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.]

INMATES/PARENTS OF MINOR CHILDREN – SB 1128 (Wilson):  Provides legislative findings & intent re importance of inmate maintaining relationship with his or her minor child; requires DOC to consider inmate's proximity to his or her minor child when transferring inmate; requires that female inmate be assigned to facility in as close proximity as possible to her minor child, etc. Amends 944.17,.24,.8031. [SB 1128 has been referred to Criminal Justice; Children and Families.]

ELECTIONS/FORMER FELONS' VOTE – SB 132 (Dawson) & HB 269 (Bendross-Mindingall): 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 & HB 269 was referred to Ethics & Elections; Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations; State Administration Council.]

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES – SB 428 (Rich): Developmental Disabilities; requires AHCA to develop model waiver program to serve children with specified disorders; requires agency to seek federal waiver approval & implement approved waiver subject to availability of funds & certain limitations; authorizes rules. Amends 409.912.  [SB 428 was found favorable by Health Care and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.

HIV/AIDS PREVENTION – SB 230 (Wilson): 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 Health Care 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 found favorable in Health Care and is now in Judiciary.]

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 was found favorable by Judiciary & SB 348 is on Committee Agenda in Children and Families.]

FEMA REORGANIZATION – SB 1544 RICH) & 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. [SB 1544 has been filed & HB 191 is referred to Domestic Security; Governmental Operations; Rules & Calendar Council; State Administration Council.]

FARM LABOR VEHICLES – HB 1059 (Gannon):  Revises terms "migrant farm worker" & "migrant farm worker carrier"; requires certain seatbelts at each passenger position in vehicle; requires certain operators to have departmental authorization to operate vehicle; requires HSMV to create vehicle authorization sticker denoting authorization of vehicle for use in transportation of farm workers; requires display of sticker, etc. Amends 316.003,.620, 320.38, 322.031, 450.181,.33.  [HB 1059 has been filed.]

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY – SB 1278 (Hill):  Recognizes March 31, annually, as Cesar Chavez Day.  [SB 1278 has been filed.]

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): Repeals provision re advisory committee for Legislative Commission on Migrant Labor. Repeals 450.211. [SB 472 was found favorable by Commerce and Consumer Services and is now in Rules and Calendar.]

FLORIDA-FAITH BASED INITIATIVE – HB 455 (Peterman): 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.]

MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS  – SB 2 (King, Jr):  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 referred to Education; Government Efficiency Appropriations; Education Appropriations and 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.] 

EDUCATIONAL CHOICE – HB 1021 (Traviesa):  Establishes Reading Compact Scholarship Program to provide students with reading deficiencies option to attend public or private school of choice; provides eligibility requirements for receipt of Reading Compact Scholarship to attend private school & restricts eligibility therefore; creates provision re rights & obligations of private schools participating in state school choice scholarship programs, etc. Creates 1002.385,.421; amends 1002.20.  [HB 1021 has been filed.]

K-12 GI BILL PROGRAM/EDUCATION 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):  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 referred to Education; Community Affairs; Judiciary; Education Appropriations.]

VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM – SB 1230 (Carlton):  Expresses legislative intent to revise laws re Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.  [SB 1230 has been referred to Education Appropriations; Ways and Means.]

SCHOOL-ENTRY HEALTH AND VISION EXAMS – HB 199 (Richardson):  Requires children who enter public or private schools in state to present evidence of having received comprehensive vision examination; provides exemption; conforms provisions. Amends 1003.22, 1002.20,.42.  [HB 199 referred to Health Care General; PreK-12; Education Appropriations; Health & Families Council.]

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES/INDOOR AIR – SB 640 & HB 469 (Sands):  Educational Facilities/Indoor Air; requires each district school board to adopt & implement indoor air quality program; requires annual reports to DOE; requires uniform air quality inspections & evaluations; provides requirements for educational facility sites & project plans; provides requirements for heating, ventilating, & air-conditioning systems; requires indoor environmental quality training programs for staff, etc. Creates 1013.135.  [SB 640 has been referred to Education; Environmental Preservation; Education Appropriations HB 469 has been temporarily postponed by PreK-12.]

FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL – HB 533 (Troutman):  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 found favorable in Commerce and Consumer Services and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.] 

CHILD SAFETY – SB 246 (Hill):  Requires school boards to promulgate policies re release of children; provides definition; requires copies of policies to be provided to DOE; requires nonpublic schools, private schools, & certain child care facilities to promulgate policies re release of children; requires making such policies available on premises of schools or child care facilities; provides definition.  [SB 246 was found favorable by Children and Families and Education, placed on Calendar and is on the second reading.]

