U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and other top Senate Democrats today unveiled a major $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan aimed at creating millions of new jobs while repairing the nation’s crumbling roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Democrats say the plan to invest $1 trillion in transportation and other infrastructure projects over 10 years would create more than 15 million new jobs and provide funding to repair roads and bridges, expand bus and rail systems, modernize ports and rebuild public schools.
“Florida is growing at a rate of nearly 1,000 people per day,” Nelson said. “You can imagine the toll that’s taking on our state’s infrastructure. This is our chance to make some much-needed repairs and create millions of new jobs in the process.”
Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee and a key sponsor of the proposal, says that if approved, the plan would likely fund several important projects in Florida.
Specifically, Nelson says the plan includes $180 billion to improve and expand bus and rail systems, which could be used to restore Amtrak service along Florida’s Gulf Coast and extend Sunrail service in Orlando. It also includes $10 billion to modernize ports and waterways, which could be used to speed up repairs being made to the Herbert Hoover Dike and deepen the ports in Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale to accommodate the new mega ships coming through the expanded Panama Canal, and $210 billion to fix crumbling roads and bridges.
The plan also provides, among other things, $30 billion for airport improvements, $10 billion to construct new Veterans Affairs facilities and $75 billion to modernize public schools.
Here’s a link to more information on the plan: https://www.billnelson.senate.gov/sites/default/files/Infrastructure_Plan.pdf.
Senate
Senate Criminal Justice Committee Passes Legislation to Reduce Criminalization of Adolescents
The Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, chaired by Senator Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) today passed Senate Bill 196, Juvenile Civil Citation and Similar Diversion Programs, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Anitere Flores (R-Miami, Monroe) and Senator Bracy.
“All too often, youth today are being arrested and charged for criminal acts that were once considered childhood mistakes and lack of judgement and maturity,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart), who has made juvenile justice reform a top priority of his two-year term. “Instead of helping our youth to learn positively from their mistakes like we once did, they may be put in the juvenile justice system, which then creates a criminal record that could potentially follow them for their rest of their lives.”
Senate Bill 196 requires a law enforcement officer to issue a civil citation or require the juvenile’s participation in a diversion program when the juvenile admits to committing certain first-time misdemeanor offenses including: possession of alcoholic beverages, criminal mischief, trespass, and disorderly conduct, among others.
“There is a delicate balance here. We should not and will not tolerate serious wrongdoing and violent crimes committed by young people. At the same time, we need workable solutions that move away from the over-criminalization of adolescents. I am grateful to Pro Tempore Flores, Senator Bracy and many other Senators who have taken a leadership role in addressing this important issue.”
Under Senate Bill 196, a law enforcement officer must provide written documentation articulating why an arrest is warranted when he or she has the discretion to issue a civil citation but instead chooses to arrest the juvenile.
The legislation also specifies that the option of the issuance of a civil citation or referral to a similar diversion program does not apply to a juvenile who is alleged to have committed, currently charged with, has plead guilty to, or has been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor offense arising out of an episode in which the juvenile is also alleged to have committed a felony.
Nelson to lead new Senate panel on cybersecurity
In the wake of Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election, the Senate Armed Services Committee announced today that it has formed a new subcommittee to focus on cyber threats facing the United States.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and a former member of the Senate’s Intelligence Committee, will serve as the top Democrat on the new panel. He says that in addition to ensuring the proper policies, strategies and resources are in place to defend the U.S. in cyberspace, the new subcommittee will hold the administration accountable if they fail to adequately respond to a future attack.
“You can’t just sit on your hands and do nothing,” Nelson said. “If we’re going to deter our enemies from attacking us, we have to make it painfully obvious that the consequences are going to be so severe that they won’t want to do it in the first place.”
Rideshare legislation filed in house and senate
Bill will establish uniform standards statewide for ridesharing services
Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) and Representative Chris Sprowls (R-Clearwater) today announced they filed Senate Bill 340 and House Bill 221, proposing a statewide set of standards governing and authorizing ridesharing services and transportation network companies. If successful, Florida would join 36 other states that have adopted rideshare laws.
“Ridesharing is a part of our transportation future, and it is time Florida embrace these services,” stated Senator Brandes. “This is something that Florida businesses demand, tourists expect, and our residents deserve. It is time to end the patchwork of regulations across the state that stand in the way of transportation innovation and adopt a uniform, common sense law focused on safety and access to the new technology.”
“Floridians deserve a thriving and innovative transportation marketplace,” stated Representative Sprowls. “This bill provides certainty to a growing transportation market, by putting consumers in the driver’s seat of their transportation options, not special interest regulators. Not only is this bill good for consumers, but also it provides jobs for many Floridians still looking for work, or supplemental income to families struggling to make ends meet.”
The bill establishes the regulatory framework for the operation of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) in Florida. SB 340 and HB 221 establish minimum insurance requirements for TNCs, require thorough background screening standards for TNC drivers, and include consumer protection provisions that strengthen the community of riders and drivers in Florida. In addition, the bill provides regulatory certainty for TNC services in Florida by replacing a patchwork of conflicting local regulations with a unified statewide framework.
For more information on the legislation visit http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0340.
