Senate Bill sb1646c1

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    Florida Senate - 2003                           CS for SB 1646

    By the Committee on Education; and Senator Constantine





    304-1888-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to implementation of Amendment

  3         9 to the Florida Constitution (November 2002

  4         election); providing a short title; amending s.

  5         121.091, F.S.; authorizing instructional

  6         personnel who receive authorization to extend

  7         participation in the Deferred Retirement Option

  8         Program; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; clarifying

  9         provisions concerning a school-within-a-school;

10         amending ss. 1003.01 and 1003.02, F.S.;

11         defining the terms "core-curricular courses"

12         and "extracurricular courses"; requiring school

13         districts to notify parents of acceleration

14         mechanisms; eliminating a cross-reference to

15         conform to changes made by the act; amending s.

16         1003.03, F.S.; establishing constitutional

17         class size caps; providing for the

18         determination of averages; providing for the

19         department to calculate averages based upon

20         student membership surveys; providing

21         implementation options for school districts;

22         providing accountability for the class size

23         reduction measures; providing that a district

24         school board that fails to comply with maximum

25         class size requirements is subject to

26         suspension by the Governor; amending s.

27         1003.43, F.S.; removing the requirement that a

28         life management course be offered during the

29         9th and 10th grade years; amending s. 1003.436,

30         F.S.; reducing the number of hours required for

31         one full credit; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.;

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 1         removing a date limitation to provide for

 2         categorical flexibility; amending s. 1011.69,

 3         F.S.; deleting obsolete provisions; providing

 4         that Classrooms for Kids operating categorial

 5         funds are not subject to provisions requiring

 6         equity in school funding; amending s. 1012.56,

 7         F.S.; amending the time period for an

 8         authorized statement of status of eligibility

 9         for educator certification requirements;

10         amending requirements for mastery of general

11         knowledge for a teaching certificate; revising

12         requirements for mastery of subject area

13         knowledge; revising requirements for mastery of

14         professional competence; amending s. 1012.57,

15         F.S.; requiring district school boards to adopt

16         rules to allow for the issuance of adjunct

17         educator certificates; amending s. 1013.03,

18         F.S.; requiring the department to review rules

19         relating to school construction and make

20         recommendations to the State Board of

21         Education; amending s. 1013.31, F.S.; requiring

22         school districts to periodically update the

23         inventory of educational facilities; creating

24         s. 1013.368, F.S.; requiring all new schools

25         constructed by a specified date to meet certain

26         limits on the cost per student station;

27         requiring the Department of Management Services

28         to request a determination from the United

29         States Internal Revenue Service; providing that

30         the changes effected by this act to the

31         Deferred Retirement Option Program are

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 1         contingent upon such determination or other

 2         favorable opinion; creating the Florida

 3         Business and Education in School Together

 4         (Florida BEST) Program; requiring school

 5         districts to seek business partners for Florida

 6         BEST schools; requiring each school district to

 7         create a Florida BEST school evaluation

 8         committee; defining a "Florida Business and

 9         Education in School Together (Florida BEST)

10         school"; providing for priority in admission of

11         students; providing parental responsibility;

12         providing for contracts to operate Florida BEST

13         schools; providing school district and business

14         responsibilities for Florida BEST schools;

15         providing exemptions from local government

16         ordinances or regulations relating to square

17         footage or floor area; repealing ss.

18         1002.33(13), 1012.41, 1013.21, and 1013.43,

19         F.S., relating to number of charter schools,

20         directors of career and technical education,

21         relocatable facilities, and the small school

22         requirement; providing for severability;

23         providing effective dates.

24  

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

26  

27         Section 1.  This act may be cited as the "Class Size

28  Reduction Implementing Act."

29         Section 2.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (13)

30  of section 121.091, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

31  

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 1         121.091  Benefits payable under the system.--Benefits

 2  may not be paid under this section unless the member has

 3  terminated employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(a) or

 4  begun participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program

 5  as provided in subsection (13), and a proper application has

 6  been filed in the manner prescribed by the department. The

 7  department may cancel an application for retirement benefits

 8  when the member or beneficiary fails to timely provide the

 9  information and documents required by this chapter and the

10  department's rules. The department shall adopt rules

11  establishing procedures for application for retirement

12  benefits and for the cancellation of such application when the

13  required information or documents are not received.

14         (13)  DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM.--In general,

15  and subject to the provisions of this section, the Deferred

16  Retirement Option Program, hereinafter referred to as the

17  DROP, is a program under which an eligible member of the

18  Florida  Retirement System may elect to participate, deferring

19  receipt of retirement benefits while continuing employment

20  with his or her Florida Retirement System employer. The

21  deferred monthly benefits shall accrue in the System Trust

22  Fund on behalf of the participant, plus interest compounded

23  monthly, for the specified period of the DROP participation,

24  as provided in paragraph (c). Upon termination of employment,

25  the participant shall receive the total DROP benefits and

26  begin to receive the previously determined normal retirement

27  benefits. Participation in the DROP does not guarantee

28  employment for the specified period of DROP.

29         (a)  Eligibility of member to participate in the

30  DROP.--All active Florida Retirement System members in a

31  regularly established position, and all active members of

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 1  either the Teachers' Retirement System established in chapter

 2  238 or the State and County Officers' and Employees'

 3  Retirement System established in chapter 122 which systems are

 4  consolidated within the Florida Retirement System under s.

 5  121.011, are eligible to elect participation in the DROP

 6  provided that:

 7         1.  The member is not a renewed member of the Florida

 8  Retirement System under s. 121.122, or a member of the State

 9  Community College System Optional Retirement Program under s.

10  121.051, the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity

11  Program under s. 121.055, or the optional retirement program

12  for the State University System under s. 121.35.

