Governmental Relations

SB 1060 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Student Service Requirements, by Senator Travis Hutson (R – Palm Coast), provides that students may satisfy eligibility requirements for a Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, or a Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award, respectively, by performing 300 hours of paid work in lieu of volunteer work. The bill authorizes, instead of requiring, students to identify a specified interest or develop a plan for their service requirements under the program, etc. The bill has been referred to the Education, Commerce and Tourism and Rules Committees. A similar bill in the House, HB 461 by Representative Lauren Melo (R – Naples), is waiting to be heard by the Post-secondary Education and Lifelong Learning Subcommittee.

HB 769 – State University Student Fee Waivers by Representative Joy Goff-Marcil (D – Maitland, FSU Alum), requires a state university to waive certain fees for a graduate student who has at least a .25 FTE appointment or greater as a graduate assistant, graduate research assistant, graduate teaching assistant, graduate research associate, or graduate teaching associate. The bill is waiting to be heard by the Post-Secondary Education and Lifelong Learning Subcommittee. The identical bill in the Senate, SB 666 by Senator Janet Cruz (D – Tampa), has been referred to the Education Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and the Appropriations Committee.

HB 45 – Educational Opportunities for Disables Veterans by Representative Daisy Morales (D – Orlando), provides an education benefit to certain disabled veterans who qualify as residents to supplement what is provided from the GI bill for educational benefits to achieve a 100 percent award for tuition and fees. To qualify, the veteran must have been:

• Determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to have a service-connected 100- percent total and permanent disability rating for compensation;
• Determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent and have received disability retirement pay from a branch of the U.S. Armed Services; or
• Issued a valid identification card by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) that identifies the veteran as having a 100-percent, service-connected permanent and total disability rating for compensation, or who has a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent and receives disability retirement pay from a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The bill reported favorably by the Local Administration & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and is waiting to be heard by the Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee. The identical bill in the Senate, SB 554 by Senator Janet Cruz (D – Tampa), is scheduled to be heard by the Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee tomorrow.

SB 500 – Back-to-school Sales Tax Holiday by Senator Keith Perry (R – Gainesville), establishes a 10-day "back-to-school" sales tax holiday from Friday, July 29, 2022, to Sunday, August 7, 2022, for certain clothing, school supplies, personal computers, and personal computer-related accessories. The bill reported favorably by the Commerce and Tourism Committee and is waiting to be heard by the Finance and Tax Committee. The is no House companion at this time.

SB 520 – Public Records and Public Meetings, by Senator Jeff Brandes (R - St. Petersburg), provides an exemption from public records requirements for any personal identifying information of an applicant for president of a state university or a Florida College System institution held by a state university or a Florida College System institution. Additionally, the bill provides an exemption from public meeting requirements for any portion of a meeting held for the purpose of identifying or vetting applicants for president of a state university or a Florida College System institution, including any portion of a meeting which would disclose certain personal identifying information of such applicants. The bill is scheduled to be heard by the Education Committee tomorrow. The identical bill in the House, HB 703 by Representative Sam Garrison (R – Orange Park), is waiting to be heard by the Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee.