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School Safety Bill Poised for Senate Passage
The
February 14, 2018
shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School dominated and fundamentally altered the second half of the 2018 Florida Legislative Session. One outcome was creation of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission (Commission), charged with making recommendations on how to improve school security.
On Wednesday, the Florida Senate considered
CS/CS/SB 7030
, amended it, and scheduled it for final Senate passage on April 23. The bill adopts
the school safety and security recommendations of the Commission, and strengthens accountability and compliance oversight authority. Among many others, the bill:
- Improves school security measures by:
- addressing campus hardening policies;
- heightening communication and coordination among schools and law enforcement agencies; and
- expanding the Guardian Program, wherein teachers and other school personnel can carry guns on campus; and
- Enhances student safety by:
- requiring improved school safety incident reporting;
- promoting the FortifyFL mobile suspicious activity reporting tool;
- expediting services for students with mental or behavioral disorders; and
- requiring active assailant response plans.
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Priority United Way Bills Heard this Week
Week of April 15-19, 2019
HB 587 Medicaid School-Based Services
(Andrade; R-Escambia, Santa Rosa) - A
ligns 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 and Human Services Committee on April 14.
SB 374 Children and Youth Cabinet
(Harrell; R-
Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach) -
Adds a representative of the Florida Dental Association to the Children and Youth Cabinet, to be appointed by the Governor. Passed the Senate on April 17.
CS/CS/SB 1518 Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans
(Wright; R-
Brevard, Volusia)
-
P
ermits 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 Appropriations Committee on April 18.
CS/CS/HB 501 Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans
(Ponder; R-Okaloosa) - P
ermits 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 House on April 17.
SB 7072
Military Veterans and Servicemembers Court Programs
(Hattersley; D-Hillsborough) -
Requires the chief judge of each judicial circuit to establish a Military Veterans and Servicemember Court Program (i.e., veterans court). Current law permits, but does not require, a chief judge to establish the program in his or her judicial circuit. Passed the Appropriations Committee on April 18.
HB 1456 Office of Early Learning
(Perry; R-Alachua, Putnam, Marion) - 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. Passed the Appropriations Committee on April 18.
SB 1594 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (Harrell; R- Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach) - Further implements the ground-breaking early learning bill (HB 1091) the Legislature 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. Temporarily postponed by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education on April 17.
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Click for Updates on all Florida United Way Priority Bills.
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