Report on 2005 Legislative Bills

SB 2 by Sen. King (HB 1163) -- Scholarship Accountability

This bill was heard on March 15 by the Senate Ed. Committee and passed with amendments.

This bill had several amendments regarding fingerprinting. The process would be:

All persons having direct contact with students would be required to have a Level 2 background screening and the prints be sent to the DOE, who will send them to FDLE. The results of screening will be reported to DOE and DOE will notify the private school of any person that fails to meet Level 2 screening standards pursuant to F.S. 435.04 or who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. Fees will be paid to DOE and will be $47 for the first year. The cost for a search of all arrest fingerprints will be done annually by FDLE and the eligible private school shall participate and pay to the DOE a $6 fee per employee for the cost. Every 5 years each owner and person having direct contact with students shall be re-screened at a cost of $23 per person.

The Auditor General’s authority is expanded to include in the operational audit of the DOE the McKay Scholarship Program. The bill directs the AG to review a sample of the warrants used to pay for the scholarship, as well as, site visits to the private schools participating in the Program in order to verify student enrollment and other information reported by the private schools as required by rules of the State Board of Education.

The bill also prohibits a student from receiving a scholarship that does not have regular and direct contact with his or her private school teachers at the school’s physical location.

Sen. Webster filed a number of amendments to conform to SB 2 to the HB 1163, which is the bill which FCIS is supporting. These were late filed and required a 2/3 vote. Sen. King asked that these amendments not be considered at this time because he wanted to be able to have some differences to be able to negotiate with the House. None of the Webster amendments were considered. The amendments can be taken up at a later time.

HB 1163 by Rep. Pickens (SB 2) Scholarship Accountability

This bill was passed out of the Education Council by a unanimous vote on March 15.

This bill was agreed upon by the Governor’s Office, House, DOE and private school representatives prior to it filing by Rep. Pickens.

HB 93 by Rep. Bilirakis (SB 584) –McKay Scholarship Program

HB 257 by Rep. Llorente (SB 2262) -- Steroid Testing for Athletes

Bill was amended to require instruction in physical education classes and by head coaches for team members on the dangers of steroids in order to qualify for membership in the FHSAA.

It also requires the FHSAA and the school districts to make recommendations for a pilot drug testing program for performance-enhancing drugs involving statewide random sample of the student athletes in a selected sport. 

HB 1021 by Rep. Traviesa (SB 2480) -- The Reading Compact Scholarship 

Is another scholarship program for children who have failed the reading portion of the FCAT for two out of three years. The provisions relating to private schools are similar to other scholarship programs. Goes next to Ed. Appropriations.

SB 2480 is on the Sen. Ed. Committee agenda on March 21.

HB 535 by Rep. Arza (SB 2478) -- Private School Bus Drivers

Now in Transportation

HB 199 by Rep. Richardson (SB 1844) -- School-entry Health and Vision Exam

This bill would require a certification of a school-entry comprehensive vision examination by an optometrist licensed pursuant to chapter 463 or an ophthalmologist licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459.

Now in Health Care General Committee

HB 149 by Rep. Patterson (SB 1043) Extracurricular Activities

This bill removes the word “interscholastic”, thus expanding the 2.0 GPA requirement to all extracurricular activities.

HB 439 by Rep. Attkisson (SB 876) K-12 GI Bill

This bill would provide scholarships to children of military families. It passed out of the House Choice and Innovation Committee and has not been heard in Sen. Ed. Yet.

SB 352 by Sen. Lynn (appears to have no House companion) Zaniyah Hinson Act

This bill revises the religious exemption in F.S. 402.316. It is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.

SB 246 by Sen. Lynn (HB 1027) -- Child Safety

This bill requires a photo ID for the release of children from public and private schools or certain child care facilities.

Other bills being watched but not moving are:

HB 1111 - Immunization Exemptions by Goldstein

SB 2328 - Private Schools

HB 1115/ SB 1506 – Mandatory School Attendance