Florida Senate - 2024                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 7000
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì692396PÎ692396                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
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       Senator Calatayud moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Between lines 1309 and 1310
    4  insert:
    5         Section 19. Subsection (4) of section 1012.59, Florida
    6  Statutes, is added to read:
    7         1012.59 Certification fees.—
    8         (4) The State Board of Education shall waive initial
    9  subject area examination fees and certification fees for a
   10  teacher who holds a temporary or professional certificate in:
   11         (a) Exceptional Student Education K–12 and who applies to
   12  add a subject coverage in Elementary Education K–6.
   13         (b) Elementary Education K–6 and who applies to add a
   14  subject coverage in Exceptional Student Education K–12.
   15         Section 20. No later than December 1, 2024, the
   16  Commissioner of Education shall make recommendations to the
   17  Governor and Legislature on policy and funding changes to
   18  enhance the development and retention of exceptional student
   19  education instructional personnel. In developing the
   20  recommendations, the commissioner shall consider, but is not
   21  limited to, all of the following:
   22         (1) Alternative certification in place of the Elementary
   23  Education K-6 certificate as an add-on for personnel certified
   24  in exceptional student education.
   25         (2) Financial incentives, including stipends for teacher
   26  education students, loan forgiveness, and instructional
   27  personnel salary adjustments and supplements.
   28         (3) Strategies to encourage high school students to
   29  consider exceptional student education, including through
   30  preapprenticeships and dual enrollment.
   31         (4) Funding under the Florida Education Finance Program to
   32  support school district exceptional student education personnel
   33  and programs.
   34         (5) Innovative staffing, including teacher mentoring and
   35  supports for certified personnel responsibilities for case
   36  management and for instruction.
   37  
   38  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   39  And the title is amended as follows:
   40         Delete line 109
   41  and insert:
   42         professional certificate; amending s. 1012.59, F.S.;
   43         providing examination and certification fee waivers
   44         for certain teachers; requiring the Commissioner of
   45         Education to make recommendations to the Governor and
   46         the Legislature regarding exceptional student
   47         education instructional personnel; requiring the
   48         commissioner to consider certain provisions; repealing
   49         s. 1012.72, F.S.,