Governmental Relations

HB 3 – Law Enforcement Officer, Benefits, Recruitment and Training by Representative Tom Leek (R – Daytona Beach), provides law enforcement agencies with additional tools to bolster the recruitment and retention of qualified officers by providing financial incentives, enhanced training, expanded educational opportunities, and recognition that honors law enforcement officers’ service to the state of Florida. The bill:

• Creates the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program to provide one-time bonus payments of up to $5,000 to newly employed law enforcement officers in Florida;
• Creates the Florida Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship Program to cover tuition, fees, and up to $1,000 of eligible education expenses for trainees enrolled in a law enforcement officer basic recruit training program;
• Creates a reimbursement program to pay for up to $1,000 of equivalency training costs for certified law enforcement officers who relocate to Florida or members of the special operations forces who become full-time law enforcement officers;
• Provides law enforcement officers who adopt a child from within the state child welfare system with a $25,000 benefit for adopting a child with special needs or a $10,000 benefit for adopting a child without special needs;
• Makes dependent children of law enforcement officers eligible to receive a Family Empowerment Scholarship to attend a private school;
• Increases the base salary for each county sheriff by $5,000;
• Exempts veterans and applicants with an associate degree or higher from taking the basic skills test as a prerequisite to entering a law enforcement officer basic recruit training program;
• Requires that law enforcement officers receive training in health and wellness principles as part of their initial certification training and continued employment training;
• Allows law enforcement officers or former law enforcement officers to receive postsecondary credit at Florida public postsecondary educational institutions for training and experience acquired while serving;
• Encourages each district school board to establish public safety telecommunication training programs and law enforcement explorer programs in public schools; and
• Designates May 1 of each year as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.”

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 7 – Individual Freedom by Representative Bryan Avila (R – Hialeah), includes provisions designed to protect individual freedoms and prevent discrimination in the workplace and in public schools.

The bill specifies that subjecting any individual, as a condition of employment, membership, certification, licensing, credentialing, or passing an examination, to training, instruction, or any other required activity that espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual to believe certain specified divisive concepts constitutes unlawful discrimination.

The bill defines individual freedoms based on the fundamental truth that all individuals are equal before the law and have inalienable rights. Accordingly, the bill requires that instruction, instructional materials, and professional development in public schools be consistent with principles of individual freedom.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 45- Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans, by Representative Christopher Benjamin (D- Miami Gardens), provides an education benefit to certain veterans who are residents and enrolled in a program of education approved by the federal educational assistance program. The bill would add a state award to what is provided in federal law 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 to have a serviceconnected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent 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 United States Armed Services; or
• Issued a valid identification card by the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs which identifies the veteran as either 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 United States Armed Forces.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a disabled veteran who receives a tuition benefit to attend a state university, a Florida College System institution, a career center operated by a school district, or a charter technical career center under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, but who does not qualify for the 100 percent eligibility tier federally, is eligible for tuition and fees. The monetary award is equal to the difference between the portion of tuition and fees authorized under federal law and the full amount of tuition and fees charged by the institution attended. The bill specifies that the amount awarded by the state is not to be determined until after federal benefits are applied.

This bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 173- Care of Students with Epilepsy or Seizure Disorders, by Representative Nicholas Duran (D-Miami), specifies responsibilities for public schools to provide for the care of students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. The bill requires a school to implement an individualized seizure action plan (ISAP) once a parent submits an ISAP to the school principal and school nurse to inform school personnel of the unique health care services required by the student and how to respond in emergency situations.

The bill requires that the ISAP:

• Include specified information, such as recommended care, accommodations, symptoms, prescribed rescue medication, and contact information for medical assistance;
• Be developed by a medical professional in consultation with a parent and signed by both individuals;
• Be submitted by a parent to the school principal and school nurse or other appropriate school employee; and
• Remain in effect until the parent submits a revised ISAP.

The bill requires a school to provide employees whose duties include regular contact with a student with an ISAP with notice of the student’s condition, information on providing care for the student if he or she shows symptoms of the epilepsy or seizure disorder, and parental and emergency contact information.

