CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 1 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S A bill to be entitled 1 An act relating to education; amending ss. 192.0105, 2 192.048, and 196.082, F.S.; conforming cross -3 references; amending s. 196.011, F.S.; providing that 4 an annual application for exemption on property used 5 to house a charter school is not necessary; requiri ng 6 the owner or lessee of such property to notify the 7 property appraiser in specified circumstances; 8 providing penalties; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; 9 revising the definition of the term "charter school 10 personnel"; amending s. 1002.45, F.S.; providing 11 approved virtual instruction program provider, virtual 12 charter school, and school district responsibilities 13 relating to statewide assessments and progress 14 monitoring for certain students; creating s. 1003.052, 15 F.S.; establishing the Purple Star School District 16 Program; providing requirements for such program; 17 authorizing the Department of Education to establish 18 additional program criteria; authorizing the State 19 Board of Education to adopt rules; amending s. 20 1003.451, F.S.; requiring school districts and charter 21 schools to provide certain students with an 22 opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational 23 Aptitude Battery Test and consult with a military 24 recruiter; providing requirements for the scheduling 25 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 2 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S of such test; amending s. 1003.53, F.S.; revising 26 requirements for the assignment of students to 27 disciplinary programs and alternative school settings 28 or other programs; deleting provisions relating to 29 second chance schools; revising requirements for 30 dropout prevention and academic intervention programs; 31 requiring such programs to include academic 32 intervention plans for students; providing 33 requirements for such plans; providing that specified 34 provisions apply to all dropout prevention and 35 academic intervention programs; requiring school 36 principals or their designees to make a reasonable 37 effort to notify parents by specified means and to 38 document such effort; creating s. 1004.051, F.S.; 39 prohibiting a public postsecondary institution from 40 implicitly or explicitly prohibiting specified 41 students from being employed; prov iding 42 nonapplicability; amending s. 1006.38, F.S.; requiring 43 instructional materials publishers and manufacturers 44 or their representatives to make sample copies of 45 specified instructional materials available 46 electronically for use by certain institutes for a 47 specified purpose; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; creating 48 associate in arts specialized transfer degrees; 49 providing requirements for such degrees; providing a 50 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 3 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S process for the approval of such degree programs; 51 providing for rulemaking; amending s. 1007.271, F.S.; 52 requiring district school boards to make reasonable 53 efforts to enter into specified agreements with a 54 Florida College System institution for certain online 55 courses; amending s. 1008.33, F.S.; revising the date 56 by which a memorandum of understanding relating to 57 schools in turnaround status must be provided to the 58 department; revising requirements for district -managed 59 turnaround plans; providing requirements for 60 turnaround schools that close and reopen as charter 61 schools and school districts in which s uch schools 62 reside; providing that specified provisions do not 63 apply to certain turnaround schools; requiring the 64 State Board of Education to adopt rules for a charter 65 school turnaround contract and specified leases and 66 agreements; amending s. 1009.21, F.S .; providing an 67 additional method for a student to prove residency for 68 tuition purposes; amending s. 1012.79, F.S.; 69 authorizing the Commissioner of Education to appoint 70 an executive director of the Education Practices 71 Commission; revising the purpose of th e commission; 72 authorizing the commission to expend funds for legal 73 services; repealing s. 1012.86, F.S., relating to the 74 Florida College System institution employment equity 75 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 4 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S accountability program; amending ss. 948.037, 1001.64, 76 1001.65, 1006.07, 1006.09, and 1006.13, F.S.; 77 conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 78 providing an effective date. 79 80 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 81 82 Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) and paragraphs 83 (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 192.0105, Florida 84 Statutes, are amended to read: 85 192.0105 Taxpayer rights. —There is created a Florida 86 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights for property taxes and assessments to 87 guarantee that the rights, privacy, and property of the 88 taxpayers of this state are adequately safeguarded and protected 89 during tax levy, assessment, collection, and enforcement 90 processes administered under the revenue laws of this state. The 91 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights compiles, in one document, brief but 92 comprehensive statements that summarize the rights and 93 obligations of the property appraisers, tax collectors, clerks 94 of the court, local governing boards, the Department of Revenue, 95 and taxpayers. Additional rights afforded to payors of taxes and 96 assessments imposed under the revenue laws of this state are 97 provided in s. 213.015. The rights afforded taxpayers to assure 98 that their privacy and property are safeguarded and protected 99 during tax levy, assessment, and collection are available only 100 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 5 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S insofar as they are implemented in other pa rts of the Florida 101 Statutes or rules of the Department of Revenue. The rights so 102 guaranteed to state taxpayers in the Florida Statutes and the 103 departmental rules include: 104 (1) THE RIGHT TO KNOW. — 105 (f) The right of an exemption recipient to be sent a 106 renewal application for that exemption, the right to a receipt 107 for homestead exemption claim when filed, and the right to 108 notice of denial of the exemption (see ss. 196.011(7) 109 196.011(6), 196.131(1), 196.151, and 196.193(1)(c) and (5)). 110 111 Notwithstanding the ri ght to information contained in this 112 subsection, under s. 197.122 property owners are held to know 113 that property taxes are due and payable annually and are charged 114 with a duty to ascertain the amount of current and delinquent 115 taxes and obtain the necessary information from the applicable 116 governmental officials. 117 (2) THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS. — 118 (b) The right to petition the value adjustment board over 119 objections to assessments, denial of exemption, denial of 120 agricultural classification, denial of historic classification, 121 denial of high-water recharge classification, disapproval of tax 122 deferral, and any penalties on deferred taxes imposed for 123 incorrect information willfully filed. Payment of estimated 124 taxes does not preclude the right of the taxpayer to chal lenge 125 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 6 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S his or her assessment (see ss. 194.011(3), 196.011(7) 196.011(6) 126 and (9)(a), 196.151, 196.193(1)(c) and (5), 193.461(2), 127 193.503(7), 193.625(2), 197.2425, 197.301(2), and 197.2301(11)). 128 (c) The right to file a petition for exemption or 129 agricultural classification with the value adjustment board when 130 an application deadline is missed, upon demonstration of 131 particular extenuating circumstances for filing late (see ss. 132 193.461(3)(a) and 196.011(1), (8), (9), and (10)(e) (7), (8), 133 and (9)(e)). 134 Section 2. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1) 135 of section 192.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 136 192.048 Electronic transmission. — 137 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the following documents may 138 be transmitted electronically rather than by re gular mail: 139 (b) The tax exemption renewal application required under 140 s. 196.011(7)(a) s. 196.011(6)(a). 141 (c) The tax exemption renewal application required under 142 s. 196.011(7)(b) s. 196.011(6)(b). 