This past Tuesday, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker Jose Oliva announced appointments to the Appropriations Conference Committees. These Committees are comprised of budget Chairs from the Senate and House of the Appropriations Subcommittees of each chamber and members of the Legislature appointed by the President and Speaker. The Conference Committees met throughout the week, often late into the night, to resolve differences between the budget proposals passed by each earlier this month so that we may meet our deadline to conclude Session this coming Friday. The committees this year include:
The Conference Committees concluded their work Friday afternoon and all unresolved issues have been “bumped” to the Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees, Senator Rob Bradley and Rep. Travis Cummings, who met throughout the weekend. Once their work is concluded, any remaining issues will be “bumped” up to President Galvano and Speaker Oliva to finalize budget details. As the Conference Committees met, the Senate and the House continued with Floor Sessions. As Senate Majority Leader, I am responsible for understanding, tracking and helping my colleagues with their bills and ensuring smooth progress of the bills and amendments as they move through the process. On Tuesday, the Senate Rules Committee heard 43 bills. During the rest of the week, over 120 bills were presented and debated on the Senate Floor. Here are some of the highlights: Senate Infrastructure Plan Senate Bill 7068, Transportation, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Infrastructure and Security, earned the approval of the full Senate on Wednesday with 37-1 vote in favor of the measure. It will now go to the House for consideration. The legislation is designed to advance construction of three regional corridors that will accommodate multiple modes of transportation and various infrastructure improvements including broadband and sewer access, among others. One of the corridors identified in the bill, the Southwest-Central Florida Connector, (known as the “Heartland Parkway”) includes an almost 150-mile toll road that will stretch from Polk County to Collier County. “Infrastructure is more than traditional transportation elements including roads, bridges, seaports and airports. Infrastructure also includes utility and communication resources that provide access to clean water and reliable broadband connectivity,” said President Bill Galvano upon passage of the bill. “Additionally, our experience with hurricanes has taught us how intrinsically linked infrastructure is to security, preparation and recovery, from evacuation routes to speedy restoration of cellular service and electrical power.” The bill requires that decisions regarding corridor configuration, project alignment, and interchange locations be determined in accordance with the rules, policies, and procedures of the Florida Department of Transportation. Ethics and Elections' Last Meeting of the Session The Ethics and Elections Committee met for our final meeting during the 2019 Legislative Session for the purpose of vetting a few final appointments to the Miami-Dade State College Board of Trustees. The committee voted unanimously to approve the nominations of Anay Marie Abraham and Carlos A. Migoya to the Board of Trustees. These nominations will now go to the full Senate for final approval. Assignment of Benefits Reform Passes Senate, Heads to Governor On Wednesday, Senate Bill 122/House Bill 7065, sponsored by Senator Doug Broxson, passed on the Senate Floor and will now make its way to Governor Ron DeSantis for signature. Rep. Rommel shepherded the bill through the House. The bill includes a number of policy reforms to prevent assignment of benefits (AOB) abuse by bad actors who take advantage of homeowners in their time of need. The bill in its final form eliminates “one way” attorney fees for assignees and allows insurers to offer property insurance policies that prohibit or restrict the assignment of benefits. The bill does not eliminate assignment of benefits completely, but provides guidelines and creates a framework to prevent abuse. This framework includes requirements that an insured individual who enters an AOB agreement has 14 days to rescind the agreement without penalty; requires the assignee to provide a copy to the agreement to the insurance company within three days; and limits AOBs to $3,000 or 1% of Coverage A during emergency situations. Governor DeSantis has praised the bill, saying, “The exponential growth in AOB abuse has contributed to mounting insurance costs for Floridians for far too long. In recent years, there have been calls for reform and today, the Legislature took action. I thank them for their efforts in getting this done, and I look forward to signing this meaningful legislation into law.” These reforms will go a long way toward preventing AOB abuse and will help to control rising premiums on property insurance policies. I am proud of the work the Senate has done on this issue over the last few years, and I am thrilled that this bill will pass the finish line. Red Tide Mitigation Senate Bill 1552, Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative, sponsored by Senator Joe Gruters, was passed unanimously on the Senate Floor on Thursday. This legislation provides a $3 million annual appropriation for the next six years for red tide research and mitigation. The bill also establishes the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative, a partnership between the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Mote Marine Laboratory. This initiative will help to create science-based solutions to the prevent and mitigate red tide in the waters surrounding Florida. The bill will now go to the House, where Representative Jamie Grant will present the companion bill, House Bill 1135. School Safety Bill Senate Bill 7030, introduced by the Senate Education Committee, passed on the Senate Floor on Tuesday and was sent