The bill requires a school nurse or an appropriate school employee to:

• Coordinate the provision of epilepsy and seizure disorder care, including administering medication, as outlined in a student’s ISAP; and
• Verify that school employees whose duties include regular contact with a student with an ISAP have completed training in the recognition of symptoms and care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders.

The bill requires the Department of Education to identify on its website one or more free online training courses in the care of students with epilepsy or seizure disorders provided by a nonprofit national organization.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 235- Restraint of Students with Disabilities in Public Schools by Representative Rene Plasencia (R-Orlando), prohibits the use of mechanical restraint on students with disabilities by school personnel except for school resource officers, school safety officers, school guardians, or school security guards, who may use mechanical restraint in the exercise of their duties to restrain students in grades 6 through 12.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

SB 236- Children with Developmental Delays by Senator Shevrin Jones (D- Miami Gardens), modifies the definition of a developmental delay by extending the upper age limit for the identification of a student as having a developmental delay from age 5 to age 9, the maximum age authorized by federal law, or through the completion of grade 2, whichever comes first.

Under the bill, a student with a developmental delay up to age 9 or grade 2 may be included in the definition of an “exceptional student” and eligible for admission to public special education programs. Accordingly, the bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules for the identification of developmental delays in students up to age 9 or grade 2, whichever comes first, who are eligible for admission to public special education programs and for related services.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

SM 302- Recognizing Veteran Suicide by Senator Danny Burgess (R- Zephyrhills), urges the Congress of the United States to recognize the epidemic of suicide among veterans and to fully fund suicide prevention activities of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Both state and national statistics show a greater than 40 percent higher rate of suicide among veterans compared to the general population.

The memorial requires copies to be dispatched to the President of the United States, the President of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and to each member of the Florida delegation of the U.S. Congress.

SB 312- Telehealth by Senator Manny Diaz (R- Hialeah), amends s. 456.47, F.S., to provide that a telehealth provider may not use telehealth to prescribe a controlled substance listed in Schedule II of s. 893.03, F.S., unless the Schedule II controlled substance is prescribed for the following:

• The treatment of a psychiatric disorder;
• Inpatient treatment at a hospital licensed under ch. 395, F.S.;
• The treatment of a patient receiving hospice services as defined in s. 400.601, F.S.; or
• The treatment of a resident of a nursing home facility as defined in s. 400.021, F.S.

In practice, the bill allows a telehealth provider to issue a renewal prescription for a controlled substance listed in Schedule III, IV, or V of s. 893.03, F.S., through telehealth, within the scope of his or her practice and in accordance with other state and federal laws. Under preexisting law, Florida’s telehealth providers were prohibited from prescribing any controlled substances through telehealth unless the prescription met one of the exceptions listed above. The bill narrows this prohibition to the prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances through telehealth, except under those specific circumstances.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

SB 430 – Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children by Senator Tom Wright (R – Port Orange), reenacts provisions of law establishing and implementing the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Compact) and provides for future legislative review and repeal of the Compact on July 1, 2025. The state is a member of the Compact, and therefore has an established State Council. Participation in the Compact enables member states to address educational transition issues faced by military families as they transfer from a state or school district pursuant to official military orders. The bill also provides for the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives each to select a member of the State Council, increasing the membership from seven to eight members.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.

HB 461—Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Student Service Requirements by Representative Lauren Melo (R – Naples), provides that beginning with high school students graduating in the 2022-2023 academic year, the bill authorizes a student to meet the volunteer service requirements prescribed under each award in the Bright Futures Program through paid work. The bill does not adjust the number of hours required for each award, but rather provides a student with the option to meet the requirement through volunteer service or paid work.

The bill requires a student meeting an award requirement through paid work to have approval from the district school board, the administrators of a nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for a home education program student.

The bill requires a student to evaluate and reflect upon his or her volunteer service or paid work experience through papers or other presentations and makes it optional for a student to identify a social or civic issue or a professional area of interest and develop a plan for personal involvement. The bill is effective upon becoming law.

