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House Committee Unanimously Supports Increased Access to Scholarship Program for Disabled Students
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James Herzog, associate director for education, testifies in support of HB 829 during the subcommittee hearing.
On January 23, HB 829 (Plasencia) was amended and passed by the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee with unanimous (12-0) bipartisan support. The measure reduces the prior-public-school-attendance requirement from a year to a semester or less for kindergarten to 12th grade students seeking to participate in the McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. Though the bill is not as robust as the Senate companion, SB 1080, which removes the prior-year requirement in its entirety for grades K-5, it is a helpful step for parents seeking the best educational environment for their children. |
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CRC Committees Take Action on Issues of Interest to FCCB
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The Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC) convenes once every 20 years to examine the Florida Constitution and propose changes for voter consideration. Two CRC committees took action this week on proposals supported by the FCCB:
Privacy Rights
Proposal 22 by Commissioner John Stemberger narrows the right to privacy in the state constitution and was approved (4-3) on January 25 by the commission's Declaration of Rights Committee.
Aimed at restoring the privacy clause in Florida's constitution to its original intent, the proposal specifies a person has the right of privacy from governmental intrusion "with respect to privacy of information and the disclosure thereof."
Court decisions have extended the privacy clause to abortion cases. Laws requiring parental consent before minors can have abortions and 24-hour waiting periods before abortions have been struck down by Florida courts based on the clause. The proposal would not eliminate the right to an abortion, which is protected under federal court rulings, but it would allow reasonable regulations on abortion procedures.
Ingrid Delgado, associate for social concerns/respect life, testified in support of the proposal, which heads to the commission's Judicial Committee.
Religious Freedom
Proposal 4 by CRC Commissioner Roberto Martinez removes Florida's Blaine amendment from the state constitution. First adopted in 1885, anti-Catholic and racial prejudice gave rise to the amendment in Florida. This provision in our state constitution prohibits public funding of religious institutions. Marco Paredes, associate director for health, testified in support of the proposal when it was initially considered by the committee on Friday, January 19.
There is a long and successful history of collaboration between the state and faith-based organizations. Education, health care, disaster relief, and prison ministry are just a sampling of areas where faith-based organizations are partnering with the state. While these partnerships are widely supported, they could be at risk due to potential challenges under the Blaine amendment.
Proposal 4 was passed (8-0) by its final committee of reference, the CRC Education Committee, on Friday, January 26. It will go next to the full commission for consideration. |
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Juvenile Justice Measure Limits Charging Youth as Adults
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SB 936 (Powell) passed its first committee of reference, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (5-1). The bill revises the circumstances under which juveniles may be treated as an adult in the court system.
There is currently no minimum age at which a child can be transferred to the adult criminal justice system through the process of indictment. 14 is the minimum age for other methods of transferring juveniles to the adult system. Among various reforms, SB 192 establishes age 14 as the minimum age for indictment and narrows the offenses for which a child can be tried as an adult through the process of direct file.
Florida prosecutes more children in the adult criminal justice system than any other state. Since 2009, more than 14,000 children - some as young as 10 years old - have been prosecuted as adults in Florida.
 "While there is no question that violent and dangerous youth need to be confined for their safety and that of society, children should not be treated as though they are equal to adults," wrote Bishop William Wack CSC, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, in an opinion-editorial. "Placing children in adult jails is a sign of failure, not a solution." Bishop Bill is the moderator for the Florida Catholic Conference Prison Ministry Committee.
FCCB supports SB 936 as a positive step toward protecting both youthful offenders and society. |
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Catholic Schools Week Celebrated January 28-February 3
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 National Catholic Schools Week 2018 will be observed in dioceses around the country January 28-February 3. This year's theme, "Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.," focuses on the important spiritual, academic and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education.
Nearly 1.9 million students are currently educated in 6,429 Catholic schools in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities around the country. Students receive an education that prepares them for higher education, a competitive work environment, and most importantly, living a Christian life of virtue in a challenging society.
The observance of Catholic Schools Week began in 1974. The week highlights the educational and community successes of Catholic schools nationwide. Ninety nine percent of students graduate from high school and 86 percent of Catholic school graduates attend college. This percentage has been consistent over the past 20 years. |
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January 26, 2018
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2018 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
E-Update: Week 3
The 2018 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature began January 9 and is schedule to conclude March 9.
Each Friday during the 60-day session, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) provides a summary of activity on priority bills and other items of interest at the Capitol.
For the current status of FCCB priority bills, see our legislative bill report.
E-Update: Week 1
E-Update: Week 2
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