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):  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):  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.]

TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED – SB 1168 (Alexander):  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 referred to Transportation; Criminal Justice.]

SCHOOL STUDENTS/PSYCHOTROPIC MED – SB 1766 (Crist) & 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.  [SB 1766 has been filed and HB 209 was found favorable by PreK-12 and is now in Health Care Regulation.]

SECONDARY SCHOOL/INVOCATION AT EVENT – SB 1420 (Wise) & 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.  [SB 1420 has been referred to Education; Judiciary and HB 355 was referred to Choice & Innovation; Education Council.]

STUDENT ATHLETES/DRUG TESTING – HB 257 (Llorente):  Requires Fla. High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws re steroid use & adherence to coaches code of ethics; requires development of such code; requires said association to make recommendations for pilot drug testing program to test for performance-enhancing drugs. Amends 1006.20.  [HB 257 was found favorable by PreK-12 and is now in Judiciary.]

EDUCATOR/HATE CRIME TRAINING PROGRAM – SB 92 (Margolis) & HB 389 (Gibson): 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 and HB 389 was referred to PreK-12; Criminal Justice; Education Appropriations; Education Council and has now been temporarily postponed.]

K-12 INSTRUCTION/PHYSICAL EDUCATION – SB 126 (Margolis):  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 was found favorable in Education and is now in Education Appropriations.]

ACCELERATED HS GRADUATION/OPTIONS – SB 104 (Constantine): 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 referred to Finance & Tax (FC); Fiscal Council.]

CHILDREN’S SUMMER NUTRITION / MS. WILLIE ANN GLENN ACT – HB 227 (Greenstein) & SB 752 (Wise): Requires each district school board to develop plan to sponsor summer nutrition program; provides criteria for operating program sites; authorizes exemption from sponsoring said program & provides procedures therefore; authorizes school boards to encourage not-for-profit entities to sponsor said program under certain circumstances; authorizes superintendent of schools to collaborate with specified agencies to implement said program, etc. [SB 752 is on the Education committee agenda to be discussed and HB 227 has been temporarily postponed by PreK-12.]

Medicaid Eligibility/Asset Transfers – HB 543 (Brown): Provides asset transfer limitations for determination of eligibility for nursing facility services under Medicaid program; authorizes DCFS to adopt rules. Amends 409.902.  [HB 543 was referred to Elder & Long-Term Care; Health Care Appropriations; Health & Families Council.]

HEALTH CARE ACT/ACCESS/POVERTY LEVEL – HB 151 (Sorensen): Revises definition of low-income person to expand poverty level family income criterion. Amends 766.1115. [HB 151 was found favorable by Health Care Appropriations and is now in Health Care Regulation.]

Guardianship – HB 457 (Bogdanoff): Excepts contesting of trust validity by property guardians of incapacitated grantors from prohibition against commencing certain actions; revises provisions re court monitors; authorizes court to appoint court monitor on emergency basis under certain circumstances; requires court to determine whether acceptable alternatives to guardianship of incapacitated persons exist under certain circumstances, etc. Amends Ch. 744, 737.2065. [HB 457 was found favorable by Civil Justice and is referred to Future of Florida's Families.]

CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT – HB 1233 (Hasner) & HB 1235 (Hasner):  Cites act as "Florida Cancer Research & Treatment Act"; deletes obsolete provision directing deposit & payment of cigarette tax funds; provides for deposit of portion of said funds into Cancer Research & Treatment TF for certain uses by Florida Cancer Council; requires Governor & Cabinet approval for capital construction projects; authorizes council to award grants, etc. Amends 210.01,.20, 381.921; creates 212.202, 381.922-925. [HB 1233 and HB 1235 have been filed and not yet referred to committee.]

HEALTH CARE ADVANCE DIRECTIVES – HB 1345 (Homan):  Provides that any competent adult may make living will or written declaration that provides life-prolonging procedures in event such person has medically futile condition; revises medical conditions included in suggested form of living will; revises procedures re incompetent patient's right to forego treatment in absence of living will; provides that certain pregnant patients may not have life-sustaining treatment withdrawn or withheld, etc. Amends FS.  [HB 1345 has been filed and not yet referred to committee.]

EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE ACCESS ACT – HB 811 (Kreegel):  Revises application of act; provides construction; authorizes carriers to offer coverage to certain employees without being subject to act under certain circumstances; provides requirements. Amends 627.6699.  [HB 811 was referred to Insurance; Health Care General; Commerce Council.]