13         2.  Except as provided in subparagraph 6., election to

14  participate is made within 12 months immediately following the

15  date on which the member first reaches normal retirement date,

16  or, for a member who reaches normal retirement date based on

17  service before he or she reaches age 62, or age 55 for Special

18  Risk Class members, election to participate may be deferred to

19  the 12 months immediately following the date the member

20  attains 57, or age 52 for Special Risk Class members. For a

21  member who first reached normal retirement date or the

22  deferred eligibility date described above prior to the

23  effective date of this section, election to participate shall

24  be made within 12 months after the effective date of this

25  section. A member who fails to make an election within such

26  12-month limitation period shall forfeit all rights to

27  participate in the DROP. The member shall advise his or her

28  employer and the division in writing of the date on which the

29  DROP shall begin. Such beginning date may be subsequent to the

30  12-month election period, but must be within the 60-month or,

31  with respect to members who are instructional personnel as

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 1  defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have

 2  received authorization by the district school superintendent

 3  to participate in DROP for more than 60 months, the 96-month

 4  limitation period as provided in subparagraph (b)1. When

 5  establishing eligibility of the member to participate in the

 6  DROP for the 60-month or, with respect to members who are

 7  instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in

 8  grades K-12 and who have received authorization by the

 9  district school superintendent to participate in DROP for more

10  than 60 months, the 96-month maximum participation period, the

11  member may elect to include or exclude any optional service

12  credit purchased by the member from the total service used to

13  establish the normal retirement date. A member with dual

14  normal retirement dates shall be eligible to elect to

15  participate in DROP within 12 months after attaining normal

16  retirement date in either class.

17         3.  The employer of a member electing to participate in

18  the DROP, or employers if dually employed, shall acknowledge

19  in writing to the division the date the member's participation

20  in the DROP begins and the date the member's employment and

21  DROP participation will terminate.

22         4.  Simultaneous employment of a participant by

23  additional Florida Retirement System employers subsequent to

24  the commencement of participation in the DROP shall be

25  permissible provided such employers acknowledge in writing a

26  DROP termination date no later than the participant's existing

27  termination date or the 60-month limitation period as provided

28  in subparagraph (b)1.

29         5.  A DROP participant may change employers while

30  participating in the DROP, subject to the following:

31  

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 1         a.  A change of employment must take place without a

 2  break in service so that the member receives salary for each

 3  month of continuous DROP participation.  If a member receives

 4  no salary during a month, DROP participation shall cease

 5  unless the employer verifies a continuation of the employment

 6  relationship for such participant pursuant to s.

 7  121.021(39)(b).

 8         b.  Such participant and new employer shall notify the

 9  division on forms required by the division as to the identity

10  of the new employer.

11         c.  The new employer shall acknowledge, in writing, the

12  participant's DROP termination date, which may be extended but

13  not beyond the original 60-month or, with respect to members

14  who are instructional personnel as defined in s.

15  1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received

16  authorization by the district school superintendent to

17  participate in DROP for more than 60 months, the 96-month

18  period provided in subparagraph (b)1., shall acknowledge

19  liability for any additional retirement contributions and

20  interest required if the participant fails to timely terminate

21  employment, and shall be subject to the adjustment required in

22  sub-subparagraph (c)5.d.

23         6.  Effective July 1, 2001, for instructional personnel

24  as defined in s. 1012.01(2), election to participate in the

25  DROP shall be made at any time following the date on which the

26  member first reaches normal retirement date. The member shall

27  advise his or her employer and the division in writing of the

28  date on which the Deferred Retirement Option Program shall

29  begin. When establishing eligibility of the member to

30  participate in the DROP for the 60-month or, with respect to

31  members who are instructional personnel as defined in s.

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 1  1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received

 2  authorization by the district school superintendent to

 3  participate in DROP for more than 60 months, the 96-month

 4  maximum participation period, as provided in subparagraph

 5  (b)1., the member may elect to include or exclude any optional

 6  service credit purchased by the member from the total service

 7  used to establish the normal retirement date. A member with

 8  dual normal retirement dates shall be eligible to elect to

 9  participate in either class.

10         (b)  Participation in the DROP.--

11         1.  An eligible member may elect to participate in the

12  DROP for a period not to exceed a maximum of 60 calendar

13  months or, with respect to members who are instructional

14  personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12

15  and who have received authorization by the district school

16  superintendent to participate in DROP for more than 60

17  calendar months, a maximum of 96 calendar months immediately

18  following the date on which the member first reaches his or

19  her normal retirement date or the date to which he or she is

20  eligible to defer his or her election to participate as

21  provided in subparagraph (a)2. However, a member who has

22  reached normal retirement date prior to the effective date of

23  the DROP shall be eligible to participate in the DROP for a

24  period of time not to exceed 60 calendar months or, with

25  respect to members who are instructional personnel as defined

26  in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received

27  authorization by the district school superintendent to

28  participate in DROP for more than 60 calendar months, 96

29  calendar months immediately following the effective date of

30  the DROP, except a member of the Special Risk Class who has

31  reached normal retirement date prior to the effective date of

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 1  the DROP and whose total accrued value exceeds 75 percent of

 2  average final compensation as of his or her effective date of

 3  retirement shall be eligible to participate in the DROP for no

 4  more than 36 calendar months immediately following the

 5  effective date of the DROP.

 6         2.  Upon deciding to participate in the DROP, the

 7  member shall submit, on forms required by the division:

 8         a.  A written election to participate in the DROP;

 9         b.  Selection of the DROP participation and termination

10  dates, which satisfy the limitations stated in paragraph (a)

11  and subparagraph 1. Such termination date shall be in a

12  binding letter of resignation with the employer, establishing

13  a deferred termination date. The member may change the

14  termination date within the limitations of subparagraph 1.,

15  but only with the written approval of his or her employer;

16         c.  A properly completed DROP application for service

17  retirement as provided in this section; and

18         d.  Any other information required by the division.

19         3.  The DROP participant shall be a retiree under the

20  Florida Retirement System for all purposes, except for

21  paragraph (5)(f) and subsection (9) and ss. 112.3173, 112.363,

22  121.053, and 121.122. However, participation in the DROP does

23  not alter the participant's employment status and such

24  employee shall not be deemed retired from employment until his

25  or her deferred resignation is effective and termination

26  occurs as provided in s. 121.021(39).

