>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, SCHOOLS ACROSS FLORIDA RETURN AFTER THE SUMMER BREAK, BUT TEACHERS FACE UNCERTAINTY OVER A RAFT OF NEW LAWS AND A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF STAFF.

AND ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO PUT A RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, BUT WILL SUCH A MEASURE HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, TWO OF MY FAVORITE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS, ERIK SANDOVAL FROM WKMG CHANNEL SIX, CURTIS MCCLOUD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

>>GOOD TO BE HERE.

>>APPRECIATE IT.

>>WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE VOTED TO PUT A RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

VOTERS WILL BE ASKED WHETHER THEY WANT TO IMPOSE A CAP ON RENT INCREASES FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.

THE INDUSTRY GROUPS NOW WANT THE COURTS TO DECLARE THE PLAN INVALID, AND IT ALL FOLLOWS AN IMPASSIONED PUBLIC HEARING LAST WEEK ON THE ISSUE, >>THERE ARE SOLUTIONS, BUT RENT CONTROL IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

RENT CONTROL UNDERMINES THE INDUSTRY'S ABILITY TO REINVEST IN OUR CURRENT HOUSING STOCK AND FAILS TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING NEED FOR MORE HOUSING.

IT WILL ALSO DETER THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT OUR REGION RELIES ON TO BRING NEW HOUSING SUPPLY TO THE MARKET.

IF YOU NEED PROOF OF THE DISASTROUS IMPACTS OF THESE TYPES OF MEASURES, JUST LOOK AT ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, WHERE MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING PERMITS FELL NEARLY 82% FOLLOWING ITS ADOPTION OF RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE NEXT YEAR?

HOW ABOUT TWO YEARS?

STUCK WITH DECLINING HOUSING STOCK AND EVEN LARGER SUPPLY DEFICIT?

VOTE FOR THE RENT CONTROL, THAT IS LIKELY TO BE THE CASE.

>>PLEASE DON'T CREATE A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR HOUSING.

ORANGE COUNTY IS NOT CALIFORNIA OR MINNESOTA OR ANY OF THE OTHER AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY WHO HAVE TRIED THIS INEFFECTIVE POLICY.

>>WHAT IS A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR HOUSING RIGHT NOW IS FORCING PEOPLE TO LIVE ON THEIR COUCHES, ON FLOORS, IN CARS, TENTS, STREETS, UNDER BRIDGES, AND ON BENCHES.

THE LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS HAVE CREATED A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR HOUSING.

>>WE NEED THE PEOPLE NOT PAID TO BE HERE TO BE HURT.

AS YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, THEY NEED AND WANT YOU TO SEND THIS TO THE BALLOT AND LET VOTERS DECIDE.

WE ARE NOT LIMITING LIBERALS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE EXPECT OUR MAYOR AND COMMISSION TO NOT ACT LIKE ONES BY PREVENTING STRUGGLING ORANGE COUNTY FAMILIES FROM HAVING A SAY ON STABILIZING THE RENT THIS NOVEMBER, WHILE ALSO ASKING THOSE SAME FAMILIES TO VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE DURING RECORD COST OF LIVING INCREASES.

DO NOT LET THIS BE YOUR LET THEM EAT CAKE MOMENT.

>>CERTAINLY AN EMOTIONAL DEBATE THERE IN THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION.

CURTIS, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS.

WHAT WOULD THE RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE LANGUAGE THAT'S GOING TO GO ON THE BALLOT?

WHAT WOULD IT DO?

>>WELL, STEVE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A YEAR RENT CAP HERE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY IMPACTING 104,000 APARTMENTS ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY AT ABOUT 10%.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HOPING THAT THIS WOULD GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC TO SAVE A BIT BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE HIKES IN THEIR RENT.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, ERIK, THERE ARE A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS TO THIS, BUT LANDLORDS ARE STILL NOT HAPPY.

AND THEY'RE NOW CHALLENGING THIS IN COURT.

WHAT'S THE BASIS OF THAT ARGUMENT?

