HB 1259

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to education; amending s. 121.091, F.S.;
3	increasing the period of time during which certain charter
4	school instructional personnel may participate in the
5	Florida Retirement System Deferred Retirement Option
6	Program; extending such participation to certain school
7	district prekindergarten instructional personnel; deleting
8	an obsolete provision; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; revising
9	provisions relating to appeal of a charter school
10	application denial; revising provisions relating to
11	charter school renewal terms; revising provisions relating
12	to a charter school's annual report; revising provisions
13	relating to student eligibility to attend a charter
14	school; providing requirements for distribution of funds
15	to charter schools; providing priority to charter schools
16	for the lease or purchase of public school property and
17	facilities; requiring a sponsor to provide additional
18	services relating to school lunches under the federal
19	lunch program; amending s. 1003.03, F.S.; providing for
20	calculation for compliance with class size maximums for
21	certain schools and programs; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.,
22	relating to district school tax; providing that use of
23	capital improvement millage for district schools include
24	charter schools; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; authorizing
25	additional uses for charter school capital outlay funds;
26	providing an effective date.
27
28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30	Section 1.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (13) of
31	section 121.091, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
32	121.091  Benefits payable under the system.--Benefits may
33	not be paid under this section unless the member has terminated
34	employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(a) or begun
35	participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program as
36	provided in subsection (13), and a proper application has been
37	filed in the manner prescribed by the department. The department
38	may cancel an application for retirement benefits when the
39	member or beneficiary fails to timely provide the information
40	and documents required by this chapter and the department's
41	rules. The department shall adopt rules establishing procedures
42	for application for retirement benefits and for the cancellation
43	of such application when the required information or documents
44	are not received.
45	(13)  DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM.--In general, and
46	subject to the provisions of this section, the Deferred
47	Retirement Option Program, hereinafter referred to as the DROP,
48	is a program under which an eligible member of the Florida
49	Retirement System may elect to participate, deferring receipt of
50	retirement benefits while continuing employment with his or her
51	Florida Retirement System employer. The deferred monthly
52	benefits shall accrue in the System Trust Fund on behalf of the
53	participant, plus interest compounded monthly, for the specified
54	period of the DROP participation, as provided in paragraph (c).
55	Upon termination of employment, the participant shall receive
56	the total DROP benefits and begin to receive the previously
57	determined normal retirement benefits. Participation in the DROP
58	does not guarantee employment for the specified period of DROP.
59	Participation in the DROP by an eligible member beyond the
60	initial 60-month period as authorized in this subsection shall
61	be on an annual contractual basis for all participants.
62	(a)  Eligibility of member to participate in the DROP.--All
63	active Florida Retirement System members in a regularly
64	established position, and all active members of either the
65	Teachers' Retirement System established in chapter 238 or the
66	State and County Officers' and Employees' Retirement System
67	established in chapter 122, which systems are consolidated
68	within the Florida Retirement System under s. 121.011, are
69	eligible to elect participation in the DROP if provided that:
70	1.  The member is not a renewed member of the Florida
71	Retirement System under s. 121.122, or a member of the State
72	Community College System Optional Retirement Program under s.
73	121.051, the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program
74	under s. 121.055, or the optional retirement program for the
75	State University System under s. 121.35.
76	2.  Except as provided in subparagraph 6., election to
77	participate is made within 12 months immediately following the
78	date on which the member first reaches normal retirement date,
79	or, for a member who reaches normal retirement date based on
80	service before he or she reaches age 62, or age 55 for Special
81	Risk Class members, election to participate may be deferred to
82	the 12 months immediately following the date the member attains
83	57, or age 52 for Special Risk Class members. For a member who
84	first reached normal retirement date or the deferred eligibility
85	date described above prior to the effective date of this
86	section, election to participate shall be made within 12 months
87	after the effective date of this section. A member who fails to
88	make an election within the such 12-month limitation period
89	shall forfeit all rights to participate in the DROP. The member
90	shall advise his or her employer and the division in writing of
91	the date on which the DROP shall begin. The Such beginning date
92	may be subsequent to the 12-month election period, but must be
93	within the 60-month or, with respect to members who are
94	instructional personnel employed by the Florida School for the
95	Deaf and the Blind and who have received authorization by the
96	Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the
97	Blind to participate in the DROP beyond 60 months, or who are
98	instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in
99	grades K-12 and who have received authorization by the district
100	school superintendent to participate in the DROP beyond 60
101	months, the 96-month maximum participation limitation period as
102	provided in subparagraph (b)1. When establishing eligibility of
103	the member to participate in the DROP for the 60-month or, with
104	respect to members who are instructional personnel employed by
105	the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and who have
106	received authorization by the Board of Trustees of the Florida
107	School for the Deaf and the Blind to participate in the DROP
108	beyond 60 months, or who are instructional personnel as defined
109	in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received
110	authorization by the district school superintendent to
111	participate in the DROP beyond 60 months, the 96-month maximum
112	participation period, the member may elect to include or exclude
113	any optional service credit purchased by the member from the
114	total service used to establish the normal retirement date. A
115	member with dual normal retirement dates is shall be eligible to
116	elect to participate in DROP within 12 months after attaining
117	normal retirement date in either class.
