Attorney General Pam Bondi today released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:
“This weekend we honor some of the bravest of Americans, those who served in our Armed Forces, who risk their lives for our safety and freedom. In our busy day-to-day lives, it may be easy to forget just how blessed we are for the men and women who are willing to serve and fight so that we can live in a republic. Veterans Day is a reminder that we must never lose sight of these courageous heroes and their sacrifices. Thank you to all our veterans, active service members and the families who support them for everything that you have done and are still doing to protect us and our beautiful homeland.”
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Office Approves a 9.5% Decrease to Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rates
Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has issued a Final Order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall rate level decrease of 9.5% and premium level decrease of 9.8%. This applies to both new and renewal workers’ compensation insurance policies effective in Florida as of January 1, 2018.
“I am pleased that today’s approval of NCCI’s rate filing will translate into a decrease in workers’ compensation rates for many Florida employers,” stated Commissioner Altmaier. “The Office will continue to monitor the marketplace and support reforms that provide additional cost savings for Florida’s businesses.”
“Florida’s job creators will no doubt appreciate this significant cost savings, a step that will support our state’s growing economy,” said Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. “I’m pleased to see the cost of business going down, and as the Legislature looks at our workers’ compensation system, I will be working with them on proposals to lock in these lowering rates.”
NCCI received this approval after submitting an amended rate filing to the Office on November 7, 2017, which met the stipulations of an Order issued by the Commissioner on October 31, 2017.
For more information about the NCCI public hearing and rate filing, visit the Office’s “NCCI Public Rate Hearing” webpage.
FHCA to Lawmakers: Look Beyond Generators with Nursing Home Disaster Procedure Legislation
In testimony to the House Select Committee on Hurricane Preparedness, Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) chief lobbyist Bob Asztalos urged lawmakers to look beyond issues related to emergency generators as they consider legislation dealing with nursing home procedures in disasters.
Asztalos told legislators FHCA is committed to implementing the governor’s mandate that nursing homes and assisted living facilities have generator capacity to keep their residents cool and safe during a disaster. He offered a set of recommendations that would strengthen the emergency procedures in nursing centers and ALFs and help them meet the Governor’s goal in a careful, timely manner that ensures the work is done correctly and safely.
In his remarks to the committee, Asztalos vowed, “We stand ready to work together with the Legislature, agencies and the Governor’s office to get this right.” His other comments included:
Complex Needs
“The debate must extend beyond generators and fuel. Nursing homes care for residents whose medical needs are extremely complex – many depend on ventilators, oxygen, dialysis and other life sustaining mechanical support. … We don’t understand how power restoration is prioritized in the state. I ask that the Legislature formalize the system for determining power restoration, and that priority restoration be given to our centers. “
Evacuations
“We found a disconnect between the local emergency management personnel and the long term care providers. Nursing homes seek to harden in place, and evacuation is a very last resort. The local emergency managers want to evacuate people quickly because they have a much bigger scope than just our facilities. I believe we need to foster open dialogue between the two groups to better coordinate when nursing homes should be evacuated.”
Special Needs Shelters
“Nursing home residents cannot just be loaded on a bus and dropped off at a shelter. They are too frail, many are in wheelchairs and they must travel with their medications, records, staff, and other life-sustaining equipment. If a bus pulls up to a shelter and the seniors on it walk off, they are not from a nursing home. The reality is that, during storms, nursing homes are called upon to take occupants from special need shelters when they are full or when the county is trying to close them after the storm. I believe this process can be better formalized.”
Commissioner Putnam Highlights Services Available to Veterans and Military Members
Ahead of Veterans Day, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam is highlighting the services that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides to Florida’s more than 1.6 million veterans, as well as some services for active military members. The department works to support our nation’s heroes and their families through services, such as: waiving fees for professional licenses, expediting concealed weapon license applications and providing unique outdoor opportunities to wounded veterans.
“The men and women who selflessly serve our country and defend our liberty deserve all of the support we can give them,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
The department provides enhanced services to veterans and active members of the military by:
- Waiving the fees for honorably discharged veterans and their spouses to enter new professions or open a business that is licensed by the department so that these men and women can jumpstart their careers.