over to the House for consideration. SB 7030 is a comprehensive bill to implement the suggestions of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission. The Commission was created by the Legislature after the tragedy in Parkland last year and was tasked with investigating system failures and developing recommendations to the Legislature to pass into law. The Commission met a number of times throughout the state, investigated thoroughly the shooting, and submitted their report and recommendations to the Legislature in January. The bill allows school districts to participate in the Guardian Program if the local school board chooses to opt in. Through the Guardian Program, school personnel who have a concealed weapon license may volunteer to participate in training and carry firearms on school campuses to protect students in the event of a mass shooting. Local law enforcement agencies will provide training, certification and supervision of the program. One of the issues I focused on last year in my role as Chair of the Pre K-12 Appropriations Committee is the issue of mental health. SB 7030 allows for more flexibility for School Districts in spending their mental health allocation, modifies reporting requirements and incorporates recommendations made by the Commission regarding the timeframe for screenings and referrals. This bill modifies the legislation passed last year, which included a mental health assistance allocation plan to create strategies or programs to reduce the likelihood of at-risk students developing depression and anxiety disorders, in addition to the strategies or programs to reduce the likelihood of developing social, emotional or behavioral health problems, suicidal tendencies, or substance use disorders; and to include strategies to assist students in dealing with trauma and violence, in addition to strategies to improve the early identification of social, emotional or behavioral problems or substance use disorders and the provision of early intervention services. The 2019 Senate budget also provides $100M in mental health funding for the districts. As I stated in my remarks on the floor, “that's what this bill, in my opinion, is about. It is expanding that [mental health] plan. How we're going to deal with students in crisis. Students that have suicidal tendencies, students that are bullied, students that come to school that can't learn, and teachers that can't teach, because the students can't learn. For those reasons, I support this bill because of the provisions for the mental health assistance allocation. I support this bill and any bill that we can put together that will help our students overcome the difficulties that they bring to school.” Education Package Senate Bill 7070, sponsored by Senator Manny Diaz, creates the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. The bill passed on the Senate Floor on Thursday. This program is designed to expand educational opportunities for students from low-income families to attend eligible private schools. The bill also authorizes unallocated funds from the Hope Scholarship Program to fund the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which also provides private school tuition dollars for low-income students. The Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program provides eligible classroom teachers with an award based on the teacher's performance, with "highly effective teachers" receiving an award of $6,000. The bill restructures the program to recruit, retain and recognize teachers who meet the needs of the state and achieve success in the classroom. It expands the program to include instructional personnel, removes a teacher's performance on the SAT or ACT as a performance factor, focuses on school-wide performance, and incentivizes new teachers to become "content experts." Biosolids Management Bill Senate Bill 1278, Biosolids Management, by Senator Debbie Mayfield, creates a real-time water quality monitoring program under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to assist in the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of impaired water bodies and coastal resources. A biosolid is a byproduct of domestic wastewater treatment that can be used as fertilizer. Biosolids are classified by the level of treatment they receive to remove pathogens and toxic metals. The bill prohibits, beginning July 1, 2020, the land application of biosolids which have only received minimal treatment in zones where there is risk of interaction with the water table. Senate Passes Several Environmental Bills Protecting Florida's environment is a top priority for the Senate, and this week, the Senate passed numerous bills to address Florida's environmental challenges: Coastal Management - HB 325 House Bill 325, by Representative Chip LaMarca, revises the criteria DEP must consider when ranking beach management projects for funding consideration. This bill was passed in both chambers and will now go to Governor DeSantis. Vessels - SB 1666 Among several provisions related to water vessels, this bill prohibits treated and untreated sewage discharges within specified no-discharge zones. It also provides grant funding for the removal of derelict vessels. This bill will be officially voted on by the full Senate next week. Department of Environmental Protection - HB 5401 This bill creates a division of law enforcement under the Department of Environmental Protection, and transfers the power of investigation and law enforcement of certain environmental crimes from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to the Department of Environmental Protection. This bill was passed in both chambers and will now go to Governor DeSantis. Blockchain Technology Task Force A ‘blockchain’ is a digital ledger that allows parties to conduct transactions without the use of a third party acting as a central authority. CS/SB 1024, sponsored by Senator Joe Gruters, establishes the Florida Blockchain Task Force and was passed on the Senate Floor