House Bill 0893

    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 893

        By Representative Dennis






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to school personnel; requiring

  3         the Department of Education to limit the number

  4         of noninstructional personnel that may be

  5         employed by school districts; defining the term

  6         "noninstructional personnel"; requiring that

  7         the department classify school districts based

  8         on the number of full-time-equivalent students

  9         enrolled in the district; requiring that the

10         department establish ratios within each

11         district classification for the maximum

12         percentage of noninstructional personnel to

13         full-time-equivalent students; limiting the

14         maximum ratios that the department may

15         establish; requiring a reduction in state funds

16         for any school district that exceeds the

17         maximum percentage of noninstructional

18         personnel; providing an effective date.

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

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22         Section 1.  Limitation on employment of

23  noninstructional personnel by school districts.--

24         (1)(a)  Notwithstanding any other law, the Department

25  of Education shall establish limitations on the number of

26  noninstructional personnel that may be employed by school

27  districts, based on the total number of full-time-equivalent

28  students enrolled in the district.

29         (b)  As used in this section, the term

30  "noninstructional personnel" means school district personnel

31  who:

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 893

    511-149-99






  1         1.  Are classified as administrative personnel,

  2  educational support personnel, or managers under section

  3  236.685, Florida Statutes; and

  4         2.  Do not perform any instructional duties.

  5         (2)(a)  Based on the prior year's enrollment, the

  6  department shall classify the school districts as follows:

  7  the 20 districts with the fewest number of

  8  full-time-equivalent students shall be classified as

  9  small-sized districts; the 10 districts with the largest

10  number of full-time-equivalent students shall be classified as

11  large-sized districts; and the remaining districts shall be

12  classified as medium-sized districts.

13         (b)  By July 1 of each year, the department shall

14  establish a ratio for the school districts in each of the

15  three size classifications. The ratio must specify the maximum

16  percentage of noninstructional personnel to

17  full-time-equivalent students which a school district may

18  employ. The department may not establish a ratio that exceeds

19  the average ratio of noninstructional personnel to

20  full-time-equivalent students which existed within a

21  particular district size classification during the 1997-1998

22  school year.

23         (c)  In addition, the department shall determine the

24  average annual salary, including the cost of benefits, for

25  noninstructional personnel employed by school districts in

26  each of the three size classifications.

27         (3)  The department shall determine each school year if

28  any school district exceeds the maximum number of positions

29  allowed for noninstructional personnel. For each position that

30  exceeds the maximum allowable number within a district, the

31  department shall deduct an amount equal to 50 percent of the

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                 HB 893

    511-149-99






  1  average cost of that position from the state funds allocated

  2  to the district.

  3         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  4  law.

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  6            *****************************************

  7                          SENATE SUMMARY

  8    Requires that the Department of Education establish
      limits on the percentage of noninstructional personnel
  9    compared to students that may be employed by school
      districts. Requires that the department divide the school
10    districts into three categories, based on the number of
      full-time-equivalent students enrolled in the district.
11    Provides for the ratios set by the department to be based
      on the size classification of the district. Requires that
12    the department deduct from state funds allocated to the
      district 50 percent of the average cost of each position
13    that exceeds the maximum number allowed for
      noninstructional personnel. (See bill for details.)
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