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Senate President Pro Tempore Files Legislation to Cut Cell Phone and TV Tax

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Senate Bill 378 eliminates narrow corporate subsidy, instead providing
dollar-for-dollar tax relief for Florida’s families and businesses

Senate President Pro Tempore Anitere Flores (R-Miami, Monroe) today filed Senate Bill 378, which repeals the insurance premium tax credit and replaces it with a two percent reduction in the communications services tax (CST).
“Florida’s CST is one of the highest in the nation. In 2015, we made great progress by permanently reducing Florida’s CST by 1.73 percent. This year, we can reduce this burdensome tax even further and provide additional monthly savings to every Floridian with a cell phone or cable or satellite TV,” said President Pro Tempore Flores.
Since 1987, Florida has provided a tax credit that insurance companies can take against their premium tax liability of up to 15 percent of salaries paid to employees located or based within Florida. The same benefit is not provided for other industries.
“When originally put in place thirty years ago, this taxpayer-funded subsidy for insurance companies was well intentioned, but times have changed and we need to reprioritize,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “We can take the revenue we save from eliminating a tax credit that only benefits one industry and use it to provide a meaningful, monthly, and permanent tax cut for Florida’s families and businesses.”
“This bill will rid our state of an antiquated government subsidy for a specific industry, and instead keep more money in the pockets of the hard-working Floridians who earn it,” continued President Pro Tempore Flores. “This tax relief package continues our commitment to reducing the tax burden facing Florida families and businesses. Reducing taxes leads to private sector job creation and a flourishing economy that benefits all Floridians.”
“As Florida’s economy grows, we must continue to search for ways to reduce the tax burden on families and businesses across our state,” continued President Negron. “In recent years, we have lowered vehicle registration fees, providing a recurring tax cut for every Floridian who registers a car. This year we want to continue our efforts by providing additional tax relief for every Floridian with a cell phone or cable or satellite television. As just one component of a comprehensive tax relief package, this proposal alone could provide $300 million in recurring tax relief for families and businesses in addition to the significant savings generated by proposals advocated by Governor Scott and options filed in the Senate and the House.”

Create and Share Child Hand Artwork for Children’s Week “Give Us a Hand” Campaign

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While teachers and families begin to enjoy the spring season here in Florida, they are encouraged to involve their young students and children in an art project that will create an impact on lawmakers in March. Children’s Week’s “Give Us a Hand” campaign asks children throughout Florida to send decorated paper cut-outs of their hands to Children’s Week organizers, who will put them on display inside the Capitol rotunda from March 26-31. Children may include their name on their artwork along with a message to legislators.Childrens Week

The hand artwork is meant to convey a message to lawmakers – to “give us a hand” during the upcoming legislative session on funding and policy decisions that promote the health, safety and well-being of children in Florida. Last year, more than 100,000 paper hand cut-outs were collected and transformed into an impactful exhibition. 

“The hands show decision makers a visual representation of the vast number of children their decisions affect. We hope that legislators will see the thousands of hands – see the personalization of each one – and envision the children who made them,” said Jason Zaborske, statewide coordinator for Children’s Week.

To have your students’ or child’s artwork displayed in the Capitol rotunda during Children’s Week, it must be postmarked by March 10 and sent to the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region c/o Children’s Week, 2639 N. Monroe St. Building C, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Alternatively, you may contact your local coordinator through the Children’s Week website and they will see all submissions turned in to them are received. You can also share photos of their artwork on social media using the hashtag #GiveUsAHand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from now until March 23; everyone who shares a photo will be entered to win one of three prizes for best individual hand art, best group piece and most creative. 

The Hanging of the Hands ceremony is the hallmark of Children’s Week – an annual weeklong celebration at the Capitol which serves as a platform for numerous organizations to advocate for children and family issues to Florida lawmakers. Many of the organizations participating in Children’s Week also will hold local events leading up to Children’s Week at the Capitol. 

In addition to the Hanging of the Hands ceremony on March 26, various events and activities are scheduled to take place during Children’s Week, including an interactive storybook village for children; free distribution of breakfast, lunch and children’s books; an awards ceremony; workshops; town hall meetings; and more. Thousands of educators, students and families are expected to attend. 

