Historic Session Results in Senate Republican Accomplishments
Senate Passes Fiscally Responsible Budget and Conservative Legislation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today marked the close of the 113th Florida Legislative Session. Faced with one of the most challenging budget years in the state’s history, Republican looked to reform and restraint, making tough choices just like every family in the State of Florida.
“This was a tough session,” said Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando. “From the beginning, we recognized a sobering state budget that reflects the economic realities facing our state. Through persistence, collaboration and compromise, we were able to come out of this session with a responsible state budget that practices fiscal discipline while funding critical government services.”
Under the leadership of Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, senators made significant regulatory reforms and investments that will help small businesses, foster job growth and put Florida on the road to recovery. They also made progress to protect consumers, improve the quality of education for Florida’s children, honor veterans, protect the sanctity of life and defend individual freedoms.
“Members of the Republican Caucus share conservative principles, yet all have their own, very unique perspectives and backgrounds,” added Gardiner. “Each member listened carefully and worked tirelessly to protect and advocate on behalf of their constituents, and we were able to pass responsible legislation we can be proud of and that our children will thank us for.”
2011-2012 State Budget
While focusing on protecting critical services under a more efficient government, Senate Republicans were able to uphold their commitment to not raise taxes and fees. They agreed upon a $69.7 billion budget with more than $300 million in tax relief measures, including the August school supply sales tax holiday and $30 million in tax breaks for Florida’s small businesses. In addition, the budget includes a $2.7 billion cut in annualized recurring general revenue and trust funds.
“Budget negotiations proved to be challenging,” added Gardiner. “But Chairman Alexander showed phenomenal leadership, remaining respectful and composed during the process.”
The following are among the additional accomplishments involving Florida Senate Republicans:
Educating Florida’s Children
- Student Success Act: Senate Bill 736, by Senator Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, rewards teachers who help students make learning gains by giving student success a more important role in the evaluation process.
- Charter Schools: Senate Bill 1546, by Senator John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, creates and facilitates the development and expansion of high-performing charter schools and high-performing charter school systems.
- Florida Tax Credit Scholarships: Senate Bill 1388, by Senator Anitere Flores, R-Miami, allows more students to enjoy tax credit scholarship benefits and allows more businesses to participate in the program.
- Expansion of Digital Learning: Senate Bill 1620, by Senator Flores, increases the availability of digital learning options for children in grades kindergarten through 12 in Florida.
- Class Size Requirements: Senate Bill 2120, championed by Senator David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, provides flexibility for school districts to implement class size requirements when additional students enroll in a school after the October survey and for grades 4 through 8 students who take high school courses. The bill also authorizes school districts to establish pilot digital instructional materials schools.
- School Choice: Senate Bill 1546, by Senator Thrasher, establishes criteria for high-performing charter schools and authorizes a high-performing charter school to increase enrollment, expand grade levels served, submit a quarterly financial statement, consolidate the charters of certain charter schools and receive certain modification or renewal of its charter.
Government Reform and Accountability
- Smart Cap: Senate Joint Resolution 958, by Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Palm Beach, replaces Florida’s existing revenue limitation with a more effective spending cap, ensuring fiscal responsibility when spending taxpayer dollars.
- Pension Reform: Senate Bill 1128, a bi-partisan effort led by Senator Jeremy Ring, R-Margate, and co-introduced by Senator Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona, and Senator Flores, helps ensure the long-term viability of local employees’ pensions. The Legislature also spent countless hours crafting a plan that will ensure stability for members of the Florida Retirement System.
- Elections Reform: Senate Bill 2086, by Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, streamlines the registration process and tightens regulations surrounding third-party groups to ensure voter fraud is kept to a minimum.
Honoring Veterans
- Property Tax Exemptions: Senate Bill 1502, by Senator Simmons, states that on the days Florida’s military men and women are defending freedoms overseas, they should not have to pay property taxes.
- Property Tax Exemptions: Senate Bill 592, by Senator Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, amends the State Constitution to extend homestead property tax discounts to veterans who were not Florida residents when they entered the military.
Preserving Freedoms
- Health Care Freedom Act: Senate Joint Resolution 2, by President Haridopolos, takes a stand against the intrusion of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its threats to state sovereignty. It defends Floridians’ freedoms to decide what is best for their families.
