HB 589

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to disability awareness; amending s.
3	1003.4205, F.S.; requiring each district school board
4	to provide disability history and awareness
5	instruction in all K-12 public schools; requiring the
6	Department of Education to assist in creating the
7	curriculum for the disability history and awareness
8	instruction; providing for individual presenters who
9	have disabilities to provide the disability history
10	and awareness instruction; requiring the Department of
11	Education to establish a disability history and
12	awareness advisory council; providing membership of
13	the council; requiring the department to provide a
14	liaison to assist the council; requiring the
15	department to act as the fiscal agent for all
16	financial transactions required by the council;
17	providing responsibilities of the council; providing
18	meeting times for the council; providing an effective
19	date.
20
21	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23	Section 1.  Section 1003.4205, Florida Statutes, is amended
24	to read:
25	1003.4205  Disability history and awareness instruction.-
26	(1)  Each district school board shall may provide
27	disability history and awareness instruction in all K-12 public
28	schools in the district during the first 2 weeks in October each
29	year. The district school board shall designate these 2 weeks as
30	"Disability History and Awareness Weeks." The Department of
31	Education shall assist in creating the curriculum for the
32	disability history and awareness instruction that will be used
33	in each school district.
34	(2)(a)  During this 2-week period, students shall may be
35	provided intensive instruction to expand their knowledge,
36	understanding, and awareness of individuals who have with
37	disabilities, the history of disability, and the disability
38	rights movement. Disability history must may include the events
39	and timelines of the development and evolution of services to,
40	and the civil rights of, individuals who have with disabilities.
41	Disability history must may also include the contributions of
42	specific individuals who have with disabilities, including the
43	contributions of acknowledged national leaders.
44	(b)  Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the
45	instruction shall may be integrated into the existing school
46	curriculum in ways including, but not limited to, supplementing
47	lesson plans, holding school assemblies, or providing other
48	school-related activities. The instruction shall may be
49	delivered by individual presenters who have disabilities and who
50	have been approved by the Department of Education as presenters
51	qualified school personnel or by knowledgeable guest speakers,
52	with a particular focus on including individuals with
53	disabilities.
54	(c)1.  The Department of Education shall establish a
55	disability history and awareness advisory council. The council
56	shall consist of nine members as follows:
57	a.  The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
58	b.  A state resident who has a disability, appointed by the
59	Commissioner of Education, from each of the following regions:
60	(I)  Region 1, composed of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia,
61	Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon,
62	Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington
63	Counties.
64	(II)  Region 2, composed of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay,
65	Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette,
66	Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee,
67	Taylor, and Union Counties.
68	(III)  Region 3, composed of Brevard, Indian River, Lake,
69	Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, St. Lucie, Seminole, Sumter, and
70	Volusia Counties.
71	(IV)  Region 4, composed of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough,
72	Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties.
73	(V)  Region 5, composed of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto,
74	Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Lee Counties.
75	(VI)  Region 6, composed of Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade,
76	Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties.
77	c.  A member from the House of Representatives, appointed
78	by the Governor, or his or her designee.
79	d.  A member from the Senate, appointed by the Governor, or
80	his or her designee.
81	2.  The department shall provide a liaison to assist the
82	council in its operation. The department shall act as the fiscal
83	agent for all financial transactions required by the council.
84	3.  The responsibilities of the council shall be, but are
85	not limited to:
86	a.  Ensuring that each presenter has first-hand knowledge
87	and experience pertaining to the challenges facing individuals
88	who have disabilities;
89	b.  Ensuring that each presenter meets the requirements of
90	s. 1012.465, the Jessica Lunsford Act, in the county in which
91	the presenter shall instruct; and
92	c.  Submitting an annual report to the Governor, the
93	President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
94	Representatives, and the superintendent of each school district
95	in this state.
96	4.  The council shall meet at least twice a year and more
97	often as needed.
98	(3)  The goals of disability history and awareness
99	instruction include:
100	(a)  Better treatment for individuals who have with
101	disabilities, especially for youth in school, and increased
102	attention to preventing the bullying or harassment of students
103	who have with disabilities.
104	(b)  Encouragement to individuals who have with
105	disabilities to develop increased self-esteem, resulting in more
106	individuals who have with disabilities gaining pride in being an
107	individual with a disability, obtaining postsecondary education,
108	entering the workforce, and contributing to their communities.
109	(c)  Reaffirmation of the local, state, and federal
110	commitment to the full inclusion in society of, and the equal
111	opportunity for, all individuals who have with disabilities.
112	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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