There is no doubt that the House and Senate are working to finish on time with a budget and reapportionment finished. This week, the House released their preliminary budget which includes the $1 billion for education as requested by Gov. Scott. It is also a possibility that next week will be the last week for committee meetings, and therefore all bills in committee must pass to be heard on the floor or they will die.

In the Senate Education PreK-12 Committee the "parent empowerment" bill was presented and passed this week. On the same day, the House K-20 Innovation Subcommittee passed the bill. The "parent empowerment" bill (also the "parent trigger" bill) would allow parents of students in failing schools (two years or more) to develop a plan for the school that the school board must consider. For more on this bill, read my letter from last Friday. It is very much a threat to our schools. Please contact your legislator and encourage them to oppose this legislation. Proponents of the bill have had representatives from California testifying to the legislation passed their state. Our elected officials need to hear from their constituents - YOU!

Another group of bills making their way through the process relate to student athletics. The first determines and who is allowed to remove students from a game and more importantly who is allowed to sign off on returning them to the game following a concussion. The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education PreK-12 Appropriations Committee began discussions on SB 256, but due to controversy the Committee did not have enough time to vote on the bill. The Committee will plans to discuss the bill further next week. The second, SB 1704, relates to the Florida High School Athletics Association and the creation of a new association. If enacted, the bill would put the FHSAA in conflict with their national association bylaws and put school athletics in jeopardy with the requirements for out-of-league play with the new association.

Sen. Wise (R - Jacksonville) has filed legislation on zero tolerance for crime and victimization in schools (SB 1886). This bill is an attempt to lower the number of arrests that are on students' records, whether or not they are convicted. Recent amendments remove references to misdemeanors and adds that law enforcement should be notified when an act "poses a serious threat to school safety." It also provides for a "training program for school administrators and teachers regarding the potential negative consequences and future effects of an arrest of a juvenile and of the existing in-school alternatives to discipline."

During the Senate PreK-12 Education Committee, a presentation was provided on statistics from the Department of Juvenile Justice. The presenter noted that 70 percent of cases reported to law enforcement did not end in a conviction, but that the arrest stayed on the student's record. The identical bill, HB 1445, is still in its first committee of reference and has not been scheduled for hearing yet.

We encourage you to get involved in the legislative process. Contact you senators and representatives. There is no one better to contact them than you - the voters, especially in an election year. Should you have questions or comments contact Jessica or Juhan at (850) 222-2591.