Across the nation, mental illness and guns have collided with increasing frequency, laying waste to hundreds of lives and leaving grieving families to pick up the pieces.
Determined to put a dent in those numbers, State Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami) has filed SB 956, which would require the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to add a mental health evaluation component to an application for a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm.
“My bill will require a mental health evaluation to be conducted by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Too many times, we’ve seen the tragic consequences of the mentally unstable wielding a gun and the innocent victims who have paid the price for the madness. This is a basic measure to determine the mental stability of those seeking to carry a weapon,” said Senator Campbell.
Currently anyone can apply for a license to carry concealed weapons and their mental health is not a consideration. “This has to change. We must do more to protect our citizens and to prevent gun violence and the many tragedies we have seen repeated over and over. When the Federal government fails to pass legislation, then we must tackle this issue state-by-state,” said Senator Campbell.
A study conducted by the University of Nevada-Reno and Harvard School of Public Health found that the homicide rate in America is 25 times higher than in comparable nations. And the most common form of gun abuse is not from mass shootings, but from abusive domestic partners. “The violence must end. Senseless deaths have to cease. Tragedies must be prevented. This bill will add a commonsense requirement to the issuing of firearm permits as a measure to protect the most vulnerable victims of gun violence,” said Senator Campbell.
Data on gun homicides and now fatal shootings are available to the public thanks to the Gun Violence Archive. You can find data on shootings that have occurred in your vicinity with your address by clicking here.
legislation
Rep. Jared Moskowitz & Sen. Dana Young File Legislation to Help Pet Owners Seek Justice
Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Coral Springs) and Senator Dana Young (R-Tampa) have filed HB 1067 & SB 1270 providing pet owners a path of recourse in the event of the wrongful injury or death of their pet. Additionally, the bill holds defendants accountable for pain and suffering endured from emotional trauma to pet owners and for the value of the pet.
“People who kill or injure someone’s pet should be held accountable for their actions,” declared Representative Jared Moskowitz. “We form emotional bonds with our pets and those who endure the terrible tragedy of losing them deserve a chance at justice. This bill will act as a deterrent to those who work with animals to think about the legal consequences before engaging in negligent behavior.”
In current law, pets are treated as personal property. Because of this, pet owners are usually entitled to compensation only equal to the fair market value of their pet. Noneconomic damages are not typically awarded in cases involving wrongful injury or death of a pet.
Senator Dana Young said, “Under current Florida law, our pets are treated as property, like a piece of furniture that can be easily replaced. As a dog owner, I know that pets mean so much more — they become a part of the family and form deep bonds with their owners. Through this bill, we recognize this special relationship and provide pet owners with a means of recourse in instances where their pet is hurt or killed through gross negligence.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Files Legislation to Cut Cell Phone and TV Tax
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.”
Senator Jeff Clemens & Rep. Berman file bills to create Energy Economic Zones
State Senator Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) and Representative Lori Berman (D-Lantana) today filed legislation to create “Energy Economic Zones” within the state, expanding a pilot program designed to cultivate green economic development, encourage renewable electric energy generation, manufacture products that contribute to energy conservation and green jobs.
SB 1090 and HB 887 will allow cities to establish incentive programs that further promote economic development and job creation within the growing renewable energy industry.
“This is the perfect way to support innovation at our universities and provide entrepreneurs with an avenue to help secure our energy future,” said Clemens.
“Advances in solar, wind, and hydroelectricity have made the attracting and locating of companies investing in the future of renewable energy a highly competitive market amongst states throughout the country,” Berman said. “Having as many tools in the tool chest as possible that are available to Florida’s communities is what we are trying to achieve.”
Under the bill, cities would submit an application to the Department of Economic Opportunity to receive their certification as long as they meet all the requirements, including collaboration with a university or other research institution.
One application is likely to be the City of Lake Worth, in partnership with FAU’s Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC). SNMREC is leading the country in ocean current energy due, in part, to its proximity to the Gulf Stream just a few miles off the coast of Palm Beach County.
Both Senator Clemens and Representative Berman sit on the energy committees of their respective chambers.
Senator Torres files legislation to aid First Responders suffering from PTSD
Senator Victor Torres (D-Orlando) on Tuesday filed SB 1088 which amends Florida’s workers compensation law to allow first responders suffering from work related mental illnesses, like PTSD, to receive lost wages during their recovery and treatment.
