Alligator Alley Bill Passes its First Committee Senate Bill 72, Alligator Alley Toll Road, would codify the existing arrangement to provide funding for the fire station at Mile Marker 63 on Alligator Alley. This fire station is crucial to protecting Floridians and visitors traveling along the alley, who would otherwise have to wait up to 45 minutes for help in the event of an emergency. Without the passage of this bill the entire cost of maintaining and operating the station will be borne by Collier County taxpayers while the station services only travelers on I-75. The bill passed its first committee stop, the Senate Committee on Infrastructure and Security, this week and will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. The House companion, sponsored by Representative Bob Rommel, passed its first committee stop as well. Marco Island Resident Appointed to SFWMD On Thursday, in Naples, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Charlette Roman, Charlie Martinez, Cheryl Anne Meads, and Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch to the Board of the South Florida Water Management District. The Governor was joined by all three appointees as well as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, Noah Valenstein. Charlette Roman, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and member of the Marco Island City Council, has been a full-time resident in Marco Island since 2002 and was appointed in 2013 as the first At-Large Environmental Commissioner on the Collier County Planning Commission.
Presentation on Enterprise Florida In the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism, the Executive Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, Ken Lawson, gave the Committee an overview on the Department’s Efforts on Hurricane Recovery, Community Development Initiatives, and Workforce Trends in Florida. Due to the impact of hurricanes in recent years, one of the primary focuses of the agency is hurricane recovery. The Department formed the Rebuild Florida Program to help Floridians in Southwest Florida repair, rebuild, or replace damaged homes after Hurricane Irma. The deadline to apply for this program is March 29. Director Lawson also informed the Committee that Florida’s Unemployment Rate is down to 3.3 percent, which is below the National Average. Presentation on Space Florida The Senate Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs and Space heard a presentation from Space Florida last week on the impact the aerospace industry has on the Florida economy. The aerospace industry is a rapidly-growing industry that provides high-tech jobs in our state. The state has seen an expansion from providing a launch point to housing manufacturers, innovators, and researchers. Governor DeSantis, participating in "Space Day" at the Capitol on Tuesday, indicated that he has requested that President Trump locate crucial "Space Force" infrastructure in Florida. Prescription Drug Donation Program Senate Bill 104, introduced by Senator Lauren Book, creates the Prescription Drug Repository Program. This program specifies entities that may donate prescription drugs and medical devices, and allows Florida residents who are indigent, uninsured, or underinsured to receive donated prescription drugs and medical supplies. SB 104 was heard and passed out of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services last week. Protections for Preexisting Conditions Senator Simpson's Senate Bill 322, Preexisting Conditions, was heard in the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance last week. In the event that the Federal Affordable Care Act is repealed, the bill would mandate that Florida health insurers offer at least one comprehensive major medical policy or contract that does not exclude, limit, deny, or delay coverage due to one or more preexisting medical conditions. The bill passed its first stop and will be heard next in the Senate Committee on Health Policy. Alternative Medical Transportation The Senate Health Policy Committee passed Senate Bill 302 by Senator Brandes, which would give a Transportation Network Company, such as Lyft or Uber, the ability to contract with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in an effort to expand transportation services to Medicaid Recipients. Currently, there are barriers that can effect a citizen's ability to get treatment and medical care. These barriers can include not having a valid driver’s license, not having a working vehicle in the household, being unable to travel or wait for services alone, or having a physical, cognitive, mental, or developmental limitation. Senate Bill 302 expands patients' ability to receive medical transportation and potentially reduces costs for these services. Senate Education Leaders Announce 2019 Priorities Senate education leaders announced key components of legislation the Senate will consider during the 2019 Legislative Session to expand educational choice and opportunity for families, elevate neighborhood public schools, and improve safety and security for students and schools. President Pro Tempore David Simmons, Senator Manny Diaz, Jr., Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, and Senator Kelli Stargel, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, announced their plans to file legislation to create a new scholarship program, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, designed to serve our low income families and reduce the Florida Tax Scholarship waitlist. Upcoming legislation will also restructure the current Best and Brightest Teacher’s Program by eliminating SAT/ACT requirements, and instead focusing on recruitment, retention, and recognition of Florida’s top teachers and principals. Other components of the Senate education priority legislation will include expanding access to teacher certification exams, enhancing support for the Center for Community Schools program to support neighborhood public schools with unique community needs, and providing school districts with greater flexibility when it comes to locally funded facility construction. Also discussed was ongoing efforts to implement recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission in the form of Senate Bill 7030. Additional legislation will address recommendations related to 911 Emergency Services and duty to warn in threat situations (Senate Bill 7048) while the Senate’s education budget will include funding to support and sustain school district investments in school safety and security enhancements. Senators Visit Children’s Home Society of Florida The Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs visited the Children’s Home Senate Republican Majority Holds Caucus Meeting The Senate Republican Majority held a caucus meeting to prepare for the start of the 2019 Legislative Session. As Senate Majority Leader I convened the meeting and Senate President Bill Galvano, President Pro Tempore David Simmons, Appropriations Committee Chair Rob Bradley, Rules Committee Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto, and Innovation, Industry, and Technology Committee Chair Wilton Simpson offered advice and guidance on how to be successful during the Legislative Session in order to best represent constituents while in Tallahassee. Appropriations Chair Bradley also briefed members on this year’s budget outlook, highlighted the prudent budget decisions made during the past several years that have positioned Florida’s budget outlook to be much better than many other states, and reinforced the Florida Senate’s commitment to funding Hurricane Michael recovery efforts. Bill to Benefit Firefighters Passes Committee The Government Oversight and Accountability Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 426: Firefighters by Senator Anitere Flores. This bill would expand financial coverage for firefighters diagnosed with cancer, and would ensure beneficiaries are provided for in the event of death. Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters in the United States as firefighters are regularly exposed to dangerous toxins while on the job. This bill would help alleviate economic burdens for families and those who risk their lives to help protect our community. Welcome to the Florida Senate The Florida Senate welcomed the following groups last week as they celebrated their Day at the Capitol:
Constituent Corner Collier Commissioners, Bill McDaniel, Andy Solis, Greater Naples Fire Rescue Chief Kingman Schuldt, and Collier County Government Affairs Manager John Mullins Yolanda Flores of Lorenzo Walker Technical High School Hendry County Commissioner Emma Byrd and County Administrator Jennifer Davis Presentation for CompTIA As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance. Kathleen C. Passidomo Senate Majority Leader Naples Office: 3299 East Tamiami Trail LaBelle Office: 25 East Hickpochee Avenue Tallahassee Office: 330 Senate Office Building Not paid for at taxpayer expense. |