143 (d) A notification of an intent to deny a tax exemption 144 required under s. 196.011(10)(e) s. 196.011(9)(e). 145 Section 3. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 196.082, 146 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 147 196.082 Discounts for disabled veterans; survivi ng spouse 148 carryover.— 149 (3) If the partially or totally and permanently disabled 150 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 7 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S veteran predeceases his or her spouse and if, upon the death of 151 the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to 152 the homestead and permanently resides thereon as specified in s. 153 196.031, the discount from ad valorem tax that the veteran 154 received carries over to the benefit of the veteran's spouse 155 until such time as he or she remarries or sells or otherwise 156 disposes of the property. If the spouse sells or otherwise 157 disposes of the property, a discount not to exceed the dollar 158 amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be 159 transferred to his or her new residence, as long as it is used 160 as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry. 161 An applicant who is qualified to receive a discount under this 162 section and who fails to file an application by March 1 may file 163 an application for the discount and may file a petition pursuant 164 to s. 194.011(3) with the value adjustment board requesting that 165 the discount be granted. Such application and petition shall be 166 subject to the same procedures as for exemptions set forth in s. 167 196.011(9) s. 196.011(8). 168 (4) To qualify for the discount granted under this 169 section, an applicant must submit to the county p roperty 170 appraiser by March 1: 171 (a) An official letter from the United States Department 172 of Veterans Affairs which states the percentage of the veteran's 173 service-connected disability and evidence that reasonably 174 identifies the disability as combat -related; 175 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 8 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S (b) A copy of the veteran's honorable discharge; and 176 (c) Proof of age as of January 1 of the year to which the 177 discount will apply. 178 179 Any applicant who is qualified to receive a discount under this 180 section and who fails to file an application by March 1 may file 181 an application for the discount and may file, pursuant to s. 182 194.011(3), a petition with the value adjustment board 183 requesting that the discount be granted. Such application and 184 petition shall be subject to the same procedures as for 185 exemptions set forth in s. 196.011(9) s. 196.011(8). 186 Section 4. Subsections (5) through (12) of section 187 196.011, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6) 188 through (13), respectively, present subsections (1), (10), and 189 (11) are amended, and a new subsect ion (5) is added to that 190 section, to read: 191 196.011 Annual application required for exemption. — 192 (1)(a) Except as provided in s. 196.081(1)(b), every 193 person or organization who, on January 1, has the legal title to 194 real or personal property, except inven tory, which is entitled 195 by law to exemption from taxation as a result of its ownership 196 and use shall, on or before March 1 of each year, file an 197 application for exemption with the county property appraiser, 198 listing and describing the property for which exe mption is 199 claimed and certifying its ownership and use. The Department of 200 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 9 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Revenue shall prescribe the forms upon which the application is 201 made. Failure to make application, when required, on or before 202 March 1 of any year shall constitute a waiver of the ex emption 203 privilege for that year, except as provided in subsection (8) 204 (7) or subsection (9) (8). 205 (b) The form to apply for an exemption under s. 196.031, 206 s. 196.081, s. 196.091, s. 196.101, s. 196.102, s. 196.173, or 207 s. 196.202 must include a space for t he applicant to list the 208 social security number of the applicant and of the applicant's 209 spouse, if any. If an applicant files a timely and otherwise 210 complete application, and omits the required social security 211 numbers, the application is incomplete. In tha t event, the 212 property appraiser shall contact the applicant, who may refile a 213 complete application by April 1. Failure to file a complete 214 application by that date constitutes a waiver of the exemption 215 privilege for that year, except as provided in subsecti on (8) 216 (7) or subsection (9) (8). 217 (5) It shall not be necessary to make annual application 218 for exemption on property used to house a charter school 219 pursuant to s. 196.1983. The owner or lessee of any property 220 used to house a charter school pursuant to s. 196.1983 who is 221 not required to file an annual application shall notify the 222 property appraiser promptly whenever the use of the property or 223 the status or condition of the owner or lessee changes so as to 224 change the exempt status of the property. If any ow ner or lessee 225 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 10 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S fails to so notify the property appraiser and the property 226 appraiser determines that for any year within the prior 10 years 227 the owner or lessee was not entitled to receive such exemption, 228 the owner or lessee of the property is subject to the taxes 229 exempted as a result of such failure plus 15 percent interest 230 per annum and a penalty of 50 percent of the taxes exempted. The 231 property appraiser making such determination shall record in the 232 public records of the county a notice of tax lien against any 233 property owned by that person or entity in the county, and such 234 property must be identified in the notice of tax lien. Such 235 property is subject to the payment of all taxes and penalties. 236 Such lien when filed shall attach to any property, identified in 237 the notice of tax lien, owned by the person or entity who 238 illegally or improperly received the exemption. If such person 239 or entity no longer owns property in that county but owns 240 property in some other county or counties in the state, the 241 property appraiser shall record a notice of tax lien in such 242 other county or counties, identifying the property owned by such 243 person or entity in such county or counties, and it shall become 244 a lien against such property in such county or counties. 245 (11)(10) At the option of the property appraiser and 246 notwithstanding any other provision of this section, initial or 247 original applications for homestead exemption for the succeeding 248 year may be accepted and granted after March 1. Reapplication on 249 a short form as authorized by su bsection (6) (5) shall be 250 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 11 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S required if the county has not waived the requirement of an 251 annual application. Once the initial or original application and 252 reapplication have been granted, the property may qualify for 253 the exemption in each succeeding year pursu ant to the provisions 254 of subsection (7) (6) or subsection (10) (9). 255 (12)(11) For exemptions enumerated in paragraph (1)(b), 256 social security numbers of the applicant and the applicant's 257 spouse, if any, are required and must be submitted to the 258 department. Applications filed pursuant to subsection (6) (5) or 259 subsection (7) (6) shall include social security numbers of the 260 applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any. For counties where 261 the annual application requirement has been waived, property 262 appraisers may require refiling of an application to obtain such 263 information. 264 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (24) of section 265 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 266 1002.33 Charter schools. — 267 (24) RESTRICTION ON EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES. — 268 (a) This subsection applies to charter school personnel in 269 a charter school operated by a private entity. As used in this 270 subsection, the term: 271 1. "Charter school personnel" means a charter school 272 owner, president, chairperson of the governing board of 273 directors, superintendent, governing board member, principal, 274 assistant principal, or any other person employed by the charter 275 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 12 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S school who has equivalent decisionmaking authority and in whom 276 is vested the authority, or to whom the authority has been 277 delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, or advance individuals 278 or to recommend individ uals for appointment, employment, 279 promotion, or advancement in connection with employment in a 280 charter school, including the authority as a member of a 281 governing body of a charter school to vote on the appointment, 282 employment, promotion, or advancement of individuals. 