>>WELL, THEY FILED A LAWSUIT THIS WEEK, THE FLORIDA APARTMENT ASSOCIATION FILED A LAWSUIT THIS WEEK, AND THEY BASICALLY CLAIM THAT THIS IS ILLEGAL.

THEY WANT AN INJUNCTION.

THEY WANT THIS TAKEN OFF THE BALLOT, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW.

VOTERS HAVE TO APPROVE IT FIRST.

BUT AS A PREREQUISITE TO THIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAD TO DECLARE A HOUSING STATE OF EMERGENCY.

AND WHAT THIS LAWSUIT BASICALLY SAYS IS, "PROVE IT."

>>YEAH.

>>"BRING US THE EVIDENCE.

PROVE THAT THERE IS A HOUSING STATE OF EMERGENCY."

AND THEY QUOTE THE COUNTY'S OWN ATTORNEYS AS SAYING, "I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PROVE THIS."

>>WE HEARD SEVERAL SPEAKERS AT THAT MEETING REFER TO RENT CONTROLS PUT IN PLACE BY VOTERS IN OTHER PLACES LIKE ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA WHICH THEY SAY BACKFIRED.

WHAT HAVE CRITICS SAID HAPPENED THERE THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE?

>>WELL, THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EVEN MORE HOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, NAMELY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DECLINE IN PROPERTY TAX BY ABOUT FOUR TO 5%.

>>YEAH.

>>THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT HERE THAT COULD BE REPLICATED HERE IN THIS AREA SHOULD THEY PROCEED WITH THIS.

AND I MEAN, IT DOES BRING INTO QUESTION ABOUT IT, BUT THE OVERALL THING HERE, OF COURSE, SO MANY PEOPLE STILL WANTING THAT STABILIZATION IN PLACE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC, STILL SUFFERING THOSE IMPACTS, HERE WE ARE NOW ALMOST THREE YEARS INTO THIS.

>>AND A LOT OF TENANTS RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THAT THIS KIND OF DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR, RIGHT?

WHERE YOU HAVE MAJORITY MINORITY COMMUNITIES SUCH AS PARRAMORE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, TRADITIONALLY, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAY MAKE A LITTLE BIT LESS ON THEIR JOBS OR MAY NOT HAVE A STABLE INCOME AT ALL.

AND THEN WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH IMPACTED BY THIS BECAUSE THEY MAY LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, SOME OF THEM ALREADY RENT CONTROLLED AND THESE LANDLORDS ARE NOT TRYING TO SEE ANY MORE CAPS ON ALREADY, WHAT THEY CALL, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

>>WHAT CURTIS WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE INCREASES, PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP, INSURANCE IS GOING UP, AND THAT'S A HUGE REASON THAT THESE RENTS ARE GOING UP.

BUT HERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF LANDLORDS IS THERE'S A FLOOD OF PEOPLE MOVING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST, FROM NEW YORK.

THIS IS STILL A DEAL TO THEM.

AND IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THESE APARTMENTS, THEY'RE GOING TO RENT THEM OUT AT THAT TOP DOLLAR.

BUT THAT'S ALSO HAVING THE UNFAIR TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT TO THESE TENANTS WHO SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THAT.

>>AND WE'VE SEEN THAT REPLICATED IN OTHER PLACES.

I MEAN, I USED TO LIVE IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND WE HAD A HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE FROM CALIFORNIA.

OUR COSTS WERE GOING UP DRAMATICALLY FOR US.

FOR PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA THAT ARE USED TO SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, PRICES.

>>OF COURSE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>IT WAS SORT OF A BARGAIN BASEMENT.

I MEAN, CURTIS, OTHER PLACES IN FLORIDA HAVE CONSIDERED THIS AND HAVE NOT NECESSARILY GONE DOWN THAT ROUTE.

>>YEAH.

AND TO ERIK'S POINT, ORANGE COUNTY, THEY HAD TO SAY THAT THERE WAS A STATE OF EMERGENCY WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE TAMPA BAY AREA, SPECIFICALLY PINELLAS COUNTY, DOWN IN ST. PETE, THEY RECENTLY VOTED AND SAID, "HEY, LOOK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY OF THIS."

