The House Education Appropriations Committee passed the so-called "parent trigger" bill on a party-line vote, with Republicans in favor. The bill is speeding through the House despite opposition from the Florida PTA and Florida Education Association.
Last year it passed the House but died in the Senate on a 20-20 tie. Democrats charged it was a way for private charter-school companies to take over public schools. Representative Carlos Trujillo, a Miami Republican and the bill's sponsor, denies it."Those public assets still stay with the community, they're still the property of the state of Florida and they're still administered by the school board", said Trujillo. "It's important to note that I've challenged any opponents of this bill, if they want to include legislation that states that those assets remain with the state of Florida, with the school board, I would be happy to include it. None of them have taken me up on that challenge."
Representative Dwayne Taylor, a Daytona Beach Democrat, said low-performing schools should be dealt with in the public school system.
"If the parents go to the school district and say, 'Look, we have a failing school. Let us go ahead and do something about this failing school and turn it over to whatever entity they think is best.' But that should be done at the school district level", said Taylor.
The bill faces one more House committee. It has three committee stops in the Senate, but hasn't been scheduled for a hearing yet.