SB 514 – Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Educational Requirements by Senator Danny Burgess (R – Zephyrhills), allows governmental agencies, during the employee hiring process, to substitute equivalent work experience as an alternative to a postsecondary education, if the applicant is otherwise qualified for the position. The bill specifies that work experience may not be substituted for any required licensure, certification, or registration as established by the employing agency and indicated on the position description. The bill defines employing agencies to include any agency or unit of government of the state or any county, municipality, or political subdivision. The bill requires employing agencies who opt to substitute work experience for postsecondary education, to include a notice in the advertisements for such position that substitution is authorized and a description of what education and work equivalencies apply.

The bill is effective July 1, 2022.

SB 520- Public Records and Public Meetings, by Senator Jeff Brandes (R- St. Petersburg), makes confidential and exempt from public disclosure requirements of any personal identifying information of an applicant of an applicant for the position of president of a state university of Florida College System institution (FCS) institution.

The bill provides that the personal identifying information of an applicant included in a final group of applicants for president is no longer confidential and exempt from public records requirements beginning at the earlier of the date the final group of applicants to be considered for president is established or at least 21 days before either an interview of an applicant or final action on the offer of employment. At this time, the bill also requires that the age, race, and gender of all applicants who met the minimum qualifications established for the position must also be released to the public.

These provisions became law upon approval by the Governor on March 15, 2022.

SB 706- School Concurrency by Senator Keith Perry (R- Gainesville), provides that school concurrency is deemed satisfied when the developer tenders a written legally binding commitment, rather than actually executes such commitment, to provide mitigation proportionate to the demand created by the development. A district school board must notify the local government that capacity is available for the development within 30 days after receipt of the developer's commitment.

The bill also provides that such mitigation paid by a developer, rather than being immediately directed toward a school capacity improvement, may be set aside and not spent until an appropriate improvement is identified.

These provisions became law upon approval by the Governor on March 18, 2022.

SB 758- Education by Senator Manny Diaz (R- Hialeah), modifies and establishes provisions relating to charter school authorization, facilities, sponsor oversight, and distribution of funds. The bill also expands the current authorization for district school board members or charter school governing board members to visit schools under their jurisdiction to specify that any member of the Legislature may visit any public school in his or her legislative district.

Charter School Authorization

The bill creates the Charter School Review Commission (CSRC), subject to an appropriation, and requires the State Board of Education to appoint the membership, confirmed by the Senate. Additionally, the CSRC:

• Is provided the same powers as a sponsor in regard to reviewing and approving charter schools.
• Must consider in its review input from the district school board of the school district where the proposed charter school will be located, which must serve as the sponsor and supervisor of an approved charter school.
• Decisions may be appealed to the State Board of Education.

The bill creates, subject to appropriation, the Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation (institute) at Miami Dade College (MDC). The purpose of the institute is to improve charter school authorization in this state. Duties include analyzing charter school applications and identifying best practices, providing technical assistance to sponsors, conducting research and workshops, and collaborating with the Department of Education in developing a sponsor evaluation framework.

Charter School Facilities

The bill provides that an interlocal agreement or ordinance that imposes a greater regulatory burden on charter schools than school districts is void and unenforceable. A charter school may use an interlocal agreement, including provisions relating to the extension of infrastructure, entered into by a school district for the development of district schools.

The bill provides that any entity that contributes toward the construction of charter school facilities created to mitigate the educational impact of residential development must receive credit toward any educational impact fees or exactions to the extent that the entity has not received credit under school concurrency requirements for such contribution.

The bill specifies that any facility or land owned by a public postsecondary institution or facility used as a school or childcare facility may be used as a charter school without obtaining a special exemption from existing zoning and land use designations.

The bill directs the Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability to complete, by January 1, 2023, an analysis of the distribution of capital outlay and federal funds to charter schools.

Sponsor Oversight

The bill provides that a charter school that receives a school grade lower than a “B” in the most recent graded school year, and has met the terms of its program review with no grounds for nonrenewal being expressly found, must be granted no less than a 5-year charter renewal, subject to specified school grade provisions. The bill requires a 15-year charter renewal for a charter school that has received a school grade of “A” or “B” in the most recent graded school year and meets other specified conditions.

