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2011 session a tough one for state employees
By Bill Cotterell
It was a tough legislative session for state employees. There will be fewer of them in the fiscal year starting July 1. That date also marks a fifth fiscal year without general pay raises. Those that remain will find their gross pay 3 percent lighter as they start kicking in to the state pension pot. "I think they've been treated shabbily," said Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, at the end of the 60-day session. "It's not only unfair, it's not smart. I predict that when this budget takes effect, there will be another economic downturn." Organized workers in state agencies - like hundreds of thousands of teachers, county and municipal workers, police and firefighters statewide - opposed Gov. Rick Scott's election last year. They staged rallies against his policies on opening day of the session March 8, booed him in the Springtime Tallahassee parade April 2 and have another series of mass protests planned for next Tuesday in major Florida cities. But Scott, a wealthy health-care executive who made cutting the size and cost of government a centerpiece of his eight-month campaign, got a substantial start on what he wanted to do during his first session. The number of authorized positions in the state budget fell from 126,765 to 122,236. It's estimated that 1,300 of the 4,529 eliminated positions are currently occupied by people who will lose their jobs. Read more of this Florida Capital News article here |
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Legislative Changes to FRS
Compiled by Chris Doolin May 11. 2011
SB 2100: Changes to the Florida Retirement System
www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/2100/BillText/er/PDF
The Florida Legislature adopted changes relating to the Florida Retirement System. Any employee considering retirement or wishing to understand how the changes apply to their circumstances should contact the Florida Retirement System.
Specific Legislative Changes Required in SB 2100 as adopted.
- Effective July 1, 2011, requires 3% employee contribution for all FRS members. DROP participants are not required to pay employee contributions.
- For employees initially enrolled on or after July 1, 2011, the definition of "average final compensation" means the average of the 8 highest fiscal years of compensation for creditable service prior to retirement, for purposes of calculation of retirement benefits. For employees initially enrolled prior to July 1, 2011, the definition of "average final compensation" continues to be the average of the 5 highest fiscal years of compensation. For employees initially enrolled in the pension plan on or after July 1, 2011, such members will vest in 100% of employer contributions upon completion of 8 years of creditable service. For existing employees, vesting will remain at 6 years of creditable service.
- For employees, initially enrolled on or after July 1, 2011, increases the normal retirement age and years of service requirements, as follows:
- For Special Risk Class: Increases the age from 55 to 60 years of age; and increases the years of creditable service from 25 to 30.
- For all other classes: Increases the age from 62 to 65 years of age; and increases the years of creditable service from 30 to 33 years. Maintains DROP; however, employees entering DROP on or after July 1, 2011 will earn interest at a reduced accrual rate of 1.3%. For employees currently in DROP or entering before July 1, 2011, the interest rate remains 6.5%.
- Eliminates the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for service earned on or after July 1, 2011. Subject to the availability of funding and the Legislature enacting sufficient employer contributions specifically for the purpose of funding the reinstatement of the COLA, the new COLA formula will expire effective June 30, 2016, and the current 3% cost-of-living adjustment will be reinstated.
Employees Considering Retiring or Enrolling in the DROP Program Should Contact there Employer Contact or the FRS.
The FRS Guidance Call Line is - 1-866-446-9377
The FRS benefits and contributions will be different for persons enrolled in DROP prior to July 1 than persons enrolling in DROP on or after July 1, 2011.
- Employees enrolling in the FRS DROP program prior to July 1 will retain a 6.5% return and will not be subject to the 3% contribution if they are accepted into the program in June.
- Any employee currently considering enrolling in the DROP program should contact the FRS ASAP to determine how the changes will impact them and whether they should initiate an application that will enroll them into the DROP program prior to July 1, 2011.
Note - Local Employer "savings" resulting from the required 3% employee contribution will not be deducted from state revenue sharing programs as originally proposed.
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Bills allow larger school class sizes, end tenure, expand school choice
By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel
In their final week of work, Florida lawmakers passed bills that would allow public-school class sizes to get larger, give charter schools approval to expand and end tenure contracts for teachers who don't have them by July 1. The Florida Legislature also finalized a state budget that cuts school funding by almost 8 percent, or about $542 per student. Here are some of the education highlights. Some are awaiting Gov. Rick Scott's expected signature, and others already have it. Class size This measure significantly cuts the number of courses that must meet Florida's strict class-size rules. Advocates say it makes the rules, approved by voters in 2002, more "rational" and less costly to cash-strapped school districts, which lobbied for the changes.
Read more of this Orlando Sentinel News Article Here.
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New rules shape schools
By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune
Lawmakers passed a flurry of bills this session that are aimed at expanding what proponents call innovative school choice and what critics decry as a concerted attack on underfunded public schools. Those bills: ·Allow the high-performing charter schools to more quickly expand enrollment and open new schools with less oversight from local school boards. ·Require every high school student to take at least one class online. Legislation also generally expands online education. For example, students can take online classes offered by their own districts, by the Florida Virtual School, by virtual charter schools and by other public school districts throughout the state. ·Make more students eligible for private school vouchers, including McKay Scholarships for disabled students and Opportunity Scholarships for students in failing public schools. Read more of this Tampa Tribune article here
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FCAT 2.0, graded on more of a curve, worries Jacksonville officials
Conversion to a new system has students graded on a curve.
By Mary Kelli Palka
Scores on this year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test won't be based solely on the students' performances on the exam but on how they do compared to the other students in the state. It's not yet clear what that will mean for Duval County schools, especially the county's four struggling intervene schools, but local officials fear it could hurt. If Raines, Ribault and Jackson high schools and North Shore K-8 don't show gains on the FCAT this year, they may be turned over to a management group. "That is absurd," said School Board member Betty Burney about this year's scoring protocol. "For some of the kids, it won't matter if they've studied their hearts out, because the state is just going to be concerned with a percentage."
Usually the state reports student scores based on individual achievement levels and then compares the current year scores to previous years to determine performance gains. But this year's tests, called FCAT 2.0, are more rigorous than previous tests because they were written to match updated standards. The state won't set achievement levels for FCAT 2.0 until next fall.
Continue reading this Florida Times Union Article here |
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