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NFIB Supports Amendments to Workers’ Comp Bill

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Statement on HB7085 on Workers’ Compensation by National Federation of Independent Business/Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle:

“NFIB is pleased to support the amendments filed this afternoon on House Bill 7085 on workers’ compensation, which will be heard tomorrow in the House Commerce Committee.
“Small business owners are glad to see that the Florida House has stepped up its game and is addressing the primary cost driver of attorneys’ fees. Bringing forward these amendments demonstrates their commitment to controlling attorneys’ fees and their recognition of how important fixing workers’ compensation is to the Florida economy.”

Nelson calls for expanded sanctions against Venezuelan human-rights abusers

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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) is calling on the Trump administration to expand sanctions against human-rights abusers in Venezuela. 

In a letter today to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Nelson urged the administration “to fully enforce and, where appropriate, expand sanctions on those responsible for continued violence and human rights violations perpetrated against the Venezuelan people.”

Nelson made the request in response to a recent attempt by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the Supreme Court to strip legislative powers from the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The attempt was one of several by Maduro to undermine Venezuela’s democracy in recent years. 

In addition to calling for expanded sanctions, Nelson urged Tillerson to work with the Organization of American States and the international community to help resolve the ongoing crisis.

In 2014, following President Maduro’s crackdown on a student-led opposition protest, Nelson and others sponsored legislation directing then-President Obama to impose sanctions on those responsible for the violence, human-rights violations and politically-motivated arrests.  

“The United States stands clearly on the side of the Venezuelan people,” Nelson wrote in today’s letter. “The situation is dire, and I stand ready to work with you in support of the Venezuelan people’s struggle for democracy.” 

A copy of Nelson’s letter to Tillerson is available here. And here’s the text:

April 5, 2017

The Honorable Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Tillerson:
I write to express my concern about the deeply troubling situation in Venezuela, and especially for the Venezuelan people, who continue to suffer at the hands of President Nicolás Maduro’s Government.
Last week, allies of President Maduro on Venezuela’s Supreme Court stripped the National Assembly of its legislative powers. Only after significant criticism did the Court reverse its decision, apparently at the direction of President Maduro himself.
These attempts to further undermine Venezuela’s democracy are only the latest in President Maduro’s creeping dictatorship. He has repeatedly and violently suppressed protestors and jailed his political opponents in violation of their human rights. He has used the Supreme Court to block members of the National Assembly from taking office and overturned the laws it approved. He also thwarted opposition efforts to recall him via national referendum, and in so doing, was able to appoint a Vice President with reported ties to the Hezbollah terrorist group and now sanctioned for drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan people suffer the consequences of this political, humanitarian, and economic crisis. Venezuelans are dying because of severe shortages of food, medicine, and staple products. The economy is in freefall and crime and corruption are rampant. Last year, a record 18,000 Venezuelans sought asylum here in the United States, more than any other nationality.
The United States stands clearly on the side of the Venezuelan people in calling on President Maduro to cease undermining democracy, release all political prisoners, and respect the rule of law and human rights. I urge you to work with the international community, including the Organization of American States, to help resolve the crisis and alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people. Additionally, I urge you to fully enforce and, where appropriate, expand sanctions on those responsible for continued violence and human rights violations perpetrated against the Venezuelan people.
The situation is dire, and I stand ready to work with you in support of the Venezuelan people’s struggle for democracy and human rights.

Sincerely,

Memorandum: Flags at Half-Staff in memory of the Honorable John Glenn

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TO: Tom Berger
Director of Real Estate Development and Management
FROM: Governor Rick Scott
DATE: April 5, 2017
RE: Flags at Half-Staff in memory of the Honorable John Glenn
________________________________________________________________________
As a mark of respect for the life of former Astronaut and United States Senator, John Glenn, I hereby direct the flags of the United States of America and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida. The National and State flags shall be lowered immediately and remain at half-staff until sunset on Thursday, April 6, 2017.

CRC Update: April 12 Public Hearing Re-Located to FAMU in Tallahassee

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FL CRC

In order to maximize public input and Commissioner participation, the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) has re-located its public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 12 to be held at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee. The hearing will begin at 5:00 p.m. 

The April 12 public hearing was originally scheduled to be held in Escambia County. The CRC will re-schedule a public hearing to be held in the Florida Panhandle in the upcoming weeks. View the updated public hearing schedule online at FLCRC.GOV and at this direct file link: http://flcrc.gov/CRCPublicHearings.pdf.

