HB 163

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to student involvement in educational
3	governance; providing a short title; creating s.
4	1001.205, F.S.; creating the Florida Educational
5	Student Advisory Council within the Department of
6	Education; establishing an application process for
7	membership on the council; providing for the
8	appointment, membership, terms, and meetings of the
9	council; requiring the State Board of Education to
10	establish council regions; providing council powers
11	and duties; providing for reimbursement for per diem
12	and travel expenses of council members; creating s.
13	1001.454, F.S.; requiring each district school board
14	to establish a student advisory program and designate
15	a districtwide association of student councils;
16	providing for the election of student advisors to the
17	district school board; providing powers and duties of
18	district school boards, district school
19	superintendents, and the association of student
20	councils; providing an effective date.
21
22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1.  This act may be cited as the "Student Advisory
25	in Educational Governance Act."
26	Section 2.  Section 1001.205, Florida Statutes, is created
27	to read:
28	1001.205  Florida Educational Student Advisory Council.-
29	(1)  The Florida Educational Student Advisory Council
30	(FESAC) is created within the Department of Education.
31	(2)  Each district school board shall establish a screening
32	committee to select five applicants from its respective school
33	district who are capable of serving on the FESAC. A student
34	interested in serving on the FESAC shall submit an application,
35	developed by the State Board of Education, and all of the
36	following to the school district screening committee:
37	(a)  A resume.
38	(b)  Letters of endorsement from the student's high school
39	advisory council and from a local governmental official.
40	(c)  A 10-page portfolio of community service projects
41	performed since the student's first year in high school.
42	(d)  A 1000-word essay on what the student will do as a
43	member of the FESAC.
44	(e)  A 5-page proposal on any issue affecting the Florida
45	public school system.
46	(3)  Each school district screening committee, upon
47	approval of the district school board, shall submit five student
48	applications along with the information required in paragraphs
49	(2)(a)-(e) to the Department of Education by April 1.
50	(4)(a)  The FESAC shall be composed of the following:
51	1.  Five students appointed by the Governor from nominees
52	submitted by the school district screening committees.
53	2.  Five students appointed by the President of the Senate
54	from nominees submitted by the school district screening
55	committees.
56	3.  Five students appointed by the Speaker of the House of
57	Representatives from nominees submitted by the school district
58	screening committees.
59	4.  Five students appointed by the President of the Florida
60	School Boards Association, Inc., from district school board
61	student advisors, pursuant to s. 1001.454, who have submitted to
62	the association an application that is developed by the
63	association.
64	5.  Five students appointed by the President of the Florida
65	Association of Student Councils from applicants who have
66	submitted to the association an application that is developed by
67	the association.
68	(b)  Each applicant must be enrolled in a Florida public
69	high school and maintain his or her enrollment throughout
70	service on the FESAC.
71	(c)  Members appointed by the Governor, the President of
72	the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
73	shall serve 2-year terms and may not be reappointed. Members
74	appointed by the President of the Florida School Boards
75	Association, Inc., and the President of the Florida Association
76	of Student Councils shall serve 1-year terms and may be
77	reappointed for one additional term.
78	(d)  Vacancies shall be filled by the respective appointing
79	authority from the applications previously submitted for that
80	term.
81	(5)  The FESAC shall elect a chair and vice chair from its
82	membership at its first quarterly meeting each term.
83	(a)  The chair shall preside over all meetings of the FESAC
84	and attend all State Board of Education meetings. The chair
85	shall advise the State Board of Education on behalf of the FESAC
86	at state board meetings.
87	(b)  In the chair's absence, the vice chair shall perform
88	the duties described in paragraph (a).
89	(6)  The FESAC shall:
90	(a)  Meet quarterly in Tallahassee and hold regional
91	meetings once a month in regions established by the State Board
92	of Education.
93	(b)  Advise the Governor, the State Board of Education, and
94	the Commissioner of Education on educational issues and student
95	concerns.
96	(c)  Annually make policy recommendations to the President
97	of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
98	prior to the regular legislative session.
99	(7)  The FESAC may adopt bylaws to govern its operations.
100	(8)  The regions established by the State Board of
101	Education shall operate as committees of the FESAC.
102	(a)  Each region shall elect a chair and vice chair at the
103	first monthly meeting each term. The chair shall preside over
104	all meetings of the respective region. The vice chair shall
105	preside in the absence of the chair.
106	(b)  Each region may adopt bylaws to govern its operations.
107	(9)  A term of the FESAC shall begin on July 1 and end on
108	June 30 each year. The first term of the FESAC shall begin on
109	July 1, 2013.
110	(10)  Members of the FESAC shall serve without compensation
111	but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel
112	expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
113	Section 3.  Section 1001.454, Florida Statutes, is created
114	to read:
115	1001.454  Student advisory program; association of student
116	councils.-
117	(1)  By July 1, 2013, each district school board shall:
118	(a)  Establish a student advisory program which shall
119	include a student advisor to the district school board and may
120	include an assistant student advisor to the district school
121	board, collectively known as the student advisors to the
122	district school board.
123	(b)  Designate a districtwide association of student
124	councils to voice the views and opinions of the students in the
125	school district and to conduct districtwide projects. The
126	association shall consist of all secondary schools in the
127	district, represented by their student councils or student
128	governments. The association shall elect the student advisors to
129	the district school board at a meeting of the association
130	designated by the district school board, with each school in
131	attendance casting one vote. The district school superintendent
132	shall assign one staff member to work with the association.
133	(2)  District school boards and district school
134	superintendents are encouraged to include students on school
135	district advisory councils, pursuant to s. 1001.452, who shall
136	be appointed by the student advisors to the district school
137	board.
138	(3)  A district school board and the association of student
139	councils may adopt rules governing the district's student
140	advisory program and the participation of student advisors in
141	school district activities and decisionmaking.
142	Section 4.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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