“The least we can do for those who put their lives on the line every day to protect the citizens of this state is make sure they have the ability to get the treatment they need and provide for their families while they are recovering from any physical or mental illnesses,” said Senator Torres.
Under current law, in order for first responders to be eligible for lost wages while recovering from a mental disability, such as PTSD, it must also be accompanied by a physical injury. This bill simply clarifies language under the workers compensation statue and separates the mental injury from the requirement of being related to a physical injury.
Jessica Realin, whose husband Gerry is currently suffering from PTSD after responding to the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL last summer, praised the legislation. “On behalf of the First Responders of Florida, the spouses and families of First Responders and my beloved husband, Officer Gerry Realin, I want to thank Senator Victor Torres for filing SB 1088. This measure truly has the first responders in mind, and recognizes that they, too, deserve our support.”
Organizations announcing their support of Senator Torres’ legislation include:
- Florida Police Chief Association (FPCA)
- Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
- Florida Sheriff Association (FSA)
- Police Benevolent Association (PBA)
- Florida Professional Firefighters (FPF)
- Florida State Firemen’s Association (FSFA)
- Florida Fire Chiefs Association (FFCA)
ICYMI: Senator Brandes files legislation to tackle insurance fraud
Bill strengthens dedicated prosecutor program statewide to address insurance fraud
Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), in partnership with Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Representative Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo), announced the filing of Senate Bill 1012, investigative and forensic services, to tackle the growing issue of insurance fraud in Florida. Every year insurance fraud adds to the cost paid by consumers for everything from automobile insurance to homeowners’ insurance. The legislation will require cooperation between the insurance industry and the state to investigate and prosecute fraud.
“Insurance fraud in Florida is evolving, and policyholders are forced to pay for it through higher premiums every year,” stated Senator Brandes. “This is a hidden tax on every Floridian who drives a car, owns a home, rents an apartment, or pays for health insurance. If left unchecked, the cost of fraud will grow and consumers will continue to pay the price. I am committed to making insurance affordable for Floridians, and I am proud to work with Jeff Atwater to address this critically important issue.”
“We must do everything possible to help hold the line on rising insurance rates—rates that are particularly high in South Florida,” said Representative Holly Raschein. “I’m proud to sponsor this common sense solution that will better align the resources that we already have in place, and allow law enforcement to use them strategically in the fight to curb the fraud that drives up rates in our state.”
“We’ve made significant strides in our fight against insurance fraud, and we couldn’t have done so without the steadfast partnership of the fraud-fighting units housed within many of our state’s insurance companies and the dedicated prosecutors who take our cases to trial,” said CFO Jeff Atwater. “With this bill we hope to further improve our processes and hone our techniques so that we can continue to stay a step ahead of the criminals who seek to defraud Floridians. I am thankful to Senator Brandes and Representative Raschein for their leadership on this important issue.”
Fraud can account for as high as 10 percent of the property and casualty insurance industry’s loss expenses every year. This proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the state’s efforts to fight insurance fraud. The bill requires the development of anti-fraud plans by insurance companies and be submitted to the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services. The bill further requires anti-fraud training for personnel within insurance companies designated to oversee the company’s fraud prevention efforts. The bill requires reporting of anti-fraud statistics to the division annually, so that the division can better track the changing trends of fraud statewide. Finally, the bill strengthens a program to assign dedicated prosecutors to different regions of the state to tackle insurance fraud. The Chief Financial Officer of Florida, based on the annual fraud statistics submitted to the division, may assign and re-assign the dedicated prosecutors as needed to address the changing trends of insurance fraud.
For more information on SB 1012 please visit http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/1012.
State Senator Daphne Campbell files legislation to ban red-light cameras in the state of Florida
State Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami) announced today that she has filed legislation, SB 630, to finally end the installation and use of red light cameras in Florida.
“In too many communities, including my own, local governments have deployed back-door tax policies such as red-light cameras as money-making ventures,” said Sen. Campbell. “This isn’t about safety, this is about improving the bottom line, and I intend to continue the fight to stop the profiteering at the expense of my constituents.”
