Bill Text: FL S0958 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Local Government Employees

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-16 - Chapter No. 2024-90, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 1083 (Ch. 2024-177) [S0958 Detail]

Download: Florida-2024-S0958-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 958
       
       
        
       By Senator Martin
       
       
       
       
       
       33-00777-24                                            2024958__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to local government employees;
    3         amending s. 145.11, F.S.; revising the base salary
    4         used to calculate the compensation of county tax
    5         collectors; amending s. 409.1664, F.S.; defining the
    6         term “tax collector employee”; providing that tax
    7         collector employees are eligible to receive specified
    8         monetary benefits from the state for adopting children
    9         within the child welfare system; authorizing tax
   10         collector employees to apply for the monetary benefits
   11         if certain conditions are met; requiring such
   12         employees to apply to the Department of Children and
   13         Families to obtain the benefits; revising
   14         construction; authorizing the department to adopt
   15         specified rules; creating s. 445.09, F.S.; authorizing
   16         specified tax collectors to budget for and pay
   17         specified bonuses to employees, pending a specified
   18         approval; amending s. 1001.47, F.S.; revising the base
   19         salary used to calculate the compensation of district
   20         school superintendents; making a technical change;
   21         amending s. 1003.48, F.S.; authorizing district school
   22         boards to contract with a county tax collector’s
   23         office to administer road tests on school grounds at
   24         one or more schools within the district; providing an
   25         effective date.
   26          
   27  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   28  
   29         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 145.11, Florida
   30  Statutes, is amended to read:
   31         145.11 Tax collector.—
   32         (1) Each tax collector shall receive as salary the amount
   33  indicated, based on the population of his or her county. In
   34  addition, a compensation shall be made for population increments
   35  over the minimum for each population group, which shall be
   36  determined by multiplying the population in excess of the
   37  minimum for the group times the group rate.
   38  
   39  Pop. Group      County Pop. Range        Base Salary     Group Rate
   40                     Minimum      Maximum                            
   41  I                      -0-       49,999$26,250$21,250       $0.07875
   42  II                  50,000       99,999 29,40024,400        0.06300
   43  III                100,000      199,999 32,55027,550        0.02625
   44  IV                 200,000      399,999 35,17530,175        0.01575
   45  V                  400,000      999,999 38,32533,325        0.00525
   46  VI               1,000,000              41,47536,475        0.00400
   47         Section 2. Section 409.1664, Florida Statutes, is amended
   48  to read:
   49         409.1664 Adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive
   50  employees of state agencies, veterans, servicemembers, and law
   51  enforcement officers, and tax collector employees.—
   52         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   53         (a) “Child within the child welfare system” has the same
   54  meaning as provided in s. 409.166(2).
   55         (b) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as
   56  provided in s. 943.10(1).
   57         (c) “Qualifying adoptive employee” means a full-time or
   58  part-time employee of a state agency, a charter school
   59  established under s. 1002.33, or the Florida Virtual School
   60  established under s. 1002.37, who is not an independent
   61  contractor and who adopts a child within the child welfare
   62  system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. The term
   63  includes instructional personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01, who
   64  are employed by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
   65  and includes other-personal-services employees who have been
   66  continuously employed full time or part time by a state agency
   67  for at least 1 year.
   68         (d) “Servicemember” has the same meaning as in s.
   69  250.01(19).
   70         (e) “State agency” means a branch, department, or agency of
   71  state government for which the Chief Financial Officer processes
   72  payroll requisitions, a state university or Florida College
   73  System institution as defined in s. 1000.21, a school district
   74  unit as defined in s. 1001.30, or a water management district as
   75  defined in s. 373.019.
   76         (f) “Tax collector employee” means an employee of an office
   77  of the county tax collector in this state.
   78         (g) “Veteran” has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(14).
   79         (2) A qualifying adoptive employee, veteran, or
   80  servicemember who adopts a child within the child welfare system
   81  who is difficult to place as described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is
   82  eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary benefit in the amount of
   83  $10,000 per such child, subject to applicable taxes. A law
   84  enforcement officer or tax collector employee who adopts a child
   85  within the child welfare system who is difficult to place as
   86  described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a lump
   87  sum monetary benefit in the amount of $25,000 per such child,
   88  subject to applicable taxes. A qualifying adoptive employee,
   89  veteran, or servicemember who adopts a child within the child
   90  welfare system who is not difficult to place as described in s.
   91  409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary
   92  benefit in the amount of $5,000 per such child, subject to
   93  applicable taxes. A law enforcement officer or tax collector
   94  employee who adopts a child within the child welfare system who
   95  is not difficult to place as described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is
   96  eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary benefit in the amount of
   97  $10,000 per each such child, subject to applicable taxes. A
   98  qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the Florida