27         4.  Elected officers shall be eligible to participate

28  in the DROP subject to the following:

29         a.  An elected officer who reaches normal retirement

30  date during a term of office may defer the election to

31  participate in the DROP until the next succeeding term in that

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 1  office. Such elected officer who exercises this option may

 2  participate in the DROP for up to 60 calendar months or a

 3  period of no longer than such succeeding term of office,

 4  whichever is less.

 5         b.  An elected or a nonelected participant may run for

 6  a term of office while participating in DROP and, if elected,

 7  extend the DROP termination date accordingly, except, however,

 8  if such additional term of office exceeds the 60-month

 9  limitation established in subparagraph 1., and the officer

10  does not resign from office within such 60-month limitation,

11  the retirement and the participant's DROP shall be null and

12  void as provided in sub-subparagraph (c)5.d.

13         c.  An elected officer who is dually employed and

14  elects to participate in DROP shall be required to satisfy the

15  definition of termination within the 60-month or, with respect

16  to members who are instructional personnel as defined in s.

17  1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received

18  authorization by the district school superintendent to

19  participate in DROP for more than 60 months, the 96-month

20  limitation period as provided in subparagraph 1. for the

21  nonelected position and may continue employment as an elected

22  officer as provided in s. 121.053. The elected officer will be

23  enrolled as a renewed member in the Elected Officers' Class or

24  the Regular Class, as provided in ss. 121.053 and 121.22, on

25  the first day of the month after termination of employment in

26  the nonelected position and termination of DROP. Distribution

27  of the DROP benefits shall be made as provided in paragraph

28  (c).

29         Section 3.  Subsection (20) of section 1001.42, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

31  

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 1         1001.42  Powers and duties of district school

 2  board.--The district school board, acting as a board, shall

 3  exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below:

 4         (20)  SCHOOL-WITHIN-A-SCHOOL.--In order to reduce the

 5  anonymity of students in large schools, adopt policies to

 6  encourage any large school that does not meet the definition

 7  of a small school, as established by s. 1013.43(2), to

 8  subdivide into schools-within-a-school that shall operate

 9  within existing resources in accordance with the provisions of

10  chapter 1003.

11         Section 4.  Subsections (14) and (15) are added to

12  section 1003.01, Florida Statutes, to read:

13         1003.01  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the

14  term:

15         (14)  "Core-curricula courses" mean courses defined by

16  the Department of Education as mathematics, language

17  arts/reading, science, social studies, foreign language,

18  English for Speakers of Other Languages, exceptional student

19  education, and courses taught in traditional self-contained

20  elementary school classrooms.

21         (15)  "Extracurricular courses" means all courses that

22  are not defined as "core-curricula courses," which may

23  include, but are not limited to, physical education, fine

24  arts, performing fine arts, vocational education, and career

25  and technical education.

26         Section 5.  Paragraph (i) is added to subsection (1) of

27  section 1003.02, Florida Statutes, and subsection (4) of that

28  section is amended, to read:

29         1003.02  District school board operation and control of

30  public K-12 education within the school district.--As provided

31  in part II of chapter 1001, district school boards are

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 1  constitutionally and statutorily charged with the operation

 2  and control of public K-12 education within their school

 3  district. The district school boards must establish, organize,

 4  and operate their public K-12 schools and educational

 5  programs, employees, and facilities. Their responsibilities

 6  include staff development, public K-12 school student

 7  education including education for exceptional students and

 8  students in juvenile justice programs, special programs, adult

 9  education programs, and career and technical education

10  programs. Additionally, district school boards must:

11         (1)  Provide for the proper accounting for all students

12  of school age, for the attendance and control of students at

13  school, and for proper attention to health, safety, and other

14  matters relating to the welfare of students in the following

15  fields:

16         (i)  Parental notification of acceleration

17  mechanisms.--At the beginning of each school year, notify

18  parents of students in or entering high school of the

19  opportunity and benefits of advanced placement, International

20  Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate of

21  Education, dual enrollment, and Florida Virtual School

22  courses.

23         (4)  For any school within the district that is not in

24  compliance with the small school size requirements of chapter

25  1013, In order to reduce the anonymity of students in large

26  schools, adopt policies that encourage subdivision of the

27  school into schools-within-a-school, which shall operate

28  within existing resources. A "school-within-a-school" means an

29  operational program that uses flexible scheduling, team

30  planning, and curricular and instructional innovation to

31  organize groups of students with groups of teachers as smaller

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 1  units, so as to functionally operate as a smaller school.

 2  Examples of this include, but are not limited to:

 3         (a)  An organizational arrangement assigning both

 4  students and teachers to smaller units in which the students

 5  take some or all of their coursework with their fellow grouped

 6  students and from the teachers assigned to the smaller unit. A

 7  unit may be grouped together for 1 year or on a vertical,

 8  multiyear basis.

 9         (b)  An organizational arrangement similar to that

10  described in paragraph (a) with additional variations in

11  instruction and curriculum.  The smaller unit usually seeks to

12  maintain a program different from that of the larger school,

13  or of other smaller units. It may be vertically organized, but

14  is dependent upon the school principal for its existence,

15  budget, and staff.

16         (c)  A separate and autonomous smaller unit formally

17  authorized by the district school board or district school

18  superintendent. The smaller unit plans and runs its own

19  program, has its own staff and students, and receives its own

20  separate budget. The smaller unit must negotiate the use of

21  common space with the larger school and defer to the building

22  principal on matters of safety and building operation.

23         Section 6.  Section 1003.03, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         (Substantial rewording of section. See

26         s. 1003.03, F.S., for present text.)

27         1003.03  Maximum class size.--

28         (1)  CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS SIZE MAXIMUM CAPS.--Pursuant

29  to s. 1, Art. IX of the State Constitution, beginning in the

30  2010-2011 school year:

31  

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 1         (a)  The maximum number of students assigned to each

 2  teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses in public

 3  school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not

 4  exceed 18 students.