NEW LOCATION FOR APRIL 12 PUBLIC HEARING
LEON COUNTY (Previously Escambia County)
Wednesday, April 12, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU)
Efferson Student Union, Grand Ballroom
1628 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Tallahassee, Fla. 32307
Link to Google Map of Venue: http://bit.ly/EffersonStudentUnionMap
*Complimentary parking will be available. Doors open to the public beginning at 4:00 PM.
Individuals requiring an accommodation to participate in public hearings (such as a sign language interpreter) are requested to notify the Constitution Revision Commission five days prior to the scheduled hearing date at [email protected] or 850.717.9550.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION (CRC)
Once every twenty years, Florida’s Constitution provides for the creation of a thirty-seven member revision commission for the purpose of reviewing Florida’s Constitution and proposing changes for voter consideration. The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) meets for approximately one year, traveling the State of Florida, identifying issues, performing research, and possibly recommending changes to the Constitution. Any amendments proposed by the CRC would be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot. For additional information, visit FLCRC.GOV. Follow the CRC on Twitter @FloridaCRC and like the CRC on Facebook @FloridaCRC.

Plan for Major Expansion of Southern Water Storage Heads to Senate Floor

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Legislation Would Protect Coastal Counties from Polluted Discharges

The Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Senator Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater), today passed Senate Bill 10, Water Resources, by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island). The legislation furthers the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee. The bill expressly prohibits the use of eminent domain, leveraging land already owned by the State of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), land swaps, and purchases, to minimize impacts on agricultural workers while achieving 240,000 to 360,000 acre feet of storage. The amendment also provides grants to establish training programs for agricultural workers.
“I am very grateful for the input from my colleagues, constituents and fellow citizens across Florida as we work to advance this critical piece of legislation,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart).  “After twenty years of talking about southern storage, the time to act is now. This legislation will make an important difference to families, communities, and the economy east and west of the Lake, as well as southern communities who have waited too long for investments in meaningful economic development to expand workforce training and job opportunities.”
“Our goal was to explore all available options to deliver this much-needed and long-anticipated storage south of Lake Okeechobee,” said Senator Bradley. “The legislation now advancing to the Senate floor provides a solution to the plague of harmful, polluted discharges and toxic blue-green algae that respects the interests of the agricultural community and the rights of private land owners, while achieving our goal to dramatically increase southern storage.”
Senate Bill 10, Water Resources

  • Requires the SFWMD to develop a plan to provide a minimum of 240,000 acre-feet of storage through a deep storage reservoir and water quality treatment features, using the A-2 parcel, land swaps, and purchases. The district may consider alternate configurations using the A-1 parcel if a minimum of 360,000 acre-feet of additional storage can be achieved (60,000 acre-feet currently provided by A-1 FEB).
  • Requires the SFWMD to use DMSTA2 modeling to determine the amount of acreage needed in order to meet water quality standards.
    • Directs the SFWMD to negotiate modifications of lease terms on state and district owned lands to make land available for the reservoir project.
    • Directs SFWMD to negotiate for the acquisition of privately owned property if needed for the reservoir project through purchase or land swap.
    • The bill terminates the current PRIDE work programs on state owned land using inmate labor for agricultural work in light of the high unemployment rate in the EAA for these types of jobs. This land would then be available to swap for any privately owned land needed for the reservoir project further minimizing any impact on agricultural workers in the EAA.
  • Establishes a number of timelines for achieving milestones for approval of the post?authorization change report and requires reporting to the Legislature.
  • Moves up the date for the EAA reservoir project planning study to commence if Congressional approval of the post-authorization change report has not occurred.
  • Clarifies that ongoing Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects will continue to receive funding.
  • Authorizes the district to begin planning and discussion with the owners of the C-51 Reservoir project to determine if the state should acquire or enter into a public private partnership for this water storage facility that will add approximately 60,000 acre-feet of storage south of the Lake.
  • Establishes the Everglades Restoration Agricultural Community Training Program in DEO for the purpose of stimulating and supporting training and employment programs, to match state and local training programs with identified job skills associated with non-agricultural employment opportunities in areas of high agricultural unemployment.  The bill expresses the Legislature’s intent to promote the implementation of the Airglades Airport in Hendry County and an inland port in Palm Beach County to create job opportunities in areas of high agricultural unemployment.
  • Establishes a revolving loan fund to provide funding assistance to local governments and water supply entities for the development and construction of water storage facilities.
  • Revises the uses of the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund to include the water storage facility revolving loan program.
  • Provides funding for the reservoir projects, including an authorization to bond funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF). The total cost is reduced from $2.4 billion to approximately $1.5 billion, half of which could be paid by the federal government. The amendment includes an appropriation of $64 million from the LATF for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year.
  • Allows for funds not spent on the reservoir projects to be used for other Everglades Restoration projects as provided in Legacy Florida.