AND WHAT THAT DID WAS ANGERED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY GOT A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY WERE HOPING FOR SOME SORT OF RELIEF HERE THROUGH THIS MEASURE.

A LOT OF THEM EVEN SAYING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOMES OR THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRICED OUT AND THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR APARTMENTS ANYMORE.

>>IF I COULD JUST ADD TOO, BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WATCHED THAT MEETING IN PINELLAS COUNTY, IT WAS CONTENTIOUS THERE.

THE COMMISSIONERS, A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONERS WANTED IT.

IT WASN'T JUST THE COMMISSIONER BODY AS A WHOLE SAYING, "NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT."

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR IT.

IT'S A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST SIDING ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

>>BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE BECAUSE YOU GOT ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT HERE, "HEY, YOU HAVE A JOB, OR IF YOU DO, YOU'RE MAKING MONEY.

SO WHY CAN'T YOU MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS?"

OR, "I FEND FOR MYSELF, I CAN DO MINE.

WHY CAN'T YOU DO YOURS?"

>>IT WAS DIVISIVE HERE.

IT WAS LIKE A FOUR-THREE VOTE ON THE COMMISSION.

>>YES.

>>YES, IT WAS.

>>IT WASN'T LIKE IT WAS UNANIMOUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>>BUT EVEN THE CHATTER BACK AND FORTH WAS HEATED AT TIMES.

>>WAS PRETTY HEATED AND THE MAYOR EVENTUALLY VOTED AGAINST PUTTING THAT ON THE BALLOT.

WELL, BE SURE TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.

WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

>>WELL, NEXT TONIGHT, SCHOOLS ACROSS FLORIDA ARE BACK AFTER THE SUMMER BREAK.

THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY FOR TEACHERS.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THE STATE SCHOOLS ARE FACING A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF STAFF, AND DISTRICTS ARE JUGGLING CONFUSION OVER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVERAL NEW LAWS, INCLUDING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION LAW, DUBBED DON'T SAY GAY BY CRITICS.

WELL, I WANT TO PLAY YOU A PIECE THAT CURTIS PUT TOGETHER LAST WEEK FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 13 ON GUIDANCE BEING PROVIDED TO EDUCATORS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY.

>>DAN SMITH IS A STUDENT ADVOCATE AT HEART.

HE LOVES TEACHING.

>>I KNOW HOW TO TEACH.

IT'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW HOW TO DO.

I'M AVERAGE AT EVERYTHING ELSE.

>>NOW, PRESIDENT OF THE SEMINOLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, LOOKING OUT FOR HIS FELLOW EDUCATORS.

WITH NEW LAWS ON THE BOOKS, HE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND STATE LEADERS INFORM TEACHERS ON BEST PRACTICES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION LAWS.

>>WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A CLEAR DEFINITIVE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LINE IS.

WE KNOW THERE'S A LINE.

THERE'S A STATUTE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT LINE IS.

>>ON JUNE 29TH, WE ASKED SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOLS ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY, REQUESTING COPIES OF ANY EMAILS, MEMOS, MESSAGES SENT TO SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE NEW LAW.

NEARLY A MONTH LATER, AND AFTER A FOLLOW UP EMAIL, WE GOT A RESPONSE ON JULY 22ND FROM AN INFORMATION SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE SAYING, "IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NO EMAILS, MEMOS, OR MESSAGES WERE SENT TO SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES REGARDING THIS LAW."

WE FOLLOWED UP ASKING ABOUT HOW THE LAW WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

DAYS LATER ON JULY 26TH, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL SAYING A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WOULD BE SHARED WITH ADMINISTRATORS AHEAD OF A WORKSHOP DISCUSSION ON HOW THE LAW IMPACTS SCHOOL BOARD POLICY.

SLIDES IN THAT WORKSHOP BREAK DOWN SEVERAL NEW BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW THIS YEAR, INCLUDING PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION, THE INFORMATION PROVIDING DETAILS ON STATE LAWS, BUT NO CLEAR GUIDANCE FOR TEACHERS.

>>I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT START FOR PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN AND KEEPING THEIR INNOCENCE.