 5         (b)  The maximum number of students assigned to each

 6  teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses in public

 7  school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22

 8  students.

 9         (c)  The maximum number of students assigned to each

10  teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses in public

11  school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25

12  students.

13         (2)  IMPLEMENTATION.--

14         (a)  Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, school

15  districts shall reduce the average number of students per

16  classroom in each of the following grade groupings:

17  prekindergarten through grade 3, grade 4 through grade 8, and

18  grade 9 through grade 12, by at least two students per year

19  until the maximum number of students per classroom does not

20  exceed the constitutional class size maximum caps described in

21  subsection (1).

22         (b)  Determination of the average number of students

23  per classroom in paragraph (a) shall be calculated as follows:

24         1.  For fiscal years 2003-2004 through 2005-2006, the

25  calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings

26  shall be at the district level.

27         2.  For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2007-2008, the

28  calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings

29  shall be at the school level.

30  

31  

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 1         3.  For fiscal years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, the

 2  calculation for compliance shall be at the individual

 3  classroom level.

 4         (c)  The Department of Education shall annually

 5  calculate each of the three average class size measures

 6  defined in paragraphs (a) and (b) based upon the October and

 7  February student membership surveys. For purposes of

 8  determining the baseline from which each district's average

 9  class size must be reduced for the 2003-2004 school year, the

10  department shall use data from the March 2003 student

11  membership survey.

12         (d)  Prior to the adoption of the district school

13  budget for 2003-2004, each district school board shall hold

14  public hearings to review school attendance zones in order to

15  ensure maximum use of facilities while minimizing the

16  additional use of transportation in order to comply with the

17  two-student-per-year reduction required in paragraph (a).

18  School districts that meet the constitutional class size

19  maximum caps described in subsection (1) are exempt from this

20  requirement.

21         (3)  IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS.--District school boards

22  must consider, but are not limited to, implementing the

23  following items in order to meet the constitutional class size

24  maximum caps described in subsection (1) and the

25  two-student-per-year reduction required in subsection (2):

26         (a)  Adopt policies to encourage qualified students to

27  take dual enrollment courses.

28         (b)  Adopt policies to encourage students to take

29  courses from the Florida Virtual School.

30  

31  

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 1         (c)  Repeal district school board policies that require

 2  students to have more than 24 credits to graduate from high

 3  school.

 4         (d)  Use methods to maximize use of instructional

 5  staff, such as changing required teaching loads and scheduling

 6  of planning periods, deploying district employees that have

 7  professional certification to the classroom, using adjunct

 8  educators, or any other method not prohibited by law.

 9         (e)  Use innovative methods to reduce the cost of

10  school construction by using prototype school designs, using

11  SMART Schools designs, participating in the School

12  Infrastructure Thrift Program, or any other method not

13  prohibited by law.

14         (f)  Use joint-use facilities through partnerships with

15  community colleges, state universities, and private colleges

16  and universities.

17         (g)  Adopt alternative methods of class scheduling,

18  such as block scheduling.

19         (h)  Redraw school attendance zones to maximize use of

20  facilities while minimizing the additional use of

21  transportation.

22         (i)  Operate schools beyond the normal operating hours

23  to provide classes in the evening or operate more than one

24  session of school during the day.

25         (j)  Use year-round schools and other nontraditional

26  calendars that do not adversely impact annual assessment of

27  student achievement.

28         (k)  Review and consider amending any collective

29  bargaining contracts that hinder the implementation of class

30  size reduction.

31         (l)  Use any other approach not prohibited by law.

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 1         (4)  ACCOUNTABILITY.--

 2         (a)  Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, the

 3  department shall determine by January 15 of each year which

 4  districts have not met the two-student-per-year reduction

 5  required in subsection (2) for the current year based upon a

 6  comparison of the district's October student membership survey

 7  for the current school year and the October student membership

 8  survey for the prior school year. The department shall report

 9  such districts to the Legislature. Each district that has not

10  met the two-student-per-year reduction shall be required to

11  implement one of the following policies in the subsequent

12  school year unless the department finds that the district

13  comes into compliance based upon the February student

14  membership survey:

15         1.  Year-round schools;

16         2.  Double sessions;

17         3.  Extended school year; or

18         4.  Rezoning.

19  

20  A school district that is required to implement the policies

21  outlined in subparagraphs 1. through 4. shall correct in the

22  year of implementation any past deficiencies and bring the

23  district into compliance with the two-student-per-year

24  reduction goals established for the district by the department

25  pursuant to subsection (2). A school district may choose to

26  implement more than one of these policies. The district school

27  superintendent shall report to the Commissioner of Education

28  on the extent to which the district implemented any of the

29  policies outlined in subparagraphs 1. through 4. in a format

30  to be specified by the Commissioner. The Department of

31  Education shall use the enforcement authority provided in s.

                                  17

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 1  1008.32, to ensure that districts comply with the provisions

 2  of this paragraph.

 3         (b)  Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the

 4  department shall annually determine which districts do not

 5  meet the requirements described in subsection (2). In addition

 6  to enforcement authority provided in s. 1008.32, the

 7  Department of Education shall develop a constitutional

 8  compliance plan for each such district which includes, but is

 9  not limited to, redrawing school attendance zones to maximize

10  use of facilities while minimizing the additional use of

11  transportation unless the department finds that the district

12  comes into compliance based upon the February student

13  membership survey and the other accountability policies listed

14  in paragraph (a). Each district school board shall implement

15  the constitutional compliance plan developed by the state

16  board until the district complies with the constitutional

17  class size maximum caps.

18  

19  Any district school board that does not comply with the

20  requirements of this section and s. 1, Art. IX of the State

21  Constitution shall be subject to suspension by the Governor

22  pursuant to s. 7, Art. IV of the State Constitution.

