Senate Bill sb2346

    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2346

    By Senator Wasserman Schultz





    34-1027A-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the John M. McKay

  3         Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

  4         Program; amending s. 1002.39, F.S.; requiring

  5         private schools that desire eligibility to

  6         participate in the John M. McKay Scholarship

  7         for Students with Disabilities Program to

  8         demonstrate previous experience in providing

  9         educational services to students with

10         disabilities; to provide the legal business

11         name for each business involved in the private

12         school; to provide certain information about

13         the private school, its directors, officers,

14         owners, and general partners; and to employ or

15         contract with teachers who are certified in

16         certain areas; providing an effective date.

17  

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

19  

20         Section 1.  Paragraphs (a) and (f) of subsection (4) of

21  section 1002.39, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

22         1002.39  The John M. McKay Scholarships for Students

23  with Disabilities Program.--There is established a program

24  that is separate and distinct from the Opportunity Scholarship

25  Program and is named the John M. McKay Scholarships for

26  Students with Disabilities Program, pursuant to this section.

27         (4)  PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY.--To be eligible to

28  participate in the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students

29  with Disabilities Program, a private school must be a Florida

30  private school, may be sectarian or nonsectarian, and must:

31  

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2346
    34-1027A-03




 1         (a)1.  Demonstrate fiscal soundness by being in

 2  operation for 1 school year or provide the Department of

 3  Education with a statement by a certified public accountant

 4  confirming that the private school desiring to participate is

 5  insured and the owner or owners have sufficient capital or

 6  credit to operate the school for the upcoming year serving the

 7  number of students anticipated with expected revenues from

 8  tuition and other sources that may be reasonably expected. In

 9  lieu of such a statement, a surety bond or letter of credit

10  for the amount equal to the scholarship funds for any quarter

11  may be filed with the department.

12         2.a.  Demonstrate, based on an affidavit verified by an

13  attorney, previous experience for a period of not less than 1

14  year as a private school engaged in providing education and

15  services to students with disabilities as defined in

16  subsection (1) by each grade level; and

17         b.  Provide the legal business name for each business

18  engaged in by the private school during the previous 2 years,

19  the mailing address, and business locations, and the full

20  names, addresses, and telephone numbers of its owners or

21  corporate officers and directors and the Florida agent of the

22  corporation; and

23         c.  Provide information as to whether the private

24  school, or any of its directors, officers, owners, or general

25  partners:

26         (I)  Has been convicted of a crime involving fraud or

27  dishonest dealing; or

28         (II)  Has not satisfied any fine or penalty arising out

29  of any administrative or civil enforcement action brought by

30  any governmental agency or private person based upon conduct

31  involving fraud or dishonest dealing.

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 2346
    34-1027A-03




 1         (f)  Beginning in the 2003-2004 school year, employ or

 2  contract with teachers who are certified for the grade level,

 3  each subject area, the exceptional student education program,

 4  and each exceptionality in which the teachers provide

 5  instruction to a recipient of a John M. McKay Scholarship for

 6  Students with Disabilities. hold baccalaureate or higher

 7  degrees, or have at least 3 years of teaching experience in

 8  public or private schools, or have special skills, knowledge,

 9  or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in

10  subjects taught.

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

12  law.

13  

14            *****************************************

15                          SENATE SUMMARY

16    Beginning in the 2003-2004 school year requires private
      schools seeking eligibility to participate in the John M.
17    McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program
      to demonstrate previous experience in providing
18    educational services to students with disabilities; to
      provide the legal business name for each business
19    involved in the private school; to provide certain
      information about the private school, its directors,
20    officers, owners, and general partners; and to employ or
      contract with teachers who are certified in the
21    particular grade level, each subject area, the
      exceptional student education program, and each
22    exceptionality in which the teachers provide instruction
      to a scholarship recipient.
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