Proposal targeting teacher unions rejected

TALLAHASSEE — The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday rejected a House proposal that could force teachers unions in Florida to disband if their membership falls below half of the employees they represent.

The decision came as the panel voted unanimously to advance a major education bill (HB 7055) that is important to House leaders and contains a new voucher program to give bullied public-school students state-funded scholarships to transfer to private schools.

The “hope scholarships” would be paid for by Florida motorists who elect to contribute money to the voucher program when they buy or register vehicles. Vehicle owners would get a tax credit against the sales tax they would normally pay in a vehicle transaction. The Senate proposes a $20 credit, while the House wants a $105 credit.

Other provisions in the bill include strengthening state oversight for publicly funded private-school voucher programs and making modifications in the “schools of hope” program, which passed last year and encourages the expansion of charter schools to help students in persistently low-performing schools.

Education Chairwoman Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, offered the Senate version of the bill Tuesday in a wide-ranging amendment. It includes a Senate initiative that would dedicate more funding to mental-health services in the 67 school districts and a requirement that high school students take a financial literacy course to graduate.

But most of the debate was focused on a House proposal, which was included in Hukill’s amendment, that could result in teachers unions losing state certification if their membership falls below 50 percent of the employees they represent in the collective-bargaining process.

Sen. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, proposed removing that language from the bill and his proposal passed in a 5-4 vote, with two Republican senators, Tom Lee of Thonotosassa and David Simmons of Altamonte Springs, joining three Democrats on the committee in support.