2021 Legislative Session Update -- Education
As we get closer to the start of the 2021 Florida Legislative Session things are starting to heat up. Beverly Ledbetter, Chair of our Legislative Committee, has put together the first list of education bills filed so far. Please see below.
HB 51 Charter Schools by McClain
Charter Schools: Authorizes state universities & Florida College System institutions to sponsor charter schools; revises reporting & accountability requirements & populations for which charter school is authorized to limit enrollment process; provides for funding; authorizes career & professional academy to be offered by charter school. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/09/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 63 First Aid for Severe Bleeding by Grieco
First Aid for Severe Bleeding: Requires placement of bleeding control kits in state buildings & schools; requires school districts to provide instruction for all students in first aid for severe bleeding; requires DOE to develop list of approved first aid for severe bleeding instructional programs for certain instructional personnel. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/11/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0075 Feminine Hygiene Products in Public Schools by Grieco
Feminine Hygiene Products in Public Schools: Requires school districts to make feminine hygiene products available, at no charge, in female restroom facilities of public school buildings. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/16/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0099 Use of Epinephrine Auto-injectors on Public K-20 Campuses by Gottlieb
Use of Epinephrine Auto-injectors on Public K-20 Campuses: Provides that state universities & FCS institutions are considered authorized entities for specified purposes relating to emergency use of epinephrine auto-injectors; requires, rather than authorizes, public schools to purchase or acquire supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for specified purposes; requires such epinephrine auto-injectors be maintained in specified location; requires state universities & FCS institutions to purchase or acquire supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for specified purposes; provides requirements for such supplies of epinephrine auto-injectors; requires state universities & FCS institutions to develop specified protocols; provides liability for use of such epinephrine auto-injectors. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/21/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0105 Required Instruction in the History of the Holocaust and of African Americans by Thompson
Required Instruction in the History of the Holocaust and of African Americans: Requires DOE to prepare standards & curriculum related to history of African Americans; authorizes DOE to seek input from or contract with specified entities to develop specified training & resources relating to such instruction; provides requirements for specified entities relating to history of Holocaust & history of African Americans instruction; requires certain statewide, standardized assessments to include curricula content from history of Holocaust & history of African Americans. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/21/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0127 Teach to Lead Program by Hinson
Teach to Lead Program: Requires additional tax funds allocated & applied to FEFP to be used for specified purposes; creates Teach to Lead Program. Effective Date: July 1, 2021, but only if HB 129 or similar legislation takes effect
Actions: 12/28/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0131 Educator Conduct by Duggan
Educator Conduct: Requiring DOE to maintain a disqualification list of individuals; revises provisions relating to employment & termination of public school & private school employees; revises duties of DOE, Commissioner of Education, & school districts relating to employee conduct & employment & termination of public school & private school employees. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/29/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0135 School District Career Center Workforce Education Programs by Robinson (W)
School District Career Center Workforce Education Programs: Revises workforce education programs that school district career centers are authorized to conduct. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 12/29/2020 HOUSE Filed
HB 0149 Students with Disabilities in Public Schools by DuBose
Students with Disabilities in Public Schools: Prohibits use of seclusion on students; revises provisions relating to use of restraint on certain students; provides DOE, school district, school, & personnel requirements; provides for placement of video camera in specified classrooms; provides requirements for such placement; requires continuing education & inservice training for teaching students with emotional or behavioral disabilities. Effective Date: July 1, 2021
Actions: 01/04/2021 HOUSE Filed
SB 0242 Student Health Services by Book
Student Health Services; Citing this act as the "Learning with Dignity Act"; defining the terms “feminine hygiene products” and “school building”; requiring school districts to make feminine hygiene products available, at no charge, in female restroom facilities of public school buildings, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/10/2020 SENATE Filed; 12/21/2020 SENATE Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
SB 0250 First Aid for Severe Bleeding by Pizzo
First Aid for Severe Bleeding; Requiring the State Surgeon General to adopt guidelines for the placement of bleeding control kits in state buildings; requiring district school boards to provide a bleeding control kit in every school within the school district; requiring school districts to provide instruction for all students in first aid for severe bleeding; requiring students to study and practice skills associated with first aid for severe bleeding at least once before graduating from high school; requiring the Department of Education to develop a list of approved first aid for severe bleeding instructional programs for certain instructional personnel by a specified date, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/11/2020 SENATE Filed; 12/21/2020 SENATE Referred to Health Policy; Education; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations
SB 0252 Child Care Facilities by Stewart
Child Care Facilities; Citing this act as the "Child Safety Alarm Act"; requiring certain vehicles, by a specified date, to be equipped with a reliable alarm system that meets specified criteria; requiring the Department of Children and Families to adopt by rule minimum safety standards for such systems and to maintain a list of approved alarm manufacturers and alarm systems, etc. Effective Date: 10/1/2021
Actions: 12/11/2020 SENATE Filed; 12/21/2020 SENATE Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Transportation; Rules
SB 0254 Education by Stewart
Education; Requiring specified teachers to have received, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree; requiring private schools to provide specified students with a certain amount of time for recess; requiring private school students to participate in the statewide assessment program; requiring private schools to comply with the State Requirements for Educational Facilities of the Florida Building Code, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/11/2020 SENATE Filed; 12/21/2020 SENATE Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
SB 0280 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training In Public Schools by Baxley
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in Public Schools; Providing that school districts are encouraged to provide basic training in first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in specified grades; requiring school districts to provide basic training in first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in specified grades; revising requirements for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/16/2020 SENATE Filed
SB 0282 Moments of Silence in Public Schools by Baxley
Moments of Silence in Public Schools; Providing legislative findings; requiring that public school principals require certain teachers to set aside time for a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day; prohibiting teachers from making suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence; deleting a provision authorizing district school boards to provide a brief period of silent prayer or meditation; requiring certain teachers to encourage parents or guardians to discuss the moment of silence with their children and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/17/2020 SENATE Filed
SB 0366 Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Training by Hutson
Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Training; Revising the general duties of the Department of Education with regard to apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs; revising the membership of the State Apprenticeship Advisory Council; providing that apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program sponsors are responsible for the selection and training of certain personnel, as approved by the department; encouraging state university boards of trustees and apprenticeship program sponsors to cooperate in developing and establishing apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs that include career instruction, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/22/2020 SENATE Filed
SB 0380 Child Restraint Requirements by Perry
Child Restraint Requirements; Increasing the age of children for whom operators of motor vehicles must provide protection by using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device; increasing the age of children for whom a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat may be used, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2021
Actions: 12/23/2020 SENATE Filed
SB 0410 Materials Harmful To Minors by Rodriguez (A)
Materials Harmful to Minors; Prohibiting a person from selling or renting specified materials to a minor for monetary consideration; providing that a public school student may be exposed to certain teaching only in accordance with a specified procedure; requiring school districts or specified schools to notify and request the written consent of parents before the teaching of reproductive health or any sexually transmitted disease; authorizing a student’s parent or a county resident to contest on specified grounds a district school board’s adoption of certain instructional material, etc. Effective Date: Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2021
Actions: 01/04/2021 SENATE Filed