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Florida bill would require financial literacy class for high schoolers

Posted at 12:05 PM, Jan 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-15 12:05:00-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A proposed bill would make a financial literacy course a graduation requirement for Florida high school students.

SB 114, or the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act, would require all high school students to take a half-credit course focusing on "financial literacy or money management skills."

If passed, the law would pertain to students all entering the 9th grade in the 2019-2020 and all other high schoolers thereafter.

The class will be required to inform students about a variety of topics to include how to open and manage bank accounts, how to manage debt, and balancing a checkbook.

"Requiring educational instruction in financial literacy and money management as a prerequisite to high school graduation will better prepare young people in this state for adulthood by providing them with the requisite knowledge to achieve financial stability and independence," the bill reads.

The bill was filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, a Republican senator for the Palm Coast.

Florida would be one of 17 states to require a financial literacy course to get a high school diploma if the bill is passed.