SB 212 — Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
by Senator Wright
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Military and Veterans Affairs and Space Committee (MS)
SB 212 reenacts provisions of law establishing and implementing the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and provides for future legislative review and repeal of the Compact on July 1, 2022.
Participation in the compact enables member states to address educational transition issues faced by military families as they transfer from various states and school districts in accordance with official military orders. States are required to enact the compact into law in order to join the compact, which the Legislature did during the 2008 Regular Session. As of January 2015, all 50 states and the District of Columbia are active members of the compact. Since its enactment in 2008, Florida’s compact legislation has included a provision requiring automatic repeal of the compact after a period of time, unless reauthorized by the Legislature. The Legislature last reauthorized the compact in 2016, and provided for its repeal on April 10, 2019.
In addition to reauthorizing the compact and providing for future legislative review and repeal of the law, by reauthorizing the compact, the Legislature adopts two changes to Compact Rules. The first requires each state council to meet at least once per fiscal year and submit state council meeting dates, agendas, and minutes to the Interstate Commission office within 60 days following each state council meeting. Florida’s state council is an active council and exceeds the requirements of the rule. The second rule change increased the annual dues from $1.00 to $1.15 per military child; an increase above current dues of $2,373 for Fiscal Year 2019-20. Florida Statutes require that compact membership dues must be paid within existing resources by the Department of Education.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 112-0