>>SEMINOLE COUNTY MOM JESSICA TILLMAN RECENTLY TOOK HER CHILDREN OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

STILL, SHE BELIEVES THE LAW WILL HELP ENSURE PARENTS HAVE SENSITIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEX WITH THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN.

>>IF THESE KIDS ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS WITH THEIR TEACHERS, THE TEACHERS NEED TO BE REDIRECTING THEM BACK TO THEIR PARENTS.

>>IN THE MEANTIME, DAN SMITH IS ASKING ALL PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE PATIENT.

HE'S ESPECIALLY CONCERNED FOR TEACHERS.

>>I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET FRUSTRATED.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE TEARING THEIR HAIR OUT WITH THE PARENTS AND EVERYTHING.

AND I THINK MORE CLARITY FROM THE DISTRICT AND FROM THE STATE IS GOING TO BE A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH SIDES.

>>THAT'S CURTIS REPORTING THERE FOR CHANNEL 13.

ALL RIGHT, CURTIS.

WELL, LET'S START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

THIS NEW LEGISLATION NOW IN PLACE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, FROM YOUR REPORTING, WHAT ARE THE MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND HOW DID THE SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAY EVENTUALLY THAT IT WAS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT 1557?

>>WELL, WHEN TALKING TO, OF COURSE, YOU SAW THE UNION REP THERE AND TALKING TO HIM, HE'S TALKED TO TEACHERS, WE EVEN TALKED TO SOME TEACHERS OFF THE RECORD, BUT TALKING TO THOSE TEACHERS, THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING IT'S A FINE LINE ON WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO WHEN IT COMES TO PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION, AND SEVERAL OF THE OTHER LAWS FOR THAT MATTER.

DISCUSSIONS THAT MAY TAKE PLACE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CLASSROOM, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGHER GRADES, WHAT CAN WE TALK ABOUT?

WHAT CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT NOW?

WHEN IT COMES TO THE YOUNGER KIDS, MOST TEACHERS SAY THAT'S PRETTY CUT AND DRY.

YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE SENSITIVE TOPICS LIKE SEX IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDABLE FOR THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY QUESTIONS FROM THEM.

THE GUIDANCE HERE THAT'S BEING GIVEN BY SEMINOLE COUNTY IS TO REDIRECT THE CHILDREN BACK TO THEIR PARENTS SHOULD A DISCUSSION COME UP ABOUT SEX IN THE CLASSROOM OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

NOW, ULTIMATELY WE HAD TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF DANCE WITH SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOLS TO GET SOME INFORMATION OUT OF THEM.

THEY ULTIMATELY TOLD US, "YEAH, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THIS."

AND A LOT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE.

THEY'RE STILL WAITING TO GET EVEN MORE GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE, WHICH NOW THE STATE HAS PUT A TAB ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION, BUT STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAIN FROM A NUMBER OF TEACHERS.

>>FOR K THROUGH THREE, I THINK THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE RULES ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE AGE APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS BEYOND THE THIRD GRADE.

>>EXACTLY.

RIGHT.

THEY ARE.

THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT.

AND SPECIFICALLY IN A STATEMENT THEY SENT US, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY GUIDANCE WE GOT.

WE DID ASK TO SPEAK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.

IT'S AROUND SCHOOL TIME.

WE COULDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH HER.

>>RIGHT.

>>BUT THEY SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE LAWS, WE'RE LOOKING AT GUIDANCE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAYS TO IMPLEMENT EVERYTHING AND MAKE SURE IT'S ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WE HAVE AS SCHOOL BOARD POLICY HERE IN SEMINOLE COUNTY."

>>BEFORE I COME TO YOU, ERIK, LET ME JUST PLAY YOU PART OF AN INTERVIEW I DID RECENTLY WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNATE MARIA VAZQUEZ ABOUT HB 1557, AND HB 7 AS WELL, THE SO-CALLED STOP WOKE ACT.

TAKE A LOOK.

>>FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE ONLY TEACH THE STANDARDS.

WHEN ANYONE TELLS ME, "OH, YOU'RE TEACHING CRT."

