SB 1262 & HB 1133- Relating to Emergency Management
On Tuesday, February 16th, SB 1262, relating to Emergency Management, by Senator Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) was heard by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and unanimously passed by a vote of 7 yeas to 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this bill.

On Thursday, February 18th, HB 1133, relating to Emergency Management, by Rep. Dana Young (R-Tampa) was heard by the House Economic Affairs Committee and unanimously passed with 13 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this bill.

This legislation would remove hindrances, such as taxes and regulations, that in any other situation would be the normal course of business for out of state companies coming to Florida to assist with emergency response during a disaster situation.

SB 1262 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a hearing. 

HB 1133 will now go to the House floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that will remove the loop holes’ businesses would ordinarily have to go through when coming to Florida to aide in a state of emergency.

HB 887- Relating to Computer Coding Instruction
On Wednesday, February 17th, HB 887, relating to Computer Coding Instruction sponsored by Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach) was heard before the House Education Committee and passed with 16 yeas and 1 nay. AIF stood in support of this bill.

HB 887 would allow high school students the option of taking computer coding courses along with a related industry certification to satisfy the foreign language requirement currently in place. Under this bill high schools will provide students the opportunity to substitute two credits in computer coding and a related industry certification for two credits sequential foreign language courses (i.e. Spanish I and Spanish II; Latin I and Latin II; French I and French II; etc.). 

The bill would require each district school board to submit a plan for offering computer coding to the Education Commissioner, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2017.

Furthermore, HB 887, would require the Florida College System institutions and state universities to acknowledge computer coding course credits as foreign language credits.

HB 887 will now go to the House floor for consideration. 

AIF supports legislation that will provide Florida’s students the opportunity to become proficient in computer coding, which will in turn prepare our states next generation for a technology driven economy.