- Expediting nearly 90,000 applications for concealed weapon licenses for veterans and active duty military since the summer of 2015. Honorably discharged veterans should submit a copy of their DD 214 long form with their applications. More information on how honorably discharged veterans can apply for a concealed weapons license can be found here.
- Hosting wounded veterans at outdoor recreational events free of charge through Operation Outdoor Freedom. More than 3,000 wounded veterans have participated in more than 400 guided hunts, fishing trips, canoe trips and more in Florida’s state forests and designated outdoor spaces. Additional information about the program and upcoming events can be found here.
- Dedicating two of Florida’s state forests in honor of our veterans – Peace River State Forest and Prairie Tract State Forest – and reducing forest entrance and camping rates for veterans to enjoy these great places.
- Accepting relevant military training or education when veterans or active military members apply for private investigator and security officer licenses.
Visit FreshFromFlorida.com to learn more about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Lawmakers seek to make health care more accessible for disabled veterans
As the nation pauses this weekend to honor the brave men and women who served in our nation’s Armed Forces, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today filed legislation to ensure some of our most severely disabled veterans have access to the health care they need.
The legislation, known as the FAIR Heroes Act, would make disabled veterans who were medically retired from the military eligible for both Medicare Part B and TRICARE, a health care program for retired veterans and their families, and allow them to choose which health plan works best for them.
Under current law, severely disabled veterans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI, for two or more years don’t have a choice. They are required, by law, to purchase Medicare Part B coverage – and, in some cases, maintain that coverage even if they return to work.
By giving these veterans the choice to enroll in TRICARE instead of the more costly Medicare Part B program, the lawmakers’ bill could save many veterans up to $1,300 a year.
“These brave men and women are American heroes,” Nelson said. “They have made tremendous sacrifices in service to their country and making sure they have access to the health care that best fits their needs is the least we can do.”
If these medically retired veterans fail to immediately purchase Medicare Part B coverage when they become eligible, or fail to maintain that coverage for at least eight years after returning to work, they are forced to pay a late enrollment fee and higher premiums if they try to enroll in Medicare later in life.
For some disabled veterans, the late-enrollment penalty and higher premiums make Medicare coverage unaffordable.
Nelson and Blumenthal’s legislation seeks to change that, not only by giving these disabled veterans the option to enroll in TRICARE instead, but also by eliminating the eight-year Medicare requirement and late-enrollment penalties for those who were medically retired from the military.
The legislation has been endorsed by several veterans organizations including the Wounded Warriors Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Got Your 6, Association of the U.S. Army and the National Military Family Association.
A copy of the legislation is available here.
Winter Haven man wins top prize playing $2,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Darwin Emmanuel, 33, of Winter Haven, claimed a top prize in the $2,000,000 CASHWORD Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,600,000.00.
Emmanuel purchased his winning ticket from Grab-N-Go, located at 2477 Rifle Range Road in Winter Haven. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $10 Scratch-Off game, $2,000,000 CASHWORD, launched on August 7, and features six top prizes of $2 million and over 6,000 prizes of $1,000 to $2 million! The overall odds of winning are one-in-3.38.
Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.
Gov. Scott Highlights $180 Million in Tax Cuts for Florida Families
Governor Rick Scott visited Weather Tite Windows, a family-owned and operated window and door replacement company in Tampa Bay, to highlight his proposal for $180 million in tax cuts for Florida families as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget. The Governor’s proposal includes sales tax holidays to help families prepare for the school year and hurricane season, and reductions to many of the fees on driver’s licenses. Since 2010, the Governor has cut taxes more than 75 times, saving Floridians more than $7.5 billion. In August, Governor Scott also announced that he will propose an amendment to Florida’s Constitution to make it harder for politicians to raise taxes by requiring a supermajority vote by future Florida legislatures to raise any taxes or fees. Read more HERE.
Governor Scott’s $180 million tax cut package includes:
- Sales Tax Holidays to Save Families $88 Million – The Governor’s recommended budget includes funding for four sales tax holidays which will save Floridians an estimated $88 million in the upcoming fiscal year. These sales tax holidays include:
- $73 million from a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday; and
- $15 million from three one-week disaster preparedness sales tax holidays which would take place in May, June and July.
