Florida Senate - 2017 CS for SB 1588
By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and
Domestic Security; and Senator Latvala
583-02710-17 20171588c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to military and veteran support;
3 amending s. 83.683, F.S.; requiring landlords,
4 condominium associations, cooperative associations,
5 and homeowners’ associations that require a
6 servicemember’s spouse or certain adult dependents to
7 submit a rental application to complete the processing
8 of the application of within a specified timeframe;
9 amending s. 295.187, F.S.; requiring the Department of
10 Veterans’ Affairs to create a website to streamline
11 the procedure for businesses applying for
12 certification as a veteran business enterprise;
13 amending s. 454.021, F.S.; authorizing the Supreme
14 Court to admit on motion a bar applicant who is the
15 spouse of a servicemember stationed in this state
16 under certain circumstances; amending s. 1012.56,
17 F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to
18 expedite the processing of an application for educator
19 certification submitted by a spouse of a servicemember
20 stationed in this state; requiring the State Board of
21 Education to adopt rules regarding extending validity
22 of a temporary certificate if the applicant is a
23 spouse of a servicemember stationed in this state;
24 providing legislative findings and intent regarding
25 continuing education for veterans of the United States
26 Armed Forces; providing legislative intent to require
27 collaboration between the State Board of Education and
28 the Board of Governors of the State University System
29 in achieving specified goals regarding educational
30 opportunities for veterans; providing an effective
31 date.
32
33 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
34
35 Section 1. Section 83.683, Florida Statutes, is amended to
36 read:
37 83.683 Rental application by a servicemember.—
38 (1) If a landlord requires a prospective tenant to complete
39 a rental application before residing in a rental unit, the
40 landlord must complete processing of a rental application
41 submitted by a prospective tenant who is a servicemember, as
42 defined in s. 250.01, within 7 days after submission and must,
43 within that 7-day period, notify the servicemember in writing of
44 an application approval or denial and, if denied, the reason for
45 denial. If the landlord requires the servicemember’s spouse or
46 any adult dependents of the servicemember who are to reside in
47 the same rental unit to submit a rental application, the
48 landlord must process those applications within the same 7-day
49 period. Absent a timely denial of the rental application, the
50 landlord must lease the rental unit to the servicemember if all
51 other terms of the application and lease are complied with.
52 (2) If a condominium association, as defined in chapter
53 718, a cooperative association, as defined in chapter 719, or a
54 homeowners’ association, as defined in chapter 720, requires a
55 prospective tenant of a condominium unit, cooperative unit, or
56 parcel within the association’s control to complete a rental
57 application before residing in a rental unit or parcel, the
58 association must complete processing of a rental application
59 submitted by a prospective tenant who is a servicemember, as
60 defined in s. 250.01, within 7 days after submission and must,
61 within that 7-day period, notify the servicemember in writing of
62 an application approval or denial and, if denied, the reason for
63 denial. If the association requires the servicemember’s spouse
64 or any adult dependents of the servicemember who are to reside
65 in the same unit or parcel to submit a rental application, the
66 association must process those applications within the same 7
67 day period. Absent a timely denial of the rental application,
68 the association must allow the unit or parcel owner to lease the
69 rental unit or parcel to the servicemember and the landlord must
70 lease the rental unit or parcel to the servicemember if all
71 other terms of the application and lease are complied with.
72 (3) The provisions of this section may not be waived or
73 modified by the agreement of the parties under any
74 circumstances.
75 Section 2. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of
76 section 295.187, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
77 (e), and a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, to
78 read:
79 295.187 Florida Veteran Business Enterprise Opportunity
80 Act.—
81 (6) DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS.—The
82 department shall:
83 (d) Create a website to streamline the procedure for
84 applying for certification as a veteran business enterprise.
85 Section 3. Subsection (4) is added to section 454.021,
86 Florida Statutes, to read:
87 454.021 Attorneys; admission to practice law; Supreme Court
88 to govern and regulate.—
89 (4)(a) The Supreme Court of Florida may admit on motion an
90 applicant as an attorney at law authorized to practice in this
91 state if the applicant is a spouse of a servicemember, as
92 defined in s. 250.01, stationed in this state and upon
93 certification by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners that the
94 applicant meets the following requirements:
95 1. The applicant has registered in the Defense Enrollment
96 Eligibility Reporting System established by the United States
97 Department of Defense;
98 2. The applicant holds a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws
99 from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
100 3. The applicant is licensed to practice law in another
101 state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United
102 States after having passed a written exam;
103 4. The applicant can establish that he or she is a member
104 in good standing in all jurisdictions where licensed to practice
105 law and that he or she is not currently subject to discipline or
106 a pending disciplinary matter relating to the practice of law;
107 5. The applicant can demonstrate his or her presence in
108 this state as a spouse of a servicemember; and
109 6. The applicant has otherwise fulfilled all requirements
110 for admission to practice law in this state.
111 (b) The Supreme Court of Florida may specify circumstances
112 under which the license and authorization to practice law in
113 this state of an attorney licensed in accordance with paragraph
114 (a) terminates.
