CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
HOUSE AMENDMENT
581-142AXB-38 Bill No. HB 1853
Amendment No. (for drafter's use only)
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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5 ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW
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11 Representative(s) Harrington offered the following:
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13 Amendment (with title amendment)
14 On page 8, between lines 18 and 19, of the bill
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17 Section 5. Section 230.23027, Florida Statutes, is
18 created to read:
19 230.23027 Small School District Stabilization
20 Program.--
21 (1) There is created the Small School District
22 Stabilization Program to assist school districts in rural
23 communities that document economic conditions or other
24 significant community influences that negatively impact the
25 school district. The purpose of the program is to provide
26 technical assistance and financial support to maintain the
27 stability of the educational program in the school district. A
28 rural community means a county with a population of 75,000 or
29 less; or a county with a population of 100,000 or less that is
30 contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or less.
31 (2) In order to participate in this program, a school
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HOUSE AMENDMENT
581-142AXB-38 Bill No. HB 1853
Amendment No. (for drafter's use only)
1 district must be located in a rural area of critical economic
2 concern designated by the Executive Office of the Governor,
3 and the school board must submit a resolution to the Office of
4 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development requesting
5 participation in the program. A rural area of critical
6 economic concern must be a rural community, or a region
7 composed of such, that has been adversely affected by an
8 extraordinary economic event or a natural disaster or that
9 presents a unique economic development concern or opportunity
10 of regional impact. The resolution must be accompanied with
11 documentation of the economic conditions in the community,
12 provide information indicating the negative impact of these
13 conditions on the school district's financial stability, and
14 the school district must participate in a best financial
15 management practices review to determine potential
16 efficiencies that could be implemented to reduce program costs
17 in the district.
18 (3) The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
19 Development, in consultation with the Department of Education,
20 shall review the resolution and other information required by
21 subsection (2) and determine whether the school district is
22 eligible to participate in the program. Factors influencing
23 the office's determination may include, but are not limited
24 to, reductions in the county tax roll resulting from business
25 closures or other causes, or a reduction in student enrollment
26 due to business closures or impacts in the local economy.
27 (4) Effective July 1, 2000, and thereafter, when the
28 Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development authorizes
29 a school district to participate in the program, the
30 Legislature may give priority to that district for a best
31 financial management practices review in the school district,
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HOUSE AMENDMENT
581-142AXB-38 Bill No. HB 1853
Amendment No. (for drafter's use only)
1 as authorized in s. 11.515, to the extent that funding is
2 provided annually for such purpose in the General
3 Appropriations Act. The scope of the review shall be as set
4 forth in s. 11.515.
5 (5) Effective July 1, 2000, and thereafter, the
6 Department of Education may award the school district a
7 stabilization grant intended to protect the district from
8 continued financial reductions. The amount of the grant will
9 be determined by the Department of Education and may be
10 equivalent to the amount of the decline in revenues projected
11 for the next fiscal year. In addition, the Office of Tourism,
12 Trade, and Economic Development may implement a rural economic
13 development initiative to identify the economic factors that
14 are negatively impacting the community and may consult with
15 Enterprise Florida, Inc., in developing a plan to assist the
16 county with its economic transition. The grant will be
17 available to the school district for a period of up to 5 years
18 to the extent that funding is provided for such purpose in the
19 General Appropriations Act.
20 (6) Based on the availability of funds the Office of
21 Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development or the Department of
22 Education may enter into contracts or issue grants necessary
23 to implement the program.
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27 And the title is amended as follows:
28 On page 1, line 26,
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31 creating s. 230.23027, F.S.; establishing the
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HOUSE AMENDMENT
581-142AXB-38 Bill No. HB 1853
Amendment No. (for drafter's use only)
1 Small School District Stabilization Program;
2 providing for a best financial management
3 practices review of certain small districts;
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File original & 9 copies 04/21/99
hbd0002 07:17 pm 01853-0072-475497