FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Volume Ten / Number Two • March 8, 2004 Patriotism filled the air on the opening day of the 2004 Legislative Session School of Chiropractic Approved last Tuesday. The Florida Legislature for Florida State University saluted one of their own - State Representative Carey Baker (R-Eustis), a National Guardsman who Legislation creating a School of Chiropractic at Florida State University returned to his duties in the Florida passed both the House and Senate and is awaiting the Governor’s House after a 14-month tour in Iraq - signature, all during the first week of Session. Senate Bill 2002, by Senator with a moving tribute to troops in all Durell Peaden (R - Crestview) also contains an Alzheimer’s Institute branches of the military. Meanwhile, as the Governor delivered his State supported by Speaker Johnnie Byrd, and a Biomedical Center to be named of the State address, over 2,000 for Senate President Jim King’s parents. protesters railed against him and his civil-rights and labor policies outside of The new school at FSU will be the first public school for training Chiro- the Capitol. practors in Florida, and in the U.S, and will provide students with a cost- effective, in-state alternative. Florida exports thousands of students seeking Once the formalities of opening day a chiropractic degree each year.The bill also provides a $9 million annual concluded, legislators went straight to appropriation to operate the school. The Governor’s signing deadline is work tackling tough, controversial issues, which is not typical during the March 12. first week of the session. Abortion, seat belts, low-income subsidized insurance for children and a School of Chiropractic at Florida State University were debated and moved closer to final passage. (See related Chiropractic Story.) The Revenue Estimating Conference will meet this Friday to determine the amount of revenue available for this year’s state budget. Furthermore, several bills of interest are scheduled for hearings this week, including a proposal allowing Community Colleges to graduate additional teachers in the State of Florida. (See Spotlight on Bills.) As always, please feel free to contact me if you need copies of bills and their analysis or have comments and Live and taped coverage of all the activities of the Legislature concerns about issues or specific can be seen on The Florida Channel, which is available in Leon and legislation. I can be reached at (850) Wakulla counties from midnight to 6:00 p.m. daily on FSU4 644-4453 or e-mail at [email protected]. (local cable channel 4). The Florida Channel is fed by satellite 24 hours a day to cable outlets throughout Florida. For more information, see WFSU.org. PCB EDK 04-03, School Code tion services, revises deadlines for donations or fund-raise for one year Glitch Bill, the House proposed payment, provides procedures for to pay for the flags. At the end of committee bill and SB 340 fix project closeout and payment, and the year, the president may request “glitches” from the 2002 school code revises deadlines for the payment of an additional funding source from rewrite legislation. While the bills are subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, the Board of Trustees. not identical, they both do contain the materialmen, and suppliers on con- same university glitch issues includ- struction contracts for public projects. HB 471 Community Colleges/ ing direct deposit of funds, pretax The bill was amended and passed Teacher Institute, by Representa- benefits, deferred compensation, out of the Senate Comprehensive tive Heather Fiorentino (R - New consolidated financing of deferred- Planning Committee last week and is Port Richey), authorizes commu- payment purchases, workers com- now in the Governmental Oversight nity colleges to create teacher pensation, determination of in-state and Productivity Committee. The institutes that will offer competency- residency status, the original UMIFA House companion, HB 487 by Rep- based alternative teacher certifica- language, and major gifts. The resentative Ron Reagan (R- tion programs. The bill will be heard House Education K-20 Committee Sarasota), has been referred to the in the House K-20 Committee today. passed Proposed Committee Bill Local Government and Veterans The Senate Companion, SB 1804 (PCB) EDK 04-03 last week. SB 30 Affairs Committee. by Senator Jeffery Atwater (R- was heard on Wednesday by the North Palm Beach), has been Senate Education Committee, SB 174 Lottery/Unclaimed Prize referred to the Education and Edu- amended, passed, and will be voted Money, by Senator Charlie Clary cation Appropriations committees. on by the full Senate at its next stop. (R-Destin), distributes unclaimed prize money to public schools, com- SB 412 Resident Status for Tuition munity colleges and universities on a Purposes, by Senator Larcenia pro rata basis based on enrollment. Bullard (D - Miami), provides state The identical bill, HB 37 by Repre- resident status for active duty mem- sentative Charlie Justice (D- St. bers of a foreign nation’s military who Petersburg), has been referred to are serving as liaison officers and are the House Gaming & Pari-mutuels residing or stationed in this state, and Subcommittee. There are numerous OFFICE OF their spouses and dependent chil- bills relating to unclaimed lottery prize GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS dren, attending a community college money, however, most of those bills (850) 644-4453 or state university within 50 miles of distribute funds to K-12 only. www.fsu.edu/~govrel the military establishment where they are stationed. The bill passed the SB 612 Flags in Classrooms, by Senate Education Committee and is Senator Mike Fasano (R- New Port Kathleen M. Daly now in Military and Veterans Affairs. Richey), requires all educational Assistant Vice President The House companion, HB 119 by facilities to display the American flag Toni Moore Representative Juan Zapata (R - in every classroom. The bill currently Senior Administrative Assistant Miami), has been referred to the requires University’s to use Activity Chris Adcock Education Appropriations Committee and Service fees to purchase and Office Manager and is awaiting its first hearing. maintain the flags. The House K-20 Lauren Larson Committee passed PCB EDK-04-01 Coordinator, Information/ Publications SB 544 Local Government Prompt by Representative Frank Attkisson Pay Act by Senator Mike Bennett (R - Kissimmee), on Tuesday, which (R- Bradenton), relates to timely is similar to the Senate bill except payment for purchases of construc- that it requires the president to seek 110 Westcott Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-1440 S E S S I O N S C H E D U L E SENATE HOUSE Wednesday, March 10 Tuesday, March 9 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 9:50 a.m. - 12:00 noon.