Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Florida Lawmakers

Florida Lawmakers

Florida lawmakers’ letter to Scott

Posted on

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) joined with 11 other members of Florida’s Congressional delegation in sending a letter to Gov. Rick Scott today urging him to work with them to protect Florida families from escalating health insurance costs.

In addition to Nelson, the letter – which outlined six specific actions Scott should take at the state level to help mitigate rising healthcare costs – was signed by Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Val Demings (D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Al Lawson, Jr. (D-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

[Read more…] about Florida lawmakers’ letter to Scott

Faith Leaders and Florida Lawmakers To Host News Conference Opposing Payday Lending Bill

Posted on

MEDIA ADVISORY

On Tuesday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m., clergy representing the Florida faith community will converge on the Capitol Building in Tallahassee to call on lawmakers to reject a payday loan expansion bill and instead to cap payday lending interest rates in the state, which are currently in the triple digits. The faith leaders will raise their voices on an issue that is at a critical impasse, as the payday lending bill, SB 920/HB 857, has moved quickly through several legislative committees. Representative Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) will join the faith leaders at the conference.

The bills would allow payday lenders to make larger, longer debt traps at over 200% annual interest, adding another tool for predatory lenders operating in Florida. Payday lenders already extract over $300 million per year from the pockets of low-income families, and over 80% of payday loans in Florida go to people stuck in more 7 or more loans in a year. SB 920/HB 857 is roundly opposed in the state by the AARP, NAACP, the Archbishop of Miami and many others.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Fourth floor Rotunda of the Florida Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida.

WHO:

  • Florida Rep. Tracie Davis, Jacksonville (D-13)
  • Rev. James T. Golden, AME Church of Florida
  • Ingrid Delgado, Florida Catholic Conference
  • Rev. Rachel Gunter Shapard, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida
  • Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Florida Council of Churches

For more information, contact Rev. Rachel Gunter Shapard at [email protected].

Florida lawmakers persist in their efforts to protect vulnerable Floridians, fix Sober Homes issue

Posted on

Florida State Senator Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and Representative Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) have been working for several years to put the brakes on the unchecked proliferation of sober homes.  They will continue their work this upcoming Session making sure that Floridians in recovery get the care they need while keeping our communities safe.
Building on a policy that makes it easier for the state to track recovery residences, SB 788, which was filed yesterday in the Senate, cracks down on fraudulent marketing and patient brokering.  Unethical marketing practices purposefully mislead patients and their families, mostly motivated by profit.  The bill creates licensing and certification standards for marketers directing patients to specific treatment programs and provides criminal penalties for violators.  In addition, the measure implements an effective and comprehensive plan to control the housing component of the recovery and treatment process and eliminate the exploitation of those in recovery by providers and residence operators.
“It’s hard to measure the strain that has been placed on families and communities by those sober homes operators taking advantage of the system,” Clemens said.  “The good operators have joined with us to improve the system for everyone.”
“Sober homes provide assistance for recovering alcohol and drug addicts. This legislation puts in place a standard of care which will benefit the residents of these homes and their neighbors while the patients continue on the road to recovery,” Hager said. “This bill puts in place new regulations across the state for the benefit of Floridians.”
The recommended changes are the result of the Palm Beach County Sober Homes Task Force led by Dave Aronberg, State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit.  The Task Force is made up of three groups: a Law Enforcement Task Force to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing criminal laws, a Proviso Task Force to study the issues and make specific legislative changes and regulatory enhancements, and a larger, more inclusive group of industry representatives, public officials, private organizations, and individuals.
Representative Hager will file a companion bill in the House of Representatives.