Volume 22 | Number 6 | April 6, 2015

ast Thursday, the House approved a $76.2 billion budget plan for FY 2015-2016, clearing the way for negotiations with the Senate, even as state and federal officials continued a feud L over $2.2 billion in healthcare funds that play a major role in budget deliberations. The House budget is significantly smaller than the Senate’s, whose spending proposal totals $80.4 billion. The Senate wants to dedicate $5 billion to a hospital-funding program known as the Low Income Pool (LIP), and to an alternative to Medicaid expansion. The House opposes the Senate’s expansion plan, and wants to only include $2.2 billion for LIP once the federal government agrees to extend that program.

This back-and-forth could make it difficult for lawmakers to finalize next year’s budget by the scheduled May 1 end of the legislative session. The last time state legislators were forced into overtime because of the state budget was in 2009, when the national recession forced the state to accept billions of dollars in temporary funding from the federal government.

After passing their respective budgets last week and setting themselves up for the annual budget negotiations known as conference, House and Senate legislators returned to their districts for the holidays on Friday. Their lawmaking resumes tomorrow and will continue this week, the sixth of the nine-week session, with a handful of committee meetings hearing substantive bills. The Spotlight on Bills section of this newsletter outlines bills of interest to Florida State that are still moving through the process.

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or requests for copies of bills and their analyses. I can be reached at (850) 644-4453 or [email protected].

FLORIDA Channel

Transparency in state government takes on deeper meaning with the start of the 2015 Legislative Session and The FLORIDA Channel is at the center of this increased accessibility for Floridians. For the first time, The FLORIDA Channel will televise, or stream, every committee meeting – as it’s happening. A re-designed website and updated app means that users can access all meetings and events The FLORIDA Channel is covering – either live or in the archives. Simply click on what you want and the website delivers the content directly to your computer or hand-held device. FLORIDA Channel programming can be seen locally on Comcast Channel 201 and 4, on Centurylink Channel 12 and of course, at TheFLORIDAChannel.org. LEGISLETTER FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Volume 19 | Number 1 | January 9, 2012

