State Legislature Weekly Update

Week 8

With only one more week left to Session, and most Committee work finished, both Chambers spent their long days hearing dozens of bills on Special Order, getting them ready for final passage in the last week. Meanwhile, conference committees met beginning last Friday. Subcommittees of the budget conference negotiated agreed upon spending within their areas of jurisdiction over the weekend and the early part of the week. Unresolved issues “bumped” to the two Appropriations chairs on Tuesday. If any issues remain unresolved, final decisions rest with the House Speaker and Senate President. The final budget, known as a conference report, must be placed on the members desks  next Tuesday for the Session to end on time Friday, May 3rd. Until the completed budget is printed, changes can still be made, making budget conference negotiations a very fluid and delicate process.

The brightest spot of the week was the Wednesday visit to the Capitol by members of the FGCU men’s basketball team accompanied by President Bradshaw, Board of Trustees Chair Robi Roepstorff, Athletic Director Ken Kavanaugh, Director of Basketball Operations Joey Cantens  and Azul who danced his way into everyone’s hearts. The team were recognized and praised in both the House and Senate Chambers, and by Governor Scott. Each chamber adopted a resolution honoring the team’s accomplishments during the NCAA Tournament, sponsored by the delegation members from the communities we serve. Legislators wearing blue and green added their personal comments of congratulations. Speaker Weatherford said  “ No one in America has ever done what you did. We are so proud of you!”  Later, Governor Scott invited the visitors into his private office for a cordial meeting with photos.

We will concentrate this report on the bills that pass both Chambers, or were signed into law by the  Governor. Many of the major bills we have followed through Session have stalled pending resolution of the budget.   Tuition increase for next year, pension plan changes, massive open online courses, funding for facilities projects, public-private partnership rules, texting while driving, are all in a holding pattern.

SB 1076-Legg, the landmark “Career and Professional Education Act” was signed into law Wednesday. The effective date is July 1, 2013. This new law provides for comprehensive K-20 career and education planning. Those portions of the new law pertaining to higher education include:

• requiring the strategic plan of the Board of Governors to include criteria for designating high-demand degree programs of emphasis;
• creating the preeminent state research universities program;
• establishing a collaborative partnership between the Board of Governors and the Legislature to elevate the academic and research preeminence of the highest-performing state research universities;
• establishing academic and research excellence standards for a university to be designated a preeminent state research university;
• providing for a preeminent state research university to establish an institute for online learning; directing the Board of Governors to convene an advisory board;
• providing duties and responsibilities of the advisory board, the university, and the Board of Governors to provide high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs, including establishment of a tuition structure for the institute;
• providing for the award of funding to preeminent state research universities based upon performance;
• authorizing a preeminent state research university to establish special course requirements;
• providing for preeminent state research university flexibility;
• encouraging the Board of Governors to promote additional programs of excellence;
•  revising definitions relating to adult general education and instruction to attain academic and workforce readiness skills;
• establishing the Complete Florida Degree Program and providing requirements for its implementation;
• providing for fee waivers for certain baccalaureate degree programs;
• deleting an eligibility requirement for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program award;
• providing for performance funding based on accountability metrics;
•  revising the formula upon which performance funding for state universities is based and awarded;
• requiring the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors to provide recommendations to the Legislature by a specified date

SB 1096-Montford repealing redundant or duplicative provisions in law dealing with education passed both Chambers and was sent to the Governor. He has until 4/29 to sign, veto, or allow it to become law without his signature.

HB 585-Hood relating to criminal background checks for certain public employees passed both Chambers on Friday and will be sent to the Governor.