118	3.  The employer of a member electing to participate in the
119	DROP, or employers if dually employed, shall acknowledge in
120	writing to the division the date the member's participation in
121	the DROP begins and the date the member's employment and DROP
122	participation will terminate.
123	4.  Simultaneous employment of a participant by additional
124	Florida Retirement System employers subsequent to the
125	commencement of participation in the DROP is shall be
126	permissible provided such employers acknowledge in writing a
127	DROP termination date no later than the participant's existing
128	termination date or the 60-month participation limitation period
129	as provided in subparagraph (b)1.
130	5.  A DROP participant may change employers while
131	participating in the DROP, subject to the following:
132	a.  A change of employment must take place without a break
133	in service so that the member receives salary for each month of
134	continuous DROP participation. If a member receives no salary
135	during a month, DROP participation shall cease unless the
136	employer verifies a continuation of the employment relationship
137	for such participant pursuant to s. 121.021(39)(b).
138	b.  Such participant and new employer shall notify the
139	division of the identity of the new employer on forms required
140	by the division as to the identity of the new employer.
141	c.  The new employer shall acknowledge, in writing, the
142	participant's DROP termination date, which may be extended but
143	not beyond the original 60-month or, with respect to members who
144	are instructional personnel employed by the Florida School for
145	the Deaf and the Blind and who have received authorization by
146	the Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the
147	Blind to participate in the DROP beyond 60 months, or who are
148	instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in
149	grades K-12 and who have received authorization by the district
150	school superintendent to participate in the DROP beyond 60
151	months, the 96-month maximum participation period provided in
152	subparagraph (b)1., shall acknowledge liability for any
153	additional retirement contributions and interest required if the
154	participant fails to timely terminate employment, and shall be
155	subject to the adjustment required in sub-subparagraph (c)5.d.
156	6.  Effective July 1, 2001, for instructional personnel as
157	defined in s. 1012.01 s. 1012.01(2), election to participate in
158	the DROP may shall be made at any time following the date on
159	which the member first reaches normal retirement date. The
160	member shall advise his or her employer and the division in
161	writing of the date on which the DROP Deferred Retirement Option
162	Program shall begin. When establishing eligibility of the member
163	to participate in the DROP for the 60-month or, with respect to
164	members who are instructional personnel employed by the Florida
165	School for the Deaf and the Blind and who have received
166	authorization by the Board of Trustees of the Florida School for
167	the Deaf and the Blind to participate in the DROP beyond 60
168	months, or who are instructional personnel as defined in s.
169	1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received
170	authorization by the district school superintendent to
171	participate in the DROP beyond 60 months, the 96-month maximum
172	participation period, as provided in subparagraph (b)1., the
173	member may elect to include or exclude any optional service
174	credit purchased by the member from the total service used to
175	establish the normal retirement date. A member with dual normal
176	retirement dates is shall be eligible to elect to participate in
177	either class.
