Thread by @FloridaEA

The House Ways & Means committee was just called to order. There are only two bills on the agenda today.

One of them would require school district voted discretionary operating property tax levies to apply proportionately to charter schools.

Looks like the committee will take that bill up second. We'll keep you informed once it's heard in the committee. In the meantime, here's a comprehensive look from Integrity Florida on "The Hidden Costs of Charter Schools."
integrityflorida.org/wp-content/upl…

Having fairly quickly dispensed with the first bill in front of them, the Ways and Means Committee will now take up Proposed Committee Bill WMC 19-02. You can find the bill here: myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Docum…

While introducing the bill, Rep. @BryanAvilaFL said the change to provide charter schools with voter-approved levies is necessary to avoid "confusion" in current law.

However, voters have been very clear that they want more funds for their neighborhood public schools.

There are some other provisions in the bill as well including sales tax holidays for back to school and for hurricane season. Those have been the subject of discussion so far. We'll keep you up-to-date when the discussion returns to charter schools.

.@AnnaForFlorida asks if it is a good idea for the House to take up the provision requiring charter schools to receive a portion of voter-approved tax levies. She points out that in the places where referenda were successful last year...

...that much of the money has already been allocated. And is concerned that passing this PCB could impact local control.

Discussion has returned to other items in the Proposed Committee Bill.

Rep. @AnnaForFlorida introduces an amendment to ensure that if charter schools receive tax levies they must be used for the "voter authorized" use of the levy. Currently, if charter schools did get the $ they could use the tax dollars for purposes other than the voters approved.

When asked if it is true that charter schools would be able to use the additional tax revenue for uses other than those "voter approved," Rep. @BryanAvilaFL dodges the question.

So, Rep. Santiago asks the question for a second time.

In his second attempt at answering the question, Rep. @BryanAvilaFL gives a history lesson on previous referenda but still doesn't answer the question.

The reason he isn't answering the question, of course, is he doesn't want to admit that this bill would provide charter schools

with flexibility that public schools do not have.

Rep. @AnnaForFlorida says it is important to "respect the voters" by ensuring that whatever the voters approved the tax levy to do is what should actually be done by charter schools.

Rep. Santiago echoes those sentiments. If the voters approve teacher pay increases, charter schools should have to pay their teachers--not use the money for whatever purpose they want.

Rep. @ByronDonalds says the "heart of the amendment" is something that everyone wants. Then says he'll vote it down.

Now's a good time to point out when he was on the board of Mason Classical Academy their philosophy was to pay a "minimum salary."

It should be no surprise that @AnnaForFlorida's amendment was voted down since it would require that charter schools and public schools play by the same rules--something many of the committee members oppose.

Another amendment from Rep. @AnnaForFlorida would ensure that there would be no liability to school districts if charter schools use the tax levies for purposes other than those "voter approved."

With little discussion or debate this amendment fails as well.

Out of respect for her colleagues and to be thoughtful of their time, Rep. @AnnaForFlorida withdraws her next two amendments.

The committee is now taking up a series of amendments from @AmyMercado related to other tax changes in the bill.

We'll update you when the committee resumes discussion of charter schools.

Rep. @AmyMercado introduced an amendment which would extend the sales tax "holiday" for back-to-school from 3 days to 7 days.

For those who are interested, here's the history of the back to school tax holiday.

The amendment from Rep. @AmyMercado would also make the tax holiday a permanent part of the tax code.

Currently it must be approved annually.

She says it should be permanent because in years when the holiday is not approved it hurts the poorest Floridians.

All of the amendments have now been discussed and debated (and voted down).

Discussion will now return to the bill itself.

First up to speak on the bill is @justice2jesus.

He takes issue with the parliamentary nature of the meeting. Pitts says that the Proposed Committee Bill being discussed was actually not a "Committee" bill but clearly the bill of the Chair.

Next up is a "School Choice" representative who is speaking to the charter school tax levies.

He, not surprisingly, asks the committee to support the provision to provide charter schools with tax revenue without accountability on how the funds are spent.

Public testimony has now concluded. And debate on the bill has begun.

First in debate is Rep. @AnnaForFlorida who says there are parts of the bill she "really loves" including tax holidays. However, there are also parts she "can't stand" She says she'll be voting down on the bill.

In particular, she says she can't support a bill that provides additional flexibility to charter schools that is not afforded to public schools.

Rep. @GovGoneWild says, "charter schools are public schools" as he defends a provision in the bill which would allow charter schools to ignore the will of the voters and use tax levies for uses other than those approved by voters.

The bill was just voted favorably. The senate is now taking up SB 7030. We'll start a new thread for that.

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