Latest news with #HouseBill1105
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas paramedics to get tuition exemptions already provided to firefighters, police thanks to passed bill
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Paramedics could soon be exempt from tuition and laboratory fees while taking certain courses at public colleges and universities, thanks to a bill that recently passed in the Texas Legislature. House Bill 1105, authored by Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin, applies to paramedics employed by a political subdivision of Texas. Many of Texas' paramedics are also firefighters, who already have access to fee exemptions under Texas law. Law enforcement officers also have access to exemptions. However, an author-sponsor statement of intent for HB 1105 states that as many as 6,000 paramedics in Texas are not employed by a fire department. 'In Texas, most paramedics working for a political subdivision are also employed as firefighters,' the statement reads. 'Since firefighters are eligible … most paramedics have likewise benefited from these courses and the tuition exemption.' When implemented, the law will direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to restrict how many remote students get exemptions to 20% of enrolled students. Austin EMS Association (AEMSA) President James Monks provided the only testimony in support of the bill during an April 15 hearing, according to legislative records. AEMSA organizes Austin-Travis County EMS workers. 'I think it was an oversight. EMS is not quite at the top of everybody's radar,' said Monks to KXAN on Thursday. 'We got left out of the loop when [fee exemption] legislation initially passed, and I just tried to convince them that the initial intent of this legislation was to include paramedics … third service just kind of got left out.' Representatives from the city of Austin, city of Houston, Texas AFL-CIO, Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts, Texas Fire Chiefs Association, Conference of Urban Counties, and County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas registered in support of the bill but did not testify. No one testified against or registered opposition with the Senate's Higher Education committee. Texas AFL-CIO: Texas Legislature passes bill protecting utility workers from assaults, harassment during disasters Some AEMSA members have already indicated they will seek more training because of the bill, Monks said. He also said that the law would help ATCEMS retain staff. 'I definitely see it as step in the right direction,' Monks said. 'It's offering a further incentive for people who have their paramedic license or certification, so that they can go ahead and pursue higher education.' Bill sponsor Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, provided a statement to KXAN, in which she said she was proud to help pass the bill. 'Nearly 9% of Texas paramedics are employed by a standalone EMS department but are excluded from participating in the tuition exemption program offered to their counterparts who work jointly with police and fire,' Eckhardt said. 'This bill is about ensuring parity and opening vital pathways for more Texans to get to work helping their communities, especially those struggling with the greatest need for personnel.' Monks also told KXAN that he was grateful for Cole and Eckhardt, and said that their staff were 'fantastic.' Unless vetoed, HB 1105 takes effect in September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Are phones allowed in Florida schools? Here's what the new law says student's can't do
When school starts in Florida next fall, elementary and middle school students will be banned from using cell phones from "bell to bell" during the school day under a bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 30. High school students will still be permitted to use their phones outside of class (depending on individual school district rules), but House Bill 1105, an omnibus education bill composed of several previously filed initiatives, bans their use during instructional time unless "expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes" and then only in a designated area. However, the bill also calls for a pilot program in six counties to test banning phone use during the entire school day there as well. The bill also benefits charter schools in Florida by making it easier to convert public schools into charter ones, requires charter schools to get a percentage of sales tax money, and allows students in marching bands to get physical education or performing arts credit. The bill comes as several states and districts look at banning phones in schools. In 2023, Florida became the first state to restrict students' cell phone use during class. Indiana and Ohio soon followed. In April, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law similar to Florida's current rules, and New York just added a bell-to-bell ban for K-12 schools as part of an agreement on its state budget. Critics say a total ban endangers children by leaving them without a source of communication during emergencies, such as school shootings, and prevents students from taking video of bullying in school or improper actions by teachers or school safety officers. Under the new law, elementary and middle school students may not use any wireless communications device during the school day. In high school, students would be permitted to use wireless communications devices outside of instructional time or if directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes, in an area the teacher designates. The bill does not say that students may not carry phones, only that they may not use them. Individual school districts may have more restrictive codes, parents and guardians should check with their your local districts for more information. Exemptions are included for students with medical requirements for the use of a wireless communications device "based on valid clinical reasoning or evidence." Meanwhile, the Department of Education is directed to select six school districts representing two small, two medium, and two large counties to enact a school phone ban. By the end of 2026, they must provide a report on the effects of a total phone and tablet ban on student achievement and behavior and create a model policy based on their findings that other school districts and charter schools in Florida can adopt. Students in those districts would not be permitted to use phones or personal electronic devices during the entire school day, while on school grounds, or while engaged in school activities off school grounds during