I wanted to share some exciting updates surrounding the Educational Interpreter Bill, but first, let me give you some quick context.

Any bill in the state legislature must first go through several committees before it can be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Each committee will review the bill language and hear testimony from the public, and the committee can make revisions to the bill before casting a vote.

Our Education Interpreter Bill, which is House Bill (HB) 705 and Senate Bill (SB) 916, has begun to make it's way through the legislative process. On the House side, HB705 was revised and given some new language in its first committee (Ed. K-12 Subcommittee). It subsequently passed that committee, moved onto its second committee (Ed. Appropriations), which it also passed. HB705 should be heard in its 3rd and final committee (House Education) tomorrow. Once it clears that committee, it will be ready to be presented on the floor of the House of Representatives!

On the Senate side, SB916 was heard in its first committee (Pre-K-12 Ed. Subcommittee) and passed. It should be heard in its second committee this week.

It should be noted, by the way, that the bill has passed unanimously through each of the committees thus far!

During the House Education Appropriations committee meeting last week, Terri Schisler (chair of FRID's legislation committee), Morgan Eastman (FAD representative) and Gary Lieffers (FAD/FRID Lobbyist) were in attendance. Morgan had the opportunity to share with the committee why this bill is important to her. Check out her testimony, which begins at 12:35 on the video. The entire segment where the committee hears HB705 runs from 9:25 - 15:10 (it is not captioned).

Thank you to Terri, Morgan and Gary for their continued work on this bill! Also, thank you to FAD President, Lissette Molina Wood, FAD Vice President, June McMahon, FAD Secretary, Glenna Ashton, and FRID Secretary, Carrie Moore whom, alongside myself, attended a full days worth of meetings with legislators on January 21 in Tallahassee. It looks like the work is paying off!

You can continue to track the bills by going tohttp://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ or https://www.flsenate.gov/ and clicking on "legislative tracking"/"tracker".

Thank you for your continued support and stay tuned for more updates as the bill continues to progress!