I SAY, "NO, WE DO NOT.

BUT WHAT LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE?

TELL ME WHY."

AND THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND CLEAR INFORMATION AND ALSO HELPS US TWEAK OUR MESSAGING.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING, WE WILL ENSURE THAT TEACHERS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE.

WE HAVE NEW STANDARDS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THIS COMING YEAR.

WE WILL ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN USE TO TEACH THE STANDARDS.

AND WE WILL HAVE AVENUES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ASK FOR GUIDANCE IF THEY ARE UNCLEAR.

>>WELL, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS DR. VAZQUEZ HAS INDICATED THERE, HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT HOW THESE NEW LAWS WILL AFFECT EVERYBODY.

OCPS PUT OUT A MEMO SPECIFICALLY ON HB 1557, PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION AHEAD OF CLASSES RESUMING.

SO LET'S BREAK DOWN A COUPLE OF THE PARTS OF THAT MEMO, ERIK.

THERE HAD BEEN CONCERN THAT SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO TELL PARENTS IF A STUDENT CAME OUT TO A TEACHER OR MEMBER OF STAFF.

WHAT DOES THE OCPS MEMO ACTUALLY SAY ABOUT HOW THE DISTRICT WILL HANDLE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION?

>>WELL, TO CURTIS'S POINT, IT'S ALL VERY MUDDLED, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T ACTUALLY HAD TO PUT ANYTHING INTO PRACTICE YET.

IT'S ALL BEEN ON PAPER.

SO I JOTTED SOME NOTES HERE AND I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

>>YEAH.

>>IF A STUDENT DISCLOSES PERSONAL INFORMATION, LIKE COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET OR THEY THINK THEY MAY BE GAY, LESBIAN, LGBTQ, TEACHERS MUST ENCOURAGE THE CHILD TO DISCUSS THAT INFORMATION WITH THEIR PARENTS.

IF THE PARENTS ASK THE TEACHER A QUESTION, "HAS MY CHILD COME TO YOU WITH THIS?"

THEY NEED TO ANSWER THE TRUTH AND THEY NEED TO BE FORTHCOMING WITH THE PARENTS ABOUT WHAT THE STUDENT HAS SAID.

THEY ALSO NEED TO TELL THE STUDENT THAT THEY ARE BOUND BY THIS RULE TO TELL THEIR PARENTS.

AND IF THE TEACHER BELIEVES THAT WHATEVER THE STUDENT TOLD THEM MAY RESULT IN ABUSE OR NEGLECT, THAT'S THE DIVIDING LINE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY DON'T NEED TO TELL THE PARENTS, TO PROTECT THE CHILD.

>>AND THAT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN CERTAINLY A KEY PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, RIGHT?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>I MEAN, CURTIS, ONE OF THE MOST PUBLICIZED CONTROVERSIES OVER 1557 HAS BEEN THE TERM "INSTRUCTION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY," VERSUS DISCUSSION.

>>RIGHT.

>>SO WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS THAT THOSE TEACHERS NOW FACE ACCORDING TO THE MEMO, THE GUIDANCE, THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN?

>>SO LET'S SAY FOR INSTANCE, A STUDENT WRITES A PAPER WITH THOSE TOPICS IN IT, AND THEY WANT TO DISCUSS THAT.

THAT'S OKAY PER THE LAW AS IT STANDS NOW.

THE TEACHER, WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO THE STUDENT, THAT'S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE BIT MUDDLED, A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU CAN SAY AS A TEACHER?

AND IT GOES BACK TO THAT FINE LINE AND WHY TEACHERS HAVE QUESTIONS.

STUDENTS MAY BE ABLE TO SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE, STUDENTS MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LEEWAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISCUSSION.

>>YEAH.

