April 2, 2010
The Legislature
met for just two
days this week,
to consider the
budget. Both
Houses adopted
their versions
of the budget.
They will now go
to conference to
resolve the
differences and
adopt the final
budget prior to
the last day of
session, April
30.
Education does
not fare well in
either budget,
even though the
senate numbers
are higher. In
the House bill,
student funding
is cut from its
current level by
$52 to $6,814
per student. The
Senate budget
shows a $39
increase for a
funding level of
$6,905 per
student.
Senate budget
bill SB 1368
To view the
senate budget go
to:
The Senate total
is roughly $69
billion, about
$2 billion more
than the House.
It is based on
$3 billion from
stimulus funds
from the federal
government,
which includes
$880 million in
Medicaid
stimulus money,
which has not
yet been
approved by
Congress. Over
$400 million
comes from
Seminole Gaming
Compact, again
not yet approved
by Florida
Legislature. The
Senate is also
counting on
property taxes
to be levied
locally based on
a .25-mill levy.
House budget
bill
CS/HB 5101
To view the
House budget go
to:
The House total
is around $67
billion. It
uses stimulus
funds, but also
depends on $788
million from
trust funds. The
House budget
doesn't include
the local tax
increases.
SB 1344
Bright
Futures
While tuition at
state
universities
could rise by as
much as fifteen
percent in both
budgets, the
Senate approved
changes to
Bright Futures.
These changes
include
increasing
standards and
revoking
scholarships
from students
who can't keep
up their
grades. Some of
the new criteria
include raising
the SAT
requirements
from 1270 to
1290 for the top
award and 970 to
1050 for the
secondary award.
If they do not
maintain their
GPA (first tier
must maintain a
3.0, second tier
must maintain a
2.75 GPA) and
lose the
scholarship,
they would not
be able to apply
for
reinstatement.
The Florida
School Boards
Association has
posted a
comparison of
the budgets and
conforming
bill. Please go
to the links
below to access
this
information.
Bill Update
HB
7053 -
the companion to
SB 4, the
standards bill
and
HB 7189,
the companion
bill to
SB 6, the
teacher pay bill
are scheduled
for a hearing on
Monday, April 5
in the
Education Policy
Council at12:30
pm
SB 316,
the booster seat
bill is on the
agenda of the
Senate
Transportation
and Economic
Development
Appropriations,
Tuesday, April
6, 3:15
pm
H B 1009,
the tax credits/
voucher bill has
been placed on
the House
Calendar, on
second reading.
Thank You