178	(b)  Participation in the DROP.--
179	1.  An eligible member may elect to participate in the DROP
180	for a period not to exceed a maximum of 60 calendar months or,
181	with respect to members who are instructional personnel employed
182	by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and who have
183	received authorization by the Board of Trustees of the Florida
184	School for the Deaf and the Blind to participate in the DROP
185	beyond 60 months, or who are instructional personnel as defined
186	in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in prekindergarten through grade 12 who
187	are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program and
188	employed by a public school grades K-12 and who have received
189	authorization by the district school superintendent to
190	participate in the DROP beyond 60 calendar months, or who are
191	instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in
192	prekindergarten through grade 12 who are funded through the
193	Florida Education Finance Program and employed by a charter
194	school and who have received authorization from the governing
195	board of the charter school to participate in the DROP beyond 60
196	calendar months, 96 calendar months immediately following the
197	date on which the member first reaches his or her normal
198	retirement date or the date to which he or she is eligible to
199	defer his or her election to participate as provided in
200	subparagraph (a)2. However, a member who has reached normal
201	retirement date prior to the effective date of the DROP is shall
202	be eligible to participate in the DROP for up to for a period of
203	time not to exceed 60 calendar months or, with respect to
204	members who are instructional personnel employed by the Florida
205	School for the Deaf and the Blind and who have received
206	authorization by the Board of Trustees of the Florida School for
207	the Deaf and the Blind to participate in the DROP beyond 60
208	months, or who are instructional personnel as defined in s.
209	1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and who have received
210	authorization by the district school superintendent to
211	participate in the DROP beyond 60 calendar months, 96 calendar
212	months, as appropriate, immediately following the effective date
213	of the DROP, except that a member of the Special Risk Class who
214	has reached normal retirement date prior to the effective date
215	of the DROP and whose total accrued value exceeds 75 percent of
216	average final compensation as of his or her effective date of
217	retirement may shall be eligible to participate in the DROP for
218	no more than 36 calendar months immediately following the
219	effective date of the DROP.
220	2.  Upon deciding to participate in the DROP, the member
221	shall submit, on forms required by the division:
222	a.  A written election to participate in the DROP;
223	b.  Selection of the DROP participation and termination
224	dates, which satisfy the limitations stated in paragraph (a) and
225	subparagraph 1. The Such termination date must shall be in a
226	binding letter of resignation to with the employer, establishing
227	a deferred termination date. The member may change the
228	termination date within the limitations of subparagraph 1., but
229	only with the written approval of the his or her employer;
230	c.  A properly completed DROP application for service
231	retirement as provided in this section; and
232	d.  Any other information required by the division.
233	3.  The DROP participant shall be a retiree under the
234	Florida Retirement System for all purposes, except for paragraph
235	(5)(f) and subsection (9) and ss. 112.3173, 112.363, 121.053,
236	and 121.122. However, participation in the DROP does not alter
237	the participant's employment status and the member is such
238	employee shall not be deemed retired from employment until his
239	or her deferred resignation is effective and termination occurs
240	as provided in s. 121.021(39).
241	4.  Elected officers shall be eligible to participate in
242	the DROP subject to the following:
243	a.  An elected officer who reaches normal retirement date
244	during a term of office may defer the election to participate in
245	the DROP until the next succeeding term in that office. An Such
246	elected officer who exercises this option may participate in the
247	DROP for up to 60 calendar months or for a period of no longer
248	than the such succeeding term of office, whichever is less.
249	b.  An elected or a nonelected participant may run for a
250	term of office while participating in DROP and, if elected,
251	extend the DROP termination date accordingly, except that,
252	however, if such additional term of office exceeds the 60-month
253	limitation established in subparagraph 1., and the officer does
254	not resign from office within the such 60-month limitation, the
255	retirement and the participant's DROP shall be null and void as
256	provided in sub-subparagraph (c)5.d.
257	c.  An elected officer who is dually employed and elects to
258	participate in DROP shall be required to satisfy the definition
259	of termination within the 60-month or, with respect to members
260	who are instructional personnel employed by the Florida School
261	for the Deaf and the Blind and who have received authorization
262	by the Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and
263	the Blind to participate in the DROP beyond 60 months, or who
264	are instructional personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d)
265	in grades K-12 and who have received authorization by the
266	district school superintendent to participate in the DROP beyond
267	60 months, the 96-month maximum participation limitation period
268	as provided in subparagraph 1. for the nonelected position and
269	may continue employment as an elected officer as provided in s.
270	121.053. The elected officer shall will be enrolled as a renewed
271	member in the Elected Officers' Class or the Regular Class, as
272	provided in ss. 121.053 and 121.122, on the first day of the
273	month after termination of employment in the nonelected position
274	and termination of DROP. Distribution of the DROP benefits shall
275	be made as provided in paragraph (c).
