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A bill that aimed to create safer walking conditions for students on their way to school in Escambia County and across the state is likely dead this legislative session. House Bill 229 which was sponsored by state Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, and pushed by local advocate Rob Doss seemed to have a promising future earlier this week after being passed unanimously by the Florida House Education and Employment Committee, which would have sent the bill to be heard by the full House. However, a sister bill on the Senate side hasn t made any progress, and time likely will run out this session, which ends April 30, before any action is taken. ....
Local advocates hope scrapping much of their proposed Safe Walkways to School Act for a much shorter bill will help improve walking conditions for schoolchildren in the future. Rep. Michelle Salzman amended her bill to call for the Department of Transportation to study what constitutes a safe and suitable walkway for children from kindergarten through 12th grade, and ultimately recommend criteria for what would be considered hazardous. The amended bill, HB 229, passed the Florida House s Early Learning and Elementary Education Subcommittee on Thursday. It s a huge win for Florida. It s a long, long, long run but it s still a huge win. It s a step moving forward and we ve never made it this far ever, Salzman said. ....