsequent civil
proceedings; provides for court to determine matters re child support in any
proceeding under specified provisions; revises timeframe for completing
parenting course, etc. Creates 25.37; [HB 145 referred to Judiciary; Future
of Florida's Families; Justice Appropriations; Justice Council. SB 348 was
found favorable by Judiciary and is now in Children and Families.]
FEMA REORGANIZATION HB
191 (Greenstein): Urges Congress of the United States to initiate review
& reorganization of FEMA polices & administrative processes for purpose of
avoiding delays in cleanup & reimbursement in aftermath of declared
disasters. [HB 191 referred to Domestic Security; Governmental Operations;
Rules & Calendar Council; State Administration Council.]
TUITION/RESIDENT STATUS
SB 226 (Wilson): Provides exemption from payment of nonresident tuition
at community colleges & state universities for certain students meeting
eligibility criteria; amends provision re general requirements for
eligibility for state financial aid to specify procedures for determining
resident status for purposes of receiving such awards. Amends 1009.21,.40.
[SB 226 was referred to Education; Education Appropriations; was reported
favorably by Education; and is now in Education Appropriations.]
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
SB 388 (Alexander): Student Financial Aid; expresses legislative intent
to revise laws re student financial aid. Relates to immigrants. [SB 388 was
referred to Education Appropriations; Ways and Means.]
WATER RESOURCE & SUPPLY
DEVELOPMENT SB 444 (Dockery): Water Resource & Supply Development;
revises requirements re water resource development & water supply
development. Amends 373.0831. [SB 444 was referred to Environmental
Preservation; Governmental Oversight and Productivity; Rules and Calendar.]
2020 WATER STUDY
COMMISSION SB 98 (Saunders): Provides for appointment & qualification
of members; provides duties of commission; provides for public hearings;
provides for executive director & for technical advisory committees;
requires reports; provides duties of DEP. Appropriation: $250,000. [SB 98
Referred to Environmental Preservation; Governmental Oversight and
Productivity; General Government Appropriations.]
ALFREDO BAHENA ACT SB
472 (Alexander): Alfredo Bahena Act; repeals provision re advisory
committee for Legislative Commission on Migrant Labor. Repeals 450.211. [SB
472 was referred to Commerce and Consumer Services; Rules and Calendar; it
was reported favorably by Commerce and Consumer Services.]
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR MEN &
WOMEN HB 203 (Joyner) & SB 94 (Margolis): Equal Rights for Men &
Women; ratifies proposed amendment to Constitution of United States re equal
rights for men & women. [HB 203 was referred to Judiciary; Fiscal Council;
Rules & Calendar Council; Justice Council. SB 94 was referred to Judiciary;
Rules and Calendar.]
FLORIDA-FAITH BASED
INITIATIVE HB 455 (Peterman): Florida-Faith Based Initiative;
establishes Fla. Faith-Based Initiative; creates Fla. Families Faith-Based
Institute & provides for administration by University of South Florida;
provides definition & duties; prohibits imposition of fees for certain
purposes; requires report; provides for open records & meetings. [HB 455 was
referred to Future of Florida's Families; Colleges & Universities; Education
Appropriations; Health & Families Council.]
FAITH-BASED COUNSELING
REGULATION SB 892 (Wise): Requires registration of faith-based
counselors; specifies nonapplication of certain licensing provisions to
certain counselors under certain circumstances; provides registration
procedures & requirements; provides for renewal of registrations or
certificates; provides continuing education requirements; authorizes Health
Dept. to adopt rules; provides for confidentiality of certain information,
etc. [SB 892 was referred to Health Care; Judiciary; Health and Human
Services Appropriations.]
MCKAY SCHOLARSHIPS/DISABILITIES SB 584 (Jones) &
HB 93 (Bilirakis): Excludes hospitalized or homebound students from
participating in John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Program; excludes certain students in Juvenile Justice Dept. commitment
programs from participation; provides requirements for transfer of amount of
McKay Scholarship for students who exit dept. commitment program & choose to
participate in scholarship program. Amends 1002.39. [SB 584 was referred to
Education; Education Appropriations; Rules and Calendar. HB 93 was
referred to Choice & Innovation; Education Appropriations; Education
Council.]
MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAMS SB 2 (King, Jr): Scholarship Programs; amends provision re
John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; extends
term of scholarship; requires that private school maintain physical location
in this state; prohibits participating private schools from sending or
directing scholarship funds to parents of scholarship student who receives
instruction at home; requires DOE to determine eligibility of private school
to participate in program, etc. Amends 1002.39, 220.187. [SB 2 was
workshopped by Education.]
CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM SB 766 (King, Jr.): Prohibits certain private schools & other
entities from participating in Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program;
prohibits certain students from participating in said program; revises
limitations on allocation of annual credits granted under program; provides
limitations on eligible contributions; requires nonprofit
scholarship-funding organization to make scholarship payments at least on
quarterly basis, etc. Amends FS. [SB 766 was referred to Education;
Criminal Justice; Government Efficiency Appropriations; Education
Appropriations; Rules and Calendar.]
K-12 GI BILL PROGRAM/EDUC.
CHOICE HB 439 (Attkisson): Establishes said program to provide
educational options for dependents of Fla. veteran, active duty member of
any branch of U.S. Armed Forces, active or retired member of Fla. National
Guard, or active member of Armed Forces Reserves; provides that student may
receive K-12 GI Bill to attend public school in adjacent school district or
to attend private school; provides K-12 GI Bill eligibility requirements,
etc. Creates 1002.395; amends 1002.20. [HB 439 was referred to Choice &
Innovation; Education Appropriations; Education Council.]
K-12 GI BILL
PROGRAM/EDUCATION CHOICE SB 876 (Baker): K-12 GI Bill Program/Educ.
Choice; establishes said program to provide educational options for
dependents of active-duty member of any branch of U.S. Armed Forces, active
member of Fla. National Guard, or active member of Armed Forces Reserves;
provides that student may receive K-12 GI Bill to attend public school in
adjacent school district or to attend private school; provides K-12 GI Bill
eligibility requirements, etc. Creates 1002.395; amends 1002.20. [SB 876
has been filed.]
VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN
PROGRAM SB 1230 (Carlton): Voluntary Prekindergarten Education;
expresses legislative intent to revise laws re Voluntary Prekindergarten
Education Program. [SB 1230 has been filed.]
K-12 EDUCATION/CHILDREN
OF MILITARY HB 39 (Gibson): K-12 Education/Children of Military;
allows children of military personnel transferred to Florida after school
year has begun to enroll in certain schools or programs in state; provides
that student shall be listed for enrollment under certain circumstances.
Amends 1003.05. [HB 39 was withdrawn prior to introduction.]
FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL
HB 533 (Troutman): Florida Virtual School; provides for application of
provisions re Florida Virtual School to approved school district franchises
of school. Amends 11.45, 1000.04, 1001.42, 1002.20,.23,.37, 1003.02,.03,.52,
1007.27, 1011.61. [HB 533 was referred to Choice & Innovation; Education
Appropriations; Education Council.]
ZANIYAH HINSON ACT SB
352 (Lynn): Provides for child care program affiliated with religious
congregation or parochial school to be exempt from regulation by CFS Dept.
as religious-exempt child care program; requires said programs to display
certificate of compliance issued by an accrediting agency recognized by
dept.; provides requirements for said agency; requires said agencies to
conduct initial onsite review, etc. Amends 402.316. [SB 352 was found
favorable with 1 Amendment by Children and Families and is now in Commerce
and Consumer Services.]
SCHOOL BUSES/SAFETY BELTS
SB 734 (Dockery): Provides that it is optional rather than mandatory
for school districts to purchase & use school buses that are equipped with
safety belts or other federally approved restraint systems; deletes
provision re elementary schools' receiving first priority in allocation of
school buses equipped with restraint systems; provides for retroactivity.
Amends 316.6145. [SB 734 was referred to Transportation; Education; Rules
and Calendar.]
SCHOOL BUSES/SAFETY BELTS
HB 343 (Ross): School Buses/Safety Belts; revises provisions for
safety belts or other restraint system on certain school buses; revises
application of such provisions; removes implementation & allocation
requirements. Amends 316.6145. [HB 343 was referred to Transportation;
PreK-12; Education Appropriations; State Infrastructure Council.]
PRIVATE SCHOOL BUS
DRIVERS HB 535 (Arza): Private School Bus Drivers; provides
requirements for private school bus drivers, including specified
qualifications, drug & alcohol testing, background screening, & certain
registration or licensure. Amends 1002.42. [HB was referred to
Transportation; Education Appropriations; State Infrastructure Council.]
RELATING TO SCHOOL BUSES
HB 363 (Wilson): School Buses; removes requirement that school buses
be equipped with safety belts or other restraint systems. Amends 316.6145.
[HB 363 was referred to Transportation; PreK-12; Education Appropriations;
State Infrastructure Council.]
TRANSPORTATION
DISADVANTAGED SB 1168 (Alexander): Transportation Disadvantaged;
revises membership of Transportation Disadvantaged Commission within DOT;
revises number of members of commission needed to constitute quorum;
requires that candidates for appointment to commission meet certain
requirements for background screening; requires that dept. report to
commission any candidate who fails to meet screening standards; requires
that costs of screening be borne by dept. or candidate for appointment.