283 2. "Relative" means father, mother, son, daughter, 284 brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, 285 husband, wife, father -in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, 286 daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, 287 stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half 288 brother, or half sister. 289 290 Charter school personnel in schools operated by a municipality 291 or other public entity are subject to s. 112.3135. 292 Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section 293 1002.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 294 1002.45 Virtual instruction programs. — 295 (5) STUDENT PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS. —Each student 296 enrolled in the school district's virtual instruction program 297 authorized pursuant to paragraph (1)(c) must: 298 (b) Take statewide assessments pursuant to s. 1008.22 and 299 participate in the coordinated screening and progress monitoring 300 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 13 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S system under s. 1008.25(9). Statewide assessments and progress 301 monitoring may be administered within the school district in 302 which such student resides, or as specified in the contract 303 under in accordance with s. 1008.24(3). If requested by the 304 approved virtual instruction program provider or virtual charter 305 school, the district of residence must provide the student with 306 access to the district's testing facilities. It is the 307 responsibility of the approved virtual instruction program 308 provider or virtual charter school to provide a list of students 309 to be administered statewide assessments and progress monitoring 310 to the school district, inc luding the students' names, Florida 311 Education Identifiers, grade levels, assessments and progress 312 monitoring to be administered, and contact information. Unless 313 an alternative testing site is mutually agreed to by the 314 approved virtual instruction program provider or virtual charter 315 school and the school district, or as specified in the contract 316 under s. 1008.24, all assessments and progress monitoring must 317 be taken at the school to which the student would be assigned 318 according to district school board att endance policies. A school 319 district must provide the student with access to the school's or 320 district's testing facilities and provide the student with the 321 date and time of the administration of each assessment and 322 progress monitoring. 323 Section 7. Section 1003.052, Florida Statutes, is created 324 to read: 325 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 14 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1003.052 The Purple Star School District Program. — 326 (1)(a) The Department of Education shall establish the 327 Purple Star School District Program. At a minimum, the program 328 must require a participating scho ol district to: 329 1. Have at least 75 percent of the schools within the 330 district be designated as Purple Star Campuses under s. 331 1003.051. 332 2. Maintain a web page on the district's website which 333 includes resources for military students and their families a nd 334 a link to each Purple Star Campus's web page that meets the 335 requirements of s. 1003.051(2)(a)2. 336 (b) The department may establish additional program 337 criteria to identify school districts that demonstrate a 338 commitment to or provide critical coordination of services for 339 military students and their families, including, but not limited 340 to, establishing a council consisting of a representative from 341 each Purple Star Campus in the district and one district -level 342 representative to ensure the alignment of milita ry student-343 focused policies and procedures within the district. 344 (2) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 345 administer this section. 346 Section 8. Subsection (4) of section 1003.451, Florida 347 Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5), and a new s ubsection 348 (4) is added to that section to read: 349 1003.451 Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps; military 350 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 15 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S recruiters; access to public school campuses ; Armed Services 351 Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB) .— 352 (4) Each school district and charter scho ol shall provide 353 students in grades 11 and 12 an opportunity to take the Armed 354 Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB) and consult 355 with a military recruiter if the student selects. To optimize 356 student participation, the ASVAB must be scheduled du ring normal 357 school hours. 358 Section 9. Section 1003.53, Florida Statutes, is amended 359 to read: 360 1003.53 Dropout prevention and academic intervention. — 361 (1)(a) Dropout prevention and academic intervention 362 programs may differ from traditional educational programs and 363 schools in scheduling, administrative structure, philosophy, 364 curriculum, or setting and shall employ alternative teaching 365 methodologies, curricula, learning activities, and diagnostic 366 and assessment procedures in order to meet the needs, inter ests, 367 abilities, and talents of eligible students. The educational 368 program shall provide curricula, character development and law 369 education, and related services that support the program goals 370 and lead to improved performance in the areas of academic 371 achievement, attendance, and discipline. Student participation 372 in such programs shall be voluntary. District school boards may, 373 however, assign students to a disciplinary program for 374 disruptive students or an alternative school setting or other 375 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 16 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S program pursuant to s. 1006.13. Notwithstanding any other 376 provision of law to the contrary, no student shall be identified 377 as being eligible to receive services funded through the dropout 378 prevention and academic intervention program based solely on the 379 student being from a single-parent family or having a 380 disability. 381 (b) Students in grades 1 -12 shall be eligible for dropout 382 prevention and academic intervention programs. Eligible students 383 shall be reported in the appropriate basic cost factor in the 384 Florida Education Fina nce Program. The strategies and supports 385 provided to eligible students shall be funded through the 386 General Appropriations Act and may include, but are not limited 387 to, those services identified on the student's academic 388 intervention plan. 389 (c) A student shall be identified as being eligible to 390 receive services funded through the dropout prevention and 391 academic intervention program based upon one of the following 392 criteria: 393 1. The student is academically unsuccessful as evidenced 394 by low test scores, retenti on, failing grades, low grade point 395 average, falling behind in earning credits, or not meeting the 396 state or district achievement levels in reading, mathematics, or 397 writing. 398 2. The student has a pattern of excessive absenteeism or 399 has been identified as a habitual truant. 400 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 17 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 3. The student has a history of disruptive behavior in 401 school or has committed an offense that warrants out -of-school 402 suspension or expulsion from school according to the district 403 school board's code of student conduct. For the purposes of this 404 program, "disruptive behavior" is behavior that: 405 a. Interferes with the student's own learning or the 406 educational process of others and requires attention and 407 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can provide 408 or results in frequen t conflicts of a disruptive nature while 409 the student is under the jurisdiction of the school either in or 410 out of the classroom; or 411 b. Severely threatens the general welfare of students or 412 others with whom the student comes into contact. 