115 Section 4. Subsections (1) and (7) of section 1012.56,
116 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
117 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
118 (1) APPLICATION.—Each person seeking certification pursuant
119 to this chapter shall submit a completed application containing
120 the applicant’s social security number to the Department of
121 Education and remit the fee required pursuant to s. 1012.59 and
122 rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant to the federal
123 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
124 of 1996, each party is required to provide his or her social
125 security number in accordance with this section. Disclosure of
126 social security numbers obtained through this requirement is
127 limited to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D
128 program of the Social Security Act for child support
129 enforcement. Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue
130 within 90 calendar days after the stamped receipted date of the
131 completed application:
132 (a) If the applicant meets the requirements, a professional
133 certificate covering the classification, level, and area for
134 which the applicant is deemed qualified and a document
135 explaining the requirements for renewal of the professional
136 certificate;
137 (b) If the applicant meets the requirements and if
138 requested by an employing school district or an employing
139 private school with a professional education competence
140 demonstration program pursuant to paragraphs (6)(f) and (8)(b),
141 a temporary certificate covering the classification, level, and
142 area for which the applicant is deemed qualified and an official
143 statement of status of eligibility; or
144 (c) If the an applicant does not meet the requirements for
145 either certificate, an official statement of status of
146 eligibility. The statement of status of eligibility must advise
147 the applicant of any qualifications that must be completed to
148 qualify for certification. Each statement of status of
149 eligibility is valid for 3 years after its date of issuance,
150 except as provided in paragraph (2)(d).
151
152 If the applicant is the spouse of a servicemember, as defined in
153 s. 250.01, stationed in this state and if the applicant holds a
154 current professional standard teaching certificate issued by
155 another state, the department shall expedite the processing of
156 the application and issue a certificate or statement as provided
157 under paragraphs (a)-(c) within 60 calendar days after the
158 stamped receipted date of the completed application.
159 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
160 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
161 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
162 who meets all the requirements outlined in subsection (2) or,
163 for a professional certificate covering grades 6 through 12, any
164 applicant who:
165 1. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h).
166 2. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
167 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
168 3. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
169 advanced degree.
170 4. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
171 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
172 student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
173 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
174 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
175 examination.
176 5. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
177 education competency examination required by state board rule.
178 (b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to
179 any applicant who completes the requirements outlined in
180 paragraphs (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content
181 requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates
182 mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and
183 holds an accredited degree or a degree approved by the
184 Department of Education at the level required for the subject
185 area specialization in state board rule.
186 (c) The department shall issue one nonrenewable 2-year
187 temporary certificate and one nonrenewable 5-year professional
188 certificate to a qualified applicant who holds a bachelor’s
189 degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for
190 completion of a master’s degree program in speech-language
191 impairment.
192
193 Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
194 and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph
195 (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of
196 employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who are
197 employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year time
198 period may continue to be employed through the end of the school
199 year in which they have been contracted. A school district shall
200 not employ, or continue the employment of, an individual in a
201 position for which a temporary certificate is required beyond
202 this time period if the individual has not met the requirement
203 of paragraph (2)(g). The State Board of Education shall adopt
204 rules to allow the department to extend the validity period of a
205 temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
206 professional certificate, not including the requirement in
207 paragraph (2)(g), were not completed due to the serious illness
208 or injury of the applicant, due to the fact that the applicant
209 is the spouse of a servicemember stationed in this state, or due
210 to other extraordinary extenuating circumstances. The department
211 shall reissue the temporary certificate for 2 additional years
212 upon approval by the Commissioner of Education. A written
213 request for reissuance of the certificate shall be submitted by
214 the district school superintendent, the governing authority of a
215 university lab school, the governing authority of a state
216 supported school, or the governing authority of a private
217 school.
218 Section 5. Legislative findings and intent; continuing
219 education of veterans of the United States Armed Forces.—The
220 Legislature finds that many veterans of the United States Armed
221 Forces in this state have completed training and coursework
222 during their military service, including overseas deployments,
223 resulting in tangible and quantifiable strides in their pursuit
224 of a postsecondary degree. The Legislature further finds that
225 the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors of the
226 State University System must work together to ensure that
227 military training and coursework are granted academic credit in
228 order to assist veterans in continuing their education.
229 Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the State
230 Board of Education and the Board of Governors work
231 collaboratively to:
232 (1) Align existing degree programs, including, but not
233 limited to, vocational and technical degrees, at each state
234 university and Florida College System institution with
235 applicable military training and experience to maximize academic
236 credit awarded for such training and experience.
237 (2) Appoint and train specific faculty within each degree
238 program at each state university and Florida College System
239 institution as liaisons and contacts for veterans.
240 (3) Incorporate outreach services tailored to disabled
241 veterans into existing disability services on the campus of each
242 state university and Florida College System institution to make
243 available to such veterans information on disability services
244 provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs,
245 other federal and state agencies, and private entities.
246 (4) Facilitate statewide meetings for personnel at state
247 universities and Florida College System institutions who provide
248 student services for veterans to discuss and develop best
249 practices, exchange ideas and experiences, and attend
250 presentations by individuals with expertise in the unique needs
251 of veterans.
252 (5) Make every effort to provide veterans with sufficient
253 courses required for graduation, including, but not limited to,
254 giving priority registration to veterans.
255 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.