HB 7097BILLS –THAT State HAVE Group PASSED will haveOR FAILEDhealth plan choices at four HB 5009 – State Group Insurance Program by different benefit levels. If the state’s Insurance Program by Representative Jason Brodeur contribution for premium is more Representative Richard (R – Sanford), directs the than the cost of the plan selected Corcoran (R – Lutz), limits state Department of Management Services by the employee, then the employee and university employees hired after (DMS) to establish employee may use the remainder to: July 1, 2015 to participation in one contribution rates for the 2017 plan of the high-deductible health plan • Fund a flexible spending year which reflect the full actuarial options. In addition, it eliminates the benefit difference between the HMO arrangement or a health savings account. employer contribution into the Health and the PPO. Employees will be given Savings Account for employees a choice between paying more for the hired after July 1, 2016. However, higher value HMO and paying less, • Purchase additional benefits employees may still make tax-free compared to the prior year, for the offered through the state group contributions. The primary benefit lower value PPO. Employees will have insurance program. a choice between richer benefits or differences between the regular plan greater take-home pay. • Increase the employee’s salary. and the high-deductible plan are larger deductibles and coinsurance, The bill adds new products and The bill directs DMS to hire an which results in higher cost sharing independent benefits consultant services to the program by giving for the employee. (IBC). The IBC will assist DMS DMS broad authority to contract for in developing a plan for the a wide variety of additional products The bill does not have any impact on implementation of the new benefit and services. Employees will be able current employees. levels in the program. The plan to purchase new products as optional shall be submitted to the Governor, benefits. DMS is directed to contract The bill conforms statute to the the President of the Senate and with at least one entity that provides the Speaker of the House of funding decisions in the 2015-2016 comprehensive pricing and inclusive Representatives no later than General Appropriations Act (GAA) services for surgery and other types January 1, 2017. The IBC will also and is contingent upon HB 7097 not of medical procedures. The contract provide ongoing assessments and becoming law. requires cost savings to the program, analysis for the program. which will be shared by the state and The bill was temporarily postponed the enrollee. The bill provides $151,216 in during the House Session last week. recurring trust fund and $507,546 The Senate companion is SB 2500, Beginning in 2016, DMS is directed in nonrecurring trust fund authority the Senate appropriations bill. to implement a 3-year price to the Department of Management transparency pilot project in at least Services, and 2 full-time equivalent SB 530 -- Bullying and one, but no more than three areas positions to implement the Harassment Policies in Schools of the state. The purpose of the pilot administrative provision of the act. by Senator Jeremy Ring (D – is to reward value-based pricing The provisions of the bill are expected Margate), requires periodic revision by publishing the prices of certain to have a positive, but indeterminate, of a school district’s anti-bullying diagnostic and surgical procedures fiscal impact on the state. and sharing any savings generated and harassment policy, modifies the by the enrollee’s choice of providers. The bill was filed as a committee information that must be contained Participation in the project will be bill and was reported favorably by in the policy, and requires schools to voluntary for state employees. the Appropriations Committee last implement the policy. week it is now waiting to be heard Beginning in the 2018 plan year, the by the full House. There is no Senate Specifically, the bill adds the bill provides that state employees companion at this time. requirements that each: • School district revise its anti- School district participation in PAPPI UPDATE ON BILLS bullying and harassment policy is voluntary. School districts seeking every three years. to participate in PAPPI must submit SB 7030 -- Postsecondary a principal autonomy proposal to Education for Students with • School implement the school the State Board of Education for approval. Among other things, the Disabilities by Senator Don district’s anti-bullying and Gaetz (R – Destin), establishes harassment policy. proposal must identify three middle or high schools whose principals will mechanisms and statewide have greater fiscal and administrative coordination of information for the • School district’s anti-bullying and autonomy, describe the areas in approval of unique postsecondary harassment policy: which increased autonomy will be education programs tailored to the granted, and state measurable goals needs of students with intellectual • Make the reporting of bullying or regarding student achievement and disabilities. harassment mandatory; and operational efficiency. The state board may select up to six school • Include a list of bullying districts for participation in PAPPI. The bill passed out of the Senate last prevention and intervention The initial term of the program is week and is waiting to be heard in programs authorized by the three years. the House. The House companion, school district to provide HB 7091 by Representative instruction to students, parents, The bill grants the principals of Bob Cortes (R – Maitland), participating schools greater teachers, school administrators, reported favorably by the Education authority regarding staffing decisions, counseling staff, and school Committee last week and will next be allocation of financial resources, volunteers on identifying, and budgeting. Among other things, heard by the full House. preventing, and responding to the principal of a participating bullying or harassment. school is granted greater authority CS/SB 642 – Individuals with to hire qualified instructional Disabilities by Senator Lizbeth The bill reported favorably by the personnel or refuse placement or Benacquisto (R – Ft Myers), Appropriations Committee on transfer of such personnel. Before creates the Florida Achieving a Better Education last week and is now participation in the program may Life Experience (ABLE) program, in the Fiscal Policy Committee. A begin, such principals must complete which would assist individuals with comparable bill in the House, HB professional development designed 7057 by Representative Janet to enable them to implement disabilities in saving money without Adkins (R – Fernandina Beach), increased autonomy. Participating losing their eligibility for state has been referred to the Education school districts must guarantee and federal benefits, and thereby Pre-K – 12Subcommittee, the participating schools at least 90 providing a pathway for economic Appropriations Subcommittee on percent of the funds generated in the independence and a better quality of Florida Education Finance Program Education, and the Appropriations life. ABLE accounts resemble in some (FEFP) by that school. The current Committee. respects the federal 529-college minimum guaranteed is 80 percent of such funds. savings plans that are tax-advantaged CS/HB 357 Principal Autonomy savings accounts. The federal ABLE Pilot Program Initiative by Participating school districts must Act of 2014 (“ABLE Act”) authorizes Representative Manny Diaz, annually report measures taken states to establish ABLE programs as Jr. (R – Hialeah), establishes to implement the program and an agency or instrumentality of the the Principal Autonomy Pilot results achieved to the state board. state or contract with other states to Program Initiative (PAPPI) within the The Commissioner of Education administer such accounts if certain must submit a full evaluation Department of Education to provide conditions are met. the principals of participating schools of the