For more information about Children’s Week and events in your community, visit www.ChildrensWeek.org For hand artwork instructions, visit http://childrensweek.org/art/.

FDLE awards tipster with $10,000

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FDLE today awarded $10,000 to the anonymous tipster who notified local law enforcement and provided the location of fugitives Boyette and Rice, who were subsequently apprehended by law enforcement.
A killing spree across multiple states, including Florida, ended in Georgia on February 7 when William Boyette committed suicide and Mary Rice was arrested. The tipster had just seen a Facebook post with Boyette and Rice’s photos, as well as the tag number of the vehicle they were driving, when the tipster spotted the car and Rice at a convenience store. After the tag number of the car was verified, the tip was called in to law enforcement describing the location where the fugitives had been spotted. FDLE was informed on February 10 of a person wishing to claim the reward and has been working since to make sure it is awarded.
“It was very important to FDLE that this tipster receive the reward we had contributed. It certainly is well-deserved, because I firmly believe more lives could have been lost if these fugitives remained on the run,” said Jack Massey, Special Agent in Charge at FDLE’s Pensacola Regional Operations Center. “Due to the awareness and dedication of this citizen, who spotted them and took immediate action to report it, a murderous threat to the community was removed. Awarding this individual is the right thing to do.”
He added, “We all play a role in keeping our communities safe. Please report suspicious activity. ‘If you see something, say something.™’ It may well save innocent lives.”

UWF launches free online course highlighting research in the Gulf

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Beginning this March, the University of West Florida’s Innovation Institute will launch the first in a series of free online courses that focus on UWF research in the Gulf of Mexico.
“This course allows us to share some of the outstanding work of our faculty with the rest of the world,” UWF President Martha Saunders said. “The Gulf of Mexico is arguably the most important body of water in the Western Hemisphere. MMO 101 provides a peek at its impact on us all.”
The series, titled “Gulf Stories,” opens with “Mother Mother Ocean” (MMO 101). This first course highlights the work of five UWF scholar researchers and touches on everything from history and archaeology to the economy to the environment.
“We’re so pleased to be able to recognize the excellent work coming out of the University and to share that work with the public,” said Dr. Pam Northrup, CEO of the Innovation Institute and vice president of research and strategic innovation. “UWF’s location offers some truly unique opportunities for students and faculty to engage in historical and archaeological research, as well as research that directly addresses environmental and economic issues.”
Mother Mother Ocean consists of five modules of roughly two hours each, for a total time commitment of about 10 hours. Course modules include: Shipwrecks, Saints & Sinners: Maritime Stories of the Gulf; Lions in the Water: The Impact of the Environment on the Gulf Economy; Putting the Pieces Together: The Puzzles of the De Luna Expedition; The Ever-Changing Face of the Gulf Shore; and The $10,000 Pen and other Effects of Logistics on the Gulf.
MMO 101 launches March 6, 2017 and is open until April 16, 2017. For more information or to register, visit uwf.edu/gulfstories.

Broward County Schools to Serve Students 40,000 Pounds of Plant City Strawberries

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that Broward County Public Schools will serve more than 40,000 pounds of Florida-grown strawberries to their students over the next two weeks. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Farm to School program facilitated the purchase from Sweet Life Farms in Plant City, Fla., which is owned and operated by Mark McDonald.image005
“By connecting Florida growers with nearby schools, we are teaching students that the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom is grown right here in their backyards,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I applaud Broward County Schools for their participation in the Farm to School program.”
The McDonald family has farmed berries and vegetables for more than four decades in Plant City, which is known as the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.” Sweet Life Farms adopted a “back to basics” approach to focus on high-quality repeat business. The family-owned farm produces blueberries, cantaloupes, mixed vegetables, strawberries and watermelons. In 2013, Sweet Life Farms received the Harvest Award.
The Farm to School program connects K-12 schools with Florida farmers and growers to provide locally grown produce to students during school meals. Since 2015, the Farm to School program has facilitated the purchase of more than 590,000 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce to Florida schools through opportunity buys.
The Farm to School program positively impacts local economies, reduces transportation costs and helps preserve farms and farmland. Producers interested in providing fresh fruit and vegetables to local schools should contact Beth Spratt at 850-617-7419 or [email protected].
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