413 4. The student is identified by a school's early warning 414 system pursuant to s. 1001.42(18)(b). 415 (d)1. "Second chance schools" means district school board 416 programs provided through cooperative agreements between the 417 Department of Juvenile Justice, private providers, stat e or 418 local law enforcement agencies, or other state agencies for 419 students who have been disruptive or violent or who have 420 committed serious offenses. As partnership programs, second 421 chance schools are eligible for waivers by the Commissioner of 422 Education from State Board of Education rules that prevent the 423 provision of appropriate educational services to violent, 424 severely disruptive, or delinquent students in small 425 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 18 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S nontraditional settings or in court -adjudicated settings. 426 2. District school boards seeking to enter into a 427 partnership with a private entity or public entity to operate a 428 second chance school for disruptive students may apply to the 429 Department of Education for startup grants. These grants must be 430 available for 1 year and must be used to offset the startup 431 costs for implementing such programs off public school campuses. 432 General operating funds must be generated through the 433 appropriate programs of the Florida Education Finance Program. 434 Grants approved under this program shall be for the full 435 operation of the school by a private nonprofit or for -profit 436 provider or the public entity. This program must operate under 437 rules adopted by the State Board of Education and be implemented 438 to the extent funded by the Legislature. 439 3. A student enrolled in a si xth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 440 or tenth grade class may be assigned to a second chance school 441 if the student meets the following criteria: 442 a. The student is a habitual truant as defined in s. 443 1003.01. 444 b. The student's excessive absences have detrimentall y 445 affected the student's academic progress and the student may 446 have unique needs that a traditional school setting may not 447 meet. 448 c. The student's high incidences of truancy have been 449 directly linked to a lack of motivation. 450 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 19 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S d. The student has been identified as at risk of dropping 451 out of school. 452 4. A student who is habitually truant may be assigned to a 453 second chance school only if the case staffing committee, 454 established pursuant to s. 984.12, determines that such 455 placement could be beneficial to the student and the criteria 456 included in subparagraph 3. are met. 457 5. A student may be assigned to a second chance school if 458 the district school board in which the student resides has a 459 second chance school and if the student meets one of the 460 following criteria: 461 a. The student habitually exhibits disruptive behavior in 462 violation of the code of student conduct adopted by the district 463 school board. 464 b. The student interferes with the student's own learning 465 or the educational process of others and require s attention and 466 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can 467 provide, or, while the student is under the jurisdiction of the 468 school either in or out of the classroom, frequent conflicts of 469 a disruptive nature occur. 470 c. The student has committ ed a serious offense which 471 warrants suspension or expulsion from school according to the 472 district school board's code of student conduct. For the 473 purposes of this program, "serious offense" is behavior which: 474 (I) Threatens the general welfare of students or others 475 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 20 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S with whom the student comes into contact; 476 (II) Includes violence; 477 (III) Includes possession of weapons or drugs; or 478 (IV) Is harassment or verbal abuse of school personnel or 479 other students. 480 6. Prior to assignment of students to second ch ance 481 schools, district school boards are encouraged to use 482 alternative programs, such as in -school suspension, which 483 provide instruction and counseling leading to improved student 484 behavior, a reduction in the incidence of truancy, and the 485 development of more effective interpersonal skills. 486 7. Students assigned to second chance schools must be 487 evaluated by the district school board's child study team before 488 placement in a second chance school. The study team shall ensure 489 that students are not eligible for placement in a program for 490 emotionally disturbed children. 491 8. Students who exhibit academic and social progress and 492 who wish to return to a traditional school shall complete a 493 character development and law education program and demonstrate 494 preparedness to reenter the regular school setting prior to 495 reentering a traditional school. 496 (2)(a) Each district school board may establish dropout 497 prevention and academic intervention programs at the elementary, 498 middle, junior high school, or high school level. Programs 499 designed to eliminate patterns of excessive absenteeism or 500 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 21 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S habitual truancy shall emphasize academic performance and may 501 provide specific instruction in the areas of career education, 502 preemployment training, and behavioral management. Such programs 503 shall utilize instructional teaching methods and student 504 services that lead to imp roved student behavior as appropriate 505 to the specific needs of the student. 506 (b) Each school that establishes a dropout prevention and 507 academic intervention program at that school site shall reflect 508 that program in the school improvement plan as required under s. 509 1001.42(18). 510 (c) For each student enrolled in a dropout prevention and 511 academic intervention program, an academic intervention plan 512 shall be developed to address eligibility for placement in the 513 program and to provide individualized student goal s and progress 514 monitoring procedures. A student's academic intervention plan 515 must be consistent with the student's individual education plan 516 (IEP). 517 (3) Each district school board providing receiving state 518 funding for dropout prevention and academic inter vention 519 programs through the General Appropriations Act shall submit 520 information through an annual report to the Department of 521 Education's database documenting the extent to which each of the 522 district's dropout prevention and academic intervention programs 523 has been successful in the areas of graduation rate, dropout 524 rate, attendance rate, and retention/promotion rate. The 525 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 22 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S department shall compile this information into an annual report 526 which shall be submitted to the presiding officers of the 527 Legislature by February 15. 528 (4) Each district school board shall establish course 529 standards, as defined by rule of the State Board of Education, 530 for dropout prevention and academic intervention programs and 531 procedures for ensuring that teachers assigned to the programs 532 are certified pursuant to s. 1012.55 and possess the affective, 533 pedagogical, and content -related skills necessary to meet the 534 needs of these students. 535 (5) Each district school board providing a dropout 536 prevention and academic intervention program pursua nt to this 537 section shall maintain for each participating student records 538 documenting the student's eligibility, the length of 539 participation, the type of program to which the student was 540 assigned or the type of academic intervention services provided, 541 and an evaluation of the student's academic and behavioral 542 performance while in the program. Before The school principal or 543 his or her designee shall, prior to placement in a dropout 544 prevention and academic intervention program or the provision of 545 an academic service, the school principal or his or her designee 546 shall provide written notice of placement or services by 547 certified mail, return receipt requested, to the student's 548 parent; shall make a reasonable effort to notify the student's 549 parent by telephone or e -mail, or both; and must document such 550 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 23 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S effort. The parent of the student shall sign an acknowledgment 551 of the notice of placement or service and return the signed 552 acknowledgment to the principal within 3 days after receipt of 553 the notice. The parents of a stu dent assigned to such a dropout 554 prevention and academic intervention program shall be notified 555 in writing and entitled to an administrative review of any 556 action by school personnel relating to such placement pursuant 557 to the provisions of chapter 120. 