BIRMINGHAM, Ala./TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Sen. Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) has been honored with the CUNA Desjardins Financial Education Award for State Policymakers.
Hukill was recognized for her work introducing a bill, which would require high school seniors to have a half credit of financial literacy before graduation. In 2015, that bill is S.B. 92. She also introduced S.B. 206, which would require financial literacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“Financial education is a life skill that is very important for our students in order to be prepared to manage their financial futures,” said Hukill in a release. “I am thrilled to have been chosen for the Dejardins Financial Literacy Award. I am grateful for the credit unions’ support on my legislation that will ensure high school students graduate with these much needed financial skills.”
League of Southeastern Credit Unions and Affiliates President/CEO Patrick La Pine said Hukill embodies the award because she “recognizes the need for financial literacy for our students. She not only filed a bill to require a half credit of financial literacy for high school students for graduation, but she also filed a bill to help individuals with developmental disabilities get financial education. The League and our credit unions have been working closely with Sen. Hukill to gain support for this legislation. She understands that for consumers to attain financial freedom, they need to have a grasp of their finances. It starts with financial education.”
Credit unions in Florida are working with Hukill on both bills, the league explained in a statement. “Not just the passage of the legislation, but the implementation. Financial literacy is in credit unions DNA. They make many financial literacy presentations in schools across the state. Credit unions also maintain more than 50 student-run branches across Florida. The branches are fully working credit union branches that are run by students who are supervised by credit union staff.”