the school day. The pilot program's report must also report on the number of violations that include phone use for illegal activities, bullying, harassment, threatening, cheating, or capturing or displaying images or video of a student during a medical issue or "engaged in misconduct." A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis found that 72% of the high school teachers surveyed said cellphone usage in classrooms distracts students, although (unsurprisingly) 70% of students ages 13-17 said that phone use was generally more positive than negative and 45% said that smartphones benefited their educational experience. Nearly a quarter of the teens polled said phones made learning more difficult and 30% did not notice a difference. HB 1105 also makes it easier to convert public schools into charter schools by putting the decision to convert solely in the hands of a majority of parents, without input from teachers or administrators. The bill adds more benefits for charter schools, such as: Allowing municipalities to apply to convert existing public schools into job engine charter schools — privately run charter schools designed to attract "job-producing entities" to the area by creating curricula aligned with their needs — if the school scores less than an "A" from the state for five years in a row Requiring school districts to share discretionary surtax revenue with charter schools proportional to enrollment Allowing some private schools to build new facilities without seeking rezoning or adhering to mitigation requirements Another bill DeSantis signed the same day, HB 443, allows charter schools to create their own codes of conduct or adapt them from other schools, defines what lab schools can spend discretionary funds on, allows certain charter schools to enroll more students than their charter specifies, prevents the landlord of a charter school or anyone closely connected with them from being on the governing board, allows virtual students to participate in an interscholastic athletic team in the school district where they live, and more. Many other states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Vermont have either considered or passed student phone use bans in the last couple of years. However, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a phone ban last year, saying schools were already handling the issue on their own. According to the Pew study, in 2024, 82% of K-12 teachers in the U.S. said their school or district already had some sort of cellphone policy in place. Bans in other states range in severity, with some allowing phone use during lunch and in between classes. Some districts require students to bag their phones in sealed pouches or store them in lockers during school hours. Critics of student phone bans worry that in case of emergencies, including school shootings, immediate communication between students and parents or law enforcement is vital. 'A HUGE debate that comes up in our group is the fear of school shootings," said Jodie Sherrill, one of the main moderators in the Parenting in a Tech World forum. "Many parents argue they want their child to reach them in that tragic event; the parent wants to reach the child; perhaps they can help get them out, or even just to say 'I love you' one last time.' Phone bans: Do smartphone bans work if parents push back? The law takes effect on July 1, 2025. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Phones in Florida schools to be restricted after DeSantis signs bill
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida marching band students can get PE credit under new bill, what to know
Hauling a tuba is hard work, and Florida is ready to acknowledge that. Florida marching band students can get credit for physical education or performing arts under new House Bill 1105, passed by the state Senate on May 2. "This significant legislation acknowledges the rigorous physical activity involved in marching band and is another important step forward in supporting and enhancing music education in Florida's schools," the Florida Music Education Association posted on social media on May 10. "We look forward to the Governor's signature!" HB 1105, an omnibus education bill containing a variety of initiatives that did not pass on their own, also prohibits students in elementary and middle schools from using wireless communications (such as cell phones and tablets) during the school day, and blocks high school students from using them in class without teacher permission. The bill makes changes to state law to benefit charter schools, expands qualifications for Florida Bright Futures scholarships and assorted academic awards, adds more career or vocational options for dual education, course credits and graduation requirements, and requires school boards to develop a 3-year strategic plan to better align specific curriculums to meet local workforce needs. It also moves the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Legal Affairs to Florida Memorial University. Cell phones in Florida schools: Did cell phones get banned from Florida schools? What to know about the potential new law Currently, Florida students must complete one credit in physical education to get a high school diploma. Florida statutes already allowed completion of one semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class or in a PE class that required participation in marching band activities to count as one-half credit toward the PE requirement. Under HB 1105, "Completion of 2 years of marching band shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education or the one-credit requirement in performing arts." The credit may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. If signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis or allowed to become law without his signature, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: High school marching band counts as physical education in Florida bill
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Did cell phones get banned from Florida schools? What to know about the potential new law
