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Legislators had much to
accomplish in very little time this week due to an abbreviated schedule
in observance of the Passover and Easter holidays. House and Senate
members convened Monday and Tuesday with two things in mind --
finalizing their budget proposals, and getting priority bills moving to
keep them alive for the final weeks of session. Appropriations panels in both chambers approved differing
versions of the state budget - unanimously in the Senate, but along
party lines in the House. Each includes federal stimulus funds, as well
as millions in new or increased user fees. The Senate budget also
builds in new revenue sources including higher tobacco taxes, and the
state's share of expanded Seminole Indian and other gambling.
Reductions in the House's
$65-billion budget include: Children's Medical Services by 1.6%,
Guardian ad Litem by $7.6 million, or 23%, resulting in 5,700 children
being dropped, and $2.8 million for supervisory and executive positions
in the Department of Juvenile Justice. Department of Corrections
funding of prison beds will be increased while drug treatment in corrections
will be decreased. The House seeks to restore $14.2 million to adoption
subsidies and partially restore community-based foster care services
with $5.6 million.
The Senate's $65.6-billion
budget spreads out stimulus funding over two years instead of one, with
the result being harder immediately on health and human services than
the House plan. Reductions are found in Community Based Care ($9
million) and Juvenile Assessment Centers ($2 million). Additions are
made in Early Steps ($3 million) and Adoption Maintenance Subsidies
($17.1 million). Neither House nor Senate versions appear to cut
Healthy Start, Independent Living, or Pre-K (except for administrative
positions). Floor votes are expected in both chambers during the week
of April 13. Joint conference committees then will try to reconcile
differences before the 60-day legislative session ends May 1.
See the text of the House
and Senate appropriations and implementing bills:
Senate
SPB 7072
(appropriations act)
SPB 7074
(implementing bill)
S 2600
(appropriations act)
S 2602
(implementing bill)
: With only a few weeks
left in Session, now is the time to contact Senate President Jeff
Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul and urge them to restore funding
to these critical programs that serve Florida's most vulnerable
children:
- Kinship Care - The Florida Kinship Center
will close its doors on June 30, 2009, if $400,000 in funding from
DCF's Special Projects is not reinstated. In 2008, the Florida
Kinship Center saved the state $20 million by keeping children in
homes with their families rather than in the more costly foster
care system.
- Community Based Care - The Senate proposes a
$9 million cut this year on top of $9.8 million not restored from
last year's cut, which results in a total reduction of $