It's a Law!

2007

CS/HB 1161 - High School Work Experience

Ought to be a law saw it's first bill pass the full legislative process and find itself in the Florida Statutes. A team comprised of students from Chamberlain High School in Tampa, Florida proposed a bill entitled the High School to Business Enhancement Act. The law authorizes the school boards to adopt policies & procedures for High School to Business Career Enhancement Program through which student internships may be offered in school district; requires background screening of employees or contracted personnel of employers participating in program; clarifies that employment of student intern is not employment for purposes of unemployment compensation.

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2012

CS/HB 1351 - Homeless Youth

A team of students from Leto High School from Tampa, Florida and Armwood High School in Seffner, Florida were able to complete a legislative session with a law in the books. This team fought of the rights of a group of disenfranchised young people too old to be placed in the State. Their bill defined the term "certified homeless youth"; provides that minor who is certified homeless youth or who has had disabilities on nonage removed under specified provisions may obtain certified copy of his or her birth certificate; provides that unaccompanied youths who are certified homeless youths 16 years of age or older who apply to court to have disabilities of nonage removed shall have court costs waived; requires court to advance such cases on calendar.

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2014

CS/HB 485 - Sexual Offenses Against Students by Authority Figures

The Armwood Ought to be a law team had done it again. This time the bill was aimed at former educators found guilty of sexual misconduct offenses with students. The bill aimed at enhancing current state penalties for said offenses by one degree. The law designates the act as the "Stop Harassing Underage Teens Act"; provides for reclassification of specified sexual offenses committed against students by authority figure of school; provides for severity ranking of offenses.

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2017

HB 63 (CS/7109) - Tax Emption for Feminine Hygiene

for the third time in 6 years the Armwood Ought to be a Law team has found a way to introduce common sense legislation that has made the full trip through the legislative process. This years all female team decided to attack the Florida Tax code with a focus on ending the taxation on Feminine Hygiene products. The bill had wide spread bi-partisan support from the beginning of the 2017 session boasting 29 house co-sponsors and 13 Senate co-sponsorships. The bill was included as part of a sweeping $400M tax cut package. The girls also had several other ideas that showed up in the package with the help of bill proposed by other legislators including ending the tax on diapers, wipes and adult incontinence products as well.

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2020

HB  (PCS HB 199) - Standard Diploma for ELL Students

Armwood High Students were able to introduce this bill in the 2020 legislative session before school was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation allows ELL students who meet all graduation requirements outside of state FSA Grade 10 ELA Testing to be able to qualify for a waiver from the test using other benchmark data. This bill will allow more students to graduate with a standard diploma keeping them on track with future college/career plans.

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2021

HB 1093 (CS/1093) - Abuse, Neglect, or Abandonment Education

Sumner High School students proposed this bill to requires stakeholders in the foster system to become knowledgeable about their rights and available resources at their disposable in cases of neglect, abuse, or abandonment. The bill requires verbal and/or written instructions to be provided to child upon out of home placement in the manner appropriate for the child. The bill also authorizes and encourages district school boards to establish an educational program for all K-12 instructional staff and and students relating to the process of identifying and reporting abuse, neglect, or abandonment and its effects.

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