CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.





                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS/HB 309

    Amendment No.    

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
                                   .
                                   .
 1                                 .
                                   .
 2                                 .
                                   .
 3                                 .
                                   .
 4                                                                

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9

10                                                                

11  Senator Horne moved the following amendment:

12

13         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 1, line 9,

15

16  insert:

17         Section 1.  (1)  The Task Force on Public School

18  Funding is created to examine and make recommendations to the

19  Governor and the Legislature on the funding of the state

20  system of public schools.  The task force is assigned to the

21  Office of Legislative Services, created by section 11.147,

22  Florida Statutes, for administrative and fiscal accountability

23  purposes.

24         (2)  The task force shall consist of 15 members

25  selected from among business and community leaders and the

26  Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Education, who shall

27  serve as voting ex officio members.  By June 30, 1999, the

28  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

29  House of Representatives shall each appoint 5 members to serve

30  for the duration of the task force.  If a vacancy occurs, the

31  official who had appointment jurisdiction for the vacated

                                  1
    9:05 AM   04/28/99                              h0309c1c-06b0a




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS/HB 309

    Amendment No.    





 1  position shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy.  Each

 2  appointing authority may remove his or her appointee for

 3  cause, and shall remove an appointee who, without cause, fails

 4  to attend three consecutive meetings. Members of the task

 5  force shall serve without compensation but are entitled to

 6  reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the

 7  performance of their duties as provided in section 112.061,

 8  Florida Statutes.

 9         (3)  The task force shall hold its organizational

10  meeting by September 1, 1999; and, thereafter, shall meet at

11  the call of the chair, but shall meet at least monthly before

12  submitting its final recommendations.  The task force shall be

13  chaired by a member designated by the Governor.  The task

14  force shall elect a vice chair to serve in the absence of the

15  chair.  The task force shall adopt procedures or bylaws

16  necessary for its efficient operation and may appoint

17  subcommittees from its membership.

18         (4)  The task force shall examine the funding of state

19  system of public schools as provided by the Florida Education

20  Finance Program created by section 236.081, Florida Statutes,

21  and implemented by the general appropriations acts.  The task

22  force shall consider at least the following:

23         (a)  The funding of public schools based on their

24  performance in educating students as evidenced by the

25  achieving of equitable outcomes that meet the state academic

26  achievement standards for all students.

27         (b)  The relationship between state funding and local

28  funding for public schools.

29         (c)  The maintenance of funding equity in the

30  allocation of dollars among school districts and schools.

31         (d)  The acquisition and support of technology to

                                  2
    9:05 AM   04/28/99                              h0309c1c-06b0a




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS/HB 309

    Amendment No.    





 1  assist in the instructional process.

 2         (e)  The funding support for parental choice in the

 3  selection of educational services for children.

 4         (f)  The results and recommendations of public school

 5  funding studies conducted by nationally recognized experts,

 6  groups, and other states.

 7         (5)  The task force:

 8         (a)  Shall appoint an executive director, who shall

 9  serve under its direction, supervision, and control.  The

10  executive director shall be the chief administrative officer

11  of the task force.  Subject to approval by the task force, the

12  executive director shall employ, direct, and control research

13  and support staff to serve the task force and its

14  subcommittees.  All employees of the task force are exempt

15  from the Career Service System.  The Commissioner of Education

16  shall designate personnel of the Department of Education to

17  assist the task force until its staff is employed.

18         (b)  May enter into contracts or agreements with

19  nationally recognized school-finance experts to serve in a

20  consulting and advisory capacity.

21         (c)  May apply for and accept funds, grants, donations,

22  expenses, in-kind services, and other valued goods or services

23  from the government of the United States or any of its

24  agencies or any other public or private sources.  Funds or

25  services acquired or accepted under this paragraph must be

26  used to carry out the task force's duties and

27  responsibilities.

28         (c)  Shall keep full, detailed, and accurate records

29  pursuant to chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

30         (d)  By September 1, 2000, shall submit draft

31  recommendations and, by February 1, 2002, shall submit final

                                  3
    9:05 AM   04/28/99                              h0309c1c-06b0a




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS/HB 309

    Amendment No.    





 1  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

 2  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Before

 3  adopting final recommendations, the task force shall conduct

 4  at least one public hearing in each of the five service

 5  regions of the Department of Education between September 1 and

 6  December 31, 2001.

 7         (6)  This section expires June 30, 2002.

 8         Section 2.  Section 236.081, Florida Statutes, 1998

 9  Supplement, is repealed effective June 30, 2002, subject to

10  prior review by the Task Force on Public School Funding.

11         Section 3.  Effective July 1, 1999, the sum of $800,000

12  is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of

13  Legislative Services to cover the expenses of the Task Force

14  on Public School Funding created by this act.

15

16  (Redesignate subsequent sections.)

17

18

19  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

20  And the title is amended as follows:

21         On page 1, line 2, delete that line

22

23  and insert:

24         An act relating to education; creating the Task

25         Force on Public School Funding; providing for

26         the appointment and organization of the task

27         force; specifying powers and duties; specifying

28         duties of the Department of Education;

29         requiring certain reports and public hearings;

30         repealing s. 236.081, F.S., relating to the

31         Florida Education Finance Program; providing an

                                  4
    9:05 AM   04/28/99                              h0309c1c-06b0a




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS/HB 309

    Amendment No.    





 1         appropriation; amending

 2

 3

 4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

                                  5
    9:05 AM   04/28/99                              h0309c1c-06b0a