>>BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEACHER, IT'S ABOUT INFERENCES AND WHAT'S BEING, I DON'T WANT TO SAY INSTRUCTED, THE MESSAGE THAT'S BEING REGURGITATED BACK TO THE STUDENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

THIS LAW IS ABOUT THE INSTRUCTION BEING GIVEN IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE MESSAGE COMING FROM TEACHERS, I THINK, AND BASED ON THE WAY AND I INTERPRET IT, AND YOU JUMP IN, ERIK, THE STUDENTS HAVE A LITTLE LEEWAY WHEN IT COMES TO, IF THEY'VE WROTE A PAPER OR IF THEY HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS OR IF A TOPIC DOES IN FACT COME UP IN THE CLASSROOM.

>>ONE THING THAT'S EXACERBATING THE CONFUSION FOR TEACHERS IS THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TEACHERS, RIGHT?

>>YES.

>>AND I THINK AT LATEST COUNT ABOUT 6,000 TEACHERS SHORT IN OUR STATE.

THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK OUTLINED A PLAN TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE, ERIK, INCLUDING RECRUITING RETIRED MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

WHAT IS HE PROPOSING FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

THESE ARE JUST PROPOSALS RIGHT NOW.

>>WELL, FIRST ONE STEP BACK REAL QUICK, BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE COVERING THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE ACTUALLY HIT OUR ARCHIVE AND IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO ALMOST TO THE DAY THAT HE HAD A SIMILAR PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING DIFFERENT BONUSES FOR TEACHERS IN ORDER TO BOLSTER THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS IN THE STATE.

HE IS PROPOSING BONUSES.

HE'S ALSO PROPOSING BRINGING FIRST RESPONDERS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIALS AND ACTUALLY ENTER THE CLASS AND START TEACHING.

HE SAID THAT HE APPRECIATES THAT REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE IN BRINGING TO THE STUDENTS.

BUT I WAS SPEAKING TO OUR POLITICAL ANALYST, WHO'S ACTUALLY A UCF PROFESSOR, JIM CLARK, DR. JIM CLARK.

HE POINTS OUT FLORIDA'S REALLY STRONG IN STARTING PAY.

WE'RE 16TH IN THE NATION.

>>YEP.

>>BUT THEY CAP OUT REAL QUICK.

>>YEAH.

>>THEY HIT THAT CEILING AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS FLORIDA TEACHERS TO THE 49TH WORST PAID STATE IN THE NATION.

WE'RE WE'RE AHEAD OF MISSISSIPPI, >>PARTICULARLY FOR VETERAN TEACHERS.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN THERE A WHILE.

AND THAT WAS A COMPLAINT, OF COURSE, WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS ANNOUNCING THOSE PAY INCREASES FOR TEACHERS LAST YEAR, EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, AS YOU SAY.

WELL, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.

OCPS IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE NATION.

YOU CAN FIND LINKS FOR MARIA VAZQUEZ'S PLAN FOR HER FIRST 100 DAYS AS THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT AND THE OCPS MEMO ON HB 1557.

IT'S ALL AT OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>OKAY, FINALLY, TONIGHT.

FROM NEXT WEEK, MEDICAID WILL NO LONGER COVER GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN FLORIDA.

THE NEW RULE FROM THE AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION BLOCKS COVERAGE FOR TREATMENTS, INCLUDING PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND CERTAIN GENDER AFFIRMATION SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ALL AGE GROUPS.

MEANWHILE, THE FLORIDA BOARD OF MEDICINE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING THE RULE MAKING PROCESS TO PROHIBIT DOCTORS FROM PERFORMING A NUMBER OF TREATMENTS FOR TRANSGENDER MINORS.

THAT FOLLOWS GUIDANCE FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

WELL, WE SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH ONE OF THE DOCTORS WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST THE MOVE AT A RECENT BOARD OF MEDICINE MEETING, MICHAEL HALLA, A PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

>>OBJECTIVELY LOOKING AT THE TOTALITY EVIDENCE, THE BENEFITS DO FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.

NOT THAT THERE AREN'T ANY RISKS.

THERE ARE RISKS IN EVERYTHING IN MEDICINE AND EVERYTHING IN LIFE.

AND WE FULLY CONSENT OUR PATIENTS TO FAMILIES ABOUT THOSE.

BUT I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FAMILIES JUST IN THE LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AND IT REALLY PULLS AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS WHEN YOU TALK TO FAMILIES WHO SAY, "I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY CHILD OUT OF THE STATE TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY LIFESAVING FOR MY CHILD."

