Senate Bill 0766

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



    Florida Senate - 1999                                   SB 766

    By Senator Geller





    29-744-99                                               See HB

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education; providing

  3         legislative intent; amending s. 24.121, F.S.;

  4         providing for a portion of lottery revenues to

  5         be used for the Teacher Learning Enhancement

  6         and Assistance Program; creating s. 236.1222,

  7         F.S.; creating the Teacher Learning Enhancement

  8         and Assistance Program; providing definitions;

  9         providing for appropriations and deposit of

10         funds; providing for use of funds; providing an

11         effective date.

12

13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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15         Section 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to

16  restore the public faith in the use of lottery funds as

17  enhancements to public education. To that end, the Legislature

18  has dedicated funds from the Educational Enhancement Trust

19  Fund to specific educational programs. The Teacher Learning

20  Enhancement and Assistance Program will further this goal by

21  dedicating a portion of the lottery dollars directly to the

22  classrooms to be used by the teachers to purchase learning

23  enhancements for their students. It is further the intent of

24  the Legislature to replace lottery funds that will be used for

25  this program with a proportionate increase in general revenue

26  to the Florida Education Finance Program.

27         Section 2.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section

28  24.121, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended, present

29  paragraph (f) of that subsection is redesignated as paragraph

30  (g), and a new paragraph (f) is added to that subsection, to

31  read:

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






    Florida Senate - 1999                                   SB 766
    29-744-99                                               See HB




  1         24.121  Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds

  2  for public education.--

  3         (5)

  4         (b)  Except as provided in paragraphs (c), (d), and

  5  (e), and (f), the Legislature shall equitably apportion moneys

  6  in the trust fund among public schools, community colleges,

  7  and universities.

  8         (f)  A portion of such net revenues shall be

  9  distributed annually to each public school district for the

10  Teacher Learning Enhancement and Assistance Program pursuant

11  to s. 236.1222.

12         Section 3.  Section 236.1222, Florida Statutes, is

13  created to read:

14         236.1222  Teacher Learning Enhancement and Assistance

15  Program.--

16         (1)  The Teacher Learning Enhancement and Assistance

17  Program shall provide funds to teachers and instructional

18  personnel designated by this section to assist teaching and

19  learning. An amount estimated to provide $250 for each

20  eligible classroom teacher and instructional specialist shall

21  be appropriated annually by the Legislature to assist teaching

22  and learning in Florida's public schools unless otherwise

23  specified in the General Appropriations Act.

24         (2)  For purposes of this section, the term:

25         (a)  "Eligible classroom teacher" means a certified

26  teacher whose responsibility is classroom instruction in

27  prekindergarten through grade 12.

28         (b)  "Eligible instructional specialist" means a

29  certified school district employee who provides guidance

30  services, job training or vocational services, media services,

31  or other curriculum-related services.

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






    Florida Senate - 1999                                   SB 766
    29-744-99                                               See HB




  1         (3)  Each eligible classroom teacher and instructional

  2  specialist shall be funded at the maximum level appropriated

  3  if he or she is a full-time school district employee. A

  4  classroom teacher or instructional specialist employed by the

  5  district at least 50 percent, but less than 100 percent, of

  6  the school year shall be funded at 50 percent of the annual

  7  appropriation for each full-time employee.

  8         (4)  The Teacher Learning Enhancement and Assistance

  9  Program funds shall be deposited into each school's internal

10  account and made available to reimburse expenses of the

11  eligible classroom teacher or eligible instructional

12  specialist. The funds expended under this section are not

13  subject to state or local competitive bidding requirements.

14         (5)  The goods purchased with these funds are to be

15  considered classroom supplies and are to be maintained and

16  disposed of in the same manner as other classroom supplies.

17         Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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20                       LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

21
      Provides legislative intent. Creates the Teacher Learning
22    Enhancement and Assistance Program to provide funds to
      classroom teachers and instructional specialists to
23    assist teaching and learning. Provides that a portion of
      lottery revenues shall be distributed annually to each
24    school district for implementation of the program.

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