HOUSE AMENDMENT Bill No. HB 527 CS
1	CHAMBER ACTION
2	Senate House
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12	Representative Arza offered the following:
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14	Amendment (with title amendment)
15	Remove everything after the enacting clause, and insert:
16	Section 1. (1) A municipality with an unincarcerated
17	population of at least 150,000 as of the latest federal census
18	shall have the ability, by proposal and resolution, to convert
19	all public schools within the jurisdictional boundaries of the
20	municipality to charter schools in accordance with the
21	provisions of this section. Except as otherwise provided in
22	this section, such conversion charter schools are subject to
23	the provisions of s. 1002.33, Florida Statutes. The governing
24	board of such conversion charter schools shall be the
25	legislative body of the municipality, which may serve as the
26	fiscal agent of such conversion charter schools.
27	(2) When it is proposed to exercise the powers granted by
28	this section, a resolution shall be passed by the city council
29	or the legislative body of the municipality, by whatever name
30	known. The resolution shall include a description of a plan for
31	the conversion of all public schools within the jurisdictional
32	boundaries of the municipality to charter schools, which plan
33	includes accountability for student academic achievement. The
34	resolution shall also include a description of a plan by which
35	the conversion charter schools will receive the public education
36	capital outlay maintenance funds or any other maintenance funds
37	generated by the facilities that will be operated as conversion
38	charter schools, as well as the proportionate share of ad
39	valorem tax proceeds. Such resolution shall be put to the voters
40	who reside within the jurisdiction of the municipality during
41	the next municipal election following passage of the resolution.
42	(3) Upon approval of the resolution by a majority of the
43	voters who reside within the jurisdiction of the municipality,
44	the municipality may apply to the district school board within
45	whose jurisdiction the municipality is located for the
46	conversion of all public schools within the jurisdictional
47	boundaries of the municipality. The application must include the
48	plan for the conversion of all public schools within the
49	jurisdictional boundaries of the municipality to charter
50	schools. The application must also include the plan by which the
51	conversion charter schools will receive the public education
52	capital outlay maintenance funds or any other maintenance funds
53	generated by the facilities that will be operated as conversion
54	charter schools, as well as the proportionate share of ad
55	valorem tax proceeds. The application must demonstrate, for each
56	school proposed for conversion, the support of at least 50
57	percent of the teachers employed at each school and the support
58	of at least 50 percent of the parents voting whose children are
59	enrolled at each school, provided that a majority of the parents
60	eligible to vote participate in the ballot process, according to
61	rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
62	(4) A district school board denying an application by a
63	municipality for conversion charter schools shall provide notice
64	of denial in writing within 30 days after the meeting at which
65	the district school board denied the application. The notice
66	must specify the exact reasons for denial and must provide
67	documentation supporting those reasons. Decisions of the school
68	district regarding the application of a municipality for
69	conversion charter schools may be appealed to the State Board of
70	Education.
71	(5) Conversion charter schools created pursuant to this
72	section are not eligible for capital outlay funding pursuant to
73	s. 1002.33(20), Florida Statutes, and shall not under any
74	circumstances request capital outlay funding pursuant to s.
75	1013.62, Florida Statutes.
76	(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and
77	procedures necessary to implement the provisions of this
78	section, pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, Florida
79	Statutes.
80	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
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82	================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =================
83	Remove the entire title, and insert:
84	A bill to be entitled
85	An act relating to educational facilities; authorizing
86	certain municipalities, by proposal and resolution, to
87	convert public schools to charter schools; providing
88	requirements for the resolution; providing for application
89	to the district school board for conversion; providing for
90	notice of denial of application and appeal; providing
91	restrictions relating to capital outlay funding; providing
92	for rules; providing an effective date.