Senate Bill 1888
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 1888
By Senator Horne
6-810-99
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public school funding;
3 creating the Task Force on Public School
4 Funding; providing for the appointment and
5 organization of the task force; specifying
6 powers and duties; specifying duties of the
7 Department of Education; requiring certain
8 reports and public hearings; repealing s.
9 236.081, F.S., relating to the Florida
10 Education Finance Program; providing an
11 appropriation; providing an effective date.
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13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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15 Section 1. (1) The Task Force on Public School
16 Funding is created to examine and make recommendations to the
17 Governor and the Legislature on the funding of the state
18 system of public schools. The task force is assigned to the
19 Office of Legislative Services, created by section 11.147,
20 Florida Statutes, for administrative and fiscal accountability
21 purposes.
22 (2) The task force shall consist of 15 members
23 selected from among business and community leaders and the
24 Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Education, who shall
25 serve as voting ex officio members. By June 30, 1999, the
26 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
27 House of Representatives shall each appoint 5 members to serve
28 for the duration of the task force. If a vacancy occurs, the
29 official who had appointment jurisdiction for the vacated
30 position shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy. Each
31 appointing authority may remove his or her appointee for
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 1888
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1 cause, and shall remove an appointee who, without cause, fails
2 to attend three consecutive meetings. Members of the task
3 force shall serve without compensation but are entitled to
4 reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the
5 performance of their duties as provided in section 112.061,
6 Florida Statutes.
7 (3) The task force shall hold its organizational
8 meeting by September 1, 1999; and, thereafter, shall meet at
9 the call of the chair, but shall meet at least monthly before
10 submitting its final recommendations. The task force shall be
11 chaired by a member designated by the Governor. The task
12 force shall elect a vice chair to serve in the absence of the
13 chair. The task force shall adopt procedures or bylaws
14 necessary for its efficient operation and may appoint
15 subcommittees from its membership.
16 (4) The task force shall examine the funding of state
17 system of public schools as provided by the Florida Education
18 Finance Program created by section 236.081, Florida Statutes,
19 and implemented by the general appropriations acts. The task
20 force shall consider at least the following:
21 (a) The funding of public schools based on their
22 performance in educating students as evidenced by the
23 achieving of equitable outcomes that meet the state academic
24 achievement standards for all students.
25 (b) The relationship between state funding and local
26 funding for public schools.
27 (c) The maintenance of funding equity in the
28 allocation of dollars among school districts and schools.
29 (d) The acquisition and support of technology to
30 assist in the instructional process.
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 1888
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1 (e) The funding support for parental choice in the
2 selection of educational services for children.
3 (f) The results and recommendations of public school
4 funding studies conducted by nationally recognized experts,
5 groups, and other states.
6 (5) The task force:
7 (a) Shall appoint an executive director, who shall
8 serve under its direction, supervision, and control. The
9 executive director shall be the chief administrative officer
10 of the task force. Subject to approval by the task force, the
11 executive director shall employ, direct, and control research
12 and support staff to serve the task force and its
13 subcommittees. All employees of the task force are exempt
14 from the Career Service System. The Commissioner of Education
15 shall designate personnel of the Department of Education to
16 assist the task force until its staff is employed.
17 (b) May enter into contracts or agreements with
18 nationally recognized school-finance experts to serve in a
19 consulting and advisory capacity.
20 (c) May apply for and accept funds, grants, donations,
21 expenses, in-kind services, and other valued goods or services
22 from the government of the United States or any of its
23 agencies or any other public or private sources. Funds or
24 services acquired or accepted under this paragraph must be
25 used to carry out the task force's duties and
26 responsibilities.
27 (c) Shall keep full, detailed, and accurate records
28 pursuant to chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
29 (d) By September 1, 2000, shall submit draft
30 recommendations and, by February 1, 2002, shall submit final
31 recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
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Florida Senate - 1999 SB 1888
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1 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Before
2 adopting final recommendations, the task force shall conduct
3 at least one public hearing in each of the five service
4 regions of the Department of Education between September 1 and
5 December 31, 2001.
6 (6) This section expires June 30, 2002.
7 Section 2. Section 236.081, Florida Statutes, 1998
8 Supplement, is repealed effective June 30, 2001, subject to
9 prior review by the Task Force on Public School Funding.
10 Section 3. Effective July 1, 1999, the sum of $800,000
11 is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of
12 Legislative Services to cover the expenses of the Task Force
13 on Public School Funding created by this act.
14 Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
15 law.
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18 SENATE SUMMARY
19 Creates the Task Force on Public School Funding and
specifies its membership and duties. Repeals s. 236.081,
20 F.S., relating to the Florida Education Finance Program,
subject to prior review by the task force. Appropriates
21 funds to pay the expenses of the task force.
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