23         Section 7.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) of section

24  1003.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

25         1003.43  General requirements for high school

26  graduation.--

27         (1)  Graduation requires successful completion of

28  either a minimum of 24 academic credits in grades 9 through 12

29  or an International Baccalaureate curriculum. The 24 credits

30  shall be distributed as follows:

31  

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 1         (i)  One-half credit in life management skills to

 2  include consumer education, positive emotional development,

 3  marriage and relationship skill-based education, nutrition,

 4  prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection and

 5  acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other sexually

 6  transmissible diseases, benefits of sexual abstinence and

 7  consequences of teenage pregnancy, information and instruction

 8  on breast cancer detection and breast self-examination,

 9  cardiopulmonary resuscitation, drug education, and the hazards

10  of smoking. Such credit shall be given for a course to be

11  taken by all students in either the 9th or 10th grade.

12  

13  District school boards may award a maximum of one-half credit

14  in social studies and one-half elective credit for student

15  completion of nonpaid voluntary community or school service

16  work.  Students choosing this option must complete a minimum

17  of 75 hours of service in order to earn the one-half credit in

18  either category of instruction.  Credit may not be earned for

19  service provided as a result of court action.  District school

20  boards that approve the award of credit for student volunteer

21  service shall develop guidelines regarding the award of the

22  credit, and school principals are responsible for approving

23  specific volunteer activities. A course designated in the

24  Course Code Directory as grade 9 through grade 12 that is

25  taken below the 9th grade may be used to satisfy high school

26  graduation requirements or Florida Academic Scholars award

27  requirements as specified in a district school board's student

28  progression plan. A student shall be granted credit toward

29  meeting the requirements of this subsection for equivalent

30  courses, as identified pursuant to s. 1007.271(6), taken

31  through dual enrollment.

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 1         Section 8.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

 2  1003.436, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         1003.436  Definition of "credit".--

 4         (1)(a)  For the purposes of requirements for high

 5  school graduation, one full credit means a minimum of 120 135

 6  hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study

 7  that contains student performance standards. The State Board

 8  of Education shall determine the number of postsecondary

 9  credit hours earned through dual enrollment pursuant to s.

10  1007.271 that satisfy the requirements of a district's

11  interinstitutional articulation agreement according to s.

12  1007.235 and that equal one full credit of the equivalent high

13  school course identified pursuant to s. 1007.271(6).

14         Section 9.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section

15  1011.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

16         1011.62  Funds for operation of schools.--If the annual

17  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each

18  district for operation of schools is not determined in the

19  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing

20  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as

21  follows:

22         (5)  CATEGORICAL FUNDS.--

23         (b)  For fiscal year 2002-2003, If a district school

24  board finds and declares in a resolution adopted at a regular

25  meeting of the school board that the funds received for any of

26  the following categorical appropriations are urgently needed

27  to maintain school board specified academic classroom

28  instruction, the school board may consider and approve an

29  amendment to the school district operating budget transferring

30  the identified amount of the categorical funds to the

31  appropriate account for expenditure:

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 1         1.  Funds for student transportation.

 2         2.  Funds for in-service educational personnel

 3  training.

 4         3.  Funds for safe schools.

 5         4.  Funds for public school technology.

 6         5.  Funds for teacher recruitment and retention.

 7         5.6.  Funds for supplemental academic instruction.

 8         Section 10.  Section 1011.69, Florida Statutes, is

 9  amended to read:

10         1011.69  Equity in School-Level Funding Act.--

11         (1)  This section may be cited as the "Equity in

12  School-Level Funding Act."

13         (2)(a)  Beginning in the 2000-2001 fiscal year,

14  district school boards shall allocate to each school within

15  the district at least 50 percent of the funds generated by

16  that school based upon the Florida Education Finance Program

17  as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act,

18  including gross state and local funds, discretionary lottery

19  funds, and funds from the school district's current operating

20  discretionary millage levy.

21         (b)  Beginning in the 2001-2002 fiscal year, district

22  school boards shall allocate to each school within the

23  district at least 65 percent of the funds generated by that

24  school based upon the Florida Education Finance Program as

25  provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act,

26  including gross state and local funds, discretionary lottery

27  funds, and funds from the school district's current operating

28  discretionary millage levy.

29         (c)  Beginning in the 2002-2003 fiscal year, district

30  school boards shall allocate to each school within the

31  district at least 80 percent of the funds generated by that

                                  21

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 1  school based upon the Florida Education Finance Program as

 2  provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act,

 3  including gross state and local funds, discretionary lottery

 4  funds, and funds from the school district's current operating

 5  discretionary millage levy.

 6         (d)  Beginning in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, district

 7  school boards shall allocate to each school within the

 8  district at least 90 percent of the funds generated by that

 9  school based upon the Florida Education Finance Program as

10  provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act,

11  including gross state and local funds, discretionary lottery

12  funds, and funds from the school district's current operating

13  discretionary millage levy. Total funding for each school

14  shall be recalculated during the year to reflect the revised

15  calculations under the Florida Education Finance Program by

16  the state and the actual weighted full-time equivalent

17  students reported by the school during the full-time

18  equivalent student survey periods designated by the

19  Commissioner of Education. If the district school board is

20  providing programs or services to students funded by federal

21  funds, any eligible students enrolled in the schools in the

22  district shall be provided federal funds. Only those districts

23  that initially applied for charter school district status,

24  pursuant to s. 1003.62, and have been approved by the State

25  Board of Education are exempt from the provisions of this

26  section.

27         (3)  Funds allocated to a school pursuant to this

28  section that are unused at the end of the fiscal year shall

29  not revert to the district, but shall remain with the school.

30  These carryforward funds may be used for any purpose provided

31  by law at the discretion of the principal of the school.

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 1         (4)  The following funds are excluded from the

 2  school-level allocation under this section:

 3         (4)  Recommendations made by the Governor's Equity in

 4  Educational Opportunity Task Force shall be reviewed to

 5  identify potential categorical funds to be included in the

 6  district allocation methodology required in subsection (2).

