Tax Relief Measures Pass Final Committee

The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Rob Bradley, unanimously approved two bills establishing sales tax holidays that will save Florida families millions in tax dollars.

Senate Bill 542, by Senator Keith Perry, creates a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday beginning July 31, 2020.  The legislation would eliminate taxes during the designated holiday on:

• Clothing;
• Footwear and backpacks costing $60 or less;
• School supplies costing $15 or less; and
• Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories costing $1,000 or less per item.

This measure will help to ensure students have the tools and supplies necessary to be successful in the classroom.

Senate Bill 524, by Senator Joe Gruters, establishes an 18-day sales tax holiday beginning May 29, 2020 for disaster supplies.

Some examples of tax-free items include:

• Flashlights and lanterns costing $20 or less;
• Radios and tarps costing $50 or less;
• Coolers and batteries costing $30 or less;
• Generators costing $750 or less; and

• Impact-resistant windows and doors.

This legislation allows Florida families to purchase critical disaster preparedness supplies tax-free so they are better prepared for the upcoming 2020 Hurricane Season.

Senate Passes Legislation to Safeguard Services for Victims of Domestic Violence

The Florida Senate unanimously approved House Bill 1087, Domestic Violence Services, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Aaron Bean.

The legislation removes the express statutory requirement for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to contract with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV) and shifts the duties and responsibilities currently required of the coalition to the DCF.

These duties include, but are not limited to, implementing, administering, and evaluating all domestic violence services provided by Florida’s 42 state certified domestic violence centers.

After reports of gross misuse of taxpayer dollars at FCADV, the Florida Senate took action.

This legislation ensures that taxpayer dollars dedicated to victims of domestic violence are protected from fraud and abuse and that there is no interruption of services to victims of domestic violence.

“Any misuse of taxpayer dollars is unacceptable; however, the information that has recently come to light regarding the exorbitant levels of executive compensation and other serious issues within the FCADV is especially repugnant given the responsibility of this entity to serve vulnerable Floridians who have been the victims of domestic violence,” said Senate President Bill Galvano.

On Thursday, this legislation was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. 

Legislation Promoting Civics Education in the Classroom Passes Committee

The Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Senator Rob Bradley, unanimously approved Senate Bill 918: Civic Education, by Senator Jeff Brandes.

This legislation aims to bring civic education into classrooms across Florida by requiring the Florida Commissioner of Education to develop minimum criteria for a nonpartisan civic literacy practicum that may be incorporated into a school’s curriculum for the high school United States Government course required for high school graduation, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

SB 918 aims to promote civic literacy in Florida and provide more opportunities to equip high school graduates with sufficient knowledge of American civics.

Bills Providing Benefits to Veterans Pass Unanimously

The Florida Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 936: Disability Retirement Benefits, by Senator George Gainer.

This legislation improves access to benefits for disabled veterans by easing proof of disability requirements for a veteran in the Florida Retirement System who is receiving care at a federal Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility.

SB 936 would allow a veteran to obtain proof of disability from a VHA physician regardless of the state that physician is licensed in.

House Bill 61: Adoption Benefits, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Aaron Bean, also unanimously passed the Florida Senate.

The bill allows military veterans and service members who adopt a child through the state child welfare system to receive a one-time benefit of $5,000, or $10,000 for the adoption of a child with special needs.

This legislation aims to increase adoptions in Florida by expanding the State Employee Adoption Incentive Program to include veterans and service members, as well as certain other-personal-service (temporary) state employees.

Bill to Assist Military Families and Students Passes Rules Committee, Heads to Senate Floor

Senate Bill 662 by Senator Tom Wright would give greater flexibility to transitioning students from military families for purposes of enrollment and preferential treatment in special programs. 

This legislation would also modify the school grading model for high schools.  Those who earn a Category II score or higher on  the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) would be incorporated into the school grading calculation. Schools would incorporate AFQT - which is part of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) - as a school grade college and career acceleration component.

Currently, only Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and the Advanced International Certificate of Education through dual enrollment or earned national industry certifications are taken into account.

Consumer Protection Bill Passes Rules Committee

Senate Bill 1492 by Senator Tom Wright would advance consumer protection provisions in several areas that are regulated by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), which is under Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis.   