558 (6) District school board dropout prevention and academic 559 intervention programs shall be coordinated with social service, 560 law enforcement, prosecutorial, and juvenile justice agencies 561 and juvenile assessment centers in the school district. 562 Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 1002.22, these agencies are 563 authorized to exchange information contained in student records 564 and juvenile justice records. Such information is confidential 565 and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). District school 566 boards and other agencies receiving such information shall use 567 the information only for official purposes connected with the 568 certification of students for admission to and for the 569 administration of the dropout prevention and academic 570 intervention program, and shall maintain the confidentiality of 571 such information unless otherwise provided by law or rule. 572 (7) The State Board of Education shall have the authority 573 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to adopt rules necessary 574 to implement the provisions of this section; such r ules shall 575 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 24 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S require the minimum amount of necessary paperwork and reporting. 576 Section 10. Section 1004.051, Florida Statutes, is created 577 to read: 578 1004.051 Regulation of working students. - 579 (1) A public postsecondary institution may not, as a 580 condition of admission to or enrollment in any of the 581 institution's schools, colleges, or programs, implicitly or 582 explicitly prohibit an applicant or currently enrolled student 583 from being employed, either full time or part time. 584 (2) This section does not apply i f the applicant or 585 currently enrolled student is employed by an organization or 586 agency that is affiliated or associated with a foreign country 587 of concern as defined in s. 288.860(1). 588 Section 11. Subsections (3) through (16) of section 589 1006.38, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) 590 through (17), respectively, present subsections (14) and (16) 591 are amended, and a new subsection (3) is added to that section, 592 to read: 593 1006.38 Duties, responsibilities, and requirements of 594 instructional materia ls publishers and manufacturers. —This 595 section applies to both the state and district approval 596 processes. Publishers and manufacturers of instructional 597 materials, or their representatives, shall: 598 (3) For each adoption cycle, make sample copies of all 599 instructional materials on the commissioner's list of state -600 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 25 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S adopted instructional materials available electronically for use 601 by educator preparation institutes as defined in s. 1004.85(1) 602 to enable educators to practice teaching with currently adopted 603 instructional materials aligned to state academic standards. 604 (15)(14) Accurately and fully disclose only the names of 605 those persons who actually authored the instructional materials. 606 In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (17) (16), 607 the commissioner may remove from the list of state -adopted 608 instructional materials those instructional materials whose 609 publisher or manufacturer misleads the purchaser by falsely 610 representing genuine authorship. 611 (17)(16) Upon the willful failure of the publisher or 612 manufacturer to comply with the requirements of this section, be 613 liable to the department in the amount of three times the total 614 sum which the publisher or manufacturer was paid in excess of 615 the price required under subsections (6) (5) and (7) (6) and in 616 the amount of three times the total value of the instructional 617 materials and services which the district school board is 618 entitled to receive free of charge under subsection (8) (7). 619 Section 12. Subsections (9) and (12) of section 1007.25, 620 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 621 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; 622 other degree requirements. — 623 (9)(a) An associate in arts degree must shall require no 624 more than 60 semester hours of college credit and include 36 625 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 26 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S semester hours of general education coursework. Beginning with 626 students initially entering a Florida College System institution 627 or state university in the 2014-2015 academic year and 628 thereafter, coursework for an associate in arts de gree must 629 shall include demonstration of competency in a foreign language 630 pursuant to s. 1007.262. Except for developmental education 631 required pursuant to s. 1008.30, all required coursework must 632 shall count toward the associate in arts degree or the 633 baccalaureate degree. 634 (b) An associate in arts specialized transfer degree must 635 include 36 semester hours of general education coursework and 636 require 60 semester hours or more of college credit. Specialized 637 transfer degrees are designed for Florida College Sy stem 638 institution students who need supplemental lower -level 639 coursework in preparation for transfer to another institution. 640 The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for the 641 review and approval of new specialized transfer degrees. The 642 approval process must require: 643 1. A Florida College System institution to submit a notice 644 of its intent to propose a new associate in arts specialized 645 degree program to the Division of Florida Colleges. The notice 646 must include the recommended credit hours, the rationale for the 647 specialization, the demand for students entering the field, and 648 the coursework being proposed to be included beyond the 60 649 semester hours required for the general transfer degree, if 650 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 27 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S applicable. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida 651 College System insti tution at any time. 652 2. The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice 653 of intent within 10 business days after receipt to all Florida 654 College System institutions and the Chancellor of the State 655 University System, who shall forward the notice to a ll state 656 universities. State universities and Florida College System 657 institutions shall have 60 days after receipt of the notice to 658 submit comments to the proposed associate in arts specialized 659 transfer degree. 660 3. After the submission of comments pursuan t to 661 subparagraph 2., the requesting Florida College System 662 institution to submit a proposal that, at a minimum, includes: 663 a. Evidence that the coursework for the associate in arts 664 specialized transfer degree includes demonstration of competency 665 in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262 and demonstration 666 of civic literacy competency as provided in subsection (5). 667 b. Demonstration that all required coursework will count 668 toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree. 669 c. An analysis of demand and unmet need for students 670 entering the specialized field of study at the baccalaureate 671 level. 672 d. Justification for the program length if it exceeds 60 673 credit hours, including references to the common prerequisite 674 manual or other requirement s for the baccalaureate degree. This 675 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 28 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S includes documentation of alignment between the exit 676 requirements of a Florida College System institution and the 677 admissions requirements of a baccalaureate program at a state 678 university to which students would typicall y transfer. 