 7         (a)(5)  Funds appropriated in the General

 8  Appropriations Act for supplemental academic instruction to be

 9  used for the purposes described in s. 1011.62(1)(f); and

10         (b)  Funds appropriated in the General Appropriations

11  Act for the Classrooms for Kids operating categorical

12  established in s. 1011.685 are excluded from the school-level

13  allocation under this section.

14         Section 11.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and

15  subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section 1012.56, Florida

16  Statutes, are amended to read:

17         1012.56  Educator certification requirements.--

18         (1)  APPLICATION.--Each person seeking certification

19  pursuant to this chapter shall submit a completed application

20  containing the applicant's social security number to the

21  Department of Education and remit the fee required pursuant to

22  s. 1012.59 and rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant

23  to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

24  Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is required to provide

25  his or her social security number in accordance with this

26  section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained

27  through this requirement shall be limited to the purpose of

28  administration of the Title IV-D program of the Social

29  Security Act for child support enforcement. Pursuant to s.

30  120.60, the department shall issue within 90 calendar days

31  after the stamped receipted date of the completed application:

                                  23

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 1         (a)  A certificate covering the classification, level,

 2  and area for which the applicant is deemed qualified; or

 3         (b)  An official statement of status of eligibility.

 4  The statement of status of eligibility must advise the

 5  applicant of any qualifications that must be completed to

 6  qualify for certification. Each statement of status of

 7  eligibility is valid for 2 years after its date of issuance,

 8  except as provided in paragraph (2)(d). A statement of status

 9  of eligibility may be reissued for one additional 2-year

10  period if application is made while the initial statement of

11  status of eligibility is valid or within 1 year after the

12  initial statement expires, and if the certification subject

13  area is authorized to be issued by the state board at the time

14  the application requesting a reissued statement of status of

15  eligibility is received.

16         (3)  MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.--Acceptable means of

17  demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:

18         (a)  Achievement of passing scores on basic skills

19  examination required by state board rule;

20         (b)  Achievement of passing scores on the College Level

21  Academic Skills Test earned prior to July 1, 2002;

22         (c)  A valid professional standard teaching certificate

23  issued by another state that requires an examination of

24  mastery of general knowledge;

25         (d)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

26  another state and valid certificate issued by the National

27  Board for Professional Teaching Standards or other such

28  nationally recognized organization as determined by the State

29  Board of Education; or

30         (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful

31  teaching in a community college, state university, or private

                                  24

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 1  college or university that awards an associate's or higher

 2  degree and is an accredited institution or an institution of

 3  higher education identified by the Department of Education as

 4  having a quality program. A valid standard teaching

 5  certificate issued by another state and documentation of 2

 6  years of continuous successful full-time teaching or

 7  administrative experience during the 5-year period immediately

 8  preceding the date of application for certification.

 9         (4)  MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.--Acceptable

10  means of demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:

11         (a)  Achievement of passing scores on subject area

12  examinations required by state board rule;

13         (b)  Completion of the subject area specialization

14  requirements specified in state board rule and verification of

15  the attainment of the essential subject matter competencies by

16  the district school superintendent of the employing school

17  district or chief administrative officer of the employing

18  state-supported or private school for a subject area for which

19  a subject area examination has not been developed and required

20  by state board rule;

21         (c)  Completion of the graduate level subject area

22  specialization requirements specified in state board rule for

23  a subject coverage requiring a master's or higher degree and

24  achievement of a passing score on the subject area examination

25  specified in state board rule;

26         (d)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

27  another state that requires an examination of mastery of

28  subject area knowledge; or

29         (e)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

30  another state and valid certificate issued by the National

31  Board for Professional Teaching Standards or other such

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 1  nationally recognized organization as determined by the State

 2  Board of Education.; or

 3         (f)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

 4  another state and documentation of 2 years of continuous

 5  successful full-time teaching or administrative experience

 6  during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of

 7  application for certification.

 8         (5)  MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION

 9  COMPETENCE.--Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of

10  professional preparation and education competence are:

11         (a)  Completion of an approved teacher preparation

12  program at a postsecondary educational institution within this

13  state and achievement of a passing score on the professional

14  education competency examination required by state board rule;

15         (b)  Completion of a teacher preparation program at a

16  postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and

17  achievement of a passing score on the professional education

18  competency examination required by state board rule;

19         (c)  A valid professional standard teaching certificate

20  issued by another state that requires an examination of

21  mastery of professional education competence;

22         (d)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

23  another state and valid certificate issued by the National

24  Board for Professional Teaching Standards or other such

25  nationally recognized organization as determined by the State

26  Board of Education;

27         (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful

28  teaching in a community college, state university, or private

29  college or university that awards an associate's or higher

30  degree and is an accredited institution or an institution of

31  higher education identified by the Department of Education as

                                  26

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 1  having a quality program A valid standard teaching certificate

 2  issued by another state and documentation of 2 years of

 3  continuous successful full-time teaching or administrative

 4  experience during the 5-year period immediately preceding the

 5  date of application for certification;

 6         (f)  Completion of professional preparation courses as

 7  specified in state board rule, successful completion of a

 8  professional education competence demonstration program

 9  pursuant to paragraph (7)(b), and achievement of a passing

10  score on the professional education competency examination

11  required by state board rule; or

12         (g)  Successful completion of a professional

13  preparation alternative certification and education competency

14  program, outlined in paragraph (7)(a).

