LegisLetter

G O V E R N M E N T A L R E L A T I O N S

Volume 5

April 8, 1996

Last Wednesday marked the mid-way point of the 1996 Legislative Session, although rumor has it we will extend by at least a week because of the budget (of course), tobacco and other exciting issues.

The budget continues to dominate the discussions at the Capitol. On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education passed their plan, with few dissenters (see related story). The Senate released a plan, based on a point system (I am not sure what it means either), and they plan to pass a budget out of the Education Sub on Monday, April 8.

The House has completed their committee work, with a few exceptions, and will spend more time this week in session. The substantive committees in the Senate will continue to meet this week.

Last week was a short week, due to the holidays, but the week of April 8th is sure to be a busy one.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact me at 644-4453 or by e-mail, kdaly@govrel.fsu.edu.

Kathleen Daly

Session Schedule

April 8-12, 1996

House

Tuesday, April 9 1:30pm-4:30pm

Wednesday, April 10 1:30pm-4:30pm

Thursday, April 11 2:30pm-4:30pm

Friday, April 12 9:00am-12:00pm

Senate

Wednesday, April 10 9:00am-11:00am

Number 6

BUDGET UPDATE

House

On Tuesday, April 2, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education passed a budget that, at this point, is very favorable to the State University System. Enhanced funding for the SUS totals $86.9 million over the Governor's Recommended $110 million. Two members of the committee voted against the bill, because of the way K-12 was funded. The next stop is the full Appro priations Committee.

Senate

The Senate on Tuesday released their "Performance Incentive Funding" plan for the SUS. The plan is intended to ready us for performance based budget ing. The allocation of this year's performance incentive lump sum would be based upon each individual university's performance during the academic year (Summer and Fall '95 and Spring of '96 terms). The categories of performance to be funded include instruction, research and excess hours. If anyone would like more details about this new plan, please call my office at 644-4453. Additionally, the Senate recommended a $20 million funding enhancement over the Governor's $110 million allocation for the SUS. The Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education will meet again on Monday, April 8 to con tinue their discussions and complete their budget.

Spotlight on Bills

Committee Substitute/House Bill 107 creates the Lottery Revenue Accountability Act of 1996. The bill, sponsored by Representative John Rayson, will require the Department of Lottery to publish an annual report which provides, county by county, the expenditure of lottery funds by each school district, each community college, and each university. It also creates a seven-member study commission with the following duties:

-Benefits and disadvantages of the lottery

-How to maximize profitability of lottery

-Negative effect of lottery on pari-mutuel industry

Committee Substitute/House Bill 107 in now in the House Finance and Taxation Committee.

There are several bills moving through the House this legislative session that address lottery funding for postsecondary education.

The following bills have passed out of the House Higher Education Committees and have moved on to House Appropriations:

House Bill 2405 sponsored by Representative Dean Saunders revises provisions relating to the funding of education from lottery revenues and teaching profession enhancement grants. The bill also creates the Florida Postsecondary Tuition Program and provides eligibility, types of assistance, application process, and funding. The bill, which is Florida's version of Georgia's popular Hope Scholarship, would provide Florida high school graduates with a full-tuition scholarship to a state university or community college, plus a book allowance, with the conditions that they have at least a B average in college prep courses and a yet to be determined score on a college admissions test. Representative Saunders' proposal would not affect lottery money going to state universities and community colleges. There is an identical bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 2510 sponsored by Senator Jack Latvala.

Florida State University Alumni Representative Steven Geller is also sponsoring a bill which is similar to Georgia's Hope Scholarship, House Bill 1859, which requires a portion of lottery revenues to be used to award scholarship grants to eligible students under the Lottery Scholarship Grant Program established in the act. Representative Geller's bill will provide scholarships to Florida high school graduates with a solid grade point average of a C and no juvenile crime record. It would pay full community college tuition and 60 percent of state university tuition. The bill is focus ing on deterring juvenile crime with a promise of an eventual scholarship. There is a comparable bill in the Senate sponsored by FSU Alumni Senator Ken Jenne, Senate Bill 1806.

Lottery Expenditures for State Universities :

Actual Budget 1995/96 $124,400,000

% of Total Lottery Funds 15.01%

Governor's Recommended 1996/97 $70,658,956

% of Total Lottery Funds 8.49%