on Friday. The Task Force is to be comprised of government and private sector representatives to study the ways in which the state, county, and municipal governments can benefit from transitioning to a blockchain-based system for recordkeeping, security and service delivery. The goal of the Task Force is to develop a master plan for fostering the expansion of the blockchain industry in Florida, recommend policies and state investments to help make Florida a leader in blockchain technology, and issue a report to the Legislature with recommendations concerning the potential for implementation of blockchain-based systems that promote government efficiencies, better services for citizens, economic development and safer cyber-secure interactions. Hazing Bill Senate Bill 1080, sponsored by Senator Lauren Book, expands the definition of hazing to include initiation, admission or affiliation into or with any organization operating under the sanction of a post-secondary institution and increases the penalty to a third-degree felony if the victim is permanently injured. This bill was in response to the recent death of Florida State University Student, Andrew Coffey, in a hazing-related incident. SB 1080 passed out of the Senate unanimously and will now be heard in the House, where Representative Chip LaMarca will present its House companion, House Bill 727. Tactical Emergency Personnel Firearm Carry Senate Bill 722, sponsored by Senator Ed Hooper, passed the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday. The bill authorizes a tactical medical professional (a paramedic, physician, or osteopathic physician providing medical services to a tactical law enforcement unit) who has a concealed weapons permit, to carry firearms, weapons and ammunition when he or she is actively operating in direct support of a tactical law enforcement operation. Bill Passes to Allow Students to Wear Armed Forces Uniforms at Graduation Senate Bill 292, sponsored by Senator Tom Lee, protects the ability of a public school student to wear a military uniform to his or her graduation ceremony. Specifically, the bill prohibits a district school board from barring a student from lawfully wearing to his or her graduation ceremony a uniform of any of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the state. Unintentionally, some Districts may have policy that strictly mandates the wearing of a cap and gown at graduation. This law simply seeks to leave no doubt of the rights of a student to wear their lawful military uniform. The bill passed the full Senate on Tuesday and will now be heard in the House. No Changes to AHCA Behavior Analysis Rate in 2019 My office has received a number of calls from both health care providers and parents who provide and receive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. The Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) announced on April 23 that they will delay, until July 1, 2020 the requirement that behavior analysis provider groups show proof of their health care clinic licensure as a condition of Medicaid enrollment. The agency will implement a multidisciplinary team (MDT) model for authorizing behavior analysis services, as a pilot only, effective July 1, 2019. The Agency will continue to explore other process improvements with providers, to help expedite the review process, that can be implemented in other parts of the state in the interim. Additional information regarding Medicaid covered behavior analysis services is available by clicking here. Lee County Mourns Commissioner Larry Kiker Commissioner Larry Kiker, a Coast Guard Veteran, and longtime public servant passed away early on Tuesday at Hope Hospice. He was first elected to the Fort Myer's Beach Town Council, where he eventually served as Mayor. In 2012, he defeated a 24-year incumbent to earn his place on the Lee County Board of Commissioners, where he continued to serve the citizens of Lee County with honor. Lee County and Southwest Florida will greatly miss his presence in the community and his passion for public service. Rest in peace, Commissioner Kiker. Memorial services for Commissioner Kiker will be held on May 2nd. In the District: Moving Water South Phase II Project Gets Underway On Wednesday, April 24, the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District (LAMSID) hosted a ribbon cutting celebration as they began Phase II of their Moving Water South Project. This a complementary project with the State Road 82 road widening project. A portion of runoff generated from the additional impervious road lanes will be stored and treated in the Woodridge Preserve, as opposed to going into the Caloosahatchee River. This is a multi-agency effort, with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and South Florida Water Management District all providing grant support to LAMSID to get this project underway. Phase I of the project was completed in 2013. Upon completion of Phase II, LAMSID plans to present ideas for their Phase III to local Legislators to send even more water south into preserve lands in Lee County that can store, and benefit from, excess water. Benefits of the project include:
A Look Ahead To view the Senate Calendar for this week, April 29 through May 3, click here. This week is the final week of the session. I will join my Senate colleagues for a scheduled floor session every day beginning at 10 AM until our scheduled adjournment, ‘sine die’ on Friday to conclude the Legislative Session. Some of the bills we will consider include: SB 92 - C-51 Reservoir Project by Senator Book SB 302 - Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services by Senator Brandes SB 718 - Honor and Remember Flag by Senator Gruters SB 816 - Environmental Regulation by Senator Perry SB 892 - Business Organizations by Senator Passidomo You can watch the Senate in Session on the Senate Website, flsenate.gov, or on the Florida Channel at https://thefloridachannel.org 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. |