   99  Virtual School may retroactively apply for the monetary benefit
  100  provided in this subsection if such employee was employed by a
  101  charter school or the Florida Virtual School when he or she
  102  adopted a child within the child welfare system pursuant to
  103  chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. A veteran or servicemember
  104  may apply for the monetary benefit provided in this subsection
  105  if he or she is domiciled in this state and adopts a child
  106  within the child welfare system pursuant to chapter 63 on or
  107  after July 1, 2020. A law enforcement officer may apply for the
  108  monetary benefit provided in this subsection if he or she is
  109  domiciled in this state and adopts a child within the child
  110  welfare system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2022.
  111  A tax collector employee may apply for the monetary benefit
  112  provided in this subsection if he or she is domiciled in this
  113  state and adopts a child within the child welfare system under
  114  chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2024.
  115         (a) Benefits paid to a qualifying adoptive employee who is
  116  a part-time employee must be prorated based on the qualifying
  117  adoptive employee’s full-time equivalency at the time of
  118  applying for the benefits.
  119         (b) Monetary benefits awarded under this subsection are
  120  limited to one award per adopted child within the child welfare
  121  system.
  122         (c) The payment of a lump-sum monetary benefit for adopting
  123  a child within the child welfare system under this section is
  124  subject to a specific appropriation to the department for such
  125  purpose.
  126         (3) A qualifying adoptive employee must apply to his or her
  127  agency head, or to his or her school director in the case of a
  128  qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the Florida
  129  Virtual School, to obtain the monetary benefit provided in
  130  subsection (2). A veteran, or servicemember, or tax collector
  131  employee must apply to the department to obtain the benefit. A
  132  law enforcement officer must apply to the Department of Law
  133  Enforcement to obtain the benefit. Applications must be on forms
  134  approved by the department and must include a certified copy of
  135  the final order of adoption naming the applicant as the adoptive
  136  parent. Monetary benefits shall be approved on a first-come,
  137  first-served basis based upon the date that each fully completed
  138  application is received by the department.
  139         (4) This section does not preclude a qualifying adoptive
  140  employee, veteran, servicemember, or law enforcement officer, or
  141  tax collector employee from receiving adoption assistance for
  142  which he or she may qualify under s. 409.166 or any other
  143  statute that provides financial incentives for the adoption of
  144  children.
  145         (5) Parental leave for a qualifying adoptive employee must
  146  be provided in accordance with the personnel policies and
  147  procedures of his or her employer.
  148         (6) The department may adopt rules to administer this
  149  section. The rules may provide for an application process such
  150  as, but not limited to, an open enrollment period during which
  151  qualifying adoptive employees, veterans, servicemembers, or law
  152  enforcement officers, or tax collector employees may apply for
  153  monetary benefits under this section.
  154         (7) The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse a monetary
  155  benefit to a qualifying adoptive employee upon the department’s
  156  submission of a payroll requisition. The Chief Financial Officer
  157  shall transfer funds from the department to a state university,
  158  a Florida College System institution, a school district unit, a
  159  charter school, the Florida Virtual School, or a water
  160  management district, as appropriate, to enable payment to the
  161  qualifying adoptive employee through the payroll systems as long
  162  as funds are available for such purpose.
  163         (8) To receive an approved monetary benefit under this
  164  section, a veteran or servicemember must be registered as a
  165  vendor with the state.
  166         (9) Each state agency shall develop a uniform procedure for
  167  informing employees about this benefit and for assisting the
  168  department in making eligibility determinations and processing
  169  applications. Any procedure adopted by a state agency is valid
  170  and enforceable if the procedure does not conflict with the
  171  express terms of this section.
  172         Section 3. Section 445.09, Florida Statutes, is created to
  173  read:
  174         445.09 Bonuses for employees of tax collectors.
  175  Notwithstanding any other law, a county tax collector may budget
  176  for and pay a hiring or retention bonus to an employee if such
  177  expenditure is approved by the Department of Revenue in the
  178  respective budget of the tax collector.
  179         Section 4. Section 1001.47, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  180  read:
  181         1001.47 District school superintendent; salary.—
  182         (1) Each elected district school superintendent shall
  183  receive as salary the amount indicated pursuant to this section.
  184  However, a district school board, by majority vote, may approve
  185  a salary in excess of the amount specified in this section.
  186         (2) Each elected district school superintendent shall
  187  receive a base salary, the amounts indicated in this subsection,
  188  based on the population of the county the elected superintendent
  189  serves. In addition, compensation shall be made for population
  190  increments over the minimum for each population group, which
  191  shall be determined by multiplying the population in excess of
  192  the minimum for the group times the group rate. The product of
  193  such calculation shall be added to the base salary to determine
  194  the adjusted base salary. Laws that increase the base salary
  195  provided in this subsection shall contain provisions on no other
  196  subject.
  197  
  198  Pop. Group      County Pop. Range        Base Salary     Group Rate
  199                     Minimum      Maximum                            
  200      I                  -0-       49,999$26,250$21,250       $0.07875
  201      II              50,000       99,999 29,40024,400        0.06300
  202     III             100,000      199,999 32,55027,550        0.02625
