HB 0115 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the Florida School Recognition Program;
3	amending s. 1008.36, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
4	the distribution of financial awards; providing an
5	effective date.
6
7	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9	Section 1. Section 1008.36, Florida Statutes, is amended
10	to read:
11	1008.36 Florida School Recognition Program.--
12	(1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a
13	performance incentive program for outstanding faculty and staff
14	in highly productive schools. The Legislature further finds that
15	performance-based incentives are commonplace in the private
16	sector and should be infused into the public sector as a reward
17	for productivity.
18	(2) The Florida School Recognition Program is created to
19	provide financial awards to public schools that:
20	(a) Sustain high performance by receiving a school grade
21	of "A," making excellent progress; or
22	(b) Demonstrate exemplary improvement due to innovation
23	and effort by improving a letter grade.
24	(3) All public schools, including charter schools, that
25	receive a school grade pursuant to s. 1008.34 are eligible to
26	participate in the program.
27	(4) All selected schools shall receive financial awards
28	depending on the availability of funds appropriated and the
29	number and size of schools selected to receive an award. Funds
30	must be distributed to the school's fiscal agent and placed in
31	the school's account and must be used for purposes listed in
32	subsection (5) as determined jointly by the school's staff and
33	school advisory council. If school staff and the school advisory
34	council cannot reach agreement by November 1, the awards must be
35	equally distributed in the following manner:
36	(a) Forty percent of the funds must be divided equally
37	among all school employees who are currently employed at the
38	school.
39	(b) Sixty percent of the funds must be used as the school
40	advisory council deems appropriate for the purposes listed in
41	paragraph (5)(b) or paragraph (5)(c) to all classroom teachers
42	currently teaching in the school.
43	(5) School recognition awards must be used for the
44	following:
45	(a) Nonrecurring bonuses to the faculty and staff;
46	(b) Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or
47	materials to assist in maintaining and improving student
48	performance; or
49	(c) Temporary personnel for the school to assist in
50	maintaining and improving student performance.
51
52	Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive
53	awards are not subject to collective bargaining.
54	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.