HB 1867

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to education funding; amending s. 24.121,
3F.S.; requiring school districts to establish certain
4policies and procedures relating to lottery fund
5enhancements; amending s. 1002.32, F.S.; prohibiting use
6of funds for lab schools for certain overhead or indirect
7costs; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; authorizing outsourcing
8of statewide assessment program activities; allowing for
9contracts extending into two fiscal years; amending s.
101009.23, F.S.; requiring identical fees for all community
11college students taking a specific course; amending s.
121009.26, F.S.; specifying the maximum fee waiver
13percentage for school districts and community colleges;
14amending s. 1011.57, F.S.; prohibiting out-of-state fee
15waivers by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind;
16amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising eligibility
17requirement for use of the small, isolated high school
18multiplier; creating s. 1011.63, F.S.; prohibiting
19reporting for state funding for purposes of the Florida
20Education Finance Program of courses or programs fully
21funded externally; amending s. 1011.66, F.S.; setting
22forth the method and timing of distributing Florida
23Education Finance Program funds; amending s. 1011.67,
24F.S.; setting forth the method and timing of distributing
25funds for instructional materials; amending s. 1011.765,
26F.S.; modifying the Florida Academic Improvement Trust
27Fund matching grant program to serve low-performing
28students; providing for matching grants to public school
29district education foundations; amending s. 1011.80, F.S.;
30prohibiting reporting for state funding of courses or
31programs fully funded externally; amending s. 1011.84,
32F.S.; providing reporting requirements with respect to
33inmate education provided by community colleges; directing
34that inmates not be included in FTE student enrollment for
35funding through the Community College Program Fund;
36prohibiting reporting for state funding of courses or
37programs fully funded externally; amending s. 1012.05,
38F.S.; authorizing the Department of Education to collect
39registration and booth fees for a job fair; authorizing
40certain uses for such funds; amending s. 1012.72, F.S.;
41authorizing the use of Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching
42Program funds for certain purposes; providing an effective
43date.
44
45Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
46
47     Section 1.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (5) of
48section 24.121, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
49     24.121  Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds for
50public education.--
51     (5)(a)  Public educational programs and purposes funded by
52the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund may include, but are not
53limited to, endowment, scholarship, matching funds, direct
54grants, research and economic development related to education,
55salary enhancement, contracts with independent institutions to
56conduct programs consistent with the state master plan for
57postsecondary education, or any other educational program or
58purpose deemed desirable by the Legislature. Prior to the
59expenditure of these funds, each school district shall establish
60policies and procedures that define enhancement and the types of
61expenditures consistent with that definition.
62     (c)  A portion of such net revenues, as determined annually
63by the Legislature, shall be distributed to each school district
64and shall be made available to each public school in the
65district for enhancing school performance through development
66and implementation of a school improvement plan pursuant to s.
671001.42(16). A portion of these moneys, as determined annually
68in the General Appropriations Act, must be allocated to each
69school in an equal amount for each student enrolled. These
70moneys may be expended only on programs or projects selected by
71the school advisory council or by a parent advisory committee
72created pursuant to this paragraph. If a school does not have a
73school advisory council, the district advisory council must
74appoint a parent advisory committee composed of parents of
75students enrolled in that school, which committee is
76representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community
77served by the school, to advise the school's principal on the
78programs or projects to be funded. Neither school district staff
79nor principals A principal may not override the recommendations
80of the school advisory council or the parent advisory committee.
81These moneys may not be used for capital improvements, nor may
82they be used for any project or program that has a duration of
83more than 1 year; however, a school advisory council or parent
84advisory committee may independently determine that a program or
85project formerly funded under this paragraph should receive
86funds in a subsequent year.