- Reduction in Driver’s License Fees to Save Floridians $87 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to reduce the fees for driver’s licenses. These fees were increased in 2009, prior to Governor Scott taking office. These fee cuts include:
- $67 million in savings from reducing the fee for a renewal of a regular driver’s license by more than 58 percent from $48 to $20; and
- $20 million in savings from reducing the fee on an original regular driver’s license by more than 43 percent from $48 to $27 and the fee on an original Commercial Driver’s License by more than 10 percentfrom $75 to $67.
- Reduction in Traffic Citation Fines to Save Floridians $4 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to reinstate the 18 percent reduction of eligible traffic citation fines, which was repealed in 2009 prior to Governor Scott taking office, for individuals who attend a basic driver improvement school.
Ponte Vedra woman gets early birthday present playing $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH
Linda Danish poses with her husband and oversized check after claiming a
$1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that Linda Danish, 67, of Ponte Vedra, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $748,000.00.
Danish, whose birthday is this Sunday, purchased her winning ticket from Publix, located at 120 Marketside Avenue in Ponte Vedra. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $25 game, $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH, launched in February and features more than $549 million in total cash prizes, including two top prizes of $10 million and 46 prizes of $1 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.89.
Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.
Gov. Scott directs activation of State Emergency Operations Center to assist families displaced by Hurricane Maria
Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to Level 2. This means the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has activated, enhancing coordination between federal, state and local emergency management agencies. Today’s activation is in response to theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offering Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) to Puerto Rican families in Florida who were displaced by Hurricane Maria.
Governor Scott said, “Since Hurricane Maria made landfall and devastated Puerto Rico, Florida has taken every opportunity to help families impacted by this storm and assist Puerto Rico in its recovery. Last week, I traveled to Puerto Rico for the second time since Hurricane Maria at the request of Governor Ricardo Rosselló to help with their power restoration efforts. Today, with more than 140,000 Puerto Ricans having arrived in Florida following Hurricane Maria, I have directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to upgrade the activation status of the State Emergency Operations Center. This will ensure that local, state and federal agencies are all working together and enhance the delivery of resources at the state’s Disaster Relief Centers at Miami and Orlando international airports as they prepare to assist more families with services like crisis counseling, educational resources, job placement services, medical services and help getting housing and drivers licenses. This direction will also facilitate greater planning and support a more efficient and coordinated response as we respond to the needs of these families.”
All TSA expenses and costs will be paid for directly by FEMA with federal funding. All state emergency management costs related to sheltering for displaced Puerto Rican families in Florida are 100 percent reimbursable by FEMA due to the Florida’s federal Host State Agreement. For more information on the federal Host State Agreement between the State of Florida and FEMA, click HERE.
For more information on FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance, click HERE.
Caldwell Announces Successful Fundraising Month
In his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture,
Caldwell amasses nearly million dollar war chest
Representative Matt Caldwell announced another successful fundraising month in his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. In October, Caldwell’s campaign and Political Committee raised a combined $111,235 and has amassed nearly one million dollars cash-on-hand.
In October, Caldwell’s campaign for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture raised $45,235 and Friends of Matt Caldwell, a Political Committee supporting his bid, will report $66,000. In addition to another strong month of fundraising, the campaign and Political Committee have raised $1.37 million to date.
Representative Caldwell said, “We are blessed by the amount of support we have received and will continue to work tirelessly as we travel the Sunshine State, engage with Floridians and build our grassroots campaign. As we visit rural and urban parts of our state one thing is clear, Floridians are looking for a trusted conservative that will fight for critical issues overseen by the Commissioner of Agriculture on day one.”
The Commissioner of Agriculture serves as a member of the Florida Cabinet and is critical to the foundation of Florida’s economy. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps the agricultural industry with its daily challenges, promotes Florida’s agricultural commodities, manages state forests, safeguards consumers, implements the school lunch program, and oversees the concealed-weapon license system.
The campaign recently announced the endorsements of Republican House members from South Florida, which follows the unanimous support of Republican House members from the Panhandle, Southwest Florida, and Northeast Florida delegations. The campaign continues to travel across the Sunshine State as a part of Caldwell’s statewide #2LaneTravels Work Days Tour that highlights and showcases industries overseen as Commissioner of Agriculture. WATCH: Highlights from our #2LaneTravels Work Days, including oysters, timber, cattle, and more!
