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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the opening of public K through 12

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schools; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; providing exceptions

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to a provision prohibiting a public school from opening

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earlier than 14 days before Labor Day; providing

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requirements for the district school board; providing an

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exception for a school operating on a year-round or

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extended calendar; providing an effective date.

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

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     Section 1.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (4) of section

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1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     1001.42  Powers and duties of district school board.--The

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district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all

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powers and perform all duties listed below:

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     (4)  ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATION OF

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SCHOOLS.--Adopt and provide for the execution of plans for the

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establishment, organization, and operation of the schools of the

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district, including, but not limited to, the following:

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     (f)  Opening and closing of schools; fixing uniform

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date.--Adopt policies for the opening and closing of schools and

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fix uniform dates.; however, Beginning with the 2007-2008 school

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year except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the opening

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date for schools in the district may not be earlier than 14 days

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before Labor Day each year.

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     1. A district school board may establish an opening date

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earlier than 14 days before Labor Day if the school board:

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     a. Holds at least three public hearings concerning the

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earlier opening date at different geographic locations throughout

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the school district;

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     b. Surveys the parents of all public school students

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enrolled within the district; and

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     c. Approves the earlier opening date by a unanimous vote.

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     2. A school that operates under a year-round school year or

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an extended calendar shall open and close pursuant to district

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school board policy and may establish an opening date that is

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earlier than 14 days before Labor Day.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.