program’s effectiveness in participating school districts with to the President of the Senate The bill was amended last week to increased autonomy and authority and the Speaker of the House of provide funding for costs for startup, regarding allocation of resources and Representatives upon expiration of the initial three year term. staffing, market research, marketing, staffing. School districts selected for participation in PAPPI are exempt banking services, investment The bill passed out of the House from the K-20 Education Code and custodian and consultant services, and is waiting for hearing in the records administration services, State Board of Education rules, with Senate. A comparable bill in the and general operations of Florida exceptions. Among other exemptions, Senate, SB 1552 by Senator the class size compliance calculation Lizbeth Benacquisto (R – Ft. ABLE, Inc. The bill passed out of the for participating schools is the Myers) reported favorably by the Senate and is waiting to be heard in school-level average, rather than the Appropriations Subcommittee on the House. A comparable bill in the individual classroom level. Education last week. House, HB 937 by Representative Ray SB 590 – Flags by Senator Thad CS/CS/HB 747 Florida Bright Rodrigues (R – Ft. Myers), is on Altman (R – Cape Canaveral), Futures Scholarship Program the House calendar. requires all United States and state by Representative Patrick flags purchased on or after January Rooney (R – Palm Beach SB 7046 – Education by Senator 1, 2016, by the state, a county, or Gardens), modifies student John Legg (R – Lutz), modifies a municipality for public use, to be requirements for eligibility for the fiscal policy aspects relating to made in the United States and entirely Florida Bright Futures Scholarship education with respect to preeminent from domestically grown, produced, Program, including Florida Academic state research universities; intensive and manufactured materials. Scholars (FAS), Florida Medallion reading instruction; teacher bonus Scholars (FMS), and the Florida Gold funding; and performance funding The bill is waiting to be heard by the Seal Vocational Scholars (FGSVS) for state universities and Florida full Senate. The identical bill in the awards. colleges. House, HB 225 by Representative Bob Cortes (R – Maitland), has The bill modifies community service Specifically, the bill: been referred to the Community requirements by: Affairs, Governmental Oversight • Requires a state university seeking and Accountability, and Fiscal Policy • Clarifying that community service designation as a preeminent committees. must be done on a volunteer state research university to basis and prohibits any student enter into and maintain a formal HB 35 -- Out-of-State Fee from receiving remuneration or agreement with the National Merit Waivers for Veterans and academic credit, except for credit Scholarship Corporation. Dependents by Representative earned through service-learning Richard Stark (D – Weston), courses; • Extends and expands the expands the Congressman C.W. requirement of providing an Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver • Expanding volunteer service additional hour of intensive Program to include members of areas to include a civic issue or a reading instruction daily to the commissioned corps of the professional area of interest; students enrolled in the 300 Public Health Service (PHS) and the lowest performing elementary National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Providing that volunteer work may schools. Administration (NOAA), thereby include direct involvement in a providing out-of-state fee waivers specific volunteer or community • Increases maximum available to all veterans of the U.S. Uniformed service project with a business public school teacher bonus Services. or nonprofit community service funding, including establishing organization; and two new tiers of bonuses available The bill also implements the VA to CAPE industry certification Reform Bill by providing out-of- • Establishing accountability teachers. state fee waivers to individuals requirements for student residing in the state and receiving volunteer work that includes • Establishes performance funding U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs documentation in writing by the models for the State University education benefits under chapters student, the student’s parent, System (SUS) and Florida College 30, 33 or 35. These chapters include and a representative of the System (FCS) institutions. the G.I. Bill, and the Survivors’ and organization for which the student Dependents’, Reserve, and Veterans volunteered. The bill contains several provisions Educational Assistance Programs. which have funds appropriated for The number of community service their purpose in SB 2500, the Senate’s The bill allows specified veterans and hours required for each Bright Futures Fiscal Year 2015-2016 proposed their family members to pay in-state award remains unchanged, however General Appropriations Bill. A total tuition rates at state universities, the definition of what constitutes of $90 million is appropriated for Florida College System institutions, community service is expanded. intensive reading instruction in the career centers, and charter technical 300 lowest performing elementary career centers, which will result in a The bill also modifies the initial schools, $400 million is appropriated significant savings to these students. eligibility period for students who for SUS performance funding, and are unable to accept an award due $60 million is appropriated for FCS The bill reported favorably by the to full-time religious or service performance funding. Education Committee last week and obligations for at least 18 months, is now waiting to be heard by the full eliminates references to outdated The bill reported favorably by the House. A similar bill in the Senate, SB eligibility requirements for the FAS Appropriations Subcommittee on 7028 by Senator Thad Altman and FMS awards, and removes Education last week. There is no (R – Port Canaveral), is in the the differentiated requirement for House companion at this time. Appropriations Committee. home education students whose parents cannot document a college- accountability provisions related HB 4005 -- Licenses to preparatory curriculum. to the state’s public school student Carry Concealed Weapons or assessment program, the educator Firearms by Representative The bill reported favorably in the performance evaluation system, Gregg Steube (R – Sarasota), Education Committee and is waiting and the statewide public school allows those with a valid concealed to be heard by the full House. A accountability system. weapons or concealed firearms comparable bill in the Senate, SB license to carry a concealed weapon 1140 by Senator Bill Montford or concealed firearm into any college The bill was laid on the table and (D – Tallahassee, FSU Alum) is or university facility. The bill reported on the calendar to be heard by the full HB 7069 by Representative favorably in the Judiciary Committee Senate on Wednesday. Marlene O’Toole (R – The last week and is waiting to be heard Villages), was taken up. The Senate by the full House. The identical bill CS/CS/SB 616 – Education amended the bill with the language in the Senate, SB 176 by Senator Accountability by Senator John in SB 616 and sent it back to the Greg Evers (R – Pensacola), is in Legg (R – Lutz), impacts statutory House for final passage. the Judiciary Committee.

SESSION SCHEDULE

SENATE SESSION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 4:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M.

HOUSE SESSION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1:00 P.M. UNTIL COMPLETION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1:00 P.M. UNTIL COMPLETION

Kathleen M. Daly, Assistant Vice President

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Toni Moore, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Program Coordinator

850.644.4453 govrel.fsu.edu Chris Adcock, Office Administrator