State Rep. Paula Stark (R-St. Cloud), whose district 47 represents Buenaventura Lakes and the city limits of St. Cloud, is working with the School District of Osceola County to launch a unique “Build A Bill” Competition with middle school Civics students.
Students can participate in developing a “Bill” that will focus on issues or problems affecting communities throughout the state to be presented in the State House in Tallahassee. The students finalists’ “Bills” will be judged and announced by Rep. Stark’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Oct. 30.
The competition was released last week to middle school classes, with registration forms due Friday, Sept. 15. Bill submissions will be due Oct. 27 ahead of judging by Rep. Stark’s Advisory Committee and the winner’s announcement on Oct. 30. The winning bill is set to be submitted for drafting on Nov. 21.
“I am excited to collaborate with the School District of Osceola County and share with our students the process of how a bill is put together and what it takes to build it and then present to the House,” Rep. Stark said. “Having this program to be considered as part of our Osceola County District curriculum is exciting. This is a real-life experience for our students and how the legislative process works and hopefully it will inspire these students to take a leadership role in their community and beyond.”
Stark said the conversation came about with fellow Rep. Shane Abbott (R-DeFuniak Springs) from the Panhandle, and her hope is to make this part of the school curriculum and an annual contest.
Osceola School District Superintendent Mark Shanoff sees the process of bringing issues to the State House exciting.
“We are grateful that Rep. Paula Stark is providing our middle school civics students with the foundation and tools to go forward to introduce an issue or problem, proposing a solution, implementing a plan, pursuing evidence and research and providing a conclusion to what our students are enthusiastic about,” he said.
State Rep. Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee), who represents much of Kissimmee and Poinciana, has created an online survey to find out what issues are most important to her district’s voters — among things like traffic, education, cost of living, the environment and other local factors. Find the survey online at: bit.ly/3LdWU8V.
“As your State Representative, I want to know what issues are important to you. Please fill out this brief survey to allow my staff and I to know what your priorities are. Please feel free to share with other members of District 46 so we can hear from them as well,” Arrington said.
Arrington has set appointments to meet with constituents at the following:
Sept. 12, 1-3 p.m., Valencia College Poinciana Campus;
Sept. 26, 10 a.m.- 1p.m., Osceola Tax Collector Campbell City Office
Arrington will also meet one-on-one with constituents who sign up for appointments at https://bit.ly/D46RemoteOffices.
"Not everyone is able to make it to our Downtown Kissimmee office or use Zoom to meet with their State Representative," she said. "I look forward to meeting with constituents near their homes or places of business during the month of September.”