The bill specifies that a charter school must be under a deteriorating financial condition or financial emergency in order for a sponsor to not renew or terminate a charter for fiscal mismanagement. The bill also removes “other good cause shown” as a grounds for the termination or nonrenewal of a charter school.

Distribution of Funds

The bill modifies the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation in the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) to require that if a school district has not received its allocation due to its failure to submit an approved district salary distribution plan, each charter school within its district that has submitted a salary distribution plan must be provided its proportionate share of the allocation. The bill also prohibits a sponsor from withholding any administrative fee against a charter school for funds specifically allocated by the Legislature for teacher compensation.

The bill takes effect on July 1, 2022.

HB 817- Emergency Medical Care and Treatment of Minors by Representative Ralph Massullo (R- Beverly Hills), broadens an exception to the general rule that medical treatment cannot be rendered without a patient’s consent. Under current law, parental consent is required for a physician to provide emergency medical care to a minor unless the care is rendered in a hospital or college health service.

The bill deletes restrictions on location, thereby allowing physicians to provide emergency medical care or treatment to a minor at any location without the consent of the minor’s parent under specified conditions when parental consent cannot be immediately obtained.

The bill continues the requirements of current law that the need for care be the result of a genuine emergency and that appropriate medical personnel first attempt to identify and contact the minor’s parents, guardian, or legal custodian to obtain consent before providing emergency care of treatment. The bill does not disturb the longstanding principle that children do not have the legal capacity to consent to treatment.

The bill takes effect on July 1, 2022.

SB 896 – Educator Certification Pathways for Veterans by Senator Danny Burgess (R – Zephyrhills), creates an additional pathway for veterans to qualify for educator certification. The bill removes the requirement that an applicant for a temporary educator certificate hold a baccalaureate degree if the applicant has completed:

• At least 48 months of active-duty military service with an honorable discharge or medical separation; and
• At least 60 college credits with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as provided by one or more accredited institutions of higher learning or a nonaccredited institution of higher learning that the Department of Education has identified as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The exception in the bill authorizing a temporary certificate for less than a baccalaureate degree applies only to subject area specializations requiring only a bachelor’s degree. The bill provides that a temporary certificate issued under this pathway is valid for five school fiscal years and is nonrenewable.

The bill also removes the requirement for an honorably discharged veteran to have served on active duty to qualify for the waiver of initial general knowledge, professional education, and subject area examination fees and certification fees.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 899- Mental Health of Students, by Representative Christine Hunschofsky (D- Coconut Creek), revises requirements for a school district’s annual mental health assistance allocation plan to include policies and procedures that require the provision of information on available mental health services and resources for students and their families. Additionally, the plan’s policies and procedures must require school districts to provide any individual living in the same household as a student receiving services with information about available behavioral health services when receipt of such services could benefit the well-being of the student.

The bill specifies that charter schools must comply with involuntary examination data reporting requirements established by the Legislature in 2021 for traditional public schools and requires the Department of Education to share school-related involuntary examination data with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) by July 1 each year. The bill requires that the DCF use this data in its biennial analysis of involuntary examinations of minors in Florida.

The bill requires school districts to identify a mental health coordinator that will serve as the primary point of contact regarding the district’s student mental health policies, procedures, responsibilities, and reporting.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

SB 1048 – Student Assessments for Senator Manny Diaz (R – Hialeah Gardens), substantially modifies Florida’s statewide standardized assessment program to include a computer-based coordinated screening and progress monitoring tool in English Language Arts and mathematics. The bill specifies that progress monitoring results must provide teachers and parents with actionable feedback to tailor instruction and develop programs and supports, and the end-of-year assessment must be used for all existing accountability purposes specified in law. The bill provides for a one-year transition period to the new statewide standardized assessments, which will hold students and schools harmless during the transition. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to provide recommendations on additional ways to streamline testing.

The bill enumerates a list of rights that a parent possesses in order to be notified of his or her student’s educational progress. The bill further specifies the requirements of school districts in notifying parents of their student’s academic progress.

