Rep. Erin Grall (R; Indian River, St. Lucie) and Rep. Vance Aloupis (R; Miami-Dade) present their early learning bills to the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee unanimously passed HB 1193 by Representative Erin Grall (R; Indian River, St. Lucie) and HB 1027 by Representative Vance Aloupis (R; Miami-Dade).
HB 1193 further implements the ground-breaking early learning bill (HB 1091) that Representative Grall sponsored and got passed last year by, among others, requiring the Office of Early Learning and the Department of Education to create a coordinated assessment system to track the progress of students in the VPK program through grade 2. It also addresses VPK and kindergarten student and provider assessments.
HB 1927 requires the Office of Early Learning to develop early learning professional development training and course standards for school readiness program providers and identify both formal and informal early learning career pathways with stackable credentials and certifications, which allow early childhood teachers to access specialized professional development.
Priority United Way Bills Heard this Week
Week of March 18-22, 2019
CS/CS/HB 217 Postsecondary Education for Certain Military Personnel (Hattersley; D-Hillsborough) - Requires creation ofa uniform system to enable service members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces to earn academic college credit at public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level training, education, and experience acquired in the military. The bill delineates the minimum required procedures for evaluating military credentials and experience and awarding academic college credit based on such credentials and experience. Placed on the calendar on March 18.
CS/CS/HB 365 Services for Veterans and their Families (Hattersley; D-Hillsborough) - Allows the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create the Florida Veteran's Care Coordination Program to provide statewide, dedicated behavioral healthcare referral services to veterans. Should DCF establish the program, the bill provides that DCF may contract with the managing entities, who may then enter into agreements with Florida 2-1-1 Network participants in providing program services. Passed by the Health & Human Services Committee on March 21.
CS/HB 501 Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans (Ponder; R-Okaloosa) - Permits the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to contract with a state university or Florida College System institution to provide alternative treatment options for veterans who have been certified by the VA, or any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as having a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. Passed the Health Market Reform Subcommittee on March 19.
HB 587 Medicaid School-based Services (Andrade; R-Escambia, Santa Rosa) - Aligns current law with the federal Medicaid requirements by allowing all Medicaid-eligible students to receive school-based Medicaid services, not just those who have an individualized education plan or an individualized family service plan. Passed the Health Market Reform Subcommittee on March 19.
HB 649 Dental Therapy (Plasencia; R-Brevard, Orange) - Authorizes the Department of Health to issue a dental therapist license to an applicant who possesses a degree or certificate in dental therapy from an accredited program. Authorizes a licensed dental therapist to perform remediable tasks under the general supervision of a dentist, and provides a scope of practice for dental therapists. Work-shopped by Health Quality Subcommittee on March 19.
SB 684 Dental Therapy (Brandes; R-Pinellas) - Authorizes the Department of Health to issue a dental therapist license to an applicant who possesses a degree or certificate in dental therapy from an accredited program. Authorizes a licensed dental therapist to perform remediable tasks under the general supervision of a dentist, and provides a scope of practice for dental therapists. Temporarily postponed by the Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee on March 19.
HB 3693 United Way of Florida - Financial Literacy and Prosperity Program (Raschein; R-Miami-Dade) - Requests an appropriation of $1.2 million to support income tax consulting and preparation by United Way and its partners to help 31,000 low- and medium-income working Floridians recoup $48 million in tax refunds and credits they have earned. Recommended in the Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee Chair's budget recommendations for $200,000 on March 19.
SPB 2500 Appropriations; United Way of Florida - Financial Literacy and Prosperity Program (Gibson; D-Duval) - Requests an appropriation of $1.2 million to support income tax consulting and preparation by United Way and its partners to help 31,000 low- and medium-income working Floridians recoup $48 million in tax refunds and credits they have earned. Request not included in bill.
Click for Updates on all Florida United Way Priority Bills.