FWC announces final opportunity for municipalities, counties to apply for derelict vessel removal funds

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the final 2016/2017 opportunity to apply for derelict vessel removal funds. The application period began Feb. 8, 2017, and will run on a first-come, first-served basis. Approximately $399,000 in remaining derelict vessel removal funds are available to state, county and city governments. Applications received after April 30, 2017, will not be eligible for consideration. The Commission Derelict Vessel Final Removal Funding Opportunity Program application and guidelines may be downloaded at MyFWC.com/DVGrant.  
Funds for removal of derelict vessels that meet the requirements may be applied for at any time during this opportunity period. Applications will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds have been expended or until April 30, 2017, whichever comes first. Applicants should call the FWC Boating and Waterways Section at 850-617-9540 to determine available funding before mailing or emailing an application.
Projects must be executed immediately upon receipt of an approved purchase order. Payment will be issued upon completion of the closeout requirements in the Commission Derelict Vessel Final Removal Funding Opportunity Program Guidelines.

Health Care Systems Donate Nearly $900,000 to UNF Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program

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There’s a mental health professional shortage not only in Northeast Florida but also across the country. In order to address this critical shortage of psychiatric professionals, six Jacksonville health care systems have come together to collectively donate nearly $900,000, helping to alleviate this crisis by funding the Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program in the Brooks College of Health (BCH) School of Nursing at the University of North Florida. The program will educate mental health nurse practitioners with earned doctorate degrees in nursing practice.
Northeast Florida has higher rates of suicide across all age sectors than the entire state, according to a 2014 study by the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Almost 270,000 of the 1.1 million adults in Northeast Florida are living with a mental illness. Roughly 4 percent, or about 42,000, of adults live with a severe mental illness, like schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder or other psychotic disorders.
“This is a very meaningful gift, and we’re exceptionally grateful to all of the donors,” said Dr. Pam Chally, UNF BCH dean. “Local health care organizations are coming together to support a significant need in Northeast Florida—increasing access to mental health care. A lack of mental health care is a major public health concern.”
St. Vincent’s HealthCare, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Flagler Hospital, Mayo Clinic and Memorial Hospital have collectively and generously donated funds to support this critical mental health nursing program. St. Vincent’s HealthCare is taking the lead in this effort by establishing a non-endowed professorship in Mental Health Graduate Nursing for a five-year period, providing resources to pay the salary of an outstanding faculty member in the field of psychiatric/mental health nursing. UNF will pay the professor’s salary once this funding stream has been exhausted.
“Behavioral health is a top priority in our community, therefore it’s a top priority for our ministry at St. Vincent’s. Northeast Florida ranks as the second-lowest area in the state for mental health funding, which makes it even more imperative for us to invest in partnerships like these to grow capacity and add necessary resources to ensure all patients in need have access to the essential behavioral health care they need locally,” said Tom VanOsdol, interim CEO of St. Vincent’s HealthCare. “Supporting this program and professorship at UNF aligns perfectly with our regional strategy and our mission to provide compassionate, holistic care to everyone throughout the communities we serve.”
Currently, Brooks College offers a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This program is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and prepares mental health counselors to provide direct counseling services to individuals, groups and families. Program graduates not only directly counsel but also advocate for clients’ rights through participation in community, state and national organizational efforts, becoming leaders in community agencies and facilitating delivery of optimum mental health services.
With the addition of the Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program at UNF, BCH will prepare mental health professionals who will have a significant impact on the health of the First Coast. With additional attention in this health care field, specifically Northeast Florida, BCH is hopeful that mental health care will improve and that social issues, like homelessness and addiction, will decrease.
The Brooks College of Health prides itself as being a leader in the preparation of the highest quality health care professionals dedicated to serving the community. For this reason, the College is continually working to provide specialized programming in a wide range of health care fields. Currently, BCH offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and bachelor’s degrees in public health, exercise science, health administration, athletic training and nutrition.
Graduate programs include public health, health administration, clinical mental health counseling, exercise science and chronic disease and nutrition. BCH offers three doctoral degrees: a Doctorate of Nursing Practice and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a Doctorate in Clinical. The College also houses two flagship programs—nursing as well as nutrition and dietetics.
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.