The bill is effective July 1, 2022.

SB 1054 – Financial Literacy Instruction in Public Schools by Senator Travis Hutson (R – Palm Coast), requires that, beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2022-2023 school year, students must earn one-half credit in personal financial literacy and money management in order to receive a standard high school diploma.

The bill establishes financial literacy standards within the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards beginning in the 2022-2023 school year and thereafter. Financial literacy standards must, at a minimum, establish personal financial literacy and money management.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 1421 – School Safety by Representative Fred Hawkins (R – St. Cloud), revises the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act” to address school safety and security and establish the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission (MSD Commission). The bill improves transparency around school safety and security and addresses student mental health by:

• Requiring district school boards and charter school governing boards to adopt a plan that guides family reunification when K-12 public schools are closed or unexpectedly evacuated due to natural or manmade disasters.
• Requiring that the State Board of Education adopt rules setting requirements for emergency drills including timing, frequency, participation, training, notification, and accommodations.
• Requiring that law enforcement responsible for responding to schools in the event of an assailant emergency be physically present and participate in active assailant drills.
• Requiring that school safety and environmental incident reporting data be published annually in a uniform, statewide format that is easy to read and understand.
• Requiring safe-school officers that are sworn law enforcement officers to complete mental health crisis intervention training.
• Requiring safe-school officers that are not sworn law enforcement officers to receive training on incident response and de-escalation.
• Requiring that school district and local mobile response teams use the same suicide screening tool approved by the Department of Education.
• Requiring that school districts annually certify, beginning with July 1, 2023, that at least 80 percent of school personnel received the mandatory youth mental health awareness training.
• Requiring the Office of Safe Schools to provide school districts information on the proper use of the School Safety Awareness Program, including the consequences of knowingly submitting false information.

The bill provides that the MSD Commission shall continue until July 1, 2026, for the purpose of monitoring implementation of school safety legislation.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Education to oversee and enforce school safety and security compliance in the state.

If approved by the Governor, except as otherwise provided, the bill has an effective date of July 1, 2022.

HB 1467 – K-12 Education by Representative Sam Garrison (R – Orange Park), establishes 12-year term limits for district school board members. The bill also provides specific requirements for school districts in selecting instructional materials and materials used in school libraries and media centers. Specifically, the bill requires:

• Certain school district instructional material review committee meetings be noticed and open to the public.
• School district personnel who are involved in reviewing and selecting certain instructional materials and library materials to complete training developed by the Department of Education (DOE) on selecting quality, age-appropriate books, prior to making selections.
• School districts to adopt and post procedures for developing library media center collections.
• Each elementary school to post on its website a list of all materials maintained in the school library or required in a classroom booklist.
• Material in a school library or school- or grade-level reading list to be selected by a certified educational media specialist.
• School districts to provide access to all materials for public inspection and to publish in a searchable format a list of all materials available to students on the school website.
• School districts to provide a public review process for the adoption of all materials and to select, approve, adopt, or purchase materials as a separate line item on a board meeting agenda and provide reasonable opportunity for public comment.
• School districts to annually submit to the Commissioner of Education a report identifying materials for which the school district received an objection, and the DOE to publish a list of removed or discontinued materials as a result of an objection.
• School principals to oversee compliance with school library media center materials selection procedures at the school to which they are assigned.
• Superintendents to identify, in their annual certification to the Commissioner of Education for the release of funds for instructional materials, any material that received an objection and the grade-level and course for which a removed or discontinued material was used.

The bill is effective July 1, 2022.

HB 1557- Parental Rights in Education, by Representative Joe Harding (R- Ocala), requires that school districts adopt procedures for notifying parents if there is a change in their student’s services or monitoring related to a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. All procedures adopted under the bill must reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children by requiring school district personnel to encourage students to discuss issues related to his or her well-being with his or her parent.

In addition, the bill prohibits school districts from maintaining procedures that withhold information, or encourage students to withhold information, related to a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being from parents. A school district may only withhold information if a prudent person would reasonably believe that disclosure would subject the student to abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

The bill also prohibits instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.