THERE IS A LIMITED DATA SET AROUND THIS ISSUE, TO BE OBJECTIVE ABOUT IT.

AND THAT'S LARGELY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN STUDYING IT WELL FOR VERY LONG, BUT THAT'S TRUE OF ALL THINGS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MEDICINE.

AND IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T PRECLUDE PHYSICIANS FROM PROVIDING CARE THAT'S ON THE CUTTING EDGE.

THIS IS, AGAIN, SUCH A TINY ISSUE IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF PUBLIC HEALTH THAT IS WAY OUTSIDE THE NORMS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE BOARD OF MEDICINE TO ALL OF A SUDDEN BE CONSIDERING THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A RULE WHEN WE HAVEN'T SEEN COMPLAINTS FILED AT THE BOARD FOR INAPPROPRIATE CARE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD INITIATE A RULE.

OR NOR DO WE HAVE A TRUE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AROUND GENDER CARE.

I MEAN, LITERALLY AT THE THREE MAJOR GENDER HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA, WHICH ARE HERE IN GAINESVILLE, AT TAMPA, AT ALL CHILDREN'S, AND IN MIAMI THERE'S ANOTHER PROGRAM, IN TOTAL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACTIVELY FOLLOWING ABOUT 1000 KIDS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A STATE WITH 22 MILLION PEOPLE, SOMETHING DOES NOT COMPUTE WHEN THAT ISSUE HAS BECOME THE ISSUE OF MOST IMPORTANCE AT A STATE LEADERSHIP LEVEL.

I'M PRETTY SURE WE'D BE BETTER OFF LETTING THE DOCTORS WHO DO HAVE EXPERTISE IN TALKING TO THESE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES AND KNOW THE LITERATURE DECIDING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS THAT COME AND SEE THEM.

>>WELL, THE RULE MAKING PROCESS WOULD ALSO LEAD TO A 24 HOUR WAITING PERIOD FOR ADULTS WHO WANT PROCEDURES TO TREAT GENDER DYSPHORIA.

ERIK, LET ME COME TO YOU FIRST ON THIS ONE AND WE'LL START WITH THE MEDICAID COVERAGE STORY.

WHAT EXACTLY WILL POOR AND DISABLED TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN FLORIDA NOW NOT BE ABLE TO GET MEDICAID TO PAY FOR?

>>WELL, I THINK YOU MADE MENTION OF IT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OFTEN PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS.

WE'RE TALKING HORMONE BLOCKERS, WE'RE TALKING PUBERTY BLOCKERS, I'M SORRY, HORMONE THERAPY.

>>HORMONE THERAPY, YEAH.

>>AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF A PERSON'S JOURNEY THROUGH CHANGING GENDERS.

SOME SURGERIES, I THINK THE DOCTOR JUST MADE MENTION OF THIS, SOME SURGERIES AREN'T EVEN RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

SO IT'S ALMOST A MOOT ISSUE IN SOME POINTS.

BUT HE ALSO CALLED IT LIFE SAVING PROCEDURES AND MEDICATION.

THE RATE OF DEPRESSION AMONG THIS POPULATION IS SKYROCKETING.

AND IN A LOT OF CASES, JUST BEGINNING SOME OF THESE THERAPIES CAN LOWER THAT DEPRESSION A LOT.

>>SO THAT'S THE CRUX OF THE DEBATE, RIGHT, CURTIS?

I MEAN THE FLORIDA AHCA SAYS, AND THIS IS A QUOTE HERE, "STANDARD MEDICAL CARE FOR GENDER DYSPHORIA DOES NOT MEET GENERALLY ACCEPTED MEDICAL STANDARDS AND IS EXPERIMENTAL AND INVESTIGATIONAL."

SO FROM THE STATE'S POINT OF VIEW, I MEAN, WHY IS IT CONVINCED THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE?

>>IT'S THE SCIENCE.

AND THEY LEAN TO THE SCIENCE BECAUSE THE SCIENCE SAYS, THE RESEARCH SAYS, THIS ISN'T THE BEST WAY TO GO.