Background:
Record rainfall this past year resulted in unseasonably high water levels in Lake Okeechobee, which threatened the integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike. To maintain safe water levels, the Army Corps of Engineers authorized the release of billions of gallons of water from the Lake to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers. Such freshwater discharges cause significant environmental damage by lowering the salinity levels of the estuaries and introducing pollutants into coastal waters. Due to the discharges this summer, massive amounts of toxic algae that originated in Lake Okeechobee were sent to the estuaries and coastal waterways.
As a result of the high volume discharges, coastal communities experienced enormous harmful algal blooms with devastating impacts not only to the ecology of local waterways, but also to residents, fishermen, and local businesses. The extent and severity of the blooms resulted in Governor Scott declaring a state of emergency in four Florida counties.
 
 

Stand Up for North Florida Voices Continued Concern with Negron-Bradley Bill as Coalition Grows

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The additional coalition members represent a diverse cross section of Floridians concerned
about equitable spending of state conservation dollars and the negative impacts of SB 10.

Stand Up for North Florida announced today the addition of 16 leadership committee members from around the state who are standup for north florida SUNFjoining the group, which was formed last year to focus on the water and conservation needs of North and North central Florida. The coalition has voiced concern over Senate President Joe Negron’s plan to use farmland in south Florida to build a multi-billion dollar reservoir project to address Lake Okeechobee’s water filtration needs.

“Today, the Florida Senate continued to show that they are prioritizing South Florida’s needs over those of the rest of the state,” said former Congressman Steve Southerland, the coalition’s chair. “SB 10, as amended, will still bond $1.5 billion dollars, creating huge debt, and establishing a project that could cost mulitple billions of dollars. This project will undoubtedly jeopardize funding for conservation projects for not only North Florida, but all of the state’s important water issues.” 

Southerland continued, “Our coalition’s message is resonating with people around the state, not just in north Florida. Obviously, we originally formed to protect our own area of the state, but these new coalition members, a cross section of men and women from all over Florida, recognize that President Negron’s plan won’t solve the problem and will have a detrimental impact on the state as a whole. We look forward to working with them as we continue to highlight this issue and work toward a solution that is effective and fair to all Florida taxpayers.” 

The new coalition members include: 

  • Charlotte Barber, Tallahassee, retired teacher 
  • Tom Barnette, Brooksville, President of Euro-American Tours 
  • Nina Beezer, Lutz, retail manager 
  • Kathryn Cimato, Ft. Myers, small business owner 
  • Leslie Dougher, Clay County, Republican State Committeewoman and former Republican Party of Florida Chairman
  • Karen Dove, Palm Bay, community activist 
  • Mara Frazier, Panama City, banker
  • Ellie Kramer, Palm Harbor, community activist  
  • Kaye Miller, Leesburg, retired teacher and grassroots organizer 
  • Margie Patchett, Port Orange, co-founder of Volusia Tax Reform and local public opinion leader 
  • Charity Pearrow, Ft. Lauderdale, small business owner 
  • Jeb Smith, St. Johns County Commissioner 
  • Jimmie T. Smith, Citrus County Commissioner 
  • Leslie Steele, Midway, media production
  • Wanda Range, Midway, Midway City Councilwoman 
  • Ysryl Yrsyl, Jacksonville, President of the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce 

Central Florida Law Enforcement Supporting Work Zone Awareness Week

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4.3.2017 work zone awareness

Law enforcement agencies will be present at road construction projects throughout Central Florida on Thursday, April 6, to help remind motorists of the importance of driving safely through work areas. The coordinated enforcement effort is part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) National Work Zone Awareness Week campaign.

The theme for this year’s campaign is Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands. Speeding and distracted driving are leading factors in work zone crashes, and the FDOT and its law enforcement partners want all motorists to slow down as soon as they see orange warning signs and to remain alert for changing road conditions.

The agencies participating in Thursday’s Law Enforcement Day are the Cocoa Beach Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Kissimmee Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Melbourne Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and St. Cloud Police Department.

“We truly appreciate the efforts of our law enforcement partners to help keep Central Florida motorists and our employees safe in road construction areas,” said Alan Hyman, FDOT District Five Director of Operations. “We know it takes a coordinated effort if we are to reach our goal of zero work zone crashes in Central Florida.”

National Safety Council reports in its 2017 edition of “Injury Facts” that there were 35,500 injuries from work zone crashes in 2015.

In the Central Florida region, FDOT District Five has approximately $1.7 billion worth of work going on in 2017 including the I-4 Ultimate project, Wekiva Parkway and the I-95 Major Interchange project.  

The FDOT urges all drivers to slow down, stay alert to changing conditions and warning signs, obey the posted speed limit, and keep a safe distance between vehicles. Drivers may participate in the safety campaign via social media by sharing what drives them to stay safe using the hashtag #WhatDrivesYou.