276	Section 2.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (6), paragraph (b)
277	of subsection (7), paragraph (l) of subsection (9), paragraph
278	(a) of subsection (10), paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection
279	(17), paragraph (e) of subsection (18), and paragraph (a) of
280	subsection (20) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are
281	amended to read:
282	1002.33  Charter schools.--
283	(6)  APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.--Charter school
284	applications are subject to the following requirements:
285	(d)  For charter school applications in school districts
286	that have not been granted exclusive authority to sponsor
287	charter schools pursuant to s. 1002.335(5), the right to appeal
288	an application denial under paragraph (c) shall be contingent on
289	the applicant having submitted the same or a substantially
290	similar application to the district school board and the Florida
291	Schools of Excellence Commission or one of its cosponsors. Any
292	such applicant whose application is denied by the commission or
293	one of its cosponsors and subsequent to its denial by the
294	district school board may exercise its right to appeal the
295	district school board's denial under paragraph (c) within 30
296	days after receipt of the commission's or cosponsor's denial or
297	failure to act on the application. However, the applicant
298	forfeits its right to appeal under paragraph (c) if it fails to
299	submit its application to the commission or one of its
300	cosponsors by August 1 of the school year immediately following
301	the district school board's denial of the application.
302	(7)  CHARTER.--The major issues involving the operation of
303	a charter school shall be considered in advance and written into
304	the charter. The charter shall be signed by the governing body
305	of the charter school and the sponsor, following a public
306	hearing to ensure community input.
307	(b)1.  A charter may be renewed if provided that a program
308	review demonstrates that the criteria in paragraph (a) have been
309	successfully accomplished and that none of the grounds for
310	nonrenewal established by paragraph (8)(a) has been documented.
311	In order to facilitate long-term financing for charter school
312	construction, charter schools operating for a minimum of 3 years
313	and demonstrating exemplary academic programming and fiscal
314	management must be provided the option of are eligible for a 15-
315	year charter renewal. A Such long-term charter is subject to
316	annual review and may be terminated during the term of the
317	charter.
318	2.  The 15-year charter renewal must be offered by a
319	sponsor that may be granted pursuant to subparagraph 1. shall be
320	granted to a charter school that has received a school grade of
321	"A" or "B" pursuant to s. 1008.34 in 3 of the past 4 years and
322	is not in a state of financial emergency or deficit position as
323	defined by this section. Such long-term charter is subject to
324	annual review and may be terminated during the term of the
325	charter pursuant to subsection (8).
326	(9)  CHARTER SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.--
327	(l)  The governing body of the charter school shall report
328	its progress annually to its sponsor, which shall forward the
329	report to the Commissioner of Education at the same time as
330	other annual school accountability reports. The Department of
331	Education shall develop a uniform, online annual accountability
332	report format to be completed by charter schools. This report
333	shall be easy to utilize and contain demographic information,
334	student performance data, and financial accountability
335	information. A charter school may directly access, complete, and
336	correct school data and information in the online accountability
337	report. The sponsor shall review the report before final
338	submission to shall not be required to provide information and
339	data that is duplicative and already in the possession of the
340	department. The department of Education shall include in its
341	compilation a notation if a school failed to file its report by
342	the deadline established by the department. The report shall
343	include at least the following components:
344	1.  Student achievement performance data, including the
345	information required for the annual school report and the
346	education accountability system governed by ss. 1008.31 and
347	1008.345. Charter schools are subject to the same accountability
348	requirements as other public schools, including reports of
349	student achievement information that links baseline student data
350	to the school's performance projections identified in the
351	charter. The charter school shall identify reasons for any
352	difference between projected and actual student performance.
353	2.  Financial status of the charter school which must
354	include revenues and expenditures at a level of detail that
355	allows for analysis of the school's ability to meet financial
356	obligations and timely repayment of debt.
357	3.  Documentation of the facilities in current use and any
358	planned facilities for use by the charter school for instruction
359	of students, administrative functions, or investment purposes.
360	4.  Descriptive information about the charter school's
361	personnel, including salary and benefit levels of charter school
362	employees, the proportion of instructional personnel who hold
363	professional or temporary certificates, and the proportion of
364	instructional personnel teaching in-field or out-of-field.
365	(10)  ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.--
366	(a)  A charter school shall be open to any student covered
367	in an interdistrict agreement or residing in the school district
368	in which the charter school is located; however, in the case of
369	a charter lab school, the charter lab school shall be open to
370	any student eligible to attend the lab school as provided in s.
371	1002.32 or who resides in the school district in which the
372	charter lab school is located. Any eligible student shall be
373	allowed interdistrict transfer to attend a charter school when
374	based on good cause. Good cause shall include, but not be
375	limited to, geographic proximity to a charter school in a
376	neighboring school district.
377	(17)  FUNDING.--Students enrolled in a charter school,
378	regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded as if they are in
379	a basic program or a special program, the same as students
380	enrolled in other public schools in the school district. Funding
381	for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s. 1002.32.
382	(b)  The basis for the agreement for funding students
383	enrolled in a charter school shall be the sum of the school
384	district's operating funds from the Florida Education Finance
385	Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations
386	Act, including gross state and local funds, discretionary
387	lottery funds, and funds from the school district's current
388	operating discretionary millage levy; divided by total funded
389	weighted full-time equivalent students in the school district;
390	multiplied by the weighted full-time equivalent students for the
391	charter school. Charter schools whose students or programs meet
392	the eligibility criteria in law shall be entitled to their
393	proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the
394	total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program
395	by the Legislature, including transportation. Total funding for
396	each charter school shall be recalculated during the year to
397	reflect the revised calculations under the Florida Education
398	Finance Program by the state and the actual weighted full-time
399	equivalent students reported by the charter school during the
400	full-time equivalent student survey periods designated by the
401	Commissioner of Education. Florida Education Finance Program
402	funds for a charter school must be distributed to the charter
403	school by the sponsor within 10 days after receipt by the state.
404	(c)  If the sponsor district school board is providing
405	programs or services to students funded by federal funds, any
406	eligible students enrolled in charter schools in the school
407	district shall be provided federal funds for the same level of
408	service provided students in the schools operated by the
409	district school board. Pursuant to provisions of 20 U.S.C. 8061
410	s. 10306, all charter schools shall receive all federal funding
411	for which the school is otherwise eligible, including Title I
412	funding and funding under the Individuals with Disabilities
413	Education Act, not later than 5 months after the charter school
414	first opens and within 5 months after any subsequent expansion
415	of enrollment.
416	(18)  FACILITIES.--
417	(e)  If a district school board facility or property is
418	available because it is surplus, marked for disposal, or
419	otherwise unused, it shall be provided for a charter school's
420	use on the same basis as it is made available to other public
421	schools in the district. If a school district closes a public
422	school, the property and facilities must first be made available
423	within 60 days, for lease or purchase, to charter schools within
424	the district to be used for educational purposes. A charter
425	school receiving property from the school district may not sell
426	or dispose of such property without written permission of the
427	school district. Similarly, for an existing public school
428	converting to charter status, no rental or leasing fee for the
429	existing facility or for the property normally inventoried to
430	the conversion school may be charged by the district school
431	board to the parents and teachers organizing the charter school.
432	The charter school shall agree to reasonable maintenance
433	provisions in order to maintain the facility in a manner similar
434	to district school board standards. The Public Education Capital
435	Outlay maintenance funds or any other maintenance funds
436	generated by the facility operated as a conversion school shall
437	remain with the conversion school.
438	(20)  SERVICES.--
439	(a)  A sponsor shall provide certain administrative and
440	educational services to charter schools. These services shall
441	include contract management services; full-time equivalent and
442	data reporting services; exceptional student education
443	administration services; services related to eligibility and
444	reporting duties required to ensure that school lunch services
445	under the federal lunch program, consistent with the needs of
446	the charter school, are provided by the school district at the
447	request of the charter school, that any funds due the charter
448	school under the federal lunch program be paid to the charter
449	school as soon as the charter school begins serving food under
450	the federal lunch program, and that the charter school is paid
451	at the same time and in the same manner under the federal lunch
452	program as other public schools serviced by the sponsor or
453	school district; test administration services, including payment
454	of the costs of state-required or district-required student
455	assessments; processing of teacher certificate data services;
456	and information services, including equal access to student
457	information systems that are used by public schools in the
458	district in which the charter school is located. Student
459	performance data for each student in a charter school,
460	including, but not limited to, FCAT scores, standardized test
461	scores, previous public school student report cards, and student
462	performance measures, shall be provided by the sponsor to a
463	charter school in the same manner provided to other public
464	schools in the district. A total administrative fee for the
465	provision of such services shall be calculated based upon up to
466	5 percent of the available funds defined in paragraph (17)(b)
467	for all students. However, a sponsor may only withhold up to a
468	5-percent administrative fee for enrollment for up to and
469	including 500 students. For charter schools with a population of
470	501 or more students, the difference between the total
471	administrative fee calculation and the amount of the
472	administrative fee withheld may only be used for capital outlay
473	purposes specified in s. 1013.62(2). Sponsors shall not charge
474	charter schools any additional fees or surcharges for
475	administrative and educational services in addition to the
476	maximum 5-percent administrative fee withheld pursuant to this
477	paragraph.
