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

LegisLetter

Volume 6, Number 2

March 10, 1997


FLORIDA SESSION COVERED ON-LINE

Week one of the 1997 Legislative Session is over and amid the opening day ceremonies and flowers, a few meaningful bills actually passed the House and Senate. Republican leaders in both chambers vowed to change the usual hurried, end -of-the-session bill-passing free-for-all.

The House passed a comprehensive election reform bill, with much interesting debate. With the new rules in the House, a bill can now come to the floor "closed" to amendments. The election re form bill was closed, and the Democrats loudly protested this practice. In the end, the bill passed with only 2 negative votes. Meanwhile, the Senate passed bills that toughen graduation standards and waive college entrance exams if students complete certain courses in high school. (See Spotlight on Bills.)

The Governor gave his State of the State speech on Tuesday, focusing primarily on children's health care, day care and education. He urged the lawmakers to recommend a 2.5 percent gross receipts tax on water, sewer, garbage and cable television, to be used for new school construction. He also proposed a 10-cent cigarette tax increase.

The Education budget committees met last week. Representative Bill Sublette, Chairman of the House Education Fiscal Committee, said the House would like to pass a budget by the fifth week of session. He also said he expects to have the first run of the budget out by the end of this month.The week ended with some mild excitement when Miami Dolphin Quarterback Dan Marino testified be fore the Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education on Thursday. Mr. Marino urged leg islators to find funding for children with autism; Marino's 8-year-old son is autistic.

Please feel free to contact me with any concerns, questions or copies of bills and their analysis, at 644-4435 or by e-mail kdaly@govrel.fsu.edu.

Kathleen Daly

The LegisLetter is a brief, weekly means for keeping up with the goings-on at the Capitol during the legislative session. But some people like their information "hot." Below is a listing of legislative information alternatives:

TELEVISION COVERAGE

Unedited "gavel-to-gavel" coverage of the 1997 Legislative Session began on Tuesday. FSU's channel 47 has been designated the "Florida Channel" giving citizens of Tallahassee greater access to Florida government. Live and

taped coverage of the daily sessions and meetings are televised from about 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

ON-LINE SUNSHINE

A variety of legislative information including bill text, bill history, Florida Statutes, lobbyist information, House and Senate calendars, and

member information is now available, free of charge, to anyone with access to the Internet. To access this computer bulletin board, dial 488-1945 between 7 am and 11 pm. Menus and instructions will guide you through.

WORLD WIDE WEB

The Florida Legislature's home page, On-Line Shine , is also available through the Internet. All of the information available on the bulletin board mentioned above - calendars, Florida Statutes, bill text, bill history, etc. - is now accessible via http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ using a browser such as Lynx, Netscape or Mosaic.

SESSION SCHEDULE

March 10-14, 1997

HOUSE

Thursday, March 13
8:30am-11:00am

SENATE

Wednesday, March 12
9:30am-12:00pm

Thursday, March 13
2:00pm-4:00pm

SPOTLIGHT ON BILLS

Senator George Kirkpatrick's bill, Committee Substitute/Senate Bill 460 , creates the College-Ready Diploma Program which allows students to enter a state university or community college without taking remedial courses if they pass the test and receive a "college-ready diploma." The bill is meant to help stu dents know ahead of time if they are ready for college. CS/SB 460 passed on the Senate Floor and is in messages to the House.

Senate Bill 690, by Senator Fred Dudley, creates the Florida Education Technology Foundation. The bill will provide funding to schools, community colleges and universities for computers, computer education training, and scholarships in business related fields. The FETF will be funded with the inter est from Florida Trust investments. Committee Substitute/House Bill 129, by Representative Greg Gay is similar to SB 690. SB 690 has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.

The Senate Committee on Education and Senator Katherine Harris is spon soring Committee Substitute/Senate Bill 458 which raises the gradua tion standards. The bill will require all future high school graduates to have a 2.0 or "C" grade-point average. It also requires high school graduates to take algebra or an equivalent course. CS/SB 458 passed on the Senate Floor and is in messages to the House.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I've been in this process nine years; I think I'm a pretty effective legislator, but I'm not a very good potted plant, Mr. Speaker."

Florida State Alumnus and State Representative Steve Geller, D-Hallandale, explaining why he could not sit idly while Republicans did the campaign reform bill their way.

Source: Tallahassee Democrat, March 7, 1997