The 2010 Legislative session update on the budget and bills of interest

 
Budget:

HB 5001, the appropriations act, includes a slight increase in the Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant and the ABLE Grant program.

HB 5201, which makes changes to law in order to implement the budget, allows Vocational Rehabilitation clients to use their training funds at private institutions under certain circumstances.
 
Bills:  The following bills passed the Legislature and are awaiting action by the Governor.
 
HB 1337, the nursing glitch bill, clarifies several issues from last year’s nursing bill and allows accredited programs to be exempt from most Board of Nursing processes.
 
HB 7129 on military affairs includes all CIE-licensed institutions as eligible for participants in the Florida National Guard “Dollars for Duty” program.  The Adjutant General retains full control over the programs and courses from which Guardsmen and women may choose.
 
HB 7237 related to the state university system creates a Higher Education Coordinating Council composed of the Commissioner of Education, Chancellor of the SUS, Chancellor of the State College System, President of ICUF, Executive Director of CIE, and two appointed business people.  The Council is charged with resolving disputes over new degrees and programs, and providing policy advice to the Legislature on areas including articulation and transfer of credit.
 
SB 742 requires public safety telecommunicators (911 system operators) to receive training, take a test, and be licensed.  The Department of Education will develop the curriculum and the Department of Health will establish rules for approving the training programs.  The law does not exclude our sector from offering the training.
 
HB 7069 requires level 2 background screening for a variety of occupations that serve vulnerable populations.

HB 729 regulates the practice of tattooing, and will require a separate license for cosmetologists who also practice permanent makeup.
 
Summaries of all bills that passed are available at this link.  Click on “Expand all Committees” to see a listing of bills under each committee and read individual summaries.