Press conference with Sen. Perry Thurston regarding Senate Concurrent Resolution 1360

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Concerned that efforts have slowed to replace a Confederate general with the likeness of renowned educator Mary McLeod Bethune in our nation’s Capitol, state Senator Perry Thurston on Thursday will hold a press conference to call for swift legislative action on Senate Concurrent Resolution 1360. Joining Senator Thurston will be former Senator Geraldine Thompson, and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the oldest Greek-letter organization established in the United States by black college women.

The event will be begin at 9:30 am on Thursday, April 6, 2017, on the steps of the Old Capitol, Monroe Street side.

Florida House Votes to Protect Florida’s Reemployment Program

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DEO Department of Economic Opportunity

The Florida House of Representatives today unanimously voted to strengthen the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s efforts to fight fraud in the state’s Reemployment Assistance program. The House passed HB 671, sponsored by Representative Mike LaRosa, which provides DEO access to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ DAVID System, including the state photo identification database.

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “DEO is working every day to stop criminals from fraudulently stealing Reemployment Assistance benefits from Florida job seekers who need help getting back to work. This legislation will help our dedicated fraud-prevention team identify and halt fraud more quickly. I appreciate Rep. LaRosa’s leadership on this important issue and the Florida House for recognizing DEO’s successful efforts to protect Reemployment Assistance.”

The legislation includes the tools and legal authorizations that are critical to prevent and fight public benefits fraud by providing DEO access to the driver’s license database to confirm claimant-provided IDs are not fraudulent.

About DEO
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts. This new approach helps expedite economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities.  For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.floridajobs.org.
 

UNF Joins Competitive Carnegie Project on the Educational Doctorate Consortium

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The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate has accepted the University of North Florida among its 22 new graduate schools of education as members into the consortium. UNF joins numerous other schools of education across the country in the important work of redesigning professional practice preparation in education for the improvement of Pk-20 education and the organizations that support it.
The CPED is a consortium of over 100 graduate schools of education that have committed resources to work together to undertake a critical examination of the doctorate in education through dialog, experimentation, critical feedback and evaluation.
“For decades, the University has prepared hundreds of local and international educational leaders. UNF’s selection for the highly-competitive Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate recognizes the excellence of our doctoral program and commitment to game-changing innovation,” said Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at UNF. “This innovation will focus on developing practitioner leadership using an integration of evidence-based practices, conceptual understanding and application.”
CPED institution members and their faculty engage in a model of professional development to learn from and with each other the best ways to design professional preparation. New members were chosen through an application process and evaluated by a CPED committee composed of faculty members of current CPED institutions. Acceptance into the Consortium is an invitation to enter into a process of change. As a member, UNF’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership will undergo a transformation as the leadership faculty learn and consider new, innovative ways to improve this degree.
This program revision will be led by Dr. David Hoppey, UNF associate professor in the Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management, who will serve as the project principal investigator for the CPED initiative. He will serve as the University’s representative at all CPED events, relaying information between the member programs, their education schools and the Consortium.
The College of Education will provide resources and support for the redesign of its education doctorate, including participation in the CPED Consortium. This includes support for faculty to attend semi-annual CPED convenings, support for research efforts to study outcomes of the initiative and support for the redesign of the educational doctoral program.
Member programs and their education schools will provide CPED with evidence that the institution has met the milestones in order to create a record from which others can learn. Evidence of deliberations and resulting experiments can take a variety of forms (survey studies, cases, improvement efforts, self-studies and/or action research). This evidence should flow naturally from change efforts and further the work of the member programs and their education schools.
The vision of the CPED is to inspire all schools of education to apply the CPED framework to the preparation of educational leaders to become well-equipped scholarly practitioners who provide stewardship of the profession and meet the educational challenges of the 21st century. To accomplish this, CPED seeks to strengthen, improve, support and promote the CPED framework through continued collaboration and investigation.
The UNF Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program has a rich tradition in the region of preparing transformative leaders. Since it’s inception in 1970, the program has provided candidates with a deep understanding of educational leadership through four curriculum strands—leadership, research, foundations and a cognate. The program prepares candidates with theory, opportunities for practice and analytical tools necessary to develop individuals and organizations to function effectively in our constantly changing global society. Scholarship and research are encouraged as well as nurtured with the goal of improving students’ ability to make data-driven decisions that enhance and nurture organizational learning.
The program employs a cohort model that provides students opportunities to study and learn within active learning communities. Through engaged reflective practice as well as interaction with faculty and cohort members, students deepen the understanding of themselves as advocates who effectively influence substantive change within organizations and communities. The program also strives to develop creative, ethical, humane, flexible and visionary leaders, who critically analyze problems, comprehend the inherent complexities of organizational systems and apply relevant research to examine and frame responses appropriate for different contexts, challenges and issues.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.