January 18, 2022
Volume 29, Number 2

Last week brought the kickoff of the 2022 Legislative Session and all of the pomp and circumstance that accompanies the opening ceremonies in the Florida House and Senate. Adding some Seminole flair to the opening gavel in the House of Representatives was FSU Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone, Dr. David Detweiler, who performed the National Anthem at the invitation of the Speaker of the House, Chris Sprowls.

Click here to watch a portion of Dr. Detweiler’s performance

Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls and President of the Senate Wilton Simpson further articulated their visions for what they would like to accomplish in their opening day remarks to their respective chambers and Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature.

Click here to watch Governor DeSantis deliver the State of the State Address

This week brings more work of the committees and subcommittees as bills work their way through the legislative process. Below you will find updates on some of the bills that we are tracking related to the work of the university.

I wish you all the best and am grateful for your interest in keeping FSU and the state university system in Florida the best in the country as we continue to educate the next generation of elite students.

Go ‘Noles!’

Clay Ingram

Happening this Week

Senate Education Committee- Today, the committee will hear a presentation on the State University System’s MyFloridaFuture Tool, a dashboard required by workforce legislation passed last Session in HB 1507. MyFloridaFuture will be a free, online college and career planning tool that will provide students, parents, and policymakers with a wealth of information to make better-informed decisions about educational options and future employment opportunities.

House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee- This afternoon, the committee will hold a panel discussion on nursing with the Department of Education’s Division of Career, Technical and Adult Education, the Division of Florida Colleges, and the State University System’s Board of Governors. Dr. Christy England will represent the System, and Chancellor Marshall Criser will attend for questions.

Spotlight on Bills

HB 7- Individual Freedom, by Speaker Pro Tempore Bryan Avila (R- Miami Springs)

HB 7- Individual Freedom, by Speaker Pro Tempore Bryan Avila (R- Miami Springs), prohibits subjecting employees or K-12 students to instruction or curriculum that contradicts the following principles:

  • No individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, solely by virtue of their race or sex,
  • No race is inherently superior to another race, and
  • No individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability or sex.

This does not prohibit discussion of these concepts as part of a course of training or instruction, as long as the instruction is given in an objective manner without endorsement.

This bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, the State Affairs Committee, and the Education & Employment Committee. A similar bill in the Senate, SB 148 by Senator Manny Diaz (R – Hialeah Gardens), is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee today.

HB 573- Educator Certification Pathways for Veterans by Representative John Snyder (R- Palm City)

HB 573- Educator Certification Pathways for Veterans by Representative John Snyder (R- Palm City), creates an additional pathway to educator certification for military service members. The bill specifies that a military service member may receive a temporary educator certificate if he or she meets the following requirements, in place of holding a bachelor’s degree:

  • Document 48 months of active-duty military service with an honorable discharge or a medical separation; and
  • Completed 60 college credits with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as provided by an eligible institution of higher learning.

The bill provides that this temporary certificate acquired as specified above is valid for a period of 5 years and is nonrenewable.

This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee tomorrow. The identical bill in the Senate, SB 896 by Senator Danny Burgess (R- Zephyrhills), reported favorably by the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Education Committee.