478	Section 3.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
479	1003.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
480	1003.03  Maximum class size.--
481	(2)  IMPLEMENTATION.--
482	(b)  Determination of the number of students per classroom
483	in paragraph (a) shall be calculated as follows:
484	1.  For fiscal years 2003-2004 through 2005-2006, the
485	calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings
486	shall be the average at the district level.
487	2.  For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2007-2008, the
488	calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings
489	shall be the average at the school level.
490	3.  For fiscal years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and thereafter,
491	the calculation for compliance shall be at the individual
492	classroom level. However, the calculation for compliance for
493	charter schools, public school magnet programs, or other public
494	school parental choice programs shall remain the average at the
495	school level or program level.
496	4.  For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2009-2010 and
497	thereafter, each teacher assigned to any classroom shall be
498	included in the calculation for compliance.
499	Section 4.  Subsection (2) of section 1011.71, Florida
500	Statutes, is amended to read:
501	1011.71  District school tax.--
502	(2)  In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in
503	subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 2 mills
504	against the taxable value for school purposes for district
505	schools, including charter schools at the discretion of the
506	school board, to fund:
507	(a)  New construction and remodeling projects, as set forth
508	in s. 1013.64(3)(b) and (6)(b) and included in the district's
509	educational plant survey pursuant to s. 1013.31, without regard
510	to prioritization, sites and site improvement or expansion to
511	new sites, existing sites, auxiliary facilities, athletic
512	facilities, or ancillary facilities.
513	(b)  Maintenance, renovation, and repair of existing school
514	plants or of leased facilities to correct deficiencies pursuant
515	to s. 1013.15(2).
516	(c)  The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of school
517	buses.
518	(d)  The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of new and
519	replacement equipment.
520	(e)  Payments for educational facilities and sites due
521	under a lease-purchase agreement entered into by a district
522	school board pursuant to s. 1003.02(1)(f) or s. 1013.15(2), not
523	exceeding, in the aggregate, an amount equal to three-fourths of
524	the proceeds from the millage levied by a district school board
525	pursuant to this subsection.
526	(f)  Payment of loans approved pursuant to ss. 1011.14 and
527	1011.15.
528	(g)  Payment of costs directly related to complying with
529	state and federal environmental statutes, rules, and regulations
530	governing school facilities.
531	(h)  Payment of costs of leasing relocatable educational
532	facilities, of renting or leasing educational facilities and
533	sites pursuant to s. 1013.15(2), or of renting or leasing
534	buildings or space within existing buildings pursuant to s.
535	1013.15(4).
536	(i)  Payment of the cost of school buses when a school
537	district contracts with a private entity to provide student
538	transportation services if the district meets the requirements
539	of this paragraph.
540	1.  The district's contract must require that the private
541	entity purchase, lease-purchase, or lease, and operate and
542	maintain, one or more school buses of a specific type and size
543	that meet the requirements of s. 1006.25.
544	2.  Each such school bus must be used for the daily
545	transportation of public school students in the manner required
546	by the school district.
547	3.  Annual payment for each such school bus may not exceed
548	10 percent of the purchase price of the state pool bid.
549	4.  The proposed expenditure of the funds for this purpose
550	must have been included in the district school board's notice of
551	proposed tax for school capital outlay as provided in s.
552	200.065(10).
553	(j)  Payment of the cost of the opening day collection for
554	the library media center of a new school.
555	Section 5.  Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (2) of
556	section 1013.62, Florida Statutes, to read:
557	1013.62  Charter schools capital outlay funding.--
558	(2)  A charter school's governing body may use charter
559	school capital outlay funds for the following purposes:
560	(f)  Any of the purposes set forth in s. 1011.71(2).
561
562	Conversion charter schools may use capital outlay funds received
563	through the reduction in the administrative fee provided in s.
564	1002.33(20) for renovation, repair, and maintenance of school
565	facilities that are owned by the sponsor.
566	Section 6.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.