Finally, the bill creates a cause of action for parents that permits them to enforce their rights through declaratory and injunctive relief. A prevailing parent is entitled to attorney fees and court costs and may be awarded damages.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 1563- Homestead Property Tax Exceptions for Classroom Teachers, Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Child Welfare Professionals, and Servicemembers by Representative Josie Tomkow (R-Auburndale), is linked to CS/CS/HJR 1, which proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to authorize the Legislature to provide a new homestead tax exemption for classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare professionals, and active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, or members of the Florida National Guard.

The bill provides that any of the defined people who hold legal or beneficial title in equity to real property in this state and makes such property their or their dependent’s permanent residence is entitled to an exemption of up to $50,000 on the property’s value between $100,000 and $150,000, for all levies other than school district levies.

The bill directs the Legislature to appropriate money to fiscally constrained counties to offset reductions in ad valorem tax revenue resulting from the homestead exemption. Distributions to fiscally constrained counties will be made beginning in Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

If approved by the electors in the next general election in November 2022, the proposed amendment (CS/CS/HJR 1) and CS/CS/HB 1563 will take effect on January 1, 2023.

SB 1712- Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program by Senator Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills), requires the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (department) to establish and oversee the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program (program). The purpose of the program is to provide veteran suicide prevention training and certification to agency claims examiners and county and city veteran service officers. To provide training curriculum, the department will contract with an organization established in developing and implementing veteran-relevant and evidence-based suicide prevention training.

Training topics include identifying indicators of elevated suicide risk and providing emergency crisis referrals for veterans in emotional or psychological distress.

The bill requires the department to adopt rules, and submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by June 30 of each year. The report will provide information on the pilot program and recommend whether changes should be made to increase effectiveness. In the report to be submitted by June 30, 2026, the department will recommend whether the pilot program should be continued.

A non-recurring appropriation of $500,000 is provided in the bill.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

SB 2524- Education, by the Senate Appropriations Committee, makes a number of changes to current law relating to Education, including establishing a number of provisions to improve early literacy attainment in public schools, and increasing the cap on students with unique abilities that are eligible for a Family Empowerment Scholarship in the 2022-2023 school year.

As it relates to higher education, the bill:

• Establishes the Student Open Access Resources (SOAR) Repository, a statewide, searchable database of open education resources. Additional, the section establishes the SOAR Grant Program providing funding support to FCS and SUS institutions for the development and curation of open education resources and for the migration of existing content to the SOAR Repository;
• Establishes the Inclusive Transition and Employment Management Program that provides services to young adults with disabilities who are between the ages of 16 and 28 years old with transitional skills, education, and on-the-job experience to allow them to gain and retain employment.
• Increases the number of waiver-eligible categories in the Programs of Strategic Emphasis BOGO program from eight to 10, to include critical workforce gap category.
• Amends the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program to revise the reporting and reimbursement deadlines for the program.
• Requires each institution who is eligible to receive funds under the Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program (EASE) to post prominently on its website, by October 1 of each year, its performance on the metrics specified in law.
• Creates the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund to provide matching funds for partnerships between nursing programs and healthcare providers.
• Creates the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) to reward school districts and FCS and SUS institutions that meet performance metrics.
• Revises the goals of the Florida Center for Nursing, to include a statistically valid biennial data-driven gap analysis of the healthcare workforce. The gap analysis must maintain a database on nursing supply and demand in the state and how supply and demand impact the state’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Clarifies the university’s Board of Trustees authority to establish fees, without BOG approval, for a university educational research center for child development.
• Establishes the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida, who’s purpose will be to support teaching and research concerning the ideas, traditions, and texts that form the foundation of western and American civilization. Provides that the Center may coordinate with additional centers, including the FSU Institute of Politics, to provide programming and training to support the K-20 system.
• Amends the State University Performance Based Funding model, to include a 3-year graduation rate for transfer students, rather than a 2-year graduation rate, and adds a new criterion to specify that any institution that has been found to be in violation of the anti-discrimination principles of individual freedom specified in s. 1000.05 (4)(a), F.S., (contingent upon CS/HB 7 becoming law) is ineligible to receive performance funding the next fiscal year.
• Increases the number of beds from 300 to 340 that be constructed for dormitories at a Florida College System (FCS) institution.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 5009- State Group Insurance Program by Representative Cyndi Stevenson (R- Saint Augustine), conforms to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The GAA contains $2.5 million and 3.00 positions related to the creation of an anti-fraud unit within the Division of State Group Insurance.