If passed, these initiatives from the CFO’s protection agenda would be come law: 

• Fee removal for the replacement of PINs for credit freezes implemented under the Keeping I.D. Safe Act;
•  Strengthened DFS authority to request documents from licensed entities;
• Classification of aiding and abetting of unlicensed activity by certain licensees as a third-degree felony;
• Licensee requirement regulation under Chapter 626 of Florida Statutes., to maintain the privacy of consumers’ personal financial or medical information;
• Prohibition of telemarketing solicitation by an insurance licensee after 9 p.m., or before 8 a.m;
• Possible increased suspension periods for title insurance agent licensees from a 1-year period to a 2-year suspension period, to conforming to the permissible suspension period applicable to other insurance licensees;
•  Expanded definition on unfair or deceptive trade practice to include the acts of initiating an insurance policy without a consumer’s consent and effectuating an insurance policy by sending an invoice to a mortgagee or escrow agent without a consumer’s consent;
• Insurer requirements to provide additional information to their consumers during the claims handling process; and
• Updates to the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights to reflect additional duties imposed on insurers during the claims handling process. 

Zachary Martin Act on Student-Athlete Safety Passes Senate Rules Committee 

Senate Bill  1696 by Senator Keith Perry would add requirements to protect student’s health while participating in extracurricular activities and athletics.

Specifically, the legislation would require each Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) member public school to make an automated external defibrillator (AED) available in a clear location for each athletic session. 

Additionally, a school employee or volunteer with training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of an AED would be required to be present at each athletic session during and outside of the school year.  The bill would also require the FHSAA to make training and resources related to monitoring heat stress available to each member school and require athletic coaches and sponsors of outdoor extracurricular activities to complete annual exertional heat illness training. 

Senate Bill 1696 was amended in the Rules Committee to name it the “Zachary Martin Act” after the local student from Riverdale High School in Lee County who suffered a heat stroke in 2017.     

You can read more here:  https://www.wctv.tv/content/news/Zachary-Martin-Act-heads-to-the-Senate-floor-568220651.html

Holocaust Education Bill Heads to Senate Floor

On Thursday, Senate Bill 1628 by Senator Lauren Book passed the Appropriations Committee.  The legislation would expand the required instruction associated with the history of the Holocaust.

The bill authorizes the Department of Education (DOE) to work with the Florida Holocaust Museum and other Holocaust educational organizations to develop standards for curriculum, training and resources for the instruction on the history of the Holocaust.

SB 1628 was amended in the Appropriations Committee to designate the second week in November of each year be recognized in the public K-20 education system as "Holocaust Education Week", in commemoration of the anniversary of Kristallnacht.  Kristallnacht is widely recognized as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust.

At the beginning of the meeting, during public testimony on SB 1628, the Appropriations Committee heard very moving testimony in support of the bill from Magda Bader, who shared her personal experience surviving the concentration camp in Auschwitz.

Governor DeSantis Holds Press Conference on Coronavirus

On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis  held a press conference on the Coronavirus with Florida's Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees and Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson.

The state has been monitoring for the virus, and there are no confirmed Coronavirus cases in Florida as of Friday. 

The state has launched a website through the Florida Department of Health with updated information on the disease. 

Visit the Florida Department of Health Website on COVID-19 at:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/

ICYMI: Governor Highlights New Housing Assistance Initiative for Veterans

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new “Salute Our Soldiers” Military Loan Program on February 19th that will be offered to veterans and active-duty military members throughout the state.

The initiative will initially set aside funds to assist more than 1,000 veterans and active-duty military members by making the home buying process easier and more affordable.  

Some of the attributes of the program include:

• Florida Assist down payment assistance – $7,500 at 0 percent interest with no payments for 30 years but due upon sale or refinance;
• Salute Our Soldiers PLUS forgivable down payment assistance – choice of 3 percent, 4 percent or 5 percent of the purchase price that is forgiven at 20 percent per year over five years. Active duty military members who receive official orders to relocate will have any remaining balance forgiven upon sale of the home;
• Homebuyer Loan Program (HLP) down payment assistance – $10,000 at 3 percent interest over 15 years;
• Reduced costs (no documentary stamp taxes or intangible taxes on the notes and mortgages) and fees to the military homebuyer; and
• Veterans exemption from the first-time homebuyer requirement. Active duty military members may participate if they have not owned a primary residence in the last three years.