No images? Click here Friday marks the end of committee weeks in Tallahassee. We will reconvene on Tuesday, March 2, to begin Florida's first Legislative Session since the outbreak of COVID-19. Since the adjournment of the 2020 Legislative Session, the landscape of Florida and our nation has drastically changed. I know the pandemic has created obstacles and challenges for many of us. Rest assured, through the leadership of Senate President Wilton Simpson, the Senate is prepared and ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead and provide much-needed support for Floridians, especially the most vulnerable and in need. As Chair of the Rules Committee, I plan to advance policies that will help our state recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. Florida COVID-19 Vaccine Update Florida received about 345,000 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines this week. About 200,000 of those doses arrived later than expected due to the inclement weather experienced nationwide. As we anticipate additional shipments, the state will open up more vaccination sites in Florida. As of Thursday, February 18, 2,487,000 vaccine doses have been distributed in Florida. Despite some slight delays, Florida has delivered a higher percentage of COVID-19 vaccine, to its residents than New York and double the percentage of California. Until all Floridians receive access to the vaccine, I ask that you continue to take safety precautions and remain in good health during this time. Pre-Registered for the COVID-19 Vaccine? Sign Up & Find a Vaccination Location Near You The Florida Department of Health (DOH) launched a statewide vaccine locator site and preregistration system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Both websites help eligible Floridians to preregister for the vaccine and locate nearby vaccination sites. Individuals can preregister for vaccine appointments and be notified when appointments are available in their area by visiting myvaccine.fl.gov. Vaccine supply remains limited, and appointments may not be available for several weeks in some counties. Vaccine availability will vary from day to day and week to week as we work to provide vaccines to the most vulnerable first. The state is prioritizing:
COVID-19 Update: Florida Case Data As of February 19, there have been 1,856,427 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida, including 28,545 in Collier County, 4,227 in Hendry County and 54,429 in Lee County. As of February 18, the state's positivity rate for new cases is 5.85%. To find the most up-to-date information and guidance, you can visit the Florida Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website. If you are experiencing symptoms, please contact your local County Health Department. Sales Tax Holidays Would Provide Relief for Florida Families The Florida Senate is proud to pursue measures that will provide tax relief to Florida’s hardworking families through legislation creating two sales tax holidays. Senate Bill 598, by Senator Keith Perry, creates the 10-day Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday to help ensure students have the tools and supplies necessary to be successful in the classroom. The legislation would eliminate taxes on clothing and footwear costing $60 or less, backpacks costing $50 or less, school supplies costing $15 or less, and personal computers and accessories costing $1,000 or less during the designated holiday, which begins July 30, 2021. Senate Bill 734, by Senator Joe Gruters, establishes the 17-day Disaster Preparedness Supplies Sales Tax Holiday beginning May 28, 2021, enabling Florida families to purchase critical disaster preparedness supplies tax-free. 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. Senate Bill 598 and Senate Bill 734 were unanimously approved by the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism, chaired by Senator Ed Hooper. Legislation to Establish a Sea Level Rise Task Force Advances The Florida Senate is working to protect and preserve Florida’s unique environment, infrastructure, stormwater systems, and wastewater systems for decades to come. Senate Bill 514: Resiliency, by Senator Ray Rodrigues, gained unanimous support in the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, chaired by Senator Jason Brodeur. This legislation creates the Statewide Office of Resiliency within the Executive Office of the Governor and establishes a nine-person Sea Level Rise Task Force aimed at determining projections of anticipated sea level rise and flooding impacts along Florida’s coastline. These projections will be used to responsibly and effectively address the emerging threat of flooding through strategic infrastructure and design as the state develops future projects, plans, and programs. As the Senate continues to be a champion for the environment and strategic planning, the state of Florida remains a leader in resiliency. Vacation Rental Legislation Passes First Senate Committee On Tuesday, Senate Bill 522 by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr., passed its first committee in a 6-3 vote. The bill will provide uniform standards and licensure for properties throughout Florida while allowing local governments the flexibility to pass ordinances and regulations as long as they are applied uniformly to all properties whether owner-occupied or rentals. The legislation would require the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to address vacation rental complaints. It would ensure online platforms collect and remit taxes owed on rental properties. The legislation also requires rental owners to provide necessary rental information with the state and ensures advertising is limited to licensed rentals only. I am in support of a uniform approach to vacation rental regulation as long as the state provides common-sense regulations and enforcement of those regulations. I believe this measure will help support our residents currently facing challenges on the local level. The bill will be heard next in the Committee of Commerce and Tourism. Enhanced Child Welfare Protections Pass First Committee Ensuring the safety and stability of children in Florida’s foster care system is imperative. Senate Bill 80: Child Welfare, by Senator Jason Brodeur, passed the Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs. This bill increases