87     Section 2.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of section
881002.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
89     1002.32  Developmental research (laboratory) schools.--
90     (9)  FUNDING.--Funding for a lab school, including a
91charter lab school, shall be provided as follows:
92     (c)  All operating funds provided under this section shall
93be deposited in a Lab School Trust Fund and shall be expended
94for the purposes of this section. The university assigned a lab
95school shall be the fiscal agent for these funds, and all rules
96of the university governing the budgeting and expenditure of
97state funds shall apply to these funds unless otherwise provided
98by law or rule of the State Board of Education. The university
99board of trustees shall be the public employer of lab school
100personnel for collective bargaining purposes for lab schools in
101operation prior to the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Employees of
102charter lab schools authorized prior to June 1, 2003, but not in
103operation prior to the 2002-2003 fiscal year shall be employees
104of the entity holding the charter and must comply with the
105provisions of s. 1002.33(12). None of the funds appropriated for
106lab schools shall be used to pay overhead or indirect costs
107described in s. 216.346.
108     Section 3.  Subsection (3) of section 1008.22, Florida
109Statutes, is amended to read:
110     1008.22  Student assessment program for public schools.--
111     (3)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner shall
112design and implement a statewide program of educational
113assessment that provides information for the improvement of the
114operation and management of the public schools, including
115schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
116services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
117The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued
118administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation
119programs. Contracts may be initiated in one fiscal year and
120continue into the next and may be paid from the appropriations
121of either or both fiscal years. The commissioner is authorized
122to negotiate for the sale or lease of tests, scoring protocols,
123test scoring services, and related materials. Pursuant to the
124statewide assessment program, the commissioner shall:
125     (a)  Submit to the State Board of Education a list that
126specifies student skills and competencies to which the goals for
127education specified in the state plan apply, including, but not
128limited to, reading, writing, science, and mathematics. The
129skills and competencies must include problem-solving and higher-
130order skills as appropriate and shall be known as the Sunshine
131State Standards as defined in s. 1000.21. The commissioner shall
132select such skills and competencies after receiving
133recommendations from educators, citizens, and members of the
134business community. The commissioner shall submit to the State
135Board of Education revisions to the list of student skills and
136competencies in order to maintain continuous progress toward
137improvements in student proficiency.
138     (b)  Develop and implement a uniform system of indicators
139to describe the performance of public school students and the
140characteristics of the public school districts and the public
141schools. These indicators must include, without limitation,
142information gathered by the comprehensive management information
143system created pursuant to s. 1008.385 and student achievement
144information obtained pursuant to this section.
145     (c)  Develop and implement a student achievement testing
146program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
147(FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program, to be
148administered annually in grades 3 through 10 to measure reading,
149writing, science, and mathematics. Other content areas may be
150included as directed by the commissioner. The testing program
151must be designed so that:
152     1.  The tests measure student skills and competencies
153adopted by the State Board of Education as specified in
154paragraph (a). The tests must measure and report student
155proficiency levels in reading, writing, mathematics, and
156science. The commissioner shall provide for the tests to be
157developed or obtained, as appropriate, through contracts and
158project agreements with private vendors, public vendors, public
159agencies, postsecondary educational institutions, or school
160districts. The commissioner shall obtain input with respect to
161the design and implementation of the testing program from state
162educators and the public.
163     2.  The testing program will include a combination of norm-
164referenced and criterion-referenced tests and include, to the
165extent determined by the commissioner, questions that require
166the student to produce information or perform tasks in such a
167way that the skills and competencies he or she uses can be
168measured.
169     3.  Each testing program, whether at the elementary,
170middle, or high school level, includes a test of writing in
171which students are required to produce writings that are then
172scored by appropriate methods.
173     4.  A score is designated for each subject area tested,
174below which score a student's performance is deemed inadequate.
175The school districts shall provide appropriate remedial
176instruction to students who score below these levels.
177     5.  Except as provided in s. 1003.43(11)(b), students must
178earn a passing score on the grade 10 assessment test described
179in this paragraph or on an alternate assessment as described in
180subsection (9) in reading, writing, and mathematics to qualify
181for a regular high school diploma. The State Board of Education
182shall designate a passing score for each part of the grade 10
183assessment test. In establishing passing scores, the state board
184shall consider any possible negative impact of the test on
185minority students. All students who took the grade 10 FCAT
186during the 2000-2001 school year shall be required to earn the
187passing scores in reading and mathematics established by the
188State Board of Education for the March 2001 test administration.