The State Group Insurance Program (SGI Program) is created by s. 110.123, F.S., and is administered by the Division of State Group Insurance (DSGI) within the Department of Management Services (DMS). The SGI Program is an optional benefit for most state employees employed by executive branch agencies, state universities, the court system, and the Legislature and includes health, life, dental, vision, disability, and other supplemental insurance benefits. The SGI Program typically makes benefits changes on a plan year basis, January 1 through December 31.

In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the SGI Program will serve nearly 170,000 enrolled employees at the cost of $2.9 billion. The Revenue Estimating Conference forecasts the SGI Program will serve approximately the same number of employees at a cost of $3.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

The bill amends statutes to make the following changes:

• Provides that eligible former employees of state government may reenroll in the SGI Program within 24 months of separation from employment which occurred on or after July 1, 2022. All eligible former employees must pay the same premiums as early retirees.
• Directs the DMS to establish an anti-fraud unit within DSGI by December 31, 2022. Specifically, the DMS must establish and maintain a designated anti-fraud unit to investigate and report possible fraudulent insurance acts by insureds, persons making claims for services against the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, or vendors under contract with the division. The bill authorizes the division to contract for the provisions related to the anti-fraud division and requires the DMS to designate staff with the primary responsibility of implementing those provisions.
• Waives member cost share within the Price Transparency Program.
• Deletes obsolete language relating to additional state appropriations to the state group health insurance program.
• Ratifies the DMS’s rule to create nine HMO regions across the state pursuant to s. 110.123(3)(h)2.d., F.S.
• Repeals the Metal Tier health plan contained in s. 110.123(3)(j), F.S.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

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 would have been repealed on October 2, 2022, unless reviewed and reenacted by the Legislature.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on February 24, 2022. Chapter No. 2022-009.

SB 7006- OGSR/ Campus Emergency Response, by the Senate Education Committee, revises the sunset date of the public records exemption relating to any information in a campus emergency response from October 2, 2022 to October 2, 2024 and narrows the exemption for the records related to:

• Personnel to only exempt information related to the identification of staff involved in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities.
• Individual identification of students, faculty, and staff to only exempt information related to the identification of affected or at-risk students, faculty, and staff, and only before, during, or after an emergency.

This bill takes effect October 1, 2022.

SB 7034 – Child Welfare by Senator Kelli Stargel (R – Lakeland), makes a number of changes to current law relating to monthly payment amounts for foster parents and relative and nonrelative caregivers and other assistance aimed at benefiting the lives of foster youth.

As it relates to higher education, the bill expands the scope of potential students eligible for a tuition and fee exemption at a workforce education program, a Florida College System institution or a state university, to certain students who have been the subject of a shelter, dependency, or termination of parental rights proceeding, including students who:

• Are, or were at the time of reaching 18 years of age, in out-of-home care, rather than in the custody of the DCF as is provided for in current law.
• After reaching 14 years of age, spent at least 18 months in out-of-home care and was reunified with his or her parents who were the subject of the dependency proceeding before reaching 18 years of age if the student is also Pell Grant-eligible.
• Have been placed in a permanent guardianship, regardless of whether the caregiver participates or participated in the Relative Caregiver Program, and such student remains in the guardianship either until the student reaches 18 years of age or, if before reaching 18 years of age, he or she enrolls in an eligible institution.

The bill is effective July 1, 2022.

