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April 16, 2010
It was a rather
tumultuous and
eventful week at
the Capitol.
While the entire
Capitol was on
tenterhooks
awaiting the
Governor's
decision on SB
6, there were
several
important
education bills
that passed out
of committees.
Constitutional
Amendment
SJR 2550/HJR
1399
which bear the
title Religious
Freedom passed
Senate and House
committees on
party lines and
moved to their
last committee
of reference,
the Rules
committee. These
identical bills
repeal the No
Aid clause in
the Florida
Constitution
that prohibits
the use of state
funds, directly
or indirectly,
to aid churches
or sectarian
institutions. In
addition, the
proposed bill
adds language
that will read
"An individual
may not be
barred from
participating in
any public
program because
that individual
has freely
chosen to use
his or her
program benefits
at a religious
provider." This
creates
confusion and
may mislead
voters into
believing that
it is truly
about religious
freedom.
If this passes,
it opens the
door wide for
vouchers to be
reinstituted,
further
depleting funds
for public
education. The
bills will have
to pass with a
3/5ths majority
in each House
and then receive
a 60% majority
vote at the
ballot box in
November.
Please watch for
our alerts and
respond to them
as it is vital
that this bill
be stopped as
soon as
possible.
The texting
bills are making
progress and it
appears that
there will be a
consolidation of
the bills, to
incorporate
texting, use of
hands free
device and other
provisions.
Both SB 316, the
booster seat
bill and SB 1096
Civics Education
were placed on
the Special
order Calendar
in the Senate
and will be up
for debate and
discussion on
the floor.
Budget
There has been
little movement
on the budget.
The Federal
Medicaid funds
that the Senate
factored into
its budget may
not be available
and this means
major revisions
to the senate
version during
conference. The
Seminole
Compact, also
factored in by
the senate has
cleared the
senate floor and
been sent to the
House.
The House and
Senate announced
named their
conferees and
scheduled an
organizational
meeting 10:00am
on Saturday,
April 17, 2010.
Please click on
the links below
to see the list
of the
conference
committee
members from
each House.
Senate Budget
Conferees
House Budget
Conferees
For bill updates
please go to:
FPTA Legislative
Report
2010 Bills
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