189Such students who did not earn the established passing scores
190and must repeat the grade 10 FCAT are required to earn the
191passing scores established for the March 2001 test
192administration. All students who take the grade 10 FCAT for the
193first time in March 2002 and thereafter shall be required to
194earn the passing scores in reading and mathematics established
195by the State Board of Education for the March 2002 test
196administration. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
197which specify the passing scores for the grade 10 FCAT. Any such
198rules, which have the effect of raising the required passing
199scores, shall only apply to students taking the grade 10 FCAT
200after such rules are adopted by the State Board of Education.
201     6.  Participation in the testing program is mandatory for
202all students attending public school, including students served
203in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise
204prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does not
205participate in the statewide assessment, the district must
206notify the student's parent and provide the parent with
207information regarding the implications of such nonparticipation.
208If modifications are made in the student's instruction to
209provide accommodations that would not be permitted on the
210statewide assessment tests, the district must notify the
211student's parent of the implications of such instructional
212modifications. A parent must provide signed consent for a
213student to receive instructional modifications that would not be
214permitted on the statewide assessments and must acknowledge in
215writing that he or she understands the implications of such
216accommodations. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules,
217based upon recommendations of the commissioner, for the
218provision of test accommodations and modifications of procedures
219as necessary for students in exceptional education programs and
220for students who have limited English proficiency.
221Accommodations that negate the validity of a statewide
222assessment are not allowable.
223     7.  A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
224meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
225student must meet.
226     8.  District school boards must provide instruction to
227prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the skills and
228competencies necessary for successful grade-to-grade progression
229and high school graduation. If a student is provided with
230accommodations or modifications that are not allowable in the
231statewide assessment program, as described in the test manuals,
232the district must inform the parent in writing and must provide
233the parent with information regarding the impact on the
234student's ability to meet expected proficiency levels in
235reading, writing, and math. The commissioner shall conduct
236studies as necessary to verify that the required skills and
237competencies are part of the district instructional programs.
238     9.  The Department of Education must develop, or select,
239and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be
240used in all juvenile justice programs in the state. These tools
241must accurately measure the skills and competencies established
242in the Florida Sunshine State Standards.
243
244The commissioner may design and implement student testing
245programs, for any grade level and subject area, necessary to
246effectively monitor educational achievement in the state.
247     (d)  Conduct ongoing research to develop improved methods
248of assessing student performance, including, without limitation,
249the use of technology to administer tests, score, or report the
250results of, the use of electronic transfer of data, the
251development of work-product assessments, and the development of
252process assessments.
253     (e)  Conduct ongoing research and analysis of student
254achievement data, including, without limitation, monitoring
255trends in student achievement, identifying school programs that
256are successful, and analyzing correlates of school achievement.
257     (f)  Provide technical assistance to school districts in
258the implementation of state and district testing programs and
259the use of the data produced pursuant to such programs.
260     Section 4.  Subsection (2) of section 1009.23, Florida
261Statutes, is amended to read:
262     1009.23  Community college student fees.--
263     (2)  All students shall be charged fees except students who
264are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived.
265Identical fees shall be required for all community college
266students who take a specific course, regardless of the program
267in which they are enrolled.
268     Section 5.  Subsection (1) of section 1009.26, Florida
269Statutes, is amended to read:
270     1009.26  Fee waivers.--
271     (1)  School districts and community colleges may waive fees
272for any fee-nonexempt student. The total value of fee waivers
273granted by the school district or community college may not
274exceed 8 percent of the fee revenues that would otherwise be
275collected the amount established annually in the General
276Appropriations Act. Any student whose fees are waived in excess
277of the authorized amount may not be reported for state funding
278purposes. Any school district or community college that waives
279fees and requests state funding for a student in violation of
280the provisions of this section shall be penalized at a rate
281equal to 2 times the value of the full-time student enrollment
282reported.
283     Section 6.  Subsection (5) is added to section 1011.57,
284Florida Statutes, to read:
285     1011.57  Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; board
286of trustees; management flexibility.--
287     (5)  The board of trustees and administration of the
288Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind shall not authorize
289fee waivers for out-of-state students.
