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Florida PTA
every
child.onevoice

Legislative Update
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.

As you are aware SB 6 was vetoed by the governor.  To read
his veto message, please go to
http://www.flgov.com/pdfs/20100415_veto.pdf.

Thank you for responding to our alerts.  Your voices made the
difference.  Please take a moment to thank the Governor. You
can email him at Charlie.crist@myflorida.com or call him at
850-488-7146.

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
http://bit.ly/9XygRg

House Budget Conferees
http://bit.ly/bqbP43

For bill updates please go to:

FPTA Legislative Report
http://www.floridapta.org/Legislative%20Information/FPTA%20
Legislative%20Report-Apr%2016.pdf

2010 Bills
http://www.floridapta.org/Legislative%20Information/2010%20
Bills-Apr%2016.pdf


Thank You