AND OF COURSE- >>WELL, THAT'S HOW THEY'RE INTERPRETING IT, RIGHT?

>>THAT'S HOW THEY'RE INTERPRETING IT, TRUE.

>>YES.

>>BASED OFF WHAT THEY ARE GETTING.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT, "OKAY, THESE MEDICINES, THESE PROCEDURES, ARE NOT THE BEST ROUTE TO GO FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE OF A CERTAIN AGE.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND STATE DOLLARS OR STATE RESOURCES TO FUND SOME OF THESE THINGS, " THAT MANY MAY FIND NECESSARY.

I KNOW ERIK MENTIONED, AS THE DOCTOR MENTIONED, THESE ARE LIFE SAVING, SOME OF THESE MEDICINES, SOME OF THESE PROCEDURES, LIFE SAVING BECAUSE OF DEPRESSION, OTHER TYPES OF ISSUES, BUT STILL THE STATE SAYS THAT, "HEY, THE RESEARCH, THE SCIENCE SAYS," AND AT LEAST THAT'S HOW THEY'RE INTERPRETING THE SCIENCE, "THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST WAY TO GO."

>>I MEAN, ERIK, THAT'S INTERESTING.

I MEAN, FLORIDA'S GUIDANCE CONTRADICTS, AND THE STATE SURGEON GENERAL DR. JOSEPH LADAPO'S GUIDANCE, SORT OF CONTRADICTS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO MANY SCIENTISTS AS WELL.

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID ABOUT FLORIDA'S MOVES IN THIS AREA?

>>THEY'VE COME OUT AND SAID THAT THEY'RE AGAINST IT, IN SO MANY WORDS.

YOU HAVE THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, YOU HAVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THEY BASICALLY CALL IT DISCRIMINATORY, ESPECIALLY AFTER SIMILAR LAWS WERE ENACTED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THEY CAME RIGHT OUT AND SAID THAT.

BUT THEY CANNOT FORCE THE HAND OF ANY STATE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

AGAIN, THEY CALLED IT LIFESAVING CARE AS WELL.

SO YOU'RE HEARING THAT MANTRA THAT, "IT IS NEEDED.

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS."

>>AND THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS SORT OF TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FLORIDA'S MOVES HERE.

CURTIS, JUST FINALLY, THE FLORIDA BOARD OF MEDICINE IS ALSO CONSIDERING ITS NEW RULES, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE.

JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THAT BOARD'S ROLE IS AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN IF A DOCTOR DECIDED THEY WANTED TO VIOLATE THOSE RULES ONCE THEY'D BEEN PUBLISHED.

>>ESSENTIALLY, STEVE, THE BOARD BASICALLY SETTING THOSE GUIDELINES, A PART OF THAT PROCESS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR DOCTORS, THEY COULD LOSE LICENSES.

THEY COULD BE HIT WITH FINES.

WE'RE TALKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES SHOULD THEY VIOLATE WHATEVER RULES ARE SET FORTH.

I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT DOCTORS AND I'M NOT 100% SURE WHETHER THIS IS THE SAME GET HERE, BUT I KNOW WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE ABORTION ARGUMENT AND DOCTORS WHO MAY PROVIDE ABORTIONS OR BREAK LAWS AND DO SO, THEY COULD FACE, WE'RE TALKING $10,000 WORTH OF FINES.

SO YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS BOARD DOES WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICARE OR MEDICAID OR SERVICES PROVIDED FROM A STATE LEVEL, THEY SET THE BAR HERE AS TO WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE DONE AND ALSO WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO DOCTORS AND PHYSICIANS, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO VIOLATE WHATEVER RULES ARE THEN SET FORTH.

>>WELL, VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

AND, OF COURSE, VOTERS WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON ALL THESE ISSUES WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLLS LATER THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE FLORIDA AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION'S REPORT ON GENDER DYSPHORIA TREATMENTS, GUIDANCE FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO ERIK SANDOVAL WKMG CHANNEL SIX AND ALSO CURTIS MCCLOUD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.