It was an emotional day in the Florida Senate, as lawmakers approved a suite of bills aimed at creating what Senate President Andy Gardiner described as a “pathway to economic independence” for children with special needs.
Part of the package, approved unanimously today, would expand the state’s newest educational choice program.
SB 602 would allow 3- and 4-year-olds, children with muscular dystrophy, and more children with conditions on the autistic spectrum to qualify for Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts (or PLSAs).
The accounts are administered by scholarship funding organizations like Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog and employs the author of this post.
As with several other bills in the package, all members of the Senate signed on to the PLSA legislation as co-sponsors.
Other bills passed by the Senate would expand higher education options for special needs children, increase their employment opportunities, and allow families to create tax-free savings accounts to help people with disabilities cover living expenses.
Gardiner, R-Orlando, is the father of a child with Down syndrome who has been intent on a system that allows children with special needs to achieve their full potential.
Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, last year backed legislation creating the scholarship accounts and this year shepherded the legislation expanding higher education options for special needs children.
“These children no longer have a ceiling when it comes to the state of Florida,” she said.
The House is advancing similar versions of the legislation approved Thursday, but has not yet given them final approval.
