Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Sen. Daphne Campbell

Sen. Daphne Campbell

Sen. Daphne Campbell calls for assault weapons ban in Florida

Posted on

State Senator Daphne Campbell on Thursday issued the following statement:

“The tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School deeply trouble me. The time for a “having a conversation” is now. We must take substantive action to ensure that acts of violence like this never happen again. I call on Governor Scott and my colleagues in the House and Senate to support legislation banning the sale of assault weapons (SB 196/H219 in our state.

“Mass shooting like: Aurora, Sandy Hook, Pulse, Las Vegas and Sutherland TX all have one thing in common and that an assault weapon was used to kill a large number of innocent citizens in a short period of time.  It baffles me that a teenager in our state can walk into a gun store and purchase a machine of death without a mental evaluation, or a waiting period, before walking out of the store with a gun.

“How many Floridians must die before we take action? Now must be different, now is the time that we must buck the gun lobby and enact common sense solutions that will protect our children, our cities, and our state. No Floridian should be able to possess a weapon that was developed for use on a battlefield.

“Let’s end these senseless killing in our state, let’s make Florida a safer place for our children and neighbors. We have the power to make a difference. Let’s start now.”

Sen. Daphne Campbell files bill to add new protections for Florida patients in medical facilities

Posted on

Alarmed by a loophole in Florida law allowing nursing homes and other medical facilities housing patients for extensive stays to escape requirements for emergency power, state Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami) on Wednesday filed legislation designed to beef-up patient protections.
“As we saw first-hand with Hurricane Irma, ignoring the critical importance of maintaining power for air conditioning in Florida’s climate leads to tragic conclusions,” said Senator Campbell. “Blistering heat coupled with high humidity is a recipe for disaster, especially for those in weakened conditions such as the elderly. This bill ensures that no other vulnerable citizen undergoing medical care ever has to suffer a death that was wholly preventable.”
Senate Bill 558 would apply to all medical facilities housing patients overnight, including assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The measure would require these facilities, prior to January 1, 2019, to have an operational generator and fuel supply sufficient to sustain emergency power for a minimum of 4 days/96 hours. The generator must provide enough electricity to maintain day-to-day living conditions throughout the entire facility.
The legislation, which has been filed for the upcoming 2018 legislative session, would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signing of the bill.
Senator Campbell’s measure was filed in response to the recent tragedy in South Florida, where 14 elderly patients died following lengthy exposure to excessive heat after The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills lost power during Hurricane Irma. There was no operational generator to power the nursing home’s air conditioning during the prolonged power outage, nor was one required under current state law.

Sen. Campbell and Rep. Duran Move Forward with Bright Futures Scholarship Service Hours Bill

Posted on

The amended SB 540/HB 253 revises the Bright Futures Scholarship Program award renewal criteria to include a minimum of 15 volunteer service work hours per semester.
Senator Campbell (D-Miami) and State Representative Nick Duran (D-Miami) have amended  SB 540 / HB 253 respectively. If enacted, SB 540/HB 253 would add an additional requirement of fifteen volunteer hours per semester to maintain eligibility for the Bright Futures scholarship. The current scholarship renewal guidelines only specify requirements for credit hours and grade point average. This bill serves to encourage civic engagement and community connection among Bright Futures Scholarship recipients. 
The originally filed bill required 30 hours of volunteer service per semester. After hearing feedback and working with constituents, the bill has been amended to 15 hours of community service per semester. “We heard our community, and as a public servant I listen to my constituents,” said Senator Campbell.
Constituents said the original filed bill had good intentions, but 30 hours was too heavy a load for working students trying to balance between maintaining high grades and paying their way through school.
“The amended bill gives students the time they need to dedicate to their commitments but still ensures that these students are also giving back to their community. Fifteen hours of community service can be finished in one weekend and is much more feasible for these dedicated, but busy students,” said Senator Campbell.
The required hours can be completed by volunteering with a variety of organizations such as: nonprofits, government agencies, schools, hospitals, retirement facilities, or assisting a disabled or elderly individual. This requirement exempts active duty military members.
“An education is not just about what you can learn in the classroom, but also in the valuable life experiences that can be gained from immersing yourself within your community,” said Representative Duran. “The lower service hour requirement will still add valuable capacity to the diverse efforts across the state while inspiring our young, bright minds.”
“The 15 required hours is a start. This bill is a tiny catalyst so that young students give back to the community. It encourages—those who can—to volunteer more hours,” noted Senator Campbell.

State Sen. Daphne Campbell files bill to add volunteer services hours for Bright Futures Scholarship renewals

Posted on

SB 540 revises the criteria for renewal of Bright Futures Scholarship Program
awards to include a minimum number of volunteer service work hours.

Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami) has filed SB 540 in order to encourage civic engagement and community connection among Bright Futures Scholarship recipients. The current scholarship renewal guidelines only specify requirements for credit hours and grade point average. If enacted, SB 540 would add an additional requirement of 30 volunteer hours per semester to maintain eligibility for the Bright Futures scholarship. The required volunteer hours can be fulfilled by activities with a variety of organizations such as: nonprofits, government agency, schools, hospitals, retirement facility, or a disabled or elderly individual in need of assistance. This requirement exempts active duty military members.
“This bill is about giving back to the community. As a public servant, I help my constituents on a daily basis and have learned the value of building engaged citizens. As the best and the brightest in our state, Bright Futures recipients are the ideal candidates to instill the values taught by public service,” said Senator Campbell regarding SB 540. “Just as the state has invested in them, through their community engagement, these bright young adults will begin giving back to the ones who need it most. This is what volunteering is all about.”
SB 540 has an identical companion, HB 253, filed by newly elected State Representative Nick Duran.