Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1336
       
       
        
       By Senator Braynon
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00368-15                                           20151336__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to charter schools; amending s.
    3         1002.33, F.S.; requiring a charter school applicant to
    4         provide verified evidence of a surety bond or secured
    5         escrow account in a certain amount within a specified
    6         timeframe; amending s. 1002.331, F.S.; conforming a
    7         cross-reference; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Present paragraphs (g) and (h) of subsection (6)
   12  of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   13  paragraphs (h) and (i), respectively, and a new paragraph (g) is
   14  added to that subsection to read:
   15         1002.33 Charter schools.—
   16         (6) APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.—Charter school
   17  applications are subject to the following requirements:
   18         (g) After approval of its application, but before the first
   19  day of classes, a charter school applicant shall provide
   20  verified evidence of a surety bond or secured escrow account in
   21  an amount that meets or exceeds the expense projection for the
   22  first year of operation, including, but not limited to, all
   23  salaries, leases, and purchase services.
   24         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
   25  1002.331, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   26         1002.331 High-performing charter schools.—
   27         (3)(a) A high-performing charter school may submit an
   28  application pursuant to s. 1002.33(6) in any school district in
   29  the state to establish and operate a new charter school that
   30  will substantially replicate its educational program. An
   31  application submitted by a high-performing charter school must
   32  state that the application is being submitted pursuant to this
   33  paragraph and must include the verification letter provided by
   34  the Commissioner of Education pursuant to subsection (5). If the
   35  sponsor fails to act on the application within 60 days after
   36  receipt, the application is deemed approved and the procedure in
   37  s. 1002.33(6)(i) s. 1002.33(6)(h) applies. If the sponsor denies
   38  the application, the high-performing charter school may appeal
   39  pursuant to s. 1002.33(6).
   40         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.