Senate Honors Victims, Recognizes Survivors and First Responders of NAS Pensacola Shooting

During the ceremonial opening sitting of the 2020 legislative session, the Florida Senate honored the victims, survivors, and first responders impacted by the December 6, 2019 shooting at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.  Senate President Bill Galvano led the Senate in the recognition and thanked Senator Doug Broxson for his efforts to ensure family members of the victims, survivors and first responders were honored during the Senate’s first sitting of the 2020 legislative session.

Everglades, Guardian Program and Mental Health are Top Priorities

Click here to read a recent conversation I had with Florida Politics. I discuss my focus, priorities and optimism as we begin the 2020 legislative session.

Guardianship Reform Bill Passes Children and Families’ Committee

On Wednesday, I presented and passed Senate Bill 994 in the Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee. 

SB 994 creates protections for Florida’s most vulnerable adults against guardians and prevents abuse and exploitation.

This legislation was created in collaboration with Secretary Richard Prudom of the Department of Elder Affairs and active stakeholders in the guardian program.  These participants included attorneys, Clerk of Courts, professional and public guardians and advocates for wards under guardianship.

If passed, this bill would make important changes for Florida’s guardianship program to help restore public trust, improve transparency and prevent the exploitation of those under the care of a guardian.

This bill would increase protections for individuals under guardianships by:

• Eliminating conflicts of interest;
• Ensuring the vulnerable adults’ finances are protected; and
• Prohibiting the guardian from signing “do not resuscitate” orders for a ward without permission from the court.

Specifically, the proposed legislation:

• Requires a court considering the appointment of a guardian to inquire and evaluate potential conflicts of interest;
• Prohibits a guardian from consenting to an order not to resuscitate on behalf of a ward without permission from a court;
• Prohibits a professional guardian from petitioning for her or his own appointment unless the petitioner is a relative; and
• Increases reporting requirements for guardians.

SB 994 will now go to a second committee of reference, the Judiciary Committee.

You can read more on the background surrounding the bill here: New Florida Legislation Aims to Toughen Guardianship Laws

Watch me discuss the bill on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/FLSenateGOP/status/1217485261619310592

Legislation to Protect Florida’s Environment and Infrastructure Advances

The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources approved Senate Proposed Bill 7024: Florida Forever, providing at least $10 million annually from the Florida Forever program to purchase land and add conservation easements in areas struck by hurricanes.  The bill also provides Florida Forever funding for wildlife crossings and requires the Department of Environmental Protection to work with other state agencies and water management districts on projects intended to conserve land in coastal areas subject to flooding as a result of sea-level rise.

This legislation aims to aid in hurricane recovery for the Panhandle area ravaged by Hurricane Michael in October 2018 while also ensuring long term coastal resilience.

Senate Education Committee Takes First Step Toward Increasing Teacher Pay

The Senate Committee on Education unanimously supported Senate Bill 1088: Teacher Salary Enhancement by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr.  This legislation creates a new operating categorical fund and requires each school district to use the appropriated funds to increase teacher salaries as prescribed by the Legislature in the state’s annual budget.  The Florida Senate values Florida’s teachers and this legislation paves the way for teacher pay increases.

Legislation Working to Divert Girls from the Juvenile Justice System Passes Committee

The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice approved Senate Bill 1056: PACE Center for Girls by Senator Wilton Simpson. This legislation creates Florida statue authorizing the Department of Juvenile Justice to contract with PACE Center for Girls to provide services including education, counseling, training, and advocacy to girls and young women as an alternative to commitment and institutionalization. This legislation would also allow for future recurring funding for these services, provided funds are appropriated.

The PACE Center for Girls (PACE) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future and is recognized as a national model for reducing recidivism and improving school success, employment, and self-sufficiency. PACE has 21 centers in Florida, which serve over 3,000 girls and young women per year. Several girls from PACE joined Senator Simpson for his bill presentation and shared personal testimony about how the program has made a positive impact on their lives.

Committee Approves Bill to Improve Access to Benefits for Disabled Veterans

The Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability approved Senate Bill 936: Disability Retirement Benefits by Senator George Gainer.  This legislation eases the requirements for proof of disability for a veteran in the Florida Retirement System who is receiving care at a federal Veterans Health Administration facility.  Currently, a veteran is required to receive certification of proof of total and permanent disability from physicians licensed in Florida or the state in which the veteran works.  SB 936 would allow a veteran to obtain proof of disability from a physician regardless of the state that physician is licensed in.  This legislation will improve access to benefits for disabled veterans and continues Florida’s efforts to remain the most-veteran friendly state in the nation.

Environment and Preservation Committee is Updated on DEP Resiliency Programs and on Disaster Mitigation Projects

On Monday, the Senate Environment and Preservation Committee received an update from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about their ongoing resiliency programs. 

The committee also heard from Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) on their disaster mitigation projects across the state. 

The Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, with new beach regulation and management components, will strive to achieve a synergetic goal to protect and manage our coastal resources.  Their focus will be to maintain optimal quality, longevity and health of these resources over time. 

The Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection was created by an executive order signed by Governor DeSantis. 

The office currently oversees 4.9 million acres of submerged and coastal lands, and manages distinct protection programs for Florida’s coastline.

DEO has led the state’s efforts to create the federally required State Action Plan to be submitted to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The plan provides a high-level strategy on how federal funding will be allocated to effectively address the needs of eligible communities’ disaster mitigation.  DEO has developed this plan in partnership with state and local partners involved in mitigation and resiliency efforts.

The plan is due to HUD by February 3.

Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Confirmation Hearing for State Surgeon General

The Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services met on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing for Surgeon General Scott Rivkees.  The committee voted to recommend approval of Dr. Rivkees. 

In his capacity as Surgeon General, Dr. Rivkees will oversee the operations of:

• The state health office;
• 67 county health departments;
• 22 area offices for the Division of Children’s Medical Services;
• 12 regional offices for the Division of Medical Quality Assurance;
• Nine area offices for the Division of Disability Determinations; and
• Four public health laboratories. 

The committee also passed Senate Bill 58 by Senator Book.  SB 58 would create the Prescription Drug Donation Repository Program within the Department of Health (DOH).  This program would work to facilitate the donation and distribution of prescription drugs and supplies to eligible patients in the state.

Rules Committee Passes Memorial to Urge Congress to Improve Veterans' Care

On Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee met and passed a number of bills including Senate Memorial 420 by Senator Diaz.

SM 420 is a memorial to the Congress of the United States and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The memorial urges Congress and the VA to ensure that the VA MISSION Act of 2018 is implemented in a manner consistent with the legislative intent and purpose of the act.

The purpose of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 is to overhaul and improve health care access to veterans.  This overhaul would offer options of VA and non-VA health care services, veterans’ homes, access to walk-in VA care and prescription drug protocol.

The memorial requests that Congress and the VA meet the law’s deadlines in a timely matter to ensure veterans' access to the highest quality of care both from inside and outside the Veterans Health Administration System.