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Issue 8   |  April 26, 2019

Priority United Way Bills Heard this Week

Week of April 22-26, 2019

SB 374 Children and Youth Cabinet (Harrell; R- Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach) - Adds a representative of the Florida Dental Association to the Children and Youth Cabinet, to be appointed by the Governor. Passed the Senate on April 17 and in House Messages April 23.
 
CS/SB 442 Postsecondary Education for Certain Military Personnel (Lee; R- Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk) - Requires creation of  a uniform system to enable service members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces to earn academic college credit at public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level training, education, and experience acquired in the military. The bill delineates the minimum required procedures for evaluating military credentials and experience and awarding academic college credit based on such credentials and experience. Placed on 3rd reading on April 25.
 
CS/CS/HB 501 Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans (Ponder; R-Okaloosa) - P ermits the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to contract with a state university or Florida College System institution to provide alternative treatment options for veterans who have been certified by the VA, or any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as having a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. Received by the Senate and referred to committees on April 24.
 
CS/CS/CS/SB 770 Workforce Education (Hutson; R- Flagler, St. Johns, Volusia) - P romotes career education and readiness opportunities for students in public schools by creating a career and technical education (CTE) graduation pathway option for students to earn a standard high school diploma. Among many others, the bill:
  • Requires students to earn a 2.0 grade point average and successfully complete at least 18 credits in specified subject areas to receive a standard high school diploma under the CTE graduation pathway option;
  • Modifies the 24-credit pathway for earning a standard high school diploma by revising computer science credit substitution for mathematics or science credits;
  • Eliminates the financial literacy credit requirement as part of economics under the specified social studies credits but specifies that all school districts must offer a financial literacy course consisting of at least 0.5 credit as an elective, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year; and
  • Restores middle grades career education and planning course requirements that were eliminated in 2017, with some modifications.
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading on April 25.
 
CS/CS/SB 1518 Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans (Wright; R- Brevard, Volusia) - P ermits the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to contract with a state university or Florida College System institution to provide alternative treatment options for veterans who have been certified by the VA, or any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as having a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. Placed on calendar on 2nd reading on April 22.
 
CS/HB 1123 Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (Ponder; R-Okaloosa) -
Codifies the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Florida law and sets specific parameters on program services and participating organizations. PACE features a comprehensive service delivery system funded by a combination of federal Medicare and state Medicaid financing that was created as a way to provide clients, family, caregivers and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet a person's health care needs while continuing to live safely in the community. Received by the Senate and referred to committees on April 24.
 
SB 7072 Military Veterans and Servicemembers Court Programs (Hattersley; D-Hillsborough) - Requires the chief judge of each judicial circuit to establish a Military Veterans and Servicemember Court Program (i.e., veterans court). Current law permits, but does not require, a chief judge to establish the program in his or her judicial circuit. Placed on the Calendar on April 22.
 
CS/CS/SB 7030 Implementation of Legislative Recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission (Appropriations Committee) - A dopts the school safety and security recommendations of the Commission, and strengthens accountability and compliance oversight authority. Among many others, the bill:
  • Improves school security measures by:
    • addresses campus hardening policies;
    • heightening communication and coordination among schools and law enforcement agencies; 
    • expanding the Guardian Program, wherein teachers and other school personnel can carry guns on campus; and
  • Enhances student safety by:
    • requiring improved school safety incident reporting;
    • promoting the FortifyFL mobile suspicious activity reporting tool;
    • expediting services for students with mental or behavioral disorders; and
    • requiring active assailant response plans.
Passed Senate April 23; in House Messages.
 
CS/CS/HB 7103 Property Development (Fischer; R-Duval) -  Restricts counties and municipalities from imposing certain mandatory affordable housing ordinances, authorizes local governments to exempt or waive impact fees for affordable housing projects, and provides legislative findings about the need to develop affordable workforce housing. It also creates a new definition for "essential services personnel" to include police or fire personnel, child care workers, teachers or other education personnel, health care personnel, public employees, and service workers. Passed by the House on April 25.

Click for Updates on all Florida United Way Priority Bills.
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Questions or Comments?
Contact Ted Granger, United Way of Florida, Amanda Gorski, United Way of Miami-Dade, or Heather Davidson, United Way of Broward County