679 e. Articulation agreements for graduates of the associate 680 in arts specialized transfer degree. 681 f. Responses to the comments received under subparagraph 682 2. 683 (c) The Division of Florida Colleges shall review the 684 proposal and, within 30 days after receipt, shall provide 685 written notification to the Florida College System institution 686 of any deficiencies and provide the institution with an 687 opportunity to correct the deficiencies. Within 45 days after 688 receipt of a completed proposal by the Divisio n of Florida 689 Colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall recommend approval 690 or disapproval of the new specialized transfer degree to the 691 State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall 692 consider the recommendation at its next meeting. 693 (d) Upon approval of an associate in arts specialized 694 transfer degree by the State Board of Education, a Florida 695 College System institution may offer the degree and shall report 696 data on student and program performance in a manner prescribed 697 by the Department of Education. 698 (e) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 699 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to prescribe format and 700 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 29 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S content requirements and submission procedures for notices of 701 intent, proposals, and compliance reviews under this subsection. 702 (12) A student who received an associate in arts degree 703 for successfully completing 60 semester credit hours may 704 continue to earn additional credits at a Florida College System 705 institution. The university must provide credit toward the 706 student's baccalaure ate degree for an additional Florida College 707 System institution course if, according to the statewide course 708 numbering, the Florida College System institution course is a 709 course listed in the university catalog as required for the 710 degree or as prerequisite to a course required for the degree. 711 Of the courses required for the degree, at least half of the 712 credit hours required for the degree must shall be achievable 713 through courses designated as lower division, except in degree 714 programs approved by the State B oard of Education for programs 715 offered by Florida College System institutions and by the Board 716 of Governors for programs offered by state universities. 717 Section 13. Subsection (4) of section 1007.271, Florida 718 Statutes, is amended to read: 719 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs. — 720 (4)(a) District school boards may not refuse to enter into 721 a dual enrollment articulation agreement with a local Florida 722 College System institution if that Florida College System 723 institution has the capacity to offer dual enrollme nt courses. 724 (b) District school boards must make reasonable efforts to 725 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 30 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S enter into dual enrollment articulation agreements with a 726 Florida College System institution which offers online dual 727 enrollment courses. 728 Section 14. Subsections (4) and (5) of se ction 1008.33, 729 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 730 1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement. — 731 (4)(a) The state board shall apply intensive intervention 732 and support strategies tailored to the needs of schools earning 733 two consecutive grades of "D" or a grade of "F." In the first 734 full school year after a school initially earns a grade of "D," 735 the school district must immediately implement intervention and 736 support strategies prescribed in rule under paragraph (3)(c). 737 For a school that init ially earns a grade of "F" or a second 738 consecutive grade of "D," the school district must either 739 continue implementing or immediately begin implementing 740 intervention and support strategies prescribed in rule under 741 paragraph (3)(c) and provide the departmen t, by August September 742 1, with the memorandum of understanding negotiated pursuant to 743 s. 1001.42(21) and, by October 1, a district-managed turnaround 744 plan for approval by the state board. The plan must include 745 measurable academic benchmarks that put the sc hool on a path to 746 earning and maintaining a grade of "C" or higher The district-747 managed turnaround plan may include a proposal for the district 748 to implement an extended school day, a summer program, a 749 combination of an extended school day and a summer prog ram, or 750 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 31 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S any other option authorized under paragraph (b) for state board 751 approval. A school district is not required to wait until a 752 school earns a second consecutive grade of "D" to submit a 753 turnaround plan for approval by the state board under this 754 paragraph. Upon approval by the state board, the school district 755 must implement the plan for the remainder of the school year and 756 continue the plan for 1 full school year. The state board may 757 allow a school an additional year of implementation before the 758 school must implement a turnaround option required under 759 paragraph (b) if it determines that the school is likely to 760 improve to a grade of "C" or higher after the first full school 761 year of implementation. 762 (b) Unless an additional year of implementation is 763 provided pursuant to paragraph (a), a school that completes a 764 plan cycle under paragraph (a) and does not improve to a grade 765 of "C" or higher must implement one of the following : 766 1. Reassign students to another school and monitor the 767 progress of each reassign ed student; 768 2. Close the school and reopen the school as one or more 769 charter schools, each with a governing board that has a 770 demonstrated record of effectiveness . Upon reopening as a 771 charter school: 772 a. The school district shall continue to operate the 773 school for the following school year and no later than October 1 774 execute a charter school turnaround contract that will allow the 775 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 32 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S charter school an opportunity to conduct an evaluation of the 776 educational program and personnel currently assigned to the 777 school during the year in preparation for assuming full 778 operational control of the school and facility by July 1. The 779 school district may not reduce or remove resources from the 780 school during this time. 781 b. The charter school operator must provide enrollment 782 preference to students currently attending or who would have 783 otherwise attended or been zoned for the school. The school 784 district shall consult and negotiate with the charter school 785 every 3 years to determine whether realignment of the attendance 786 zone is appropriate to ensure that students residing closest to 787 the school are provided with an enrollment preference. 788 c. The charter school operator must serve the existing 789 grade levels served by the school at its current enrollment or 790 higher, but may, at its di scretion, serve additional grade 791 levels. 792 d. The school district may not charge rental or leasing 793 fees for the existing facility or for the property normally 794 inventoried to the school. The school and the school district 795 shall agree to reasonable maintenan ce provisions in order to 796 maintain the facility in a manner similar to all other school 797 facilities in the school district. 798 e. The school district may not withhold an administrative 799 fee for the provision of services identified in s. 800 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 33 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1002.33(20)(a); or 801 3. Contract with an outside entity that has a demonstrated 802 record of effectiveness to provide turnaround services 803 identified in state board rule, which may include school 804 leadership, educational modalities, teacher and leadership 805 professional development, c urriculum, operation and management 806 services, school-based administrative staffing, budgeting, 807 scheduling, other educational service provider functions, or any 808 combination thereof. Selection of an outside entity may include 809 one or a combination of the foll owing: 810 a. An external operator, which may be a district -managed 811 charter school or a high -performing charter school network in 812 which all instructional personnel are not employees of the 813 school district, but are employees of an independent governing 814 board composed of members who did not participate in the review 815 or approval of the charter. 