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 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
By Florence Brainerd, FRA Legislative Advocate
March, 2001
THE TALLAHASSEE SCENE -
The 2001 Legislative Session began with the Governor Bush's State of the State address to
legislators. Sixty-four of 160 legislators are entering their first regular session.
Gone are the days when education was a headliner made by our state leaders.
In his address, Governor Jeb Bush asked for resources to modernize our voting
systems. He touched on education, improvements to long-term care, tax cuts, and
civil service restructuring. There are few specifics in the areas of election reform
and funding for education and health care.
BUDGET-
The Governor and DOE have presented fairly decent education budgets. However,
the Senate and House have sliced through many programs provided in the past, and those
proposed by the Governor and Commissioner of Education. Listed is a comparison of
several budget items.
ITEM
GOV
DOE
SENATE HOUSE
Supplemental Acad. Instr.
$671.164M $686.235M
$676.928M $677.222M
Instructional Materials
212.880M
217.892M 196.308M
213.539M
Teacher Lead Program
15.238M
15.269M
15.044M
15.386M
Teacher Training
36M
37,374M
36M
36M
Teacher Recruitment/Retention
50M
60M
60M
Reading Initiatives
11M
7.420M
DOE
Reading intervention strategies (70K)
DOE Family Lit &
Reading Exec Center (850K)
DOE
Improvement of grades 4-12 reading (6.5M)
Note: Last year Florida received $26M federal reading grant to be expended in 2001 &
2002 budgets.
FILED BILLS -
Over thirty education bills have been filed and many have been heard in committees.
However, only a few are of interest to FRA and its adopted issues.
Senate Bill 520 Reading - Senator Miller filed this one last year. It provides
intent to set aside time each day in each K-4 classroom for reading instruction and
development, with DOE providing technical support. It passed both Senate and House
Education Committees.
SB 646 and HB 429 Classroom Size - Insures that by 2010, 16 students max per class
in grades preK-3 will be allowed; and, in grades 4-8, 20 students max per class allowed;
and grades 9-12, 25 students max per classroom.
At this time there is no major legislation in motion that can affect FRA to any great
extent. The greatest concern is how much the House and Senate plan to cut education
programs. FRA needs to remain vigilant and keep in touch with state legislators
(e-mail is good) and let them know funding for reading initiatives and programs should be
included and secured in the 2001-2002 budget.
EDUCATION STANDARDS COMMISSION -
The ESC met in Tallahassee March 21-23, at the Turlington Ed. Building. Items on the
agenda included:
Education Priorities for 2001 Legislature
Development of Subject Area Tests for Teacher Certification
Florida Alternative Certification Program
Update on the Florida Excellent Teaching Program
Supply & Demand of Teachers
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING (CABINET) -
March 13, 2001 and April 24, 2001 - Tallaassee Capitol, 9:00 A.M.
HOUSE EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS - MEMBERS
"REPRESENTATIVES"
Evelyn Lynn, Chair - Ormond Beach, lynn.evelyn@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-9873
Dwight Stansel, Vice Chair - Live Oak, stansel.dwight@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-9835
JD Alexander - Winter Haven, alexander.jd@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-9465
Ralph Arza - Hialeah, arza.ralph@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-1683
Dennis Baxley - Ocala, baxley.dennis@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-0335
Susan Bucher - West Palm Beach, bucher.susan@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-0175
Nancy Detert - Venice, detert.nancy@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-1171
Mark Flanagan - Bradenton, flanagan.mark@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-4086
Stan Jordan - Jacksonville, jordan.stan@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-4388
Charlie Justice - St. Petersburg, justice.charlie@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-9337
Perry McGriff - Gainesville, mcgriff.perry@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-0887
David Mealor - Lake Mary, mealor.david@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-5843
Jerry Melvin - Fort Walton, melvin.jerry@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-1170
Joe Pickens - Palatka, pickens.joe@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-0665
Curtis Richardson - Tallahassee, richardson.curtis@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-1798
Chris Smith - Fort Lauderdale, smigh.chris@leg.state.fl.us; (850)488-1084
SENATE EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS - MEMBERS
"SENATORS"
Don Sullivan, Chair - 408 Senate Office Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100;
sullivan.don.web@leg.state.fl.us; (850)487-5065; (h) St. Petersburg , 22nd
District (727)893-9657
Buddy Dyer - 202 SOB (dito); dyer.buddy.web@leg.state.fl.us;
(850)487-5190; (h) Orlando, 14th District
(407)245-0882
Rudy Garcia - 212 SOB (dito); garcia.rudy.web@leg.state.fl.us;
(850)487-5106; (h) Hialeah, 39th District
Betty Holzendorf - 410 SOB (dito); fax (904)359-6880;
(850)487-5024; (h) Jacksonville, 2nd District
Jack Latvala - 412 SOB (dito); latvala.jack.web@leg.state.fl.us;
(850)487-5062; (h) Palm Harbor, 19th District
Les Miller - 218 SOB (dito); miller.lesley.web@leg.state.fl.us;
(850)487-5059; (h) Tampa, 21st District
Daniel Webster - 316 SOB (dito); fax (407)297-2064;
(850)487-5047; (h) Winter Garden, 12th District
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