Florida elementary and middle school students would be banned from using cell phones from "bell to bell" during the school day under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature along partisan lines on Friday, May 2. High school students would still be permitted to use them during instructional time, but House Bill 1105, an omnibus education bill composed of several previously filed initiatives, also creates a pilot program in six counties to test banning phone use during the entire school day there as well. In 2023, Florida became the first state to restrict students' cell phone use during class. Indiana and Ohio soon followed. Now, states are looking to block mobile phone use entirely, despite critics' concerns about emergencies — such as shootings — in school. Last week, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law similar to Florida's current rules, and New York is considering its own total ban. Does HB 1105 Education ban phones in Florida schools? If the bill goes into effect, elementary and middle school students may not use any wireless communications device during the school day. In high school, students would be permitted to use wireless communications devices outside of instructional time or if directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes, in an area the teacher designates. The bill does not say that students may not carry phones, only that they may not use them. Exemptions are included for students with medical requirements for the use of a wireless communications device "based on valid clinical reasoning or evidence." Meanwhile, the Department of Education is directed to select six school districts representing two small, two medium, and two large counties to enact a school phone ban. By the end of 2026, they must provide a report on the effects of a total phone and tablet ban on student achievement and behavior and create a model policy based on their findings that other school districts and charter schools in Florida can adopt. Students in those districts would not be permitted to use phones or personal electronic devices during the entire school day, while on school grounds, or while engaged in school activities off school grounds during the school day. The pilot program's report must also report on the number of violations that include phone use for illegal activities, bullying, harassment, threatening, cheating, or capturing or displaying images or video of a student during a medical issue or "engaged in misconduct." House education bill bans cell phone use, benefits charter schools The ban was initially the focus of House Bill 949, filed by Rep. Demi Busatta, R-Coral Gables, but that bill was postponed indefinitely last week when language from it was included in the omnibus education bill. HB 1105 also makes it easier to convert public schools into charter schools by putting the decision to convert solely in the hands of a majority of parents, without input from teachers or administrators. The bill also adds more benefits for charter schools, such as: Allowing municipalities to apply to convert existing public schools into job engine charter schools — privately run charter schools designed to attract "job-priducing entities" to the area by creating curricula aligned with their needs — if the school scores less than an "A" from the state for five years in a row Requiring school districts to share discretionary surtax revenue with charter schools Allowing some private schools to build new facilities without seeking rezoning or adhering to mitigation requirements A 2023 Pew Research Center analysis found that 72% of the high school teachers surveyed said cellphone usage in classrooms distracts students, although (unsurprisingly) 70% of students ages 13-17 said that phone use was generally more positive than negative and 45% said that smartphones benefited their educational experience. Nearly a quarter of the teens polled said phones made learning more difficult and 30% did not notice a difference. What states ban cell phone use in schools? Many other states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Vermont have either considered or passed student phone use bans in the last couple of years. However, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a phone ban last year, saying schools were already handling the issue on their own. According to the Pew study, in 2024, 82% of K-12 teachers in the U.S. said their school or district already had some sort of cellphone policy in place. Bans in other states range in severity, with some allowing phone use during lunch and in between classes. Some districts require students to bag their phones in sealed pouches or store them in lockers during school hours. Critics of student phone bans worry that in case of emergencies, including school shootings, immediate communication between students and parents or law enforcement is vital. 'A HUGE debate that comes up in our group is the fear of school shootings," said Jodie Sherrill, one of the main moderators in the Parenting in a Tech World forum. "Many parents argue they want their child to reach them in that tragic event; the parent wants to reach the child; perhaps they can help get them out, or even just to say 'I love you' one last time.' Phone bans: Do smartphone bans work if parents push back? When would the student phone ban in Florida take effect? If signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis or allowed to become law without his signature, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida bans student cell phone use, here's when and where
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local lawmakers, others launch ‘pro-enforcement immigration caucus'
ATLANTA (WSAV) — Georgia lawmakers officially launched a new group that's working to advance immigration enforcement efforts, a Georgia House of Representative press release said Friday. The Pro-Enforcement Immigration Caucus was founded by local State Representative Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah). 'This caucus is dedicated to strengthening immigration enforcement and ensuring the rule of law is upheld throughout Georgia,' said Petrea. 'Our focus will remain on making certain that the safety, security and well-being of our communities are always a top priority.' Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge for Georgia and Alabama, Steven Schrank, spoke about House Bill 1105, which he said has facilitated unprecedented cooperation between immigration enforcement and local law enforcement agencies. He also reportedly discussed workforce and human rights violations by employers violating the law to include recent arrests in Cartersville and Savannah, the press release said. The caucus was founded by House Human Relations and Aging Committee Chairman Petrea and includes 10 other members, Houston Gaines (R-Athens), Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), Steven Sainz (R-St. Marys), Gary Richardson (R-Evans), Kimberly New (R-Villa Rica), Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), Rey Martinez (R-Loganville), Rob Clifton (R-Evans), Mike Cameron (R-Rossville) and State Senator Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
