Governmental Relations

HB 703- Public Records and Public Meetings, by Representative Sam Garrison (R- Orange Park), was amended this past week. The two amendments to this House bill reduces the number of days personal information of final group must be released prior to in person interviews from 21 down to 14 days, and changes the effective date from July 1, 2022 to "upon becoming law". This bill is waiting to be heard at its second stop, the House Government Operations Subcommittee. The previously identical companion in the Senate, SB 520 by Senator Jeff Brandes (R- St. Petersburg), was also amended. However, the senate amendment only changed the effective date to "upon becoming law", maintaining the 21-day policy. This bill is waiting to be heard at its final stop, the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 7004- OGSR/Technology Systems/State University or a Florida College System Institution by the Senate Education Committee, saves from repeal the public records and public meetings exemption for certain information held by a state university or Florida College System institution related to information technology (IT) security or potential breaches of security, as well as IT security program risk assessments, evaluations, and audits held by the institution. The exemption from public records and public meetings requirements stands repealed on October 2, 2022, unless reviewed and reenacted by the Legislature. The bill was passed by the Senate in a vote of 35 yeas, 0 nays this past week. The identical bill in the House, HB 7019 by the House Government Operations Subcommittee is scheduled to be heard in the Post-Secondary Education & Lifelong Learning Subcommittee this tomorrow.

SB 7006- OGSR/Campus Emergency Response by the Senate Education Committee, saves from repeal the public records exemption relating to any portion of a campus emergency response held by a public postsecondary institution, a state or local law enforcement agency, a county or municipal emergency management agency, the Executive Office of the Governor, the Department of Education, the Board of Governors of the State University System, or the Division of Emergency Management, as well as that portion of a public meeting which would reveal information related to a campus emergency response. The exemption from public records and public meetings requirements stands repealed on October 2, 2022, unless reviewed and reenacted by the Legislature. The bill was passed by the Senate in a vote of 31 yeas, 4 nays this past week. There is no House companion at this time.

SB 722- Education for Student Inmates, by Senator Keith Perry (R- Gainesville), authorizes the Department of Corrections and each county, respectively to contract with Florida College Systems institutions to provide education services for student inmates. Currently the Department can only contract with a school district, the Florida Virtual School, or a charter school. The bill also authorizes the expenditure of state funds for the purpose of education state or deferral inmates with 24 months or less on their sentences. The bill is waiting to be heard in its first committee, Criminal Justice. The identical bill in the House, HB 1515 by Representative Chuck Clemons (R- Jonesville), is also waiting to be heard in its first committee, the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee.

HB 1557- Parental Rights in Education, by Representative Joe Harding (R- Ocala), specifies that school districts are required to adopt procedures for notifying parents, and are prohibited from maintaining procedures that withhold information relating to any change in their student’s services or monitoring related to a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. The bill specifies that a school district may only withhold information if there is a believe that disclosure would subject the child to abuse, abandonment, or neglect. In addition, the bill:

• Restricts discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity to only those that are age and developmentally appropriate while prohibiting school districts from encouraging discussions of these topics in primary grades, and
• Creates a cause of action for parents that permits them to enforce specified rights through declaratory and injunctive relief. A prevailing parent is entitled to attorney fees and court costs and may be awarded damages.

This bill is waiting to be heard in its second and final committee stop, the House Judiciary Committee. A similar bill in the Senate, SB 1834 by Representative Dennis Baxley (R- Lady Lake, FSU Alum), has been referred to the Education, Appropriations, and Rules Committees.

SB 1810- Retirement, by Representative Keith Perry (R- Gainesville), creates technical changes that include revising to the term "termination" for Florida Retirement System members and specifying that a termination must adhere to a specific Internal Revenue Service regulation. Mainly, the bill instructs the Division of Retirement of the Department of Management Services to adopt rules whereby a retiree may provide volunteer services to an employer while still being deemed terminated. This bill has been referred to the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, the Community Affairs Committee, and the Rules Committee. A similar bill in the House, HB 1551 by Representative Josie Tomkow (R- Auburndale), has been referred to the Government Operations Subcommittee, the Appropriations Committee, and the State Affairs Committee.