RoadWatch Advisory: I-75 Southbound Off-Ramp CLOSED at I-75/University Parkway Interchange

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SARASOTA/MANATEE COUNTIES
I-75 (SR 93) / University Parkway Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) (Sarasota/Bradenton):  Construction Project:
Detour – I-75 Southbound Off-Ramp CLOSED at the I-75/University Parkway Interchange:  
Sunday, February 26 and Monday, February 27. Details below:
The contractor anticipates implementing a temporary detour route at the I-75/University Parkway interchange at night/overnight Sunday, February 26 and Monday, February 27 between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. while crews mill and pave the ramp.
Motorists traveling south on I-75 wishing to travel on University Parkway are directed to continue south on I-75, exit at eastbound Fruitville Road, enter northbound I-75, and exit at University Parkway/Exit 213.
Improvements being made as part of this project consist of constructing a diverging diamond interchange, adding an auxiliary lane on northbound and southbound I-75, constructing new bridges on  I-75 over University Parkway, widening of University Parkway, widening of I-75 bridges over Errie Creek and Foley Creek, realignment of on-ramps and off-ramps at I-75/University Parkway, addition of ponds, drainage improvements, new lighting and signalization, construction of a noise wall on the west side of I-75, sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways. Expected completion is fall 2017. The contractor is Prince Contracting, LLC. For additional information, please visit the project website at http://www.swflroads.com/i75/university/

Stetson University Board of Trustees Addresses Changing Higher Education Landscape

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DOE, Higher Ed Act and governing boards discussed

In its February board retreat, the Stetson University Board of Trustees led by Chair Luis Prats, elected board treasurer Joe Cooper as the incoming chair. Cooper will transition to chair at the completion of Prats’ three-year term in June 2017. The board also heard from two leading experts about the changing national landscape and transformations occurring in governing boards nationwide, and in a separate meeting, discussed the state of fundraising nationwide and the status of the Stetson University “Beyond Success – Significance” comprehensive campaign.

Joe Cooper
Joe Cooper

Chair Election
The Stetson University Board of Trustees Committee on Trusteeship voted to confirm the election of Cooper as the incoming board chair beginning in July 2017. Cooper received both his undergraduate and graduate degree at Stetson University and is the retired President of Big Lots Canada and Executive Vice President of Big Lots, Inc. He previously served on the Stetson School of Business Administration Board of Advisors and was originally elected to the Board of Trustees in May 2011. In addition to his position as board treasurer, Cooper chairs the Athletics committee and sits on the university Audit Committee (Group).
National Landscape
John Walda, president and CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), discussed current issues in Washington D.C., including Department of Education priorities with the new administration, the reported Falwell Commission on higher education, tax reform and its potential impact on fundraising, and timing of the Higher Education Act reauthorization in the coming legislative sessions. Walda discussed the emphasis from some members of congress on university endowments, student loans, accountability and risk sharing.
Walda said there are four issues driving higher education: public policy, graduation rates, tuition costs, student debt, and jobs and outcomes.
University Governing Boards
The university’s board also heard from Rick Legon, president of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB). Legon and AGB have been leading nationwide efforts to help university and college boards understand and realize the shift of national attitudes toward higher education, and the potential for legislative action at the state and national level.
“Boards should lead in adding value to the institution and as advocates for higher education,” said Legon. He added that traditional board structure is changing and boards are moving away from focusing on what has happened to what needs to happen in the next three-to-five years.
Fundraising
Michael Sinkus, senior consultant & principal director of consultant and client engagement at Marts and Lundy, a national philanthropy consulting agency, said Stetson University is on track to achieve its goals with the $150-million “Beyond Success – Significance” comprehensive campaign. Stetson University Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Jeff Ulmer indicated the campaign was about two-thirds toward its goal, but Sinkus said the board and university development officers would need to work hard to being the campaign to conclusion.
Board Action
At its meeting the Board of Trustees approved funding for capital projects for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The board approved $13 million for the ongoing renovations and construction at the Carlton Union Building in DeLand and the launch of construction for the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center. The board also approved $3 million for ongoing infrastructure projects at the College of Law in Gulfport.