Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education — Closed Captions

>> PRE-K-12 EDUCATION WILL COME TO ORDER. REGINA, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL. >> Chair Burgess: HERE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: >> Sen. Bradley: HERE. >> Sen. Calatayud: HERE. >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: HERE. >> Sen. Massullo: HERE. >> Sen. Osgood: HERE. >> Sen. Simon: HERE. >> Sen. Yarborough: HERE. >> QUORUM IS PRESENT. >> Chair Burgess: A QUORUM IS INDEED PRESENT. COMPLETE SILENCE PLATONIC DEVICES. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE FORM IN HAND TO A MEMBER OF THE SERGEANTS OFFICE. SHOULD YOU SELECT WAIVERS BEGIN TIME YOUR POSITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE MEETING RECORDS. FIRST WE WILL TAKE UP TABLET ONE. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SB 124 ON FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL. >> SENATE BILL 124 UPDATES OF FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL STATUTE TO CLEAN UP UPDATED STATUTORY LANGUAGE. THE BILL DOES NOT CHANGE OF FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOLS SERVE DAY-TO-DAY. ANSWERS WHO FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL SERVED, HOW IT IS GOVERNED AND HOW IT COORDINATES WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THAT IS THE BUILD. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? ANY APPEARANCE FORMS FOR THE BILL? NO, YOU ARE FINE. MELANIE WITH FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL. WAIVING IN SUPPORT. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YOU ARE FINE. IN A DEBATE ON THE BILL? BIG FAN OF WHAT FPLOS IS DOING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD TO MODERNIZE AND EXPAND THEIR MISSION AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE. SO YOU CAN CLOSE ON YOUR BILL. >> YOU JUST CLOSED FOR ME. >> Chair Burgess: PERFECT. I WILL COSPONSOR IT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL ON SB 124. >> Sen. Bradley: YES. >> Sen. Calatayud: YES. >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Massullo: YES. >> Sen. Osgood: YES. >> Sen. Simon: YES. >> Sen. Yarborough: YES. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: >> Chair Burgess: YES. BY YOUR VOTE SHOW SB 124 PASSES. SENATOR GAYLE HARRELL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PRESENT MAY BE FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FOR EDUCATION SB 206 STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen. Harrell: THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS WONDERFUL BILL. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE TRIED TO ATTACK THE ISSUE OF AUTISM IN THE GROWING AND INCREASING NUMBERS OF CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO SUFFER FROM AUTISM. CURRENTLY WANTED AND 31 CHILDREN, NEW STATISTICS. SOMEWHAT AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGE IN THE DSM FIVE DIAGNOSIS OF OUR AUTISM, BUT RIGHT NOW I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER IS ONE IN 31 CHILDREN ARE SOMEWHERE ON THE SPECTRUM OF AUTISM. LAST YEAR WE PASSED MAJOR LEGISLATION LOOKING AT INSTRUCTION IN EDUCATION AND SERVICES FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR. WE PASSED AN AMAZING BILL THAT INCREASED THE AGE TO FOUR YEARS OLD FOR CHILDREN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY STEPS. BUT ONCE A CHILD COMES INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, K-12, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF APPROPRIATELY TRAINED TEACHERS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS INCREASING NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. I AM BLESSED IN MY IMMUNITY TO HAVE THE HOPE SCHOOL FOR AUTISM. IT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL AND IT TREATS CHILDREN, IT TEACHES CHILDREN K-12 IT IS A WAITING LIST OF 200 STUDENTS. WE HAVE MANY COUNTIES ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. THEY ARE BEING TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM BY TEACHERS WHO ARE UNPREPARED TO. THEY DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION TO DEAL ON APPROPRIATELY TEACH STUDENTS AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S A SPECTRUM. YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE CLASSROOMS. YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO TEACH APPROPRIATELY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. THIS BILL ADDRESSES THAT AND WE ARE DOING IN OUR K-12 SYSTEM WE ARE MAKING SURE WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO ARE APPROPRIATELY CHANGE TRAINED. WHAT THE BILL DOES IS REQUIRES OUR PREPARATION INSTITUTES TO OFFER TRAINING IN AUTISM AND OTHER NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IT REQUIRES ESE CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO COMPLETE THE MICRO CREDENTIAL IN AUTISM THAT WE CREATED LAST YEAR. THEY WOULD AT LEAST HAVE THAT CREDENTIAL AS THE VERY BEGINNING PART. THIS IS GOING TO HELP US RECRUIT AND TRAIN TEACHERS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN AUTISM. AGREED SO ALL LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM FOR COMPLETION OF A MASTERS DEGREE OR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENDORSEMENT OF DEFINED ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF 3500 TO A TOTAL OF $17,000 IN LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE GOING BACK, GET THE MASTERS DEGREE OR ARE GETTING THE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENDORSEMENT. IT REQUIRES SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO COMPLETE THE AUTISM ENDORSEMENT AND REMOVES THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING INCENTIVES FOR ESD TEACHERS WHO HOLD THE AUTISM ENDORSEMENT AND TEACH A CLASS WITH STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. THAT WILL BE AN EXTRA INCENTIVE FOR TEACHERS TO GO INTO THIS, AND EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. IT REQUIRES UNIFORM CURRICULA FOR TEACHER REPARATION PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE AUTISM AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES REQUIRES TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS TO OFFER MICRO CREDENTIAL FOR ONE CREDIT TOWARD DEGREE COMPLETION. IT REQUIRES ONE CREDIT DISABILITY TRAINING MUST INCLUDE AUTISM AND OTHER NARROW DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES BEGINNING AUGUST 01, 2027 ESE CERTIFIED TEACHERS MUST EARN THE MICRO CREDENTIAL WHICH COUNTS TOWARD THREE HOURS OF COLLEGE CREDIT FOR AN EQUIVALENT IN-SERVICE EDUCATION FOR CERTIFICATE RENEWALS. AT AUTHORIZES TEACHERS WHO EARNED THAT AUTISM ENDORSEMENT TO RECEIVE THE STIPEND EARLIER AND THAT WOULD TAKE AN APPROPRIATION FROM GUESS WHAT? THIS COMMITTEE. SPECIAL APPROPRIATION. IT REQUIRES DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS MUST INCLUDE ONE AUTISM SPECIFIC TRAINING IN COOPERATION WITH THE LOCAL CARD CENTER. AND THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU VERY MUCH SENATOR HARRELL FOR THAT THOROUGH EXPLANATION. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING FORWARD A GOOD BILL. ANY QUESTIONS ON SENATOR HARRELL'S BILL? SEEING NONE, WE DO A PUBLIC APPEARANCE FORMS. THERE IS NO AMENDMENT. OKAY. GOOD. VERONICA THANK YOU FOR DOING THE PRONUNCIATION. I APPRECIATE THAT. IS SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. COME ON UP. THAT WAS SUPER HELPFUL. THANK YOU FOR COMING. IF YOU DON'T MIND STATING YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> Public Speaker: KEYVELLA. THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE. MY FULL NAME VERONICA KEYVELLA AND I AM A 24 YEAR PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL TEACHER AND ALSO THE MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH ASD. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE FACT THAT I'M SUPPORTING THIS. I FEEL FROM BOTH THOSE PERSPECTIVES THAT THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD ADDITION FOR TEACHERS TO HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM. I STRUGGLED AS A MOTHER, BUT TO HAVE MORE TEACHERS AND MORE EDUCATORS THAT ARE AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF THING WOULD BE MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK MORE WITH SENATOR HARRELL ABOUT THIS BILL AND HOW GOOD INTENTIONS THIS IS. I REALLY THINK IT'S VERY GOOD AT THIS TIME ESPECIALLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Chair Burgess: YES, SIR? >> Vice Chair Pizzo: MA'AM? WHAT DO YOU TEACH? >> Public Speaker: I'M SORRY. I TEACH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL >> HOW OLD IS YOUR CHILD? >> Public Speaker: HE'S 19. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: DID YOU RESEARCH YOU ARE WEARING SENATOR HARRELL FAVORITE COLOR? [LAUGHTER] OR IS IT JUST SERENDIPITOUS AND IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP HERE ON OUT. >> Public Speaker: ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID. >> Chair Burgess: SENATOR HAROLD WILL WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THAT SWEATER FROM SO SHE CAN ADD IT TO THE REPERTOIRE. >> Chair Burgess: HOW MANY RED OUTFIT ADS DO YOU GET ON YOUR FACEBOOK, SENATOR HARRELL? SCROLLING THROUGH. [LAUGHTER] NEXT STEP WE HAVE CHEYENNE SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. I'M SORRY. SHANE. SHANE. >> Public Speaker: IT'S COMPLICATED. SHANE. MY DAD NAMED ME AFTER HIS FAVORITE SURFER. >> Chair Burgess: THAT'S COOL. I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW TODAY. THIS IS AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE. [LAUGHTER] >> Public Speaker: AND I'M A TEACHER. >> Chair Burgess: WHAT DO YOU TEACH. >> Public Speaker: AP STATISTICS, MATH. >> Chair Burgess: WAY BEYOND ME, MAN. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Public Speaker: MY NAME IS SHANE. I'M THANKFUL FOR MY STATE SENATOR TO BRING FORWARD THIS GREAT BILL. AUTISM AWARENESS AND TRAINING IS IMPORTANT FOR TO GIVE A PERSONAL STORY MY TWO SONS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH ASD. I STRUGGLED A LOT WITH SIMILAR THINGS WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE AND THEIR NEUROLOGIST SUGGESTED I GET TESTED AS WELL. I WAS EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED. IT WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL TO ME AS A CHILD INSTEAD OF THINKING THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME WHEN I COULDN'T COMPLETE A SIMPLE TASK LIKE OTHER CHILDREN BUT WOULD'VE UNDERSTOOD MY BRAIN DEVELOPS IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN OTHERS. IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME MENTAL PAIN-AND-SUFFERING. I WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL IF TEACHERS WERE BETTER AWARE OF WHAT AUTISM IS AND WHAT METHODS ARE BEST AND SUPPORTING THEM. THIS WAY THEY CAN MAXIMIZE LEARNING FOR EVERY STUDENT. NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE NEURO- TYPICAL. IT IS IMPORTANT TEACHERS ARE PAID IN FASHION FOR THEIR TRAINING. THIS BILL DOES THAT. MEETING TEACHER SALARIES IN FLORIDA ARE LAST IN THE NATION. WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS ANOTHER UNPAID TRAINING TO FURTHER THE BURDEN. IS ONE PROVISION I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT PERSONALLY THAT I THINK WOULD IMPROVE THE BILL. HER AIDE KAREN WOULDN'T GIVE ME THE APPOINTMENT BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN TALK ONCE WE ARE DONE HERE. >> Chair Burgess: I LOVE THAT YOU JUST THROUGH SHADE AT KAREN. [LAUGHTER] YOU NEED TO GO GET A RED SWEATER. >> Senator Pizzo: YOUR NAME AFTER SHANE HERRING, RIGHT? THE AUSTRALIAN SURFER? IF YOU GO TO MY OFFICE I HAVE A SERGEANT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS SECTION. YOU CAN BORROW A RED SWEATER. GO BACK AND SEE MS. SWEENEY WHO IS AN ABSOLUTE SWEETHEART BUT PROTECTIVE AS A GATEKEEPER FOR SENATOR HARRELL. NEVER MISS SPEAK ABOUT OR ANYTHING ABOUT AGAINST GUARANTOR SHE'S A FANTASTIC INDIVIDUAL. SHE MIGHT'VE JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH THE ME AND SHE WAS UPSET, BUT GO GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY. >> Chair Burgess: THIS MAY BE THE BEST MEETING I HAVE EVER CHAIRED. [laughter] ANY DEBATE? WAIT, WE HAVE WAIVERS. FLORIDA PARENT-TEACHER. HOLD ON. MICHELLE WITH THE PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION IS WISELY JUST WAIVING IN SUPPORT. VICTORIA WITH SUPPORT SERVICES IS WAIVING IN SUPPORT. LISA ELLINGTON IS WAIVING IN SUPPORT FROM WEST PALM BEACH AND MICHAEL WOODS IS SPEAKING -- HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. THIS ONE WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. A RED JACKET! >> BROWN KNOWS. >> Chair Burgess: SIT DOWN, SHANE. >> Public Speaker: SO TODAY IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, SPECIAL ED TEACHER FOR 32 YEARS. 33RD YEAR. TODAY IS READ FOR ED SO EVERY WEDNESDAY TEACHERS WEAR RED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE ARE IMPORTANT AND DO A GREAT JOB THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZED, BUT I DIGRESS. I DON'T. SENATOR PIZZO. >> Chair Burgess: HE NEVER DIGRESSES. [LAUGHTER] >> Public Speaker: I HAVE THE HONOR TO DO THE RECERTIFICATION COURSE FOR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS REQUIRED, EVEN THOUGH I AM BITTER I CAN'T TAKE MY OWN COURSE, HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S TO RESET A VIBRANT WE DO TEACH ABOUT AUTISM. SOME OF MY BEST TIMES IN THE CLASSROOM I MOSTLY OF TAUGHT STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING ASPERGER'S SYNDROME. IT DOES TAKE A SPECIAL TEACHER TO TEACH A STUDENT WITH AUTISM BECAUSE IT'S A VERY BIG SKILL SET. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT DO A WHOLE LARGE CLASS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHERE MY SPECIALTY IS. I DID WANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE, WE ARE GOING TO READ THINK I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE ABOUT ADDING MORE ABOUT AUTISM. WE DO TEACH ABOUT IT. WE HAVE A 40 HOUR RECERTIFICATION COURSE THAT HAS ASD AND IT IS JUST AN OBSERVATION. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO GET RECERTIFIED AND WE HAVE A LOT OF MANDATED COURSES. I HAVE TO TAKE A PATHOGEN COURSE, WHICH WHEN YOU BOIL IT DOWN IS DON'T TOUCH BLOOD. I DO FEEL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CONSIDERATION GIVEN IF YOU ARE IN SPECIAL ED TEACHER MAYBE WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE DEADLINE TIME FOR THAT. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY MANDATED COURSES I TAKE THAT I DON'T GET POINTS FOR CERTIFICATION. UNWILLING TO LEARN MORE. I LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MICRO CREDENTIALS. IF IT'S SOMETHING I CAN SIT DOWN AND DO IT I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO DO IT. SHANE AND I ARE GOOD FRIENDS. HE COMES IN PEACE. AND REALLY HAPPY THIS IS MOVING FORWARD AND I WOULD LIKE, AND I KNOW YOU DO. RECOGNIZE WE ARE AT A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL ED TEACHERS. I RETIRE IN SEVEN YEARS. I'M IN RETIREMENT RIGHT NOW AND THEN I'M GONE. WAS ANOTHER SIGN, CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY OUR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS. WE CAN'T FIND THEM AND 1 CERTIFIED IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS SO, NEXT STEPS ARE TO GET TEACHERS CERTIFIED BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO SUPPORT SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AND TEACHERS AND CLASSROOMS. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: MR. CHAIR. >> Chair Burgess: RECOGNIZE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR INFO. YOU ONLY PUT YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM BUT I WOULD LOVE YOUR INFORMATION. >> Public Speaker: PALM BEACH COUNTY TEACHER ASSOCIATION. WILL BE IN CONTACT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: THANK YOU ALL OF US FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART FOR WHAT YOU DO. SERIOUSLY. >> TAKES AN AMAZING PERSON TO DO THAT. WE APPRECIATED AND NEED YOU. EVERYTHING GOT SO FUN WE HAD FOUR MORE PEOPLE SIGN UP TO SPEAK JUST NOW. CASANOVA. I HOPE YOU ARE WEARING RED. SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. HEY! THAT IS A GRAND ENTRANCE! ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK FOR THE BILL. >> Public Speaker: NOT WEARING RED UNFORTUNATELY BUT GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CASANOVA AND I AM HERE WITH C ALLIANCE. I'VE AUTISM IN THEM A RESULT FORMER STUDENT WHO GRADUATED FROM A SCHOOL IN SARASOTA. AS A PERSON WITH EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH OUR STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE LEGISLATION AND ARSENATE. THE MANY INSTANCES I'VE STRUGGLED TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY STAFF WORKED WITH AND BE PROPERLY ACCOMMODATED SO I CAN FUNCTION WITH THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS AS MY CLASSMATES, WHICH THIS BILL WOULD HELP IN PROPER REGARDING MICRO CREDENTIALS FOR PARTICIPANTS WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME TO GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. TRAINING TEACHERS AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES DESIGNED WITH SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND DISABILITY EXPERTS ATTUNED TO STUDENTS NEEDS WILL GREAT A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY STUDENT IS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. IS UP WITH AUTISM EDUCATIVE FORGIVENESS LOAN IS A MEANINGFUL OBTAINABLE STRATEGY TO RETAIN OUR WONDERFUL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS PROVIDED IT IS PREDICTABLE AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED. MY ASK IS SB 206 BE MOVED FORWARD WITH PROPER GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION DURING THE SUPPORT IS HIGH QUALITY, FULLY FUNDED, AND CAN TRANSLATE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT SO STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF HAVE AN EASIER TIME GUIDED BY EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING OF SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT DOES THE MONEY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT UP, KARINE SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. HELLO. ANOTHER GREAT ENTRANCE. WE MUST TO BE FULL SO THEY ARE MAKING -- I GOT IT NOW. I THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO BE GRAND. NOW I REALIZE IT'S NOT THAT COOL. >> Public Speaker: ARE MEMBERS, I NAME IS KARINE. , RETIRED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER HERE AT THE C ALLIANCE. WE SUPPORT THE COLE CORE GOAL OF SB 206 STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM DISORDER AND OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISABILITIES BY IMPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION AND RETENTION. THE MAJORITY OF MY CAREER WAS TEACHING STUDENTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE AUTISM. I WAS THE FIRST TEACHER IN SARASOTA COUNTY TO GET AN ASD ENDORSEMENT. I PARTICIPATED IN A MASTER LEVELS PROGRAM THROUGH FSU. I LEARNED MANY EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES I COULD READILY APPLY IN THE CLASSROOM WITH REALLY NICE STUDENT GOAL ACHIEVEMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY THE PROGRAM WAS NOT WELL KNOWN OR MADE AVAILABLE TO EDUCATORS. OUR CONCERN IS PRACTICAL. TO BE AFFECTED THE PROGRAM MUST BE FULLY FUNDED, PREDICTABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE. IF TEACHERS CANNOT EASILY ACCESS THE ASSISTANCE OR IF FUNDING IS UNCERTAIN, THE PROGRAM WILL NOT DELIVER ON ITS PROMISE. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE HIGH QUALITY AND DESIGNED WITH EXPERIENCED SPECIAL EDUCATORS, DISABILITY EXPERTS AND ALIGNED WITH CLASSROOM REALITIES. TEACHERS DO NOT NEED ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE OR A COMPLIANCE TO CHECK OFF. WE ASKED TO MOVE SB 206 WITH IMPLEMENTATION GUARDRAILS THAT ENSURE THE SUPPORT TRANSLATES INTO REAL CLASSROOM IN FACT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THE FIRST TO BE CERTIFIED. THAT'S AMAZING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE. LISA SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: MR. CHAIR. >> Chair Burgess: VICE CHAIR PIZZO. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: SHANE, CAN YOU STAND UP? WE CALL KAREN SWEENEY BIG RED. SHE JUST WALKED IN WITH A RED JERSEY FOR YOU TO WEAR. SENATOR HARRELL HAS TO WEAR THAT JERSEY TONIGHT FOR A SOFTBALL GAME, THAT WILL BE ON LOAN IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN AND ASK NICELY. >> Public Speaker: I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL FIT ME THOUGH. [LAUGHTER] >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU VICE CHAIR PIZZO. THAT WAS APPROPRIATE. THE SENATE NOW HAS THE UPPER HAND. NEXT UP, COLSON FRY FROM WINTER PARK SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. I'M SO SORRY. LISA, YOU ARE SPEAKING FIRST. >> Public Speaker: THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> Chair Burgess: I THINK I'M GOING TO -- YOU CAN SPEAK. I MIGHT LEAVE. I'M TOTALLY JOKING. GO AHEAD. I HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE SHIP, SIR. >> Public Speaker: MY NAME IS LISA AND I'M HERE WITH THE C ALLIANCE. URGE THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF SENATE BILL 206. A LARGE NUMBER FOLLOW ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM BEING THE MOTHER OF A CHILD WHO WAS AN ESE STUDENT, THIS SPEAKS DEEPLY TO ME. ALTHOUGH SOME TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFER AUTISM EDUCATION TRAINING AND I'VE CHECKED WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS THAT IT AT A LOCAL UNIVERSITY. SHE WASN'T AWARE OF THIS BILL SO I'M GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE. IN ANY CASE, ALTHOUGH SOME TRAINING PROGRAMS DO ALREADY OFFER THIS VALUABLE EDUCATION TRAINING, WE SUPPORT THIS BILL THAT WOULD MAKE THE TRAINING MANDATORY SO WE ENSURE ALL OUR CHILDREN ARE SERVED. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE AUTISM EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP RECRUIT AND RETAIN. RETAIN IS THE IMPORTANT WORD THERE. WE URGE THE DOE DRAFTS APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS TO ENSURE THE NEW PROGRAM WORKS FOR BOTH EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU. NEXT UP, COLSON FRY. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. WERE THE LAST SPEAKER IN THE SECOND BATCH BUT GUESS WHAT, THE WORD GOT OUT AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN BIGGER BATCH OF SPEAKERS AFTER YOU THAT JUST APPEARED. >> Public Speaker: MY NAME IS COLSON AND I AM HERE WITH C ALLIANCE. SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ANOTHER DEVELOP MENTAL DISABILITIES IS UNDENIABLY IMPORTANT. IT IS A WELL-FUNDED EVIDENCE-BASED SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO CREATE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FIXING THE BUILD TO A SIX PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS THROUGH SUPPORTING WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THOSE WHO WORK WITH AND EDUCATE. THIS BILL CREATES A REQUIREMENT FOR MICRO CREDENTIALS IN PREPARATION PROGRAM TRAINING THAT CAN FOSTER TEACHER READINESS AND IT CREATES THE AUTISM EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS THE SUCCESS OF OF THE BILL IS IMPORTANT WHEN ENTERING IT IS HIGH QUALITY SUPPORTED BY EXPERTS AND ALIGNED WITH THE REALITIES OF CLASSROOMS FOR THE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDED, PREDICTABLE, AND EASY TO ACCESS WITH CLEAR SERVICE CRITERIA AND OUTCOMES THAT BENEFIT ALL PARTIES, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THIS BILL CAN'T JUST BE AN UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT ANTS PAPERWORK WITHOUT PROVING CLASS ROOM SUPPORT HER OWN, SPREAD MY BEST FRIEND IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN ORANGE COUNTY. HE LOVES HIS JOB AND HE UNDENIABLY LOVES THE KIDS HE TEACHES. HE DOES WHAT HE CAN TO GIVE THEM THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S NOT A SECRET THE POSITION IS A STRUGGLE IN GENERAL. IS CO-TEACHER LEFT THE POSITION PARTWAY INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR DUE TO THE STRESS OF THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT SHE WAS WORKING IN. THIS BILL COULD CREATE A GENERAL AND IMPACT. THE BILL CAN BRING IN NEW FACULTY AND RETAIN THEM AND CREATE BETTER STRUCTURE AND CONGRUENCY FOR HIS STUDENTS. WE ASK THE COMMITTEE TO MOVE SENATE BILL 206 WITH IMPLEMENTATION GUARDRAILS THAT ENSURE THE SUPPORT TRANSLATES INTO REAL CLASSROOM IN FACT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP, COMMISSIONER MELISSA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS ANOTHER STACK OF CARDS WE GOT IN. I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE COMING TO TESTIFY. I JUST ASK IT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME YOU COULD KEEP YOUR REMARKS TO TWO MINUTES OR LESS. I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE A TIME CLOCK BUT TRY TO BE SISYNC OR BUILD OFF OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID. TRIED TO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THE CLOCK AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE GETS THE CHANCE TO SPEAK. NEXT UP IS BRANDON WAVING AGAINST THE BILL AND THEN PAUL SCOTT AGAINST THE BILL. TO SPEAK IN FAVOR IS. [NAME] DID I GET THAT RIGHT? WAIT FOR IT. TELL THE GUARDS TO OPEN UP THE GATE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. DID I GET YOUR NAME RIGHT. >> Public Speaker: YES, SIR. HELLO SENATORS. I AM A TAXPAYER WHO CAME HERE WITH C ALLIANCE FROM SARASOTA COUNTY. HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT SB 206. THE BILL WOULD MANDATE REQUIRED TRAINING AND CREDENTIALS AS WELL AS RELIES ON TEACHER PREPARATION, SALARY SUPPLEMENTS, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING REQUIREMENTS, CERTIFICATE RENEWAL AND RELATED STATUTORY SECTIONS. ALL OF THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR BENEFIT AS IT STRENGTHENS TEACHER READINESS. THIS BILL WOULD CREATE THE AUTISM EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP RECRUIT AND RETAIN SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS GIVING TEACHERS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO STAY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AS A LONG-TERM CAREER CHOICE. EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SYSTEM OF EDUCATION I CAN PUT THEM ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION NO MATTER THE DIFFERENCES THEY MAY HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Chair Burgess: APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. LEWIS FOLLOWED BY QUINN FROM PALM BAY SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. LEWIS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Public Speaker: CHAIRSS AND MEMBER IS MY NAME IS LUIS AND I AM AN ORGANIZER WITH C ALLIANCE SOCIAL EDUCATION. WE SUPPORT SB TO A SIX BECAUSE IT TAKES STEPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR EDUCATORS UNPREPARED AND SUPPORTED TO SERVE STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. PREPARATION MATTERS IN THE BILL RECOGNIZES WITH COMPLEX LEARNINGS NEED TO SERVE TEACHERS WHO ARE TRAINED IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS FOR THE REQUIREMENT FOR MICRO CREDENTIAL AND TARGETED TRAINING AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS CAN IMPROVE TEACHER READINESS WHEN THE TRAINING IS HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPED WITH EXPERIENCE, SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND DISABILITY EXPERTS. GROUNDED IN REAL ACROSS FROM PRACTICE. DONE WELL THIS ENSURES TEACHERS AND CLASSROOMS EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY. WE ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE AUTISM EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM AS A TOOL TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. TO SUCCEED THE PROGRAM MUST BE FULLY FUNDED, PREDICTABLE, AND EASY TO ACCESS. LOAN FORGIVENESS SHOULD BE TIED TO CLEAR SERVICE EXPECTATIONS THE BENEFITS EDUCATORS ON THE STUDENTS THEY SERVE AND AS THIS BILL MOVES FORWARD WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE GUARDRAILS SO IT DOES NOT BECOME AN UNFUNDED MANDATE OR PAPERWORK. WITH TOUGHER IMPLEMENTATION SB 206 CAN TRANSLATE INTO REAL CLASSROOM SUPPORT AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION FOR THIS BILL. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUINN, YOU ARE UP SPEAKING FOR THE BILL AND THEN QUINN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KAYLEE BUSH. >> MY NAME IS GWEN HERE WITH C ALLIANCE SOCIAL EQUITY THROUGH EDUCATION. I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF AND BUILD OFF THE POINTS MY PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN TO. WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR SB 206 WITH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCING RAISED BY FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES FOR 30 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN MYSELF WITH HIGH QUALITY TRAINING. I WANTED TO BRIEFLY BUILD OFF OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN TO BEST SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES NOT ONLY ALLOW STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN THE CLASSROOM BUT GIVES TEACHERS IT WILL GET OUT OF FEEL SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OWN ROLE. THIS WOULD IMPROVE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS WITH BUT WOULD IMPROVE PARENT RELATIONS AS PARENTS TRUST THEIR CHILD'S TEACHERS FULLY EQUIPPED WITH THE RIGHT TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD. THE FEEDBACK LOOP INCREASED TRUST WILL INEVITABLY LEAD TO FLOW TO TEACHERS FEELING MORE SUCCESSFUL, TRUSTEE, AND FULFILLED IN THE RULES. TEACHERS WANT TO STAY IN OUR FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THIS WILL PROVIDE LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM MUST BE FULLY FUNDED AND EASY TO ACCESS. IT CANNOT TURN INTO MORE PAPERWORK LIKE MANY OF US. AND TEACHER DOESN'T NEED MORE PAPERWORK I ASKED PEOPLE TO MOVE FORWARD ENSURING OUR TEACHERS ARE WELL-EQUIPPED FOR ALL STUDENTS THEY SERVE OVERSEE THE FINANCIAL AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE. >> Chair Burgess: KAYLEE BUSH FOLLOWED BY CARISSA. HI KAYLEE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. EITAN KAYLEE. A STUDENT ORGANIZER WITH SOCIAL EQUITY THROUGH EDUCATION ALLIANCE AND I AM FROM FORT LAUDERDALE FLORIDA. FLORIDA SCHOOLS OR OVERCAPACITY WHICH MAKES A LESS ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. AS ONE TEACHER CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL A CLASS OF OVER 30 KIDS. IF THERE WERE TO BE A STUDENT WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN THE CLASSROOM, THE CLASSROOM WOULD BE LESS ENGAGING US THE TEACHER WOULD HAVE TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO THE STUDENT WITH ASD, WHICH SHORTENS DESIGNATED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AS THE TIME WOULD BE MOVED TO HELP THE STUDENT WITH ASD. THIS ALSO GIVES OTHER STUDENTS LESS ATTENTION, WHICH DISENGAGES THE CLASS EVEN MORE. A RESULT OF THIS WOULD BE A DECREASE IN PASSING RATES PER GRADE. TO REDUCE THIS ISSUE OF TEACHERS NOT ATTENDING TO ALL THEIR STUDENTS, FLORIDA SCHOOLS NEED TO PASS THIS BILL TO ENSURE EDUCATORS FOR THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Chair Burgess: APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY. YOU DID GREAT. YOU ARE UP FOLLOWED BY KAYLEE. I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I AM CLOSE ON THAT ONE. BUT YOU ARE UP. >> Public Speaker: I'M FROM BROWARD COUNTY PLANTATION FLORIDA AND I BELIEVE STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER PROPER TRAINING EDUCATION TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE LEARNING BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT EDUCATION POPULARITY. AND THEIR NEEDS SHOULD BE MET. THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL HELP TEACHERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HELP STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND PROVIDES THEIR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOME. THIS BUILDS EDUCATOR CAPACITY WILL STRENGTHEN FLORIDA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM. WE ASK THE COMMITTEE ENSURES THE PROGRAM IS WELL-FUNDED, ADVERTISED, SUPPORTED AND HELD TO A HIGH PROFESSIONAL STANDARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU. PLEASE TELL ME IF I AM PRONOUNCING THIS WRONG. [NAME] DID I GET IT? >> Public Speaker: GOOD, GOOD, GOOD! >> Chair Burgess: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Public Speaker: CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M HERE REPRESENTING C ALLIANCE. I SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. MY BABY SISTER HAS AUTISM AND I WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES SHE FACES EVERY DAY. AND CLASSROOMS WHERE TEACHERS LACK TRAINING IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM, SHE STRUGGLES EVERY DAY ROUTINES TRANSITION BETWEEN ACTIVITIES, MANAGING SENSITIVITIES OR COMMUNICATING HER NEEDS CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING FOR HER WITHOUT THE RIGHT SUPPORT. SHE SOMETIMES FALLS BEHIND HER BECOMES FRUSTRATED OR SOMETIMES SHE WILL THROW ITEMS THAT US OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I SERVE AS A STUDENT ADVISOR FOR DISTRICT 3 AND I SEE THESE CHALLENGES REFLECTED ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT. STUDENTS WITH AUTISM NEED EDUCATORS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS FROM DAY TO DAY. CB 206 DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE GAPS BY REQUIRING MICRO CREDENTIALS AND TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS. THIS BILL ISSUES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT THEM. EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE AUTISM EDUCATOR LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. MANY CLASSROOM SERVING STUDENTS LIKE MY SISTER OUR HIGH NEED AND LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE HELP ATTRACT AND RETAIN SKILLED TEACHERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE LEAVE THESE ESSENTIAL ROLES. I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO PASS SB 206 WITH FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION SAFEGUARDS FOR STUDENTS LIKE MY SISTER. THEY DESERVE TEACHERS WHO ARE PREPARED, SUPPORTED AND EMPOWERED TO HELP THEM THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE IN THE CLASSROOM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Chair Burgess: SARAH SPEAKING FOR THE BILL. HI SARAH. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> MY NAME IS SARAH. I'M HERE WITH C ALLIANCE. CB 206 FOCUSES ON REAL ISSUES OF FLORIDA SCHOOLS. TOO MANY CLASSROOMS SERVING STUDENTS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRAINED TEACHERS BECAUSE MANY UNSUSTAINABLE. THE BILLS TAKE A PRACTICE APPROACH BY REQUIRING AUTISM TRAINING AND TEACHERS. PREPARATION PROGRAMS WHEN TEACHERS UNDERSTAND WHAT WORKS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE CLASSROOM. STUDENTS ARE BETTER SUPPORTED. THE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM ALSO MATTERS. TEACHING IN HIGH NEED SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS IS THE WORK. FINANCIAL SUPPORT CAN HELP KEEP EXPERIENCED TEACHERS IN THE RULES INSTEAD OF PUSHING THEM OUT. NO MATTER MOST IS HOW MATTERS WORK IS HOW IT IS CARRIED OUT. TRAINING NEEDS TO BE USEFUL AND GROUNDED IN REAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE LOAN FORGIVENESS MUST BE RELIABLE AND EASY FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS IF THE SUPPORTS ARE HARD TO USE OR POORLY FUNDED, THE IMPACT WOULD BE LIMITED. WITH THOUGHTFUL SB 206 CONCERNING CLASSROOMS WITH STUDENTS WITH LOSSES HIM AND TEACHERS WHO SERVE THEM. THANK YOU. >> Chair Burgess: NEXT UP IS STEPHANIE IN SUPPORT. THOMAS WOODS IN SUPPORT. SEBASTIAN IN SUPPORT. AND VICTORIA WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOME NETWORK THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKER CARDS. ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL, SENATORS? SENATOR MASSULLO FOLLOWED BY SENATOR JONES. >> Sen. Massullo: CERTAINLY YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS OBVIOUS FROM THE TESTIMONIES OF THE MANY PEOPLE FROM TEACHERS TO STUDENTS TO PEOPLE IN THE ASSOCIATION. IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE. AS WE LOOK AT AUTISM, WE NEED TO STRUGGLE WITH THE FACT THAT THE PREVALENCE IS INCREASING AND SOON IF WE DON'T REVERSE COURSE WE WILL HAVE ONE AUTISTIC CHILD IN EVERY CLASSROOM. THAT TO ME IS A REASON FOR YOUR BILL IN AND OF ITSELF. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE RECOGNIZE THE SPECTRUM OF AUTISM FROM THE MINOR CHARACTERISTICS TO THE MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS THAT REQUIRE NOT JUST TEACHERS I CAN RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH THE CHILDREN, BUT ALSO THAT ANCILLARY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SPEECH THERAPISTS TO ENGAGE THEM. HOPEFULLY AS THEY MATRICULATE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND JOBS. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE PART OF OUR ROLL TO TEACH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE THE EMPLOYER'S TO RECOGNIZE THE QUALITY OF INDIVIDUALS EVEN WITH AUTISM. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL. I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU MOVING FORWARD IN THIS VERY GOOD, VERY SOUND I WOULD SAY INCENTIVE YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT FOR OUR TEACHERS. >> Chair Burgess: SENATOR JONES. >> Sen. Jones: THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT IN A BETTER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT LOOKING AT THE SESSION LOOKING AT YOUR BILL WHICH IS AMAZING, WE EARNED AN BILL YESTERDAY FROM PRESIDENT GAETZ DEALING WITH AUTISM AND I AM ALSO CARRYING A BILL DEALING WITH AUTISM. THE ONE THING WE CAN UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS IS A GROWING CONCERN AND THE PARENTS ARE SPEAKING LOUDER. I'M SO HAPPY WE ARE LISTENING FROM EVERY SPECTRUM, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CLASSROOM, WHETHER IT'S ON THE STREET. MOTHER PEOPLE REALIZE IT OR NOT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY WE ARE ALL IMPACTED. WHEN WE DO NOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES PARENTS ARE SCREAMING FOR WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING WITH THEIR CHILDREN. ONE THING I'M NOTICING IS PARENTS ARE NOT STOPPING AFTER THEIR CHILDREN I KNOW PARENT STILL ADVOCATING FOR THEIR CHILD AND 21 AND 22. I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE BUILT HAVING THE CONVERSATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE GOOD THOUGH. >> I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET A LOT OF STUDENTS IN THE CATEGORY DO STAY AT SCHOOL UNTIL THEY ARE 21 AND 22. THANK YOU FOR CREATING THIS DYNAMIC WE SAW THESE AMAZING YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS BILL AND SPEAK. THE COURAGE IT TAKES THE STUDENTS TO COME HERE AND SPEAK AS AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR CREATING THE SPACE TO HAVE THESE AMAZING YOUNG STUDENTS TODAY AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO START ADVOCATING FOR THIS ISSUE AT A YOUNG AGE AND I AM OF COURSE SUPPORTING THIS BILL. SHOUT OUT TO STUDENTS FROM BROWARD COUNTY. >> Chair Burgess: ANY DEBATE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: GREAT BILL. YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE JERSEY BACK BECAUSE SHE NEEDS IT TONIGHT FOR A SOFTBALL GAME. >> Sen. Harrell: I WILL HAVE HIM PLAY FOR ME. >> Chair Burgess: OKAY, BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT BACK. I HAVE MEMBER OF THE SERGEANTS OFFICE HERE. YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT BACK. >> Chair Burgess: PRESIDENT WITH THE AMAZING WINSTON CHURCHILL TIED. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. >> Chair Burgess: MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE MIGHT STEAL IT FROM YOU LATER. >> A QUESTION I HOPE YOU WOULD ANSWER IN YOUR CLOSE. AS WAS POINTED OUT, THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS WE HAVE TAKEN UP IN THIS SESSION. I HAD A BILL IN THE LAST SESSION AND YOU HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY BILL DEALING WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. HERE'S MY QUESTION. DO BELIEVE WE HAVE IN THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE SUBJECT AREA EXPERTISE COMBINED WITH THE LEADERSHIP TO IMPLEMENT THIS LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENT THE OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU AND OTHER SENATORS ARE SPONSORING AND ADVOCATING FOR LAST TIME IN THIS TIME? >> Chair Burgess: WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT IN YOUR CLOSE? I WILL SAY IN THE SPIRIT OF WINSTON CHURCHILL, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMMITTEE STOPS. THIS IS NOT THE END, NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END BUT PERHAPS IT IS THE END AT THE BEGINNING. THIS IS A GREAT LEGISLATION. YOU'RE THE PERFECT PERSON TO BRING IT FORWARD WITH GRACE, CLASS AND FABULOUS TASTE IN RED SWEATERS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN TODAY WITH A GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT IN THE STUDENT ADVOCACY. WE HAVE 4-H STUDENTS HERE AND THAT'S PHENOMENAL. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE. THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS TOPIC HERE AND I'M GRATEFUL WE TOOK THE TIME TO GIVE IT THE DO AIRTIME IT NEEDED SO WITHOUT YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> Sen. Harrell: INCORPORATED YOU MR. CHAIRMAN IN THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS THANK THOSE AMAZING STUDENTS. I HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE COMING IN FOR THEM TO FILL OUT A FORM SECOND BATCH COMING IN. AND FOR A YOUNG STUDENT, HIGH SCHOOLERS TO COME UP HERE AND ADDRESS A COMMITTEE LIKE THIS, WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND ADVOCATING AND TO SEE KIDS, AN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PEERS. THEIR OWN FELLOW CLASSMATES AND THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHATEVER. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. IT POINTS OUT HOW IMPORTANT THE TOPIC IS. WE HAVE SEVERAL BILLS. WE HEARD YOUR BILL TODAY. IT WAS A GREAT BILL ON WANDERING ON THE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRACK STUDENTS. THIS PROBLEM IS GROWING EVERY YEAR. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF IT BUT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE MECHANISMS TO ADDRESS IT. THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WE STARTED LAST YEAR AT THE EARLY AGES WITH THE WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND POLICY WE PUT IN PLACE LAST YEAR. TO YOUR POINT OF THE DEBARMENT OF EDUCATION, THIS IS A GROWING NEED TO. WE ARE A RESILIENT STATE. IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE I CAN TELL YOU THAT ARE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION I'M CONVINCED WILL DO IT. AS WE LOOK AND ESTABLISH A CENTER FOR THE NARROW DIVERSITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO ADDRESS AUTISM AND BRING THE RESEARCH WE HAVE ALREADY DONE OVER THE MANY YEARS WITH OUR CARDS AND IS AND THAT GOES BACK MANY YEARS. I REMEMBER MY FIRST DEER SECOND IN THE LEGISLATURE IN THE EARLY TO THOUSANDS WHEN WE DID LEGISLATION TO GET 1/7 CARD CENTER AT FAU. WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING A STRUCTURE BUT NOW WE ARE AT, I WON'T SAY CRISIS POINT. BUT WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL. OUR DEPARTMENT I'M CONVINCED WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE. WE WILL HAVE AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATION PROCESS. THE INCENTIVES THAT ARE BUILT INTO THIS BILL AND AS THE FUNDING COMMITTEE WE HEARD LOTS OF THINGS ABOUT FUNDING THIS. IS A FUNDING COMMITTEE I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE STRONG RECOMMENDATION TO DO THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE DOLLARS THERE TO DO THE TRAINING NECESSARY. I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I KNOW WITH THESE ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN APPROPRIATE MECHANISM FOR GETTING THIS OUT THERE. THE CURRICULUMS IN OUR TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL MEET THE NEED TO. I HAVE SEEN WHAT IS HAPPENED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, THE WHOLE ESE PROGRAM THERE. I'VE SEEN WHAT THEY DO AT FSU. I CAN TELL YOU, WE ARE ON THE MARCH TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH AUTISM. BUT TO YOUR POINT ON ADDITIONAL NEEDS AS THEY GROW OLDER, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND HOW WE, VERY INVOLVED IN THE L CENTER FOR AUTISM DOWN IN JUPITER AND THEY HAVE AN AMAZING PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS WHEN THEY AGE OUT AT 21 FROM OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT THERE IS WORKFORCE AND THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE. THIS IS A BEGINNING OF A LONG PROCESS. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE MARCH FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT THIS IS A DEMARCATION BILL THAT IS GOING TO SET OUR TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND BRING THEM TO A NEW LEVEL. AND IT WILL DEPEND ON FUNDING AS AN APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE I WOULD ASK NOT FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND PASSING THE BILL BUT ALSO IN FUNDING THIS BILL. WITHOUT I CLOSE AND ASKED FOR YOUR THERE WILL BOTH SUPPORT. >> Chair Burgess: HAVING CLOSED ON HER BILL, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL. >> Sen. Bradley: US. >> Sen. Calatayud: YES. >> Sen. Gaetz: YES. >> Sen. Jones: YES. >> Sen. Massullo: YES. >> Sen. Osgood: YES. >> Sen. Simon: YES. >> Sen. Yarborough: YES. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: YES. >> Chair Burgess: YES. BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR SB 206 HAS BEEN REPORTED FAVORABLY. THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK AND CONGRATULATIONS. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. NEXT UP LAST THING IS TAB THREE SB 420 ON PATRIOTIC DISPLAYS IN CLASSROOMS BY ME. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE I WILL PASS THE GAVEL TO VICE CHAIR PIZZO. WE WANT YOU TO STICK TO THE SCRIPT. [LAUGHTER] >> Vice Chair Pizzo: KIDS, KIDS, GET READY. HERE COMES A CIVICS LESSON. LET'S TAKE UP THE TAB THREE SB 420 ON PATRIOTIC DISPLAYS IN CLASSROOMS BY CHAIR BURGESS. >> Chair Burgess: IN CASE HE DIDN'T KNOW THIS YEAR IS AMERICA'S TO IT 150 ANNIVERSARY, WHICH IS PRETTY SPECIAL. WE ALL KNOW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COUNTRY'S PASSED IN THE GREAT LEADERS WHO HELP SHAPE OUR NATION IS NOT AS HIGH AS IT ONCE WAS AND IS HIGH AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. THIS BILL IS A SIMPLE WAY TO LET OUR CHILDREN KNOW WHO THESE TWO MEN WERE AND WHAT THEY REPRESENTED TO OUR NATION. THERE WAS A TIME NOT SO LONG AGO WHEN IT WAS COMMON TO SEE THE PORTRAITS OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN WASHINGTON AND EVERY CLASSROOM IN AMERICA. THIS BILL IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO OUR ROOTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HONESTY OF WASHINGTON AND THE INTEGRITY OF LINCOLN WITHOUT INTRUDING INTO ANYTHING LIKE CURRICULUM OR TRYING TO WHITTLE DOWN MORE TIME IN A LIMITED SCHOOL DAY. THIS IS A SUBTLE, SMALL WAY WE CAN DO SOMETHING VERY GOOD AND LEAVE AN INCREDIBLE PATRIOTIC DEPRECIATION UPON IMPRESSIONABLE YOUNG MINDS THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY SOON MAY BE BE SITTING IN THE SEATS WE ARE BEFORE US. I THINK IT IS AN INCREDIBLY FITTING OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT WHY THIS IDEA? WHAT'S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? WHAT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD OTHERWISE MAY BE BE A SMALL THOUGHT AND NOTION TO ME REPRESENT SOMETHING MUCH MORE. WE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY IN FAMILY RV AND THE COMMON THREAD WAS WHEN WE VISIT SOME OF THESE MUSEUMS AND SMALL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS ON THE PRAIRIE OR IN A PIONEERING AREA, THERE WERE ALWAYS THE PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN HANGING IN THE CLASSROOM. MY CHILDREN'S WERE THE ONES WHO POINTED OUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT AND I FOUND THAT KIND OF STARTLING. IN A GOOD WAY. THEY WERE 11, SIX AND NINE AT THE TIME. SO THEY ARE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THINKING TO BRING THIS FORWARD. ESPECIALLY TIMING IT WITH THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR BIRTHDAY ON THE 250. THIS IS A PROCESS, THIS IS A COMMITTEE PROCESS ON THE POINT OF A COMMITTEE PROCESS IS TO MAKE LEGISLATION BETTER. I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY GOAL WAS TO NEVER MAKE THIS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE ON OUR SCHOOLS. WE WERE WORKING ON BUDGETING THIS FOR CLASSROOMS. I'M SELF REPORTING THAT WE ARE GOING TO AMEND THIS LEGISLATION BASED ON FEEDBACK WE HAD IN THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE THAT WAS IMPORTANT ENLIGHTENING AND HELPFUL. THIS AMENDMENT, IF YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE ME FOR THE AMENDMENT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR AMENDMENT 928604. >> Chair Burgess: YOU MEMORIZED THAT. THANK YOU. AFTER LISTENING TO FEEDBACK AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHERS AND OTHERS, IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO. RECOGNIZING THERE'S A PIECE OF LEGISLATION ON THE HOUSE SIDE WE NEED TO PASS AS WELL. REQUIRING A DISPLAY IN EVERY CLASSROOM, ALTHOUGH I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT, IS PROBABLY UNREALISTIC. THERE'S A LOT OF CLASSROOMS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA NOW. WE ARE NOW GOING TO LIMIT IT TO JUST SCHOOLS THAT THERE ARE 4200 SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WE WILL LIMIT IT TO ONE IN A PROMINENT PLACE IN A SCHOOL AND THAT IS PERFECTLY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE REQUIRE AND STATE STATUTE WITHIN GOD WE TRUST. THAT IS ALREADY IN STATUTE AS WE SPEAK AND SIT TODAY. THIS WOULD LITERALLY ALIGNED TO THE SAME STANDARD. IT'S EVEN LESS INTRUSIVE BECAUSE, AND LESS OF AN EXPANSION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE REQUIRE IN GOD WE TRUST IN EVERY BUILDING WHICH COULD BE ADMINISTRATIVE. NOT NECESSARILY AN ACTUAL SCHOOLHOUSE. THIS IS JUST SCHOOL HOUSES DESERVE THE PATRIOTIC CIVIC PURPOSE. THAT'S THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT NARROWING BUT I THINK THE MISSION IS STILL ACCOMPLISHED. WE HAVE OUR IDEAS AND THINGS WE PUT OUT THERE ON PAPER BUT WE SHOULD ALSO BE WILLING TO LISTEN, LEARN, AND ADAPT AND SAY THAT'S PROBABLY THE BETTER WAY TO DO IT. AND THAT IS A REFLECTION OF THAT. THE BILL ALSO ADDS THE PHRASE EVEN THOUGH OUR INTENTION IS TO FUND THE PORTRAITS DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE TO BEAR THE COST, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ADD THE PHRASE THIS ONLY APPLIES SUBJECT TO STATE APPROPRIATION. IN OTHER WORDS, CLARIFYING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN WOULD NEVER FALL ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENSURE, UNLESS THEY WANTED TO, THIS WOULD FALL ON THEIR LAP AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST. I WOULD ENCOURAGE IF YOU WANT TO STEP INTO MY OFFICE, I HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE ON DISPLAY FROM HOBBY LOBBY. NOT A SPONSOR BUT FROM HOBBY LOBBY THERE ARE TWO NICE GOLD EMBOSSED PORTRAITS OF GEORGE AND ABE THAT THE HOUSE SPONSOR ALSO HAS IN HIS OFFICE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A LOT OF MONEY BUT THEY ARE ONLY $10. THE REALITY OF THE COST IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRETTY NOMINAL. ALL THAT TO BE SAID, I'M PROUD OF WHERE THIS IS GOING. I THINK WE MIGHT'VE STRUCK A GOOD BALANCE AND I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE AMENDMENT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: ON AMENDMENT 9248 HAVING EXPLAINED IT, ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? PRESIDENT GAETZ? >> Sen. Gaetz: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR PRACTICAL REASONS, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE NEED FOR THE AMENDMENT. I WAS WONDERING AS YOU SPOKE ABOUT IN MY OWN AREA WHAT I CAN DO, AND I WILL. WE HAVE PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS. THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE ANZA AND OTHER GROUPS WHO IF I WENT TO THEM AND I PLAN TO GO TO THEM AND SAY THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR BILL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS IN OUR SCHOOLS. BUT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO POP FOR $10 IN OUR CLASSROOMS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THE PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON THE LINCOLNS IN THE CLASSROOM. I PLAN TO DO THAT IN MY DISTRICT. I PLAN TO START MAKING MY OWN FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION. I WOULD ASK, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO INCLUDED IN ASPIRATIONAL LANGUAGE IN THE BILL, BUT I WOULD HOPE OTHER PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, OTHER CIVIC OFFICIALS WOULD CONSIDER TAKING UP THIS CAUSE. I THINK YOUR CAUSE IS THE RIGHT CAUSE. I THINK IT'S MORE THAN SYMBOLISM. IN EVERY CLASSROOM AND EVERY SCHOOL I ATTENDED GROWING UP IN A SMALL RURAL COMMUNITY IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, THERE WERE NOT ONLY THE PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN BUT FRANKLIN ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A REPUBLICAN AREA, THEY KNEW FRANKLIN ELEANOR ROOSEVELT AND CHANGED THE UPPER MIDWEST WE SHOULD ALL LEARN ABOUT THEM AND SO WE DID. I WOULD ASK YOU IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER IN THE ASPIRATIONAL LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THE BILL. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. THAT WAS UNEXPECTED AND THE MOST AMAZING WAY AND I APPRECIATE THAT AFFIRMATION SOMETIMES YOU WONDER IF YOU ARE OVER THE TARGET AND HAVING A WILD IDEA AND THAT FELT VALIDATING. I APPRECIATE IT. I WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE GOING WITH THIS. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD SEE IF I COULD PUT WINSTON SUPPORTED IN THE CLASSROOM. >> Sen. Gaetz: THAT'S MY BILL. >> Chair Burgess: IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THANK YOU. THAT MEANS A LOT. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AFFIRMATION OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AND I WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO CONSIDER OR MAYBE WE ARE FALLING SHORT. THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO STEP FORWARD AND THE OPPORTUNITY SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND TAKE THAT MONEY TO DO WITH THE BILL ORIGINALLY SET OUT TO DO WITH THE LAW STOP. THANK YOU. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE AMENDMENT, JUST ON THE BILL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> Chair Burgess: I WILL WAIVE CLOSE BE ONE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: ALL IN FAVOR SAY YAY. ALL OPPOSED? THE YAYS HAVE IT. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED? OKAY. APPEARANCE FORMS. WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE THAT WAVE. LIZ FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR FLORIDA FUTURE IS WAIVING IN SUPPORT. MICHAEL WOODS IS WAVING AGAINST. LISA IS WAVING AGAINST. SEBASTIAN MARTINEZ IS AGAINST. PAUL SCOTT IS AGAINST THOSE SPEAKING. WE HAVE 16 SPEAKERS. WE HAVE 52 MINUTES TO GO. WE WILL DO A MINUTE AND 1/2. THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT. WE ARE GOING TO START WITH ALAN POLLICK. SPEAKING AGAINST. NEXT IN LINE [NAME] AND THEN FALLEN BY KAYLEE BUSH. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Public Speaker: HELLO. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO WAIVE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. [NAME] WELCOME. >> Public Speaker: THAT WAS A CLOSE PRONUNCIATION. [NAME] GLAD TO BE HERE. THIS IS ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO SPEAK OUT AND ATTEND. I'M PLEASED TO HEAR THE AMENDMENT BEING PUT ON THE TABLE. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS. I THINK THE PROPOSAL OF PUTTING IN A HISTORICAL OR POLITICAL FIGURE PORTRAITS AND CLASSROOMS IN MANDATING THAT IS ON TO ME. THE MOST SIMPLEST THING I CAN COMPARE PATRIOTISM TO HIS RESPECT OR LOVE. IS SOMEONE GENERALLY LOVES AND RESPECTS YOU IT'S BY CHOICE, NOT BY FORCE. I FEEL INCENTIVIZING AND ENCOURAGING PORTRAITS TO BE PUT UP AND CLASSROOMS WOULD BE THE BETTER WAY TO GO AS OPPOSED TO MANDATING IT. ESPECIALLY WHEN TEACHERS KNOW WHAT CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS IS BEST AND ALSO THEIR PREFERENCES. YOU ALL SEEM OPEN TO REFLECTION AND FEEDBACK. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU ALL AND POSSIBLY HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS. YOU GUYS ARE WILLING TO DO THAT, PUTTING THAT ON THE TABLE FOR YOU ALL. >> Chair Burgess: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN HERE AND SOMEWHERE IN THE LOBBY. I WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THE AMENDMENT BASED ON FEEDBACK RELATED TO CLIMATE AND THE CLASSROOM, PRACTICALITY OF PUTTING ONE IN EVERY CLASSROOM AS IT STANDS TODAY WE ARE BASED ON THE AMENDMENT WHERE THE BILL IN THE MOMENT IS TO HAVE ONE IN EVERY SCHOOL. >> Public Speaker: I THINK THE AMENDMENT MAKES MORE SENSE OF THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT CLARIFICATION. >> Chair Burgess: KAYLEE BUSH COME ON BACK. >> Public Speaker: HELLO AGAIN. [NAME] BASICALLY TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH ON THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH HER IS WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. I DON'T THINK THE BILL MAKES SENSE TO ME. BUT IF PATRIOTISM IS THE WAY LAWMAKERS WANT TO GO, I FEEL YOU SHOULD ADD TO BACK MORE TO THE HISTORY AND CURRICULUM TO TEACH OUR FLORIDA STUDENTS MORE ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY RATHER THAN FORCING PICTURES IN THE CLASSROOMS. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: THANK YOU. [NAME] FOLLOWED BY CASSONDRA. >> HELLO. WHEN I WAS A STUDENT HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES WERE MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS IN THE ONLY CLASSES I PAID ATTENTION AND. HIM SOMEONE IN SOME IMMIGRANT PARENTS ASSIMILATING TO AMERICA WAS A BIG PART OF GROWING UP AND BECOMING PATRIOTIC TO THE COUNTRY WAS A PART OF THE PROCESS. ON NIGHTS WHEN MY MOTHER SIT DOWN TO HELPED ME WITH HOMEWORK PROJECTS SHE WOULD ALSO LEARN WITH ME. SHE FELT PROUD AND PATRIOTIC FOR A COUNTRY IN WHICH SHE WAS NOT EVEN BORN AND THAT INFLUENCED ME A LOT TO BE THE AMERICAN I AM TODAY. SHE HAD MORE THAN A FEW FAVORITE AMERICAN HISTORICAL FIGURES AND I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD SHUN FIGURES OF THE PAST TO SET HISTORY AND EMOTION. AS MUCH AS I ADORE HISTORY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION I DO NOT THINK IS A NECESSITY FOR SB 420. CIVIC BROUGHT A HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING OUR BEST THROUGH STRONG TEACHING, DIVERSE CURRICULUM AND CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUBJECT OF HISTORY. AS A MANDATE SPECIFIC DISPLAYS AND CLASSROOMS WHICH IS PURELY A SYMBOLIC POLICY THAT DIVERTS ATTENTION AND RESOURCES AWAY FROM INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS, FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, CURRICULUM QUALITY AND EQUITABLE STUDENT OUTCOMES, ALL OF WHICH SHOULD TAKE PRIORITY IN OUR SCHOOLS PICK MANDATING PORTRAITS DOES NOT GUARANTEE IMPROVED LEARNING OR CIVIC UNDERSTANDING. I ASK YOU TO REJECT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. >> THERE IS A LOT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: NAME ONE. >> AMELIA EHRHARDT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: OKAY. FOLLOW-UP. CAN YOU SPARK THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HER BRAVERY AND COURAGE? DOESN'T IT HELP TO SPARK THE CONVERSATION TO HAVE A PHOTO OF AMELIA EHRHARDT TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE? >> Public Speaker: YES, SIR. USUALLY HAVE PICTURES IN BOOKS. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: THANK YOU. CASSONDRA? >> Public Speaker: MY NAME IS CASSONDRA AND I AM AN ORGANIZER WITH THE SOCIAL EQUITY FOR EDUCATION ALLIANCE. SPEAKING ON SB 420 PATRIOTIC DISPLAYS IN THE CLASSROOM. CIVIC EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY. PROPER UNDERSTANDING HELPS NAVIGATE OUR PRESENT A GREAT BRIGHT FUTURES. WAS STRUGGLING TO SEE HOW MANDATING PORTRAITS WOULD IMPROVE LEARNING OUTCOMES OF WHAT THEY WOULD GAIN IN THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT BEING MADE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAID PORTRAITS. PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS DOES NOT APPLY. A PICTURE CANNOT COMMUNICATE THE DEEP IMPORTANCE OF WASHINGTON REMAINING PRINCIPAL, HIS CONVICTIONS AND STEPPING DOWN AFTER TWO TERMS WHICH SET THE PRECEDENT OF TERM LIMITS AND THE PICTURE DOESN'T TELL STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF LINCOLN SIGNING THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. DO NOT WHO COULD ENSURE STUDENT LEADER THAT EDUCATION? EDUCATORS WELL TRAINED AND PROPERLY COMPENSATED. WITH IN HOW WE ENSURE WE MUST THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE INVESTING IN ACCESS TO QUALITY INSTRUCTION THAT TEACHES THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PATRIOT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES FRANKLIN ELEANOR ROOSEVELT SERVED? >> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: HE WAS IN HIS THIRD TERM FDR AND AFTER THAT IS WHEN THE COUNTRY DECIDED WE SHOULD CAP IT AT TWO. >> I THINK OUR FIRST PRESIDENT LEAVING AFTER TWO WHEN HE COULD ABOUT THE POWER TO DO MORE, ESPECIALLY AFTER FIGHTING IN A WAR THAT SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE UNDER A KING I THINK IS IMPACTFUL AND IF I WAS THERE I WOULD USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: THE ALSO SAID BEING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS SUCH AN HONOR THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE PAID FOR IT. GENERAL YOU CAN AFFORD NOT TO RECEIVE BUT THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU HAVE TO LIVE ON SOMETHING. HE SAID IT SHOULD BE AN AMOUNT THAT IS NOT SO HIGH PEOPLE TAKE A JOB BECAUSE OF THE MONEY BUT NOT SO LITTLE THEY FALSE PROMISE SO THEY SET THE ORIGINAL SALARY AT $25,000, WHICH IS WHAT YOU STATE SENATORS MAKE RIGHT NOW. QUESTION FOR YOU THOUGH. MY FIRST TRIP TO HAITI I WOULD NOT OF KNOWN WERE SPARKED A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 18 WITHOUT SEEING A STATUTE OF. [NAME] IT SPARKS A CONVERSATION, IT'S PROMINENT. IT'S THERE AND IT PUTS A STAKE IN THE GROUND AS TO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE FOUNDED AND STARTED. AS ARE SOME UTILITY TO SPARK IN THAT CONVERSATION WITH A PHOTO? >> Public Speaker: IN A SCHOOL WHERE WE HAVE 12 YEARS EDUCATION IF WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, THAT'S A PROBLEM. IF WE ARE NOT HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHO IS DEEPLY IMPACTFUL IN OUR COUNTRY, THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE INSTRUCTION THAT BENEFITS US. I DON'T THINK THERE'S A SINGLE STUDENT THAT HASN'T SEEN A PICTURE OF THEM. IT'S NOT THEM BEING PRESENT. OF COURSE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS FIGURED IN OUR CAPITOL. IT'S THE MANDATE OF FUNDING THAT COMES WITH IT AND WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR US TO SPEND MORE TIME FOCUSING ON EDUCATION. WE ARE STRUGGLING. SCHOOLS ARE BEING SHUT DOWN. THAT IS SEVEN SCHOOLS THAT COULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE CLASSROOM SPACE AND CURRICULUM SPACE TO TALK ABOUT THESE PROMINENT FIGURES. THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS MONEY DOESN'T COME OUT OF THIN AIR AND STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY IN SCHOOLS ACCESSIBLE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: THE AMENDMENT TAKES AWAY ANY REQUIREMENT FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD TO SPEND ALL ARE ONE ON ANY OF THIS. >> OUR STATE SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY ON OUR STUDENT. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: AGREED. VERONICA SPEAKING FOR INFORMATION. >> Public Speaker: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU BEGIN, SENATORS AND THE BOARD. AND SENATOR BURGESS. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL COMFORTABLE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE A PASSION FOR TEACHING. AS YOU KNOW, I TEACH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING ABOUT PATRIOTISM AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I AGREE GEORGE WASHINGTON ABRAHAM LINCOLN OR MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF PATRIOTISM. HOWEVER, I FEEL IT NEGATES ALL THE OTHER PERSONS, ALTHOUGH VOICES ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FREEDOMS AND PATRIOTISM. INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FIGURES LIKE ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JFK, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., POCAHONTAS, HARRIET TUBMAN AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS, WHO IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES. SO I FEEL WHILE GOOD INTENTIONED, I FEEL WE DON'T NEED THE LEGISLATION AS IS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER ALLOWING THE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS LIKE ME WHO HAVE THE BACKGROUND TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO WHAT WE CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF PATRIOTISM. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE ARE GOING INTO THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: BUT IT STARTS WITH WASHINGTON, RIGHT? FREDERICK DOUGLASS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS AND I HAD A WONDERFUL SIGN TITLE FOR ME DID BUT I GAVE IT TO SENATOR BOBBY POWELL A COUPLE YEARS AGO. WE DON'T HAVE FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND JFK AND JFK AND FDR WITHOUT GEORGE. PERHAPS THE CONVERSATION HUMBLE SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE WE START WITH GEORGE WORK OUR WAY UP TO OTHERS AND WE BE ALLOWED OR HAVE THE PERMISSION TO ADD OTHER HISTORICAL FIGURES ALONG THE WAY. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? >> WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THIS BILL, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A STARTING POINT BUT IT DOESN'T END WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN. THE CONTINUUM SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: IF I MAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AND FEEDBACK AND KIND WORDS. THANK YOU IMPARTING CIVICS AND PATRIOTISM. THAT IS NOT MISSED ON US. THE INTENTION IN HERE AND THE REASON IT IS LIMITED. I KNOW I SAID IT AT THE BEGINNING. THERE IS A HISTORICAL PRECEDENT TO THOSE TWO PRESIDENTS. NOT JUST WHAT THEY REPRESENTED, BUT WHY THEY ARE THERE AND WHY THEY WERE IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST BACK IN THE DAY AND WHY WE SHOULD RETURN TO THAT IN THE MIDST OF AMERICA'S 250. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE'S NOT INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS. THEY ARE NOT THE END-ALL BE-ALL AND THAT IS THEM BEING ON A WALL. I DON'T SEE THAT AS A LIMITING FACTOR RELATED TO THEM. SENATOR PIZZO IS USING THE WORD SPARK. I HAVE SEEN THE SPARK LOOKING AT THEM. THING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MOUNT VERNON AND VISIT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ZONE, CHILDHOOD HOME IN SOUTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND HOPEFULLY SPRINGFIELD THIS SUMMER. I HAVE JUST SEEN THE SPARK IN A PICTURE DOES SPARK A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD, THE BAD AND HOW WE STRIVE TO BE BETTER. I BELIEVE THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS REPRESENT THAT FROM A HOLISTIC PICTURE OF FOUNDING AND PRESERVING, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN BETWEEN. OBVIOUSLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY SPACE ON THE WALL BUT THERE IS A HISTORY TO THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS. THAT'S HOW WE GOT THERE. I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK IT WAS INTENDED LIMITATION. THERE IS A REAL HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS AS TO WHY THEY WOULD TO BE THERE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: LISA ELLINGTON WILL FOLLOW SHANE. >> AT A SPEECH WRITTEN BUT WITH THE AMENDMENT I HAD TO CHANGE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT. AND IS A LOT MORE REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE. AT MY SCHOOL WE HAVE EVERY PRESIDENT ON THE WALL AND I APPRECIATE LOOKING AT IT. I WOULDN'T SAY I'M AGAINST IT ANYMORE. I'M NEUTRAL. BUT I THINK IT IS A LOT BETTER SO THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS LISA. I AM 1/3 GENERATION EDUCATOR FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY MOM AND GRANDMOTHER. ON THE TESTING COORDINATOR AT A TITLE I HIGH SCHOOL BY THE THEATER ARTS EDUCATOR AND ENTERS TEACHER. YES, I TEACH A LOTTO DIFFERENT THINGS, SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF SENATE BILL 420. THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE HEARING THE AMENDMENT. ALL PRESIDENTS I'M DONE POSITIVE THINGS WHY REFOCUSING ON THESE TWO WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 43 PRESIDENTS AND I SAY 43 BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CLEVELAND HAD TO TERMS THAT WERE NONCONSECUTIVE. ONE THING I REMEMBER MANY OF MY STUDIES WAS A BORDER AT THE TOP OF THE WALL WITH ALL THE PRESIDENTS ON THAT. IS SOMEONE WHO LIKE TO COMPETE IN THE COMPETITION WITH MR. PRESIDENT BEING MY FAVORITE, I'D LOVE SEEING THAT BORDER BUT IT WAS THE CHOICE IT WAS NOT A MANDATORY THING FOR THEM TO DO. WALLS IN OUR CLASSROOMS ARE LIMITED AND GOT MY HIGH SCHOOL WE HAVE LARGE PICTURES OF EACH OF THE PRESIDENTS ON THE WALL WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AT ALL TIMES EXCEPT DURING TESTING. CLASSROOMS ARE A TEACHER'S HOME AWAY FROM HOME. LET THEM DECORATE THE ROOM THE WAY THEY SEE FIT THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR STUDENTS WHAT FIXED THEIR EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: YOUR SCHOOL SATISFIES BY HAVING EVERY SCHOOL UP THERE SO LONG AS IT IS NUMBER ONE AND 16. >> YES IT HAS ALL 45 BECAUSE THE TWO HAVE THE NOT CONSECUTIVE TERMS. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: ALL RIGHT. [NAME] DID I GET THAT RIGHT? MICHAEL? ALL RIGHT. WHILE WE ARE WAITING. HELLO AGAIN. >> I HAD A WHOLE SPEECH PREPARED AND MY PHONE DIED THE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: SPEAK FROM THE HEART. IT'S USUALLY MORE AUTHENTIC. YOU DON'T LIKE THE BILL. >> A TEACHER ONCE TOLD ME TO GIVE IT A SHOT AND I HAD ALL SCRIPT AND THEY SAID GIVE IT A SHOT AND THEY TOOK IT AWAY FROM ME AND I HAD TO DO IT ONCE WITH THE SCRIPT AND ONCE WITHOUT IT. THEY PROVED ME WRONG THAT I DIDN'T NEED THE SCRIPT. I'M FEELING YOU DON'T NEED YOUR SCRIPT. >> OKAY. WE ARE HERE. TWO PERCENT. I DON'T HAVE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: GIVE ME YOUR PHONE. SPEAK FROM YOUR HEART. YOU HAVE A MINUTE. LET'S GO. I'M DOWNLOADING EVERYTHING. I'M JUST KIDDING. >> WE ALL WANT CIVIC EDUCATION AND WE ALL WANT LEADERS. WE SEE OUR STUDENTS IN HERE, YOUR STUDENTS IN HERE AND WE ALL WANT CIVILIZED STUDENTS. STUDENTS ENGAGED IN KNOW ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY, KNOW ABOUT THEIR HISTORY, NOVELL WHAT'S HAPPENED AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. BUT I FEEL LIKE CENTERING A MAKING THEM IN THE CENTER OF ATTENTION JUST THOSE TWO PEOPLE, I FEEL THAT'S UNFAIR. I CAN A MOTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS. LEADERS HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS REQUIRE THEY NOT UP THERE EITHER. IF YOU LIVE IN ONE TO EDUCATE STUDENTS MORE REGARDING THESE TWO SPECIFIC PEOPLE, LET'S ALTER THE CURRICULUM. MAY BE ON SOMETHING OR ADD MORE INFORMATION OTHER THAN MAKING IT SO THAT THOSE TWO PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INSIDE OF THE SCHOOLS WERE MAKING IT THAT THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE WALL. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE INSIDE THE SCHOOL AND A CHANGE INSIDE THE STUDENTS MINDS, YOU SHOULD CHANGE THE CURRICULUM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PUT THEIR FACE UP THAT THERE. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: WHAT WAS THE NAME -- WHAT MIDDLE SCHOOL DID YOU GO TO? >> BEAR MIDDLE SCHOOL. >> Vice Chair Pizzo: WHO WAS IT NAMED AFTER? HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU GO TO THAT SCHOOL. YOU WENT TO THE SCHOOL THREE