Amends 427.012. [SB 1168 has been filed.]
STUDENT ASSESSMENT
INSTRUMENTS SB 160 (Siplin): Student Assessment Instruments;
authorizes student's parent & accompanying student to review questions &
student's answers to those questions on criterion-referenced portion of Fla.
Comprehensive Assessment Test; requires DOE to honor requests within certain
time period; allows passage of alternative assessments in lieu of grade 10
FCAT for certain transfer students subject to certain conditions beginning
in 2005-2006 school year, etc. Amends 1008.23, 1003.433; repeals 1008.301.
[SB 160 was withdrawn from Education; Judiciary; Education Appropriations
prior to introduction.]
STUDENT ASSESSMENT
INSTRUMENTS HB 379 (Peterman): Student Assessment Instruments;
authorizes student's parent & student to review questions & student's
answers to questions on criterion-referenced portion of Fla. Comprehensive
Assessment Test; requires DOE to honor requests within certain time period;
requires that district school boards notify eligible parents; revises
requirements for receipt of standard high school diploma for certain
transfer students, etc. Amends 1008.23, 1003.433; repeals 1008.301. [HB 379
was referred to PreK-12; Civil Justice; Education Appropriations; Education
Council.]
SCHOOLS/STUDENT
ASSESSMENT PROGRAM SB 222 (Wilson): Schools/Student Assessment
Program; requires Education Commissioner to approve continuing use of scores
on specified tests as alternatives to scores on grade-10 FCAT for students
who have failed FCAT as specified; requires State Board of Education to
annually determine scores on SAT & ACT tests which are equivalent to FCAT
scores; repeals provision re concordance study of FCAT equivalency, etc.
Amends 1008.22; repeals 1008.301; reenacts FS. [SB 222 was found favorable
by Education and is now in Education Appropriations.]
SCHOOL STUDENTS/PSYCHOTROPIC MED HB 209 (Barreiro):
Defines term "psychotropic
medication"; prohibits recipients of state funds used for educational
purposes from requiring student to be prescribed or administered
psychotropic medication as condition of receipt of educational services;
provides requirements for administration; provides restriction re diagnosis
of treatment of mental disorders. Creates 1006.0625. [HB 209 was referred
to PreK-12; Health Care Regulation; Education Appropriations; Education
Council.]
SECONDARY
SCHOOL/INVOCATION AT EVENT HB 355 (Holloway): Authorizes individual
district school boards by resolution to allow invocation or benediction at
specified secondary school-related events; provides legislative intent;
provides severability. [HB 355 was referred to Choice & Innovation
Education Council.]
EDUCATOR/HATE CRIME
TRAINING PROGRAM SB 92 (Margolis) & HB 389 (Gibson): Educator/Hate
Crime Training Program; provides legislative findings to enunciate that
effective educator in this state is able to demonstrate awareness of actions
that may constitute hate crime by completing hate crimes training program
offered by Legal Affairs Department. Amends 1012.52. [SB 92 was
referred to Education; Education Appropriations. HB 389 was referred
to PreK-12; Criminal Justice; Education Appropriations; Education Council.]
K-12 INSTRUCTION/PHYSICAL
EDUCATION SB 126 (Margolis): K-12 Instruction/Physical Education;
requires physical education on full-year basis for students in grades 1
through 8; requires development of physical education program; increases
physical education credit requirements & decreases elective credit
requirements for high school graduation; requires State Board of Education
to adopt rules for satisfaction of certain credit requirements, etc. Amends
1003.42,.43. [SB 126 is now in Education Appropriations.]
ACCELERATED HS
GRADUATION/OPTIONS SB 104 (Constantine): Accelerated HS
Graduation/Options; revises requirements applicable to selecting such
accelerated option; revises required courses for 3-year standard college
preparatory program; deletes provisions authorizing student to select 3-year
standard career preparatory program; revises requirements for grades that
must be earned to participate in accelerated program; provides for default
to standard graduation requirements in certain circumstances. Amends
1003.429. [SB 104 was referred to Education; Education Appropriations.]
BOOKS/CLOTHING/SCHOOL
SUPPLIES/TAX HB 101 (Sansom): Specifies period each year during which
sale of books, clothing, & school supplies are exempt from tax on sales,
use, & other transactions; provides definitions; provides exceptions;
authorizes DOR to adopt rules. APPROPRIATION: $206,000. [HB 101 was to be
discussed during the office of EDRs Revenue Impact Conference.]
CHILDRENS
SUMMER NUTRITION / MS. WILLIE ANN GLENN ACT HB 227 (Greenstein) & SB 752
(Wise):