protections and consistency for children in out-of-home care by expanding existing laws related to sibling and transition placements. The legislation recognizes that young children develop relationships with out-of-home caregivers and siblings, in addition to their own biological family. The measure seeks to minimize trauma-related experiences and prevent abrupt or frequent placement changes that remove children from safe homes. Senate Bill 80 also requires that a quick reference “FACE sheet” be created to summarize the status of each child’s case and goals moving forward. The sheet must include specific data points related to the child’s case for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Community Based Care (CBC) entities to keep on file. The children must also have a detailed record of each transition since their initial placement. “We have seen too many horrific incidents where children in state care have fallen through the cracks. While government can never replace the role that should be filled by a child’s parents, we can do a better job of making sure vulnerable young children who have been neglected or abused are not re-victimized in out-of-home care, or constantly tossed around from one placement to another,” said Senator Brodeur, who is himself adopted. “This legislation tackles some of the most challenging and recurring problems in our child welfare system with updates to current law that seek to reduce the time as well as the number of out-of-home placements children have before they find a healthy, permanent living situation.” Florida Continues to Put Students First Amidst Pandemic In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida continues to prioritize students and empower families by expanding school choice options and increasing flexibility. The Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, chaired by Senator Danny Burgess, received a presentation from the Florida Department of Education Chief of Staff, J. Alex Kelly. Florida families deserve the right to choose the best option for their children or grandchildren, whether it is in-person instruction, virtual instruction, or homeschool. "To Go" Option for Alcoholic Beverages Passes First Senate Committee This week, legislation to allow alcoholic beverages as a "to go" item for restaurant orders passed its first committee week. Senate Bill 148 by Jennifer Bradley will codify a current Executive Order placed by Governor Ron DeSantis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill aims to support restaurants by allowing alcoholic drinks or bottles as part of take-home meals. SB 148 was voted favorably by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. The bill was amended this week to limit the “to go” option to licensed restaurants, cap individual container sizes at 32 ounces and require motorists to place the drinks in locked compartments, vehicle trunks or an area behind the last upright seats in vehicles. Legislation Advances to Ensure a Fair Business Climate in Florida The ongoing pandemic has caused many Florida consumers to make more purchases online, instead of in-person. Unlike brick and mortar businesses here in Florida, out-of-state retailers or marketplaces that sell products online do not always remit to our state the sales tax for each purchase. Compliance for remitting the tax by a purchaser has historically been extremely low. Senate Bill 50: Sales Use and Tax, by Senator Joe Gruters, was approved by the Senate Committee on Finance and Tax, chaired by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez. This legislation simply ensures marketplaces and out-of-state retailers collect sales tax at the point of sale for remote purchases, and remit these taxes to the state, just like in-state retailers. Businesses with brick-and-mortar stores are already acting in good faith and in accordance with the law by collecting sales tax for online purchases at the point of sale. Right now, Florida-based, brick and mortar businesses are at a disadvantage because they collect sales tax while some of their competition does not. This legislation helps create a fair climate for businesses, where everyone plays by the same rules. Life-Saving Legislation Passes First Committee The Senate Committee on Education, chaired by Senator Joe Gruters, heard countless emotional and heroic testimonies about the life-saving practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, as Senators considered a measure to require CPR training in schools. Senate Bill 280: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in Public Schools, by Senator Dennis Baxley, requires school districts to provide basic training in first aid, including one-hour of hands-on CPR instruction, for all students in grades 9 and 11. The legislation also encourages school districts to provide this critical training for students in grades 6 and 8. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student athletes. Bystander CPR can double or triple a person's chances of survival if started immediately, but one major barrier to bystanders providing lifesaving care for cardiac arrest victims is a lack of training. Senate Bill 280 seeks to lower that barrier and save more lives. Southwest Florida Receives Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Deliveries In Collier County, NCH Healthcare will receive additional COVID-19 vaccines this week for administration to those "extremely vulnerable" under the age of 65. They anticipate approximately 170 doses from Collier County, as well as 500 more from the DOH. NCH will reach out to those next in line to schedule appointments. Lee County received an allocation of 4,800 vaccine doses. The Fort Myers vaccination site at RSW airport will receive 3,000 of those doses for administration purposes. The remaining 1,800 doses will be administered to clinics of minority communities, for individuals with mobility issues and healthcare workers. More information about COVID-19 vaccines can be found here. Please continue to take appropriate measures to protect the well-being and health of you and your family. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance. Sincerely, Kathleen C. Passidomo Senate Rules Chair Naples Office: 3299 East Tamiami Trail LaBelle Office: 25 East Hickpochee Avenue Tallahassee Office: 330 Senate Office Building Not paid for at taxpayer expense. |