Implemented in 2010, red-light cameras were intended to bring more safety to the roads of Florida. However, throughout the five years of their operation, the data shows that this is not the case. According to a survey from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, red light cameras have resulted in a 15 percent increase in total crashes, 29 percent increase in incapacitating injuries, 17 percent increase in crashes involving non-motorists and a 10 percent increase in rear-end crashes. Arkansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are thirteen states that have already banned red light cameras.
SB 630 would abolish red light cameras commencing July 1, 2020, as well as the need for specialized traffic enforcement officers. It would also eliminate the hefty fines previously levied on unsuspecting motorists.
“Florida should join the list of states that bans these cameras,” said Senator Campbell. “We should pass good policy in Tallahassee that helps the residents and the tourists who visit us, not policy that does more harm than good.”
Senator Tom Lee tackles lack of options and rising cost of state employee health insurance in latest bill
Senator Tom Lee (R–Thonotosassa) announced today the filing of SB 900, directed at modernizing Florida’s State Group Health Insurance Plan (Plan), which provides benefits to more than 360,000 state employees and their families.
The state currently offers a Preferred Provider Operation (PPO) group-insurance plan and regional Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans. Employees pay the same premium for both plans ($50 a month for single coverage and $180 for family coverage), despite differences in benefit design and value of the products. The state also offers a high-deductible, low premium option – a popular choice in the private sector – which has a participation rate among state employees of slightly more than one percent.
“Our current plan offers limited choices and lacks the price transparency needed for employees and their families to make cost-effective healthcare purchases,” Senator Lee said. “This bill incorporates modern, innovative models for delivering high-quality healthcare at lower costs that will empower state employees to decide what benefits make the most sense for them.”
SB 900 requires the Plan, beginning in 2020, to offer four levels of coverage at different price and benefit levels – bronze, silver, gold and platinum – giving employees a choice to either purchase a plan at a lower price point and share in the cost savings, pay more for top-tier coverage, or choose something at the level of the state’s contribution. If the state’s contribution is more than the premium cost of the health plan selected by the employee, the employee may elect to use the balance to credit their flexible spending or health savings account, purchase additional benefits or increase their salary.
Senator Lee added, “If an individual decides they don’t want or need the full coverage offered by the state’s traditional plan, why not give at least some of the cost back to them in another way — maybe in the form of increases in their health-savings accounts, maybe in the form of more take-home pay?”
SB 900 also requires the Department of Management Services (DMS) to adjust the cost of existing products in the Plan to reflect the difference in the value of benefits. DMS will submit the recommended premiums to the Legislative Budget Commission for approval. DMS must also hire an independent consultant to assist in any modifications to the Plan. Additionally, the bill creates a price transparency program aimed at educating and informing employees about their healthcare choices, including quality and average price information for services and providers. Employees who choose low cost, high quality treatment will share in any savings generated by their choice.
“Our one-size-fits-all approach to insurance coverage hasn’t kept pace with what’s available in the private sector,” Senator Lee said. “This bill eliminates waste in our current system while promoting and improving consumer choice.”
State Senator Dennis Baxley Files Eyewitness Identification Reform Act
Florida Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) has filed Senate Bill 312, which will require state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agencies that conduct lineups to follow specified procedures. It will require the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to create educational materials to inform law enforcement of these new procedures and provide training programs on how to conduct lineups, etc.
“This provision will minimize cases of misidentification and strengthen cases that have used best practices,” said Senator Baxley.
Senate Advances Excellence in Higher Education Legislation
Senate Bill 2, the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act, and Senate Bill 4, Faculty Recruitment, both sponsored by Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) today passed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education.
“As these key bills continue to move through our committee process, I am encouraged by the feedback from and focus on our college and university students,” said President Negron. “The opportunity to hear from students and learn about the challenges they face as they work to complete their degrees is extremely valuable. Like many students today, I worked throughout college and law school, and I understand the challenge of working and balancing difficult coursework. I am confident this package of policy enhancements will help more students graduate on-time, while maintaining the flexibility some students need as they balance their studies with family and work obligations.”
