2016 State Education Funding Offers Little for New Expenses, Says District Attorney

BRADENTON – A summary on education legislation from the Florida Legislature's latest session was given on Tuesday, when Manatee School District attorney Mitch Teitelbaum presented before the school board.

When Tallahassee lawmakers ended their 2016 legislative session in March, one outcome was an increase in education spending. The spending total–from $19,698,708,937 in 2015 to $20,156,924,128–is less than first meets the eye. Teitelbaum noted that:

• Much of the $458,215,191 increase in spending would go to accommodating new student growth ($260,981,182).

• $52,941,454 of the new funding would be funneled into extra instructional hours for the state's lowest-ranked 300 schools in terms of reading.

• $20,000,000 will be spent on new devices.

Those spending requirements would leave Florida's public schools with $90,292,555 for new expenses.

Policy-wise, statutes affecting schools and students were amended on a number of issues:

• The legislature approved making it a crime to falsely report the threat of arson, a bomb or firearm use (S.B. 436). In addition, it would now be a crime to threaten violence or terror to people in specific public service positions–law enforcement officers, fire fighters, all elected officials including judges and state attorneys–or their family members.

• Medical language was also created. Florida law now requires school districts to provide instruction for students with medical conditions that force them into either home-stay or care facilities was also added (H.B. 585); and expanding options for homeschooled and dual-enrolled students. In addition, schools are now authorized to both acquire and administer Epinephrine (adrenalin) for medical emergencies, and can now keep the medication in a "secure location" rather than a "locked location."

"The 2016 legislative update contained significant changes that impact our district now and in the future," said Teitelbaum after the workshop.