Florida Senate - 2013                                     SB 172
       
       
       
       By Senator Diaz de la Portilla
       
       
       
       
       40-00182-13                                            2013172__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the John M. McKay scholarships for
    3         students with disabilities program; amending s.
    4         1002.39, F.S.; revising the eligibility requirements
    5         for the John M. McKay scholarships for students with
    6         disabilities program; deleting the requirement that a
    7         student must have spent the prior school year in
    8         attendance at a Florida public school; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   14  1002.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         1002.39 The John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with
   16  Disabilities Program.—There is established a program that is
   17  separate and distinct from the Opportunity Scholarship Program
   18  and is named the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with
   19  Disabilities Program.
   20         (2) JOHN M. MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—The parent of a
   21  student with a disability may request and receive from the state
   22  a John M. McKay Scholarship for the child to enroll in and
   23  attend a private school in accordance with this section if:
   24         (a) The student has:
   25         1. Received specialized instructional services under the
   26  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s.
   27  1002.66 during the previous school year and the student has A
   28  current individual educational plan developed by the local
   29  school board in accordance with rules of the State Board of
   30  Education for the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with
   31  Disabilities Program or a 504 accommodation plan has been issued
   32  under s. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
   33         2. Spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida
   34  public school or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
   35  For purposes of this subparagraph, prior school year in
   36  attendance means that the student was enrolled and reported by:
   37         a. A school district for funding during the preceding
   38  October and February Florida Education Finance Program surveys
   39  in kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time spent in a
   40  Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if funded
   41  under the Florida Education Finance Program;
   42         b. The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind during the
   43  preceding October and February student membership surveys in
   44  kindergarten through grade 12; or
   45         c.  A school district for funding during the preceding
   46  October and February Florida Education Finance Program surveys,
   47  was at least 4 years of age when so enrolled and reported, and
   48  was eligible for services under s. 1003.21(1)(e); or
   49         3. Been enrolled and reported by a school district for
   50  funding, during the October and February Florida Education
   51  Finance Program surveys, in any of the 5 years prior to the
   52  2010-2011 fiscal year; has a current individualized educational
   53  plan developed by the district school board in accordance with
   54  rules of the State Board of Education for the John M. McKay
   55  Scholarship Program no later than June 30, 2011; and receives a
   56  first-time John M. McKay scholarship for the 2011-2012 school
   57  year. Upon request of the parent, the local school district
   58  shall complete a matrix of services as required in subparagraph
   59  (5)(b)1. for a student requesting a current individualized
   60  educational plan in accordance with the provisions of this
   61  subparagraph.
   62  
   63  However, a dependent child of a member of the United States
   64  Armed Forces who transfers to a school in this state from out of
   65  state or from a foreign country due to a parent’s permanent
   66  change of station orders is exempt from this paragraph but must
   67  meet all other eligibility requirements to participate in the
   68  program.
   69         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.