816 b. A contractual agreement that allows for a charter 817 school network or any of its affiliated subsidiaries to provide 818 individualized consultancy services tailored to add ress the 819 identified needs of one or more schools under this section. 820 821 A school district and outside entity under this subparagraph 822 must enter, at minimum, a 2 -year, performance-based contract. 823 The contract must include school performance and growth metrics 824 the outside entity must meet on an annual basis. The state board 825 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 34 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S may require the school district to modify or cancel the 826 contract. 827 (c) Implementation of the turnaround option is no longer 828 required if the school improves to a grade of "C" or higher , 829 unless the school district has already executed a charter school 830 turnaround contract pursuant to this section . 831 (d) If a school earning two consecutive grades of "D" or a 832 grade of "F" does not improve to a grade of "C" or higher after 833 2 school years of implem enting the turnaround option selected by 834 the school district under paragraph (b), the school district 835 must implement another turnaround option. Implementation of the 836 turnaround option must begin the school year following the 837 implementation period of the ex isting turnaround option, unless 838 the state board determines that the school is likely to improve 839 to a grade of "C" or higher if additional time is provided to 840 implement the existing turnaround option. 841 (5) The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to ss. 842 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section. The rules 843 shall include timelines for submission of implementation plans, 844 approval criteria for implementation plans, and timelines for 845 implementing intervention and support strategies , a standard 846 charter school turnaround contract, a standard facility lease, 847 and a mutual management agreement . The state board shall consult 848 with education stakeholders in developing the rules. 849 Section 15. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 850 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 35 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1009.21, Florida Statute s, is amended to read: 851 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition 852 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or 853 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in 854 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical 855 career centers or career centers operated by school districts, 856 in Florida College System institutions, and in state 857 universities. 858 (3) 859 (c) Each institution of higher education shall 860 affirmatively determine that an applicant who has been granted 861 admission to that institution as a Florida resident meets the 862 residency requirements of this section at the time of initial 863 enrollment. The residency determination must be documented by 864 the submission of written or electronic verification that 865 includes two or more of the documents identified in this 866 paragraph, unless the document provided is the document 867 described in sub-subparagraph 1.f., which is deemed a single, 868 conclusive piece of evidence proving residency . No single piece 869 of evidence shall be conclusive. 870 1. The documents must include at least one of the 871 following: 872 a. A Florida voter's registration card. 873 b. A Florida driver license. 874 c. A State of Florida identification card. 875 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 36 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S d. A Florida vehicle registration. 876 e. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied 877 as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual's 878 parent if the individual is a dependent child. 879 f. An application for property tax exemption for homestead 880 property that has been approved by a property appraiser, 881 provided that such property has been continuously maintained as 882 the primary residence for at least 12 months before the first 883 day of the semester for which the resident status is being 884 claimed Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida . 885 g. Transcripts from a Florida hi gh school for multiple 886 years if the Florida high school diploma or high school 887 equivalency diploma was earned within the last 12 months. 888 h. Proof of permanent full -time employment in Florida for 889 at least 30 hours per week for a 12 -month period. 890 2. The documents may include one or more of the following: 891 a. A declaration of domicile in Florida. 892 b. A Florida professional or occupational license. 893 c. Florida incorporation. 894 d. A document evidencing family ties in Florida. 895 e. Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or 896 professional organization. 897 f. Any other documentation that supports the student's 898 request for resident status, including, but not limited to, 899 utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a 900 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 37 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; 901 or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing 902 legal ties to Florida. 903 Section 16. Subsection (5), paragraph (a) of subsection 904 (6), and subsection (9) of section 1012.79, Florida Statutes, 905 are amended to read: 906 1012.79 Education Practices Commission; organization. — 907 (5) The Commissioner of Education may, at his or her 908 discretion, appoint and remove commission, by a vote of three -909 fourths of the membership, shall employ an executive director, 910 who shall be exempt from career service. The executive director 911 may be dismissed by a majority vote of the membership. 912 (6)(a) The commission shall be assigned to the Department 913 of Education for administrative and fiscal accountability 914 purposes. The commissio n, in the performance of its powers and 915 duties, may shall not be subject to control, supervision, or 916 direction by the Department of Education. 917 (9) The commission shall make such expenditures as may be 918 necessary in exercising its authority and powers and carrying 919 out its duties and responsibilities, including expenditures for 920 personal services, legal services general counsel or access to 921 counsel, and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere; for 922 books of reference, periodicals, furniture, equipment, an d 923 supplies; and for printing and binding. The expenditures of the 924 commission shall be subject to the powers and duties of the 925 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 38 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S Department of Financial Services as provided in s. 17.03. 926 Section 17. Section 1012.86, Florida Statutes, is 927 repealed. 928 Section 18. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 948.037, 929 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 930 948.037 Education and learning as a condition of probation 931 or community control. — 932 (2) A juvenile on community control who is a public school 933 student must attend a public adult education program or a 934 dropout prevention program, pursuant to s. 1003.53, which 935 includes a second chance school or an alternative to expulsion, 936 if the school district where the juvenile is enrolled offers 937 such programs, unless the principal of the school determines 938 that special circumstances warrant continuation in the regular 939 educational school program. 940 (3) If a juvenile on community control attends a regular 941 educational school program because a public adult education 942 program or dropout p revention program, which includes a second 943 chance school or an alternative to expulsion, is not available 944 in the school district, the identity of the juvenile on 945 community control, the nature of the felony offense committed by 946 the juvenile, and the conditi ons of community control must be 947 made known to each of the student's teachers. 948 Section 19. Subsection (19) of section 1001.64, Florida 949 Statutes, is amended to read: 950 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 39 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of 951 trustees; powers and duties. — 952 (19) Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or 953 remove the president of the Florida College System institution. 