“This legislation prioritizes on-time graduation as a goal for our system of higher education, while still recognizing that, for a variety of reasons, not all students will be able to complete their programs within the traditional timetable,” said Senator Galvano. “The legislation makes it clear that schools are only evaluated on the graduation rates of our traditional, full-time, first-time-in-college students. No student is penalized in any way by this policy. In fact, this pro-student legislation removes institutional barriers and helps to ease financial insecurities that lead students to delay graduation.”
Senate Bills 2 and 4 are key components of the Senate’s Excellence in Higher Education Agenda for the 2017 Legislative Session. Senate Bill 2, the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act, promotes on-time graduation by expanding student financial assistance and support, establishing tuition and fee incentives, streamlining 2+2 articulation, and strengthening mechanisms that keep colleges and universities accountable to Florida taxpayers. Senate Bill 4, Faculty Recruitment, expands policy and funding tools universities can leverage to recruit and retain the very best faculty, enhance professional and graduate schools, and improve aging infrastructure and research laboratories.
SENATE BILL 2 – THE FLORIDA EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT
Expands Student Financial Assistance and Support
- Reinstates Highest Bright Futures Scholarship Program Award (Florida Academic Scholar) to cover 100 percent of tuition and certain tuition-indexed fees, including the summer term, plus $300 for textbooks and college-related expenses during the fall and spring terms.
- Expands the Benacquisto Scholar Program to provide awards for qualified out-of-state students, as funded in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), equal to the highest cost of resident student attendance at a state university. The student must physically reside in the community of the university he or she is attending.
- Revises the 1st Generation Matching Grant Program to provide two to one (state to local match versus one to one), as funded in the GAA.
Establishes Tuition and Fee Incentives
The Legislature has authorized state universities to implement flexible tuition policies to assist students in accessing higher education in our state. To date, no state university has implemented a block tuition policy.
- Requires universities to implement a block tuition policy, which must specify an in-state block tuition rate and an out-of-state block tuition rate for full-time undergraduate students. The university board of trustees and the Board of Governors must publicly approve the block tuition policy in time for implementation by no later than the Fall 2018 semester.
Streamlines 2+2 Articulation
- Establishes the 2+2 targeted pathway program to strengthen Florida’s 2+2 system of articulation and improve student retention and on-time graduation in four years with a baccalaureate degree.
- Requires each community college to execute at least one 2+2 targeted pathway articulation agreement by the 2018-19 academic year. The articulation agreement must provide students who meet specified requirements guaranteed access to the state university and baccalaureate degree program in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
- Requires district school boards to notify students and parents with accurate and timely information about how college credits generated in high school will apply towards a college degree.
Strengthens Mechanisms That Keep Colleges and Universities Accountable To Florida Taxpayers
Incentivizes full-time student graduation in four years by focusing institutional efforts on initiatives that reduce student time to, and costs of, on-time degree completion.
- Upgrades State University System (SUS) Performance Metrics in Preeminence and Performance Funding programs:
- Tightens graduation rate expectations to four-year (from six-year) for a baccalaureate degree. (Note: Universities are only evaluated based on the graduation rates of students who are enrolled full-time, beginning in the fall semester, and who have not previously enrolled.)
- Repeals preeminent university authority for a six-credit set of “unique courses” that consume time and money for non-transferable credit.
- Upgrades Florida College System (FCS) Performance Metrics in Distinguished College and Performance Funding programs:
- Tightens degree (associate and bachelor) graduation rate metrics to 100 percent (versus 150 percent) of normal-time completion. (Note: Colleges are only evaluated based on the graduation rates of students who are enrolled full-time, beginning in the fall semester, and who have not previously enrolled.)
- Adds a college affordability metric, which must be adopted by the State Board of Education.
- Specifies that the job placement metric must be based on wage thresholds that reflect the added value of the applicable certificate or degree.
SENATE BILL 4 – RECRUIT AND RETAIN ELITE FACULTY
- Establishes a World Class Faculty Scholar Program to fund university efforts to recruit, recognize, and retain star faculty and teams, as funded in the GAA.
- Establishes a University Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program to promote quality and excellence in university professional school and graduate study outcomes in high-impact fields of medicine, law, and business, as funded in the GAA.
- Links education to job opportunities by expanding university responsibility to identify internship opportunities for students to benefit from industry experts and mentors, earn industry certifications, and become employed in high-demand fields of unmet need.