290     Section 7.  Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
2911011.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
292     1011.62  Funds for operation of schools.--If the annual
293allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
294district for operation of schools is not determined in the
295annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
296the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
297follows:
298     (1)  COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
299OPERATION.--The following procedure shall be followed in
300determining the annual allocation to each district for
301operation:
302     (h)  Small, isolated high schools.--Districts which levy
303the maximum nonvoted discretionary millage, exclusive of millage
304for capital outlay purposes levied pursuant to s. 1011.71(2),
305may calculate full-time equivalent students for small, isolated
306high schools by multiplying the number of unweighted full-time
307equivalent students times 2.75; provided the school attained a
308state accountability performance grade of "C" or better for the
309previous school year percentage of students at such school
310passing both parts of the high school competency test, as
311defined by law and rule, has been equal to or higher than such
312percentage for the state or district, whichever is greater. For
313the purpose of this section, the term "small, isolated high
314school" means any high school which is located no less than 28
315miles by the shortest route from another high school; which has
316been serving students primarily in basic studies provided by
317sub-subparagraphs (c)1.b. and c. and may include subparagraph
318(c)4.; and which has a membership of no more than 100 students,
319but no fewer than 28 students, in grades 9 through 12.
320     Section 8.  Section 1011.63, Florida Statutes, is created
321to read:
322     1011.63  Reporting for state funding; prohibition.--When a
323public educational institution has been fully funded by an
324external agency for direct instructional costs of any course or
325program, the FTE generated shall not be reported for state
326funding for purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program.
327     Section 9.  Section 1011.66, Florida Statutes, is amended
328to read:
329     1011.66  Distribution of FEFP funds in first quarter.--The
330distribution of FEFP funds shall be made in equal payments on or
331about the 10th and 26th of each month. Upon the request of any
332school district whose net state FEFP funding is less than 60
333percent of its gross state and local FEFP funding, the
334Department of Education shall distribute to that school district
335in the first quarter of the fiscal year an amount from the funds
336appropriated for the FEFP in the General Appropriations Act up
337to a maximum of 15 percent of that school district's gross state
338and local FEFP funding or that school district's net state FEFP
339funding, whichever is less.
340     Section 10.  Section 1011.67, Florida Statutes, is amended
341to read:
342     1011.67  Funds for instructional materials.--The department
343is authorized to allocate and distribute to each district an
344amount as prescribed annually by the Legislature for
345instructional materials for student membership in basic and
346special programs in grades K-12, which will provide for growth
347and maintenance needs. For purposes of this section, unweighted
348full-time equivalent students enrolled in the lab schools in
349state universities are to be included as school district
350students and reported as such to the department. These funds
351shall be distributed to school districts as follows: 50 percent
352on or about July 10; 35 percent on or about October 10; 10
353percent on or about January 10; and 5 percent on or about June
35410. School districts shall pay for instructional materials used
355for the instruction of public high school students who are
356earning credit toward high school graduation under the dual
357enrollment program as provided in s. 1011.62(1)(i). The annual
358allocation shall be determined as follows:
359     (1)  The growth allocation for each school district shall
360be calculated as follows:
361     (a)  Subtract from that district's projected full-time
362equivalent membership of students in basic and special programs
363in grades K-12 used in determining the initial allocation of the
364Florida Education Finance Program, the prior year's full-time
365equivalent membership of students in basic and special programs
366in grades K-12 for that district.
367     (b)  Multiply any such increase in full-time equivalent
368student membership by the allocation for a set of instructional
369materials, as determined by the department, or as provided for
370in the General Appropriations Act.
371     (c)  The amount thus determined shall be that district's
372initial allocation for growth for the school year. However, the
373department shall recompute and adjust the initial allocation
374based on actual full-time equivalent student membership data for
375that year.