954 The board of trustees may appoint a search committee. The board 955 of trustees shall conduct annual evaluations of the president in 956 accordance with rules of the State Board of Education and submit 957 such evaluations to the State Board of Education for review. The 958 evaluation must address the achievement of the performance goals 959 established by the accountability process implemented pursuant 960 to s. 1008.45 and the performance of the president in achieving 961 the annual and long-term goals and objectives established in the 962 Florida College System institution's employment accountability 963 program implemented pursuant to s. 1012.86 . 964 Section 20. Subsection (22) of section 1001.65, Florida 965 Statutes, is amended to read: 966 1001.65 Florida College System institution presidents; 967 powers and duties.—The president is the chief executive officer 968 of the Florida College System institution, shall be corporate 969 secretary of the Florida College System institution board of 970 trustees, and is responsible for the operation and 971 administration of the Florida College System institution. Each 972 Florida College System institution president shall: 973 (22) Submit an annual employment acc ountability plan to 974 the Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of s. 975 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 40 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 1012.86. 976 Section 21. Paragraphs (l) and (m) of subsection (2) of 977 section 1006.07, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 978 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student 979 discipline and school safety. —The district school board shall 980 provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the 981 attendance and control of students at school, and for proper 982 attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the 983 welfare of students, including: 984 (2) CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT. —Adopt a code of student 985 conduct for elementary schools and a code of student conduct for 986 middle and high schools and distribute the appropriate code to 987 all teachers, school personnel, students, and parents, at the 988 beginning of every school year. Each code shall be organized and 989 written in language that is understandable to students and 990 parents and shall be discussed at the beginning of every school 991 year in student classes, school advisory council meetings, and 992 parent and teacher association or organization meetings. Each 993 code shall be based on the rules governing student conduct and 994 discipline adopted by the district school board and shall be 995 made available in the student handbook or similar publi cation. 996 Each code shall include, but is not limited to: 997 (l) Notice that any student who is determined to have 998 brought a firearm or weapon, as defined in chapter 790, to 999 school, to any school function, or onto any school -sponsored 1000 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 41 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S transportation, or to ha ve possessed a firearm at school, will 1001 be expelled, with or without continuing educational services, 1002 from the student's regular school for a period of not less than 1003 1 full year and referred to mental health services identified by 1004 the school district pursua nt to s. 1012.584(4) and the criminal 1005 justice or juvenile justice system. District school boards may 1006 assign the student to a disciplinary program or second chance 1007 school for the purpose of continuing educational services during 1008 the period of expulsion. Dis trict school superintendents may 1009 consider the 1-year expulsion requirement on a case -by-case 1010 basis and request the district school board to modify the 1011 requirement by assigning the student to a disciplinary program 1012 or second chance school if the request for modification is in 1013 writing and it is determined to be in the best interest of the 1014 student and the school system. 1015 (m) Notice that any student who is determined to have made 1016 a threat or false report, as defined by ss. 790.162 and 790.163, 1017 respectively, involving school or school personnel's property, 1018 school transportation, or a school -sponsored activity will be 1019 expelled, with or without continuing educational services, from 1020 the student's regular school for a period of not less than 1 1021 full year and referred for criminal prosecution and mental 1022 health services identified by the school district pursuant to s. 1023 1012.584(4) for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate. 1024 District school boards may assign the student to a disciplinary 1025 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 42 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S program or second chance school for the purpose of continuing 1026 educational services during the period of expulsion. District 1027 school superintendents may consider the 1 -year expulsion 1028 requirement on a case -by-case basis and request the district 1029 school board to modify the requirement by ass igning the student 1030 to a disciplinary program or second chance school if it is 1031 determined to be in the best interest of the student and the 1032 school system. 1033 Section 22. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 1034 1006.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to re ad: 1035 1006.09 Duties of school principal relating to student 1036 discipline and school safety. — 1037 (1) 1038 (c) The principal or the principal's designee may 1039 recommend to the district school superintendent the expulsion of 1040 any student who has committed a serious br each of conduct, 1041 including, but not limited to, willful disobedience, open 1042 defiance of authority of a member of his or her staff, violence 1043 against persons or property, or any other act which 1044 substantially disrupts the orderly conduct of the school. A 1045 recommendation of expulsion or assignment to a second chance 1046 school may also be made for any student found to have 1047 intentionally made false accusations that jeopardize the 1048 professional reputation, employment, or professional 1049 certification of a teacher or other member of the school staff, 1050 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 43 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S according to the district school board code of student conduct. 1051 Any recommendation of expulsion shall include a detailed report 1052 by the principal or the principal's designated representative on 1053 the alternative measures taken prio r to the recommendation of 1054 expulsion. 1055 Section 23. Subsection (3) of section 1006.13, Florida 1056 Statutes, is amended to read: 1057 1006.13 Policy of zero tolerance for crime and 1058 victimization.— 1059 (3) Zero-tolerance policies must require students found to 1060 have committed one of the following offenses to be expelled, 1061 with or without continuing educational services, from the 1062 student's regular school for a period of not less than 1 full 1063 year, and to be referred to the criminal justice or juvenile 1064 justice system. 1065 (a) Bringing a firearm or weapon, as defined in chapter 1066 790, to school, to any school function, or onto any school -1067 sponsored transportation or possessing a firearm at school. 1068 (b) Making a threat or false report, as defined by ss. 1069 790.162 and 790.163, respectively, involving school or school 1070 personnel's property, school transportation, or a school -1071 sponsored activity. 1072 1073 District school boards may assign the student to a disciplinary 1074 program for the purpose of continuing educational services 1075 CS/HB 1285 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1285-01-c1 Page 44 of 44 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S during the period of expulsion. District school superintendents 1076 may consider the 1-year expulsion requirement on a case -by-case 1077 basis and request the district school board to modify the 1078 requirement by assigning the student to a disciplinary program 1079 or second chance sch ool if the request for modification is in 1080 writing and it is determined to be in the best interest of the 1081 student and the school system. If a student committing any of 1082 the offenses in this subsection is a student who has a 1083 disability, the district school bo ard shall comply with 1084 applicable State Board of Education rules. 1085 Section 24. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 1086