  203      IV             200,000      399,999 35,17530,175        0.01575
  204      V              400,000      999,999 38,32533,325        0.00525
  205      VI           1,000,000              41,47536,475        0.00400
  206         (3) The adjusted base salaries of elected district school
  207  superintendents shall be increased annually as provided for in
  208  s. 145.19. Any salary previously paid to elected
  209  superintendents, including the salary calculated for fiscal
  210  years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, which was consistent with chapter
  211  145 and s. 230.303, Florida Statutes (2001), is hereby ratified
  212  and validated.
  213         (4)(a) There shall be an additional $2,000 per year special
  214  qualification salary paid by district school boards for each
  215  elected district school superintendent who has met the
  216  certification requirements established by the Department of
  217  Education. Any elected district school superintendent who is
  218  certified during a calendar year shall receive in that year a
  219  pro rata share of the special qualification salary based on the
  220  remaining period of the year.
  221         (b) In order to qualify for the special qualification
  222  salary provided by paragraph (a), the elected district school
  223  superintendent must complete the requirements established by the
  224  Department of Education within 6 years after first taking
  225  office.
  226         (c) After an elected district school superintendent meets
  227  the requirements of paragraph (a), in order to remain certified
  228  the district school superintendent shall thereafter be required
  229  to complete each year a course of continuing education as
  230  prescribed by the Department of Education.
  231         (5)(a) The Department of Education shall provide a
  232  leadership development and performance compensation program for
  233  elected district school superintendents, comparable to chief
  234  executive officer development programs for corporate executive
  235  officers, to include:
  236         1. A content-knowledge-and-skills phase consisting of:
  237  creative leadership models and theory, demonstration of
  238  effective practice, simulation exercises and personal skills
  239  practice, and assessment with feedback, taught in a professional
  240  training setting under the direction of experienced, successful
  241  trainers.
  242         2. A competency-acquisition phase consisting of on-the-job
  243  application of knowledge and skills for a period of not less
  244  than 6 months following the successful completion of the
  245  content-knowledge-and-skills phase. The competency-acquisition
  246  phase shall be supported by adequate professional technical
  247  assistance provided by experienced trainers approved by the
  248  department. Competency acquisition shall be demonstrated through
  249  assessment and feedback.
  250         (b) Upon the successful completion of both phases and
  251  demonstrated successful performance, as determined by the
  252  department, an elected district school superintendent shall be
  253  issued a Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development
  254  Certificate, and the department shall pay an annual performance
  255  salary incentive of not less than $3,000 nor more than $7,500
  256  based upon his or her performance evaluation.
  257         (c) An elected district school superintendent’s eligibility
  258  to continue receiving the annual performance salary incentive is
  259  contingent upon his or her continued performance assessment and
  260  follow-up followup training prescribed by the department.
  261         (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and s.
  262  145.19, elected district school superintendents may reduce their
  263  salary rate on a voluntary basis.
  264         Section 5. Section 1003.48, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  265  read:
  266         1003.48 Instruction in operation of motor vehicles; road
  267  tests.—
  268         (1) A course of study and instruction in the safe and
  269  lawful operation of a motor vehicle shall be made available by
  270  each district school board to students in the secondary schools
  271  in the state. The secondary school shall provide preferential
  272  enrollment to a student who is in the custody of the Department
  273  of Children and Families if the student maintains appropriate
  274  progress as required by the school. As used in this section, the
  275  term “motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in s. 320.01(1)(a)
  276  and includes motorcycles and mopeds. Instruction in motorcycle
  277  or moped operation may be limited to classroom instruction. The
  278  course may not be made a part of, or a substitute for, any of
  279  the minimum requirements for graduation.
  280         (2) In order to make such a course available to any
  281  secondary school student, the district school board may use any
  282  one of the following procedures or any combination thereof:
  283         (a) Use instructional personnel employed by the district
  284  school board.
  285         (b) Contract with a commercial driving school licensed
  286  under chapter 488.
  287         (c) Contract with an instructor certified under chapter
  288  488.
  289         (3) District school boards shall earn funds on full-time
  290  equivalent students at the appropriate basic program cost
  291  factor, regardless of the method by which such courses are
  292  offered.
  293         (4) For the purpose of financing the driver education
  294  program in the secondary schools, there shall be levied an
  295  additional 50 cents per year to the driver license fee required
  296  by s. 322.21. The additional fee shall be promptly remitted to
  297  the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which shall
  298  transmit the fee to the Chief Financial Officer to be deposited
  299  in the General Revenue Fund.
  300         (5) The district school board shall prescribe standards for
  301  the course required by this section and for instructional
  302  personnel directly employed by the district school board. A
  303  certified instructor or licensed commercial driving school is
  304  sufficiently qualified and is not required to meet any standards
  305  in lieu of or in addition to those prescribed under chapter 488.
  306         (6) District school boards may contract with the county tax
  307  collector for a tax collector employee to administer road tests
  308  on school grounds at one or more schools within the district.
  309         Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.