- Federal Balanced Budget Act: Senate Concurrent Resolution 4, by President Haridopolos, calls for a federal constitutional convention to place a proposed balanced budget amendment in the U.S. Constitution.
- 2nd Amendment Rights: Senate Bill 234, by Senator Greg Evers, R-Baker, allows for reasonable concealed carry of a weapon with the proper license, and Senate Bill 432, also by Evers, prevents doctors from infringing upon parents’ privacy rights by asking them if they possess a weapon at home. Senate Bill 402, by Senator Joe Negron, R-Stuart, prevents local governments from making their own gun laws, and creates a uniform system throughout the state.
- Religious Freedom Act: Senate Joint Resolution 1218, by Senator Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, if approved by Floridians, would allow individuals the choice to participate in public programs through a religious provider.
Protecting Florida’s Consumers
- Property Insurance Reform: Senate Bill 408, by Senator Garrett Richter, R-Naples, is a comprehensive effort to help Florida reduce fraud, increase competition and create a sound, solvent insurance industry.
- Medical Malpractice: Senate Bill 1590, by Senator Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, requires that out-of-state expert witnesses providing medical testimony obtain a certificate from the Department of Health to ensure accurate testimony and allows for the discipline of those who give deceptive testimony.
- Crashworthiness: Senate Bill 142, by Senator Richter, is a common-sense tort reform initiative that allows the jury to hear the full story of what led to an automobile accident.
- Homestead/Non-homestead Property: Senate Joint Resolution 658, by Senator Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, prohibits increases in the assessed value of a homestead property in any year when the market value of the property decreases.
- Silver Alert: Senate Bill 664, by Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Ft. Myers, sets out to give law enforcement more tools to bring missing, aging loved ones home.
- Andrew Widman Act: Senate Bill 844, by Senator Benacquisto, will give law enforcement officers and judges the tools necessary to keep repeat violent felony offenders off the streets.
Quality Healthcare Reforms
- Medicaid Reform: Senate Bill 1972, by Senator Joe Negron, resulted in a plan that will help transform the current system into one that is more sustainable and patient-centered.
- Pill Mill Reform: Senate Bill 818, by Senator Mike Fasano, will impose stricter regulations on pain clinics and greater penalties for doctors who dishonestly prescribe painkillers.
- Sovereign Immunity: Senate Bill 626, by Senator John Thrasher, recognizes that the University of Florida exercises day-to-day control of Shands hospitals and that the hospitals are instrumentalities of the state, therefore subject to sovereign immunity.
Restoring Florida’s Economy
- Oil Spill Recovery Act: Senate Bill 248, by Senator Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, promotes economic revitalization following the consequences of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the perceptions it caused.
- Unemployment Compensation: Senate Bill 728, by Senator Nancy Detert, R-Venice, will provide relief to employers by weeding out individuals taking undue advantage of the system and provide relief to the unemployed by offering additional assistance to help them get back to work.
- Qualified Target Industries: Senate Bill 1318, by Senator Benacquisto, enhances incentives businesses can receive for moving to Florida.
Defending Life
- Parental Notification: Senate Bill 1770, by Senator Hays, ensures that parents are notified of a minor’s life-changing decision to have an abortion.
- Ultrasounds: Senate Bill 1744, by Senator Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, ensures that mothers considering abortions have ultrasound opportunities so families can make fully informed decisions.
- Public Funding of Abortions: Senate Bills 1414, by Senator Stephen Wise, and 1538, by Anitere Flores, R-Miami, help prevent public dollars from funding elective abortions.
To view additional video commentary from Senator Gardiner in his final Majority Report of the 2011 Legislative Session, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik2xjHbnoJs. For more information about these and other bills in the Florida Legislature, visit www.flsenate.gov.
Florida Senate Majority Office
Led by Senator Andy Gardiner, Majority Leader, the Florida Senate Majority Office represents the members of the Majority Party in the Senate. As the political extension of the Office of the Senate President, the Senate Majority Office enables the Republican Caucus to fully participate in the governmental process; providing accurate information and services in a professional manner and enabling members to make unified, informed decisions affecting the quality of life of the people they represent.
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Contact: Allison Fogt, APR | (850) 487-5184 | fogt.allison@flsenate.gov