SB 7044- Postsecondary Education, by the Senate Education Committee, contains provisions related to postsecondary fee increases, textbook and instructional material transparency, articulation of credit, accreditation, and tenure review. Specifically, the bill:

• Requires that any Florida College System institution or state university proposal to increase a fee may only pass by an extraordinary vote and that the proposal must also be enclosed in an email to all enrolled students;
• Requires list of required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials to be posted at least 45 days before the first day of class for each term;
• Requires public postsecondary institutions to accept and apply general education courses and credit as first satisfying general education core credit requirements before applying the course credit as elective credit;
• Identifies a process for public state institutions to transfer to other accrediting bodies. Specially for state universities, the process would be as follows:
  
  • The Board of Governors (BOG) will identify accrediting associations that are suited to serve as an accreditor.
  • In the year following an institution’s reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its current accrediting association, they must seek and obtain accreditation from an entity identified by the BOG.
  • If no regional accreditation association identified by the BOG accepts or grants candidacy status to an institution, the institution must seek accreditation from any other accrediting association that is not its current one.
  • If no other accrediting body grants candidacy status before its next reaffirmation or fifth-year review, the institution may remain with its current accrediting association.
    
    • This section expires December 31, 2032.
• Authorizes the BOG to adopt a regulation regarding post-tenure reviews for state university faculty.

The bill takes effect July 1, 2022.

HB 7071 – Taxation by Representative Bobby Payne (R – Palatka), provides for a number of tax reductions and other tax-related modifications designed to directly impact both families and businesses.

Several provisions related to sales tax are included in the amendment:

• A 14-day “back-to-school” tax holiday in July and August 2022 for certain clothing, school supplies, learning aids and puzzles, and personal computers; a 14-day “disaster preparedness” holiday in May and June of 2022 for specified disaster preparedness supplies for families and their pets; a seven-day “Freedom Week” tax holiday in July for specified recreational items and activities; and a seven-day “Tool Time” tax holiday in September for tools and equipment needed in skilled trades.
• A two-year exemption for impact-resistant windows, doors, and garage doors for residential properties; a one-year exemption for babies’ and children’s clothing, shoes, and diapers; a one-year exemption for certain ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators, refrigerator-freezer combinations, water heaters, and clothes washers and dryers; and a three-month exemption for children’s books.
• A reduction in the sales tax on new mobile homes from six percent to three percent.
• An exemption from the sales tax on admissions to Formula One Grand Prix races, World Cup matches, and Daytona 500 events.
• An exemption for machinery and equipment used in the production of green hydrogen.
• An exemption for trailers and fencing used on farms.
• Authorization to use school capital outlay surtax for the purchase, lease, and maintenance of school buses.

For property taxes, the amendment:

• Provides property tax relief for homestead property rendered uninhabitable for 30 days or more due to a catastrophic event in 2023 or thereafter, and provides relief from all assessments to owners affected by the sudden and unforeseen collapse of a residential improvement.
• Clarifies the start date for calculating the 15-year waiting period for an affordable housing exemption.
• Increases the value of property exempt from ad valorem taxation for residents who are widows, widowers, blind, or totally and permanently disabled from $500 to $5,000.
• Modifies the assessment methodology for land used in the production of aquaculture products.
• Updates the qualifying operations for the deployed servicemember tax exemption.
• Clarifies the calculation of the homestead exemption for classified use properties that contain a homestead.
• Increases the amount of discretionary school tax that can be used for certain vehicles and property and casualty insurance expenses.
• Adopts the Internal Revenue Code in effect on January 1, 2022, to maintain conformity with federal provisions;
• Adds flexibility in the timing of the New Worlds Reading Initiative and Strong Families Tax Credit programs; increases the annual cap of the Strong Families Tax Credit to $10 million; and, beginning in Fiscal Year 2023-2024, increases the annual cap on the New Worlds Reading Initiative Tax Credit to $60 million;
• Provides an additional $5 million annually for the Community Contribution Tax Credit program; and
• Creates a tax credit for investment in short line railroads.

The amendment also:

• Exempts certain loans related to emergencies from documentary stamp taxes.
• Limits restrictions on citizens’ access to family housing funds to requirements imposed by lenders.
• Creates a one-month motor fuel tax holiday to reduce motor fuel taxes in October 2022.

The bill is effective July 1, 2022.