1. Legislative Update JANUARY 2016

2. About 100 impact education
2016 Legislative Session 1
“People often have said, the fewer bills that the legislature passes, the better off we will be, this may be a year of fewer Education Bills
1264 total bills filed
About 100 impact education
Of the 100, many are duplicate or same subject
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3. 2016 Legislative Session The 2016 Legislative Calendar
Committee Week in September, The week beginning the 16th
Committee Weeks in October, The weeks beginning on the 5th and 19th
Committee Weeks in November, The weeks beginning on the 2nd, 16th and 30th.
Special Session Oct. 19- Oct. Nov. 6 (for map of 40 Senate Districts)
The official Session begins on January 12, 2016
The 2016 session is scheduled to end on March 11, 2016, (60 days of session)
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4. 2016 Legislative Session Eighteen Predictions for the Session:3
Eighteen Predictions for the Session:
National:
1. Presidential Election, Florida will once again be one of the most important states for Democrats and Republicans. Both parties will invest heavily in the campaign.
2. All Children Can Succeed Act, which delegates much of the program to the states, will be used by the Florida Legislature to further programs that they have already begun. (charters, vouchers, and choice)
3. New Congressional districts will result in very few changes if any, at the federal level. The number of Democrats and Republicans will remain about the same as it is now.
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5. 2016 Legislative Session FLORIDA:4
FLORIDA:
4. The Florida Legislature will find a way to work together. Last year the Session just fell apart. The Senate with Negron as President and Latvalla as Big Budget Chair will be powerful.
5. Gambling will remain an important issue, based upon revenue. The Seminole compact will finally be completed, but not as currently crafted with an agreement between the Governor and the Tribe.
6. Water and issues related to it, which didn’t get much action last year, will receive attention by the Governor and Legislature.
7. Tax Cuts will be an issue. Tax cuts will pass but the impact will mainly be relief for businesses, not individuals.
8. Jobs will be a major topic in an election year. (more statewide, less in government.
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6. 2016 Legislative Session 5
9. PIP insurance program will be debated and may change. 10. Obama Care, Medicare, and Medicaid will be issues. The rising costs of health insurance could require most of the surplus money available in the budget. 11. Guns, Guns, Guns. This issue will result in many bills which may end up all passing in one or more bills. Open carry, guns on University campuses, armed personnel on public school grounds, self protection, right to bear arms, etc. are all issues. 12. Redistricting of the House and Senate may increase the number of Democrats in the Legislature, but not the majority, which will remain Republican. 13 Representative Mayfield has filed a bill to return the Commissioner of Education position to an elected official. (The bill would require voter approval as in is a constitutional change)
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7. 2016 Legislative Session EDUCATION:
14. There will be another increase in the FEFP funding, however, not as large as some predicted. The lesser amouint will be mostly caused by the increases needed for health insurance .
15. Public School Construction will receive Legislative attention. Costs are rising, construction budgets have not kept up, student enrollment is increasing, all factors which the Legislature will look at.
16. Increased Scholarship money will be made available for choice programs. (students with disabilities)
17. There will be another attempt to change FRS. This will only impact “new” hires.
18. Charters, Blended Learning, Children with Disabilities, Reading, Educational Options, Teacher Bonus (SAT/ACT) , STEM, and the Florida High School Athletic Association will all issues which will result in Legislation.
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8. 2016 Legislative Session 7
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES NEW CUT SCORES FOR SCHOOL GRADES
Pam Stewart, the Florida Commissioner of Education has announced the new proposed cut scores for school grades.
Her recommendation has been received favorably by school district administrators and School Boards.
Some members of the State Board of Education, which must approve of the cut scores, have indicated that they feel that the cut scores need to be higher. This was also supported by some Florida business leaders.
The State Board voted 6-1 to support the Commissioners position.
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9. 2016 Legislative Session 8
Commissioner Stewart recommended a methodology for calculating school grades that would result in nearly the same number of A, B, C, D, and F schools as were reported in Specifically, under her recommendation, 1,159 schools would receive an A (compared to 1,147 in 2014), 627 schools would receive a B (596 in 2014), 875 would receive a C (870 in 2014), 364 would receive a D (363 in 2014), and 189 would receive an F (185 in 2014). The Foundation for Excellence in Education, with the support of State Board Vice Chair John Padget, recommended a different school grading methodology that would have resulted in as many as 500 schools receiving a grade of F. FSBA expressed support for the Commissioner's approach and t he State Board voted 6-1 (Vice Chair John Padget voting “no”) to adopt Commissioner Stewart’s recommendation on school grades.
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10. 2016 Legislative Session STATE REVENUE PICTURE FOR 2016 9
Florida Taxwatch released a report on projected revenues for 2016.” TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - State economists predict lawmakers will have $657.5 million more than previously anticipated for the next state budget. The latest General Revenue (GR) forecast shows the state's GR fund is expected to reach $31.6 billion for the budget year. The growing available funds mean recurring revenues exceed current recurring expenses by $1.6 billion. A major worry is the rapidly increasing cost of health care, which may take most of the new money.
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11. 2016 Legislative Session GOVERNOR’S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS10
GOVERNOR’S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
Governor’s complete Budget Proposal (section 2 is Education)
ARTICLE,
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12. 2016 Legislative Session 11
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION BILL PRIORITIES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Career Education and Job Training
School Choice
Educator Professional Practices
Minimum term funding
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13. 2016 Legislative Session LEGISLATIVE BILLS12
LEGISLATIVE BILLS
The easiest way to look at any or all of the bills would be to go to the Online Sunshine Web-site. Click on the House of Representatives, the easiest site to use. Click on Bills and all bills are available by just clicking on the bill number. Read the most recent version.
Many bills which died in the final days of the previous session, due to the early adjournment by the House of Representatives, have been refiled. These refiled bills would be expected to pass, however they all seem to be slightly changed for the better.
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14. 2016 Legislative Session BILLS YOU MAY WANT TO FOLLOW: 13
SB 434 Principal Autonomy Pilot (could signal expansion of the idea)
SB 468 Computer Coding (substitutes for foreign language)
HB Individuals with Disabilities
HB Educational Options
HB Blended Learning
HB Career and Adult Education
HB Post Secondary Access and Affordability
HB Reading
HB School Choice
HB Extracurricular Activities
Most of the bills numbered in the 7000’s will pass the House and are represent issues important to the Senate. Probably one of these bills will become the “Train”.