The Senate’s proposed overhaul of the way teachers are paid, ending tenure and phasing in short-term contracts where teachers are evaluated in part on student performance, is set for a vote next week.
The bill (SB 736) is on the floor calendar for a likely vote on Wednesday, March 9, just the second day of the legislative session. While not as controversial as last year’s proposal, the measure is still disliked by the teacher union and many rank and file teachers. Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a similar proposal last year – Gov. Rick Scott is in favor of the plan.
Also up for a vote the first week in the Senate will be the proposed new revenue cap for the state.
Lawmakers are proposing to change the constitution to limit revenue using a formula based on inflation plus population growth, rather than the current personal income growth formula. Backers say it will be a more restrictive cap.
Opponents say the state hasn’t ever bumped up against the less restrictive cap so it’s not really needed. The joint resolution (SJR 958) is on the special order calendar for Thursday, March 10.
Also up for a vote on the first day of the session is the Senate’s proposed block of the federal health care law (SJR 2.)
The News Service of Florida