15         Section 12.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         1012.57  Certification of adjunct educators.--

18         (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32,

19  1012.55, and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to

20  the contrary, district school boards shall adopt rules to

21  allow for the issuance of may issue an adjunct teaching

22  certificate to any applicant who fulfills the requirements of

23  s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and who has expertise in the subject area

24  to be taught. An applicant shall be considered to have

25  expertise in the subject area to be taught if the applicant

26  has at least a major minor in the subject area or demonstrates

27  sufficient subject area mastery through passage of a subject

28  area test as determined by district school board policy. The

29  adjunct teaching certificate shall be used for part-time

30  teaching positions. The intent of this provision is to allow

31  school districts to tap the wealth of talent and expertise

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 1  represented in Florida's citizens who may wish to teach

 2  part-time in a Florida public school by permitting school

 3  districts to issue adjunct certificates. Adjunct

 4  certificateholders should be used as a strategy to reduce the

 5  teacher shortage; thus, adjunct certificateholders should

 6  supplement a school's instructional staff, not supplant it.

 7  Each school principal shall assign an experienced peer mentor

 8  to assist the adjunct teaching certificateholder during the

 9  certificateholder's first year of teaching, and an adjunct

10  certificateholder may participate in a district's new teacher

11  training program. District school boards shall provide the

12  adjunct teaching certificateholder an orientation in classroom

13  management prior to assigning the certificateholder to a

14  school. Each adjunct teaching certificate is valid for 5

15  school years and is renewable if:

16         (a)  The applicant completes a minimum of 60 inservice

17  points or 3 semester hours of college credit. The earned

18  credits must include instruction in classroom management,

19  district school board procedures, school culture, and other

20  activities that enhance the professional teaching skills of

21  the certificateholder.

22         (b)  The applicant has received satisfactory

23  performance evaluations during each year of teaching under

24  adjunct teaching certification.

25         Section 13.  Subsection (13) is added to section

26  1013.03, Florida Statutes, to read:

27         1013.03  Functions of the department.--The functions of

28  the Department of Education as it pertains to educational

29  facilities shall include, but not be limited to, the

30  following:

31  

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 1         (13)  By October 1, 2003, review all rules related to

 2  school construction to identify requirements that are

 3  outdated, obsolete, unnecessary, or otherwise could be amended

 4  in order to provide additional flexibility to school districts

 5  to comply with the constitutional class size maximum caps

 6  described in s. 1003.03(1) and make recommendations concerning

 7  such rules to the State Board of Education. The State Board of

 8  Education shall act on such recommendations by December 31,

 9  2003.

10         Section 14.  Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (1)

11  of section 1013.31, Florida Statutes, to read:

12         1013.31  Educational plant survey; localized need

13  assessment; PECO project funding.--

14         (1)  At least every 5 years, each board shall arrange

15  for an educational plant survey, to aid in formulating plans

16  for housing the educational program and student population,

17  faculty, administrators, staff, and auxiliary and ancillary

18  services of the district or campus, including consideration of

19  the local comprehensive plan. The Office of Workforce and

20  Economic Development shall document the need for additional

21  career and adult education programs and the continuation of

22  existing programs before facility construction or renovation

23  related to career or adult education may be included in the

24  educational plant survey of a school district or community

25  college that delivers career or adult education programs.

26  Information used by the Office of Workforce and Economic

27  Development to establish facility needs must include, but need

28  not be limited to, labor market data, needs analysis, and

29  information submitted by the school district or community

30  college.

31  

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 1         (d)  Periodic update of Florida Inventory of School

 2  Houses.--School districts shall periodically update their

 3  inventory of educational facilities as new capacity becomes

 4  available and as unsatisfactory space is eliminated. The State

 5  Board of Education shall adopt rules to determine the

 6  timeframe in which districts must provide a periodic update.

 7         Section 15.  Section 1013.368, Florida Statutes, is

 8  created to read:

 9         1013.368  Cost-per-student-station requirements for

10  educational facilities.--

11         (1)  Beginning July 1, 2004, all new public schools

12  constructed, including change orders, regardless of the source

13  of funds, may not exceed the following

14  cost-per-student-station amounts:

15         (a)  $12,755 for an elementary school (January 2002);

16         (b)  $14,624 for a middle school (January 2002); or

17         (c)  $19,352 for a high school, (January 2002).

18  

19  The cost-per-student-station limits required by this section

20  shall be adjusted annually to reflect increases or decreases

21  in the Consumer Price Index.

22         (2)  This section does not apply to plans for new

23  educational facilities already under architectural contract on

24  July 1, 2004.

25         (3)  Charter districts are not exempt from this

26  section.

27         Section 16.  (1)  The Department of Management Services

28  shall, as soon as practicable after the effective date of the

29  act, request an expedited opinion from the United States

30  Internal Revenue Service as to the qualified status of the

31  changes to the Deferred Retirement Option Program.

                                  30

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 1         (2)  The changes effected by this act to the Deferred

 2  Retirement Option Program shall be contingent upon the

 3  Department of Management Services receiving a favorable

 4  determination letter and a favorable private letter ruling

 5  from the Internal Revenue Service. If the Internal Revenue

 6  Service refuses to act upon a request for a private letter

 7  ruling, then a favorable legal opinion from a qualified tax

 8  attorney or firm may be substituted for such private letter

 9  ruling.

10         Section 17.  Florida Business and Education in School

11  Together (Florida BEST) Program.--

12         (1)  In order to increase business partnerships in

13  education, to reduce school and classroom overcrowding

14  throughout the state, and to offset the high costs of

15  educational facilities construction, the Legislature intends

16  to encourage the formation of partnerships between business

17  and education by creating the Florida Business and Education

18  in School Together (Florida BEST) Program.

19         (2)  Each school board shall through advertisements in

20  local media and other means request proposals from area

21  businesses to allow the operation of a business and education

22  partnership school in facilities owned or operated by the

23  business.

24         (3)  Each school district shall establish a Florida

25  BEST school evaluation committee.

26         (a)  The committee shall be appointed by the school

27  board and be composed of one school district administrator, at

28  least one member of the business community, and at least one

29  member of a local chamber of commerce.

30         (b)  The committee shall evaluate the feasibility of

31  each proposal, including the operating cost, number of

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 1  students to be served, proposed student-to-teacher ratio,

 2  proposed number of years the satellite school would operate,

 3  and any other operational or facilities considerations the

 4  school board or committee deems appropriate.

 5         (c)  The committee shall recommend to the school board

 6  those proposals for satellite schools the committee deems

 7  viable and worthy of being established. The school board must

 8  take official action on the recommendation of the committee

 9  within 60 days after receipt of the recommendation.

10         (4)  A "Florida Business and Education in School

11  Together (Florida BEST) school" is defined as a public school

12  offering instruction to students from kindergarten through

13  third grade. The school may offer instruction in any single

14  grade level or for multiple grade levels. Florida BEST schools

15  shall comply with the constitutional class size requirements.

16         (a)  First priority for admission of students to the

17  Florida BEST school shall be given to the children of owners

18  and employees of the host business. If additional student

19  capacity remains after those children are admitted, the host

20  business may choose which other neighboring businesses may

21  also participate to generate a viable number of students for

22  the school. The school board shall make the necessary

23  arrangements to accommodate students from other school

24  districts whose parents are associated with the host business

25  or business partners.

26         (b)  Parents shall be responsible for providing

27  transportation to and from school for the students.

28         (5)  A multiyear contract for operation of the Florida

29  BEST school may be entered into between the school district

30  and the host business. The contract must at least include

31  provisions relating to any cost of facilities modifications,

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 1  provide for the assignment or waiver of appropriate insurance

 2  costs, specify the number of students expected to be served,

 3  provide grounds for canceling the lease, and specify the

 4  advance notice required before the school may be closed.

 5         (a)  The school board shall be responsible for

 6  providing the appropriate instructional, support, and

 7  administrative staff and textbooks, materials, and supplies.

 8  The school district may also agree to operate or contract for

 9  the operation of a before school and after school program

10  using the donated facilities.

11         (b)  The host business shall provide the appropriate

12  types of space for operating the school. If special

13  facilities, such as restrooms or dining, recreational, or

14  other areas are required, the district may contribute a part

15  of the cost of the construction, remodeling, or renovation for

16  such facilities from capital outlay funds of the district. A

17  multiyear lease for operation of the facility must be agreed

18  to if the school district contributes to the cost of such

19  construction. Florida BEST schools are not subject to the

20  Florida Building Code requirements of section 423.25, Florida

21  Statutes, relating to public shelter design criteria or to

22  usage as a hurricane shelter except with the consent of the

23  owner of the facility.

24         Section 18.  Notwithstanding any local government

25  ordinance or regulation, any business or corporation may

26  expand the square footage or floor area of its current or

27  proposed facility to accommodate a Florida Business and

28  Education in School Together (Florida BEST) school. Facilities

29  constructed to house a Florida BEST school must comply with

30  the State Uniform Building Code for Educational Facilities

31  Construction adopted pursuant to section 1013.37, Florida

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 1  Statutes, and must meet state and local health, environmental,

 2  and safety laws and codes, except that a Florida BEST school

 3  is not subject to the Florida Building Code requirements of

 4  section 423.25, Florida Statutes, relating to public shelter

 5  design criteria or to usage as a hurricane shelter except with

 6  the consent of the owner of the facility.

 7         Section 19.  Subsection (13) of section 1002.33,

 8  Florida Statutes, as created by section 98 of ch. 2002-387,

 9  Laws of Florida; section 1012.41, Florida Statutes, as created

10  by section 716 of chapter 2002-387, Laws of Florida; section

11  1013.21, Florida Statutes, as created by section 815 of

12  chapter 2002-387, Laws of Florida; and section 1013.43,

13  Florida Statutes, as created by section 842 of chapter

14  2002-387, Laws of Florida, are repealed.

15         Section 20.  If any provision of this act or its

16  application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the

17  invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of

18  the act which can be given effect without the invalid

19  provision or application, and to this end the provisions of

20  this act are severable.

21         Section 21.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2003,

22  except that changes effected by this act to the Deferred

23  Retirement Option Program shall take effect June 1, 2003.

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                                  34

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    Florida Senate - 2003                           CS for SB 1646
    304-1888-03




 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                         Senate Bill 1646

 3                                 

 4  The CS  made the following changes to SB 1646:

 5  The extension of time to participate in the DROP is limited to
    instructional personnel. School administrators are no longer
 6  included.

 7  Florida Learning Access Grants are removed.

 8  The list of programs which had been identified as excluded
    from the class size requirements of the constitutional
 9  amendment has been removed.

10  Proposed restrictions on the cost of facilities constructed
    with local funds are removed.
11  
    The basis of the calculations to determine whether districts
12  are in compliance with the two-students-per-year reduction
    toward the final constitutional requirements are identified.
13  
    For fiscal years 2003-2004 through 2005-2006, the calculations
14  shall be at the district level.

15  For fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, the calculations
    shall be at the school level.
16  
    Beginning with fiscal year 2008-2009, the calculations shall
17  be at the classroom level.

18  The 2005-2006 school year is identified as the year districts
    that are not in compliance must implement one or more of the
19  options listed in the bill.

20  The 2006-2007 school year is identified as the year in which
    the Department of Education shall develop a compliance plan
21  for each district not in compliance with its reduction
    requirements to implement.
22  
    Four options are identified for possible adoption by a
23  district that is out of compliance with the
    two-students-per-year reduction requirement. These options are
24  also available to the Department of Education for the
    mandatory compliance plan. The options are:  1) year round
25  schools; 2) double sessions; 3) extended school year; 4)
    rezoning.
26  
    The Department of Management Services is required to contact
27  the Internal Revenue Service and ascertain that the changes
    included in this bill to the DROP are valid changes.
28  
    The Florida Business and Education in School Together (Florida
29  BEST) school program is created. Businesses are encouraged to
    house K-3 public schools in the facilities of the business.
30  Exemptions from certain local ordinances and regulations are
    provided to businesses which choose to participate in the
31  program.

                                  35

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    Florida Senate - 2003                           CS for SB 1646
    304-1888-03




 1  A new effective date for the changes to the DROP is provided.

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                                  36

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