Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1738
       
       
        
       By Senator Stewart
       
       
       
       
       
       13-01415-18                                           20181738__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to early childhood education; amending
    3         s. 1002.55, F.S.; prohibiting a private
    4         prekindergarten provider from participating in the
    5         Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program for a
    6         specified period under certain circumstances; amending
    7         s. 1002.88, F.S.; authorizing an early learning
    8         coalition to revoke the eligibility of a school
    9         readiness program provider to participate in the
   10         school readiness program for a specified period under
   11         certain circumstances; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 1002.55, Florida
   16  Statutes, is amended to read:
   17         1002.55 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
   18  private prekindergarten providers.—
   19         (5)(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(b), a private
   20  prekindergarten provider may not participate in the Voluntary
   21  Prekindergarten Education Program if the provider has child
   22  disciplinary policies that do not prohibit children from being
   23  subjected to discipline that is severe, humiliating,
   24  frightening, or associated with food, rest, toileting, spanking,
   25  or any other form of physical punishment as provided in s.
   26  402.305(12).
   27         (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(b), a private
   28  prekindergarten provider that has been cited for four or more
   29  violations relating to the supervision of children within a 2
   30  year period may not participate in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
   31  Education Program for a period of 5 years from the date of the
   32  last violation.
   33         Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 1002.88, Florida
   34  Statutes, is amended to read:
   35         1002.88 School readiness program provider standards;
   36  eligibility to deliver the school readiness program.—
   37         (2)(a) If a school readiness program provider fails or
   38  refuses to comply with this part or any contractual obligation
   39  of the statewide provider contract under s. 1002.82(2)(m), the
   40  coalition may revoke the provider’s eligibility to deliver the
   41  school readiness program or receive state or federal funds under
   42  this chapter for a period of 5 years.
   43         (b) If a school readiness program provider has been cited
   44  for four or more violations relating to the supervision of
   45  children within a 2-year period, the coalition may revoke the
   46  provider’s eligibility to deliver the school readiness program
   47  for a period of 5 years from the date of the last violation.
   48         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.