Title: Charter Schools

Summary: Requires charter school applicant to provide evidence of surety bond or secured escrow account by specified date to cover first-year operation costs.

Full Text:
An act relating to charter schools; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; requiring a charter school applicant to provide evidence of a surety bond or secured escrow account by a specified date to cover first-year operation costs; amending s. 1002.331, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraphs (g) and (h) of subsectio n(6) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (h) and (i), respectively, and a new paragraph (g) is added to that subsection to read: 1002.33 Charter schools.-(6) APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.-Charter school applications are subject to the following requirements: (g) A charter school applicant, after approval of an application but before the first day of classes at the charter school, must provide verified evidence of a surety bond or secured escrow account in an amount equal to or greater than the expense projection for the first year of operation, including, but not limited to, all salaries, leases, and purchase services. Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 1002.331, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: HB 2015 1002.331 High-performing charter schools.-(3)(a) A high-performing charter school may submit an application pursuant to s. 1002.33(6) in any school district in the state to establish and operate a new charter school that will substantially rep licate its educational program. An application submitted by a high-performing charter school must state that the application is being submitted pursuant to this paragraph and must include the verification letter provided by the Commissioner of Education pu rsuant to subsection (5). If the sponsor fails to act on the application within days after receipt, the application is deemed approved and the procedure in s. 1002.33(6)(i) 1002.33(6)(h) applies. If the sponsor denies the application, the high-performin gcharter school may appeal pursuant to s. 1002.33(6). Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.