376     (2)  The maintenance of the instructional materials
377allocation for each school district shall be calculated by
378multiplying each district's prior year full-time equivalent
379membership of students in basic and special programs in grades
380K-12 by the allocation for maintenance of a set of instructional
381materials as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. The
382amount thus determined shall be that district's initial
383allocation for maintenance for the school year; however, the
384department shall recompute and adjust the initial allocation
385based on such actual full-time equivalent student membership
386data for that year.
387     (3)  In the event the funds appropriated are not sufficient
388for the purpose of implementing this section in full, the
389department shall prorate the funds available for instructional
390materials after first funding in full each district's growth
391allocation.
392     Section 11.  Section 1011.765, Florida Statutes, is amended
393to read:
394     1011.765  School district Florida Academic Improvement
395Trust Fund matching grants.--School district matching grants are
396provided to public school district education foundations for
397programs that serve low-performing students. The amount of each
398grant shall be equal to the private contribution made to a
399qualifying public school district education foundation. In-kind
400contributions shall not be considered for matching purposes.
401Before any funds are released to any public school district
402education foundation, the public school district education
403foundation must certify to the Commissioner of Education that
404private cash has actually been received by the public school
405district education foundation seeking state matching funds. The
406Consortium of Florida Education Foundations shall be the fiscal
407agent for this program. Administrative costs for the program
408must not exceed 5 percent.
409     (1)  MATCHING GRANTS.--The Florida Academic Improvement
410Trust Fund shall be utilized to provide matching grants to the
411Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Endowment Fund and to
412any public school district education foundation that meets the
413requirements of this section and is recognized by the local
414school district as its designated K-12 education foundation.
415     (a)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the
416administration, submission, documentation, evaluation, and
417approval of requests for matching funds and for maintaining
418accountability for matching funds.
419     (b)  Donations, state matching funds, or proceeds from
420endowments established pursuant to this section shall be used at
421the discretion of the public school district education
422foundation or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind for
423academic achievement within the school district or school, and
424shall not be expended for the construction of facilities or for
425the support of interscholastic athletics. No public school
426district education foundation or the Florida School for the Deaf
427and the Blind shall accept or purchase facilities for which the
428state will be asked for operating funds unless the Legislature
429has granted prior approval for such acquisition.
430     (2)  ALLOCATION OF THE TRUST FUND.--Funds appropriated to
431the Florida Academic Improvement Trust Fund shall be allocated
432by the Department of Education in the following manner:
433     (a)  For every year in which there is a legislative
434appropriation to the trust fund, an equal amount of the annual
435appropriation, to be determined by dividing the total
436legislative appropriation by the number of local education
437foundations as well as the Florida School for the Deaf and the
438Blind, must be reserved for each public school district
439education foundation and the Florida School for the Deaf and the
440Blind Endowment Fund to provide each foundation and the Florida
441School for the Deaf and the Blind with an opportunity to receive
442and match appropriated funds. Trust funds that remain unmatched
443by contribution on April 1 of any year shall be made available
444for matching by any public school district education foundation
445and by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind which shall
446have an opportunity to apply for excess trust funds prior to the
447award of such funds.
448     (b)  Matching grants shall be proportionately allocated
449from the trust fund on the basis of matching each $4 of state
450funds with $6 of private funds. To be eligible for matching, a
451minimum of $4,500 must be raised from private sources.
452     (c)  Funds sufficient to provide the match shall be
453transferred from the state trust fund to the public school
454education foundation or to the Florida School for the Deaf and
455the Blind Endowment Fund upon notification that a proportionate
456amount has been received and deposited by the foundation or
457school into its own trust fund.
458     (d)  If the total of the amounts to be distributed in any
459quarter pursuant to this subsection exceeds the amount of funds
460remaining from specific appropriations made for the
461implementation of this section, all grants shall be
462proportionately reduced so that the total of matching grants
463distributed does not exceed available appropriations.
464     (3)  GRANT ADMINISTRATION.--
465     (a)  Each public school district education foundation and
466the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind participating in
467the Florida Academic Improvement Trust Fund shall separately
468account for all funds received pursuant to this section, and may
469establish its own academic improvement trust fund as a
470depository for the private contributions, state matching funds,
471and earnings on investments of such funds. State matching funds
472shall be transferred to the public school district education
473foundation or to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
474Endowment Fund upon notification that the foundation or school
475has received and deposited private contributions that meet the
476criteria for matching as provided in this section. The public
477school district education foundations and the Florida School for
478the Deaf and the Blind are responsible for the maintenance,
479investment, and administration of their academic improvement
480trust funds.
481     (b)  The public school district education foundations and
482the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind shall be
483responsible for soliciting and receiving contributions to be
484deposited and matched with grants for academic achievement
485within the school district or school.
486     (c)  Each public school district education foundation and
487the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind shall be
488responsible for proper expenditure of the funds received
489pursuant to this section.
490     Section 12.  Subsection (5) of section 1011.80, Florida
491Statutes, is amended to read:
492     1011.80  Funds for operation of adult technical education
493programs.--
494     (5)  State funding and student fees for workforce
495development instruction funded through the Workforce Development
496Education Fund shall be established as follows:
497     (a)  For a continuing workforce education course, state
498funding shall equal 50 percent of the cost of instruction, with
499student fees, business support, quick-response training funds,
500or other means making up the remaining 50 percent.
501     (b)  For all other workforce development education funded
502through the Workforce Development Education Fund, state funding
503shall equal 75 percent of the average cost of instruction with
504the remaining 25 percent made up from student fees. Fees for
505courses within a program shall not vary according to the cost of
506the individual program, but instead shall be based on a uniform
507fee calculated and set at the state level, as adopted by the
508State Board of Education, unless otherwise specified in the
509General Appropriations Act.
510     (c)  For fee-exempt students pursuant to s. 1009.25, unless
511otherwise provided for in law, state funding shall equal 100
512percent of the average cost of instruction.
513     (d)  For a public educational institution that has been
514fully funded by an external agency for direct instructional
515costs of any course or program, the FTE generated shall not be
516reported for state funding.
517     Section 13.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
5181011.84, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (g) and
519new paragraphs (e) and (f) are added to said subsection to read:
520     1011.84  Procedure for determining state financial support
521and annual apportionment of state funds to each community
522college district.--The procedure for determining state financial
523support and the annual apportionment to each community college
524district authorized to operate a community college under the
525provisions of s. 1001.61 shall be as follows:
526     (1)  DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY
527COLLEGE PROGRAM FUND FOR THE CURRENT OPERATING PROGRAM.--
528     (e)  All state inmate education provided by community
529colleges shall be reported by program, FTE expenditure, and
530revenue source. These enrollments, expenditures, and revenues
531shall be reported and projected separately. Instruction of state
532inmates shall not be included in the full-time equivalent
533student enrollment for funding through the Community College
534Program Fund. Funds in the Community College Program Fund shall
535not be used to offer college-level courses to inmates who do not
536pay their own fees.
537     (f)  When a public educational institution has been fully
538funded by an external agency for direct instructional costs of
539any course or program, the FTE generated shall not be reported
540for state funding.
541     Section 14.  Subsection (3) of section 1012.05, Florida
542Statutes, is amended to read:
543     1012.05  Teacher recruitment and retention.--
544     (3)  The Department of Education, in cooperation with
545district personnel offices, shall sponsor a job fair in a
546central part of the state to match in-state educators and
547potential educators and out-of-state educators and potential
548educators with teaching opportunities in this state. The
549Department of Education is authorized to collect a job fair
550registration fee not to exceed $20 per person and a booth fee
551not to exceed $250 per school district or other interested
552participating organization. The revenue from the fees shall be
553used to promote and operate the job fair. Funds may be used to
554purchase promotional items such as mementos, awards, and
555plaques.
556     Section 15.  Subsections (4) and (5) of section 1012.72,
557Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) and (6),
558respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to said section
559to read:
560     1012.72  Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.-
561     (4)  Funds appropriated to school districts for the Dale
562Hickam Excellent Teaching Program may be used by school
563districts for payment of the employer's share of social security
564and Medicare taxes for those teachers who qualify for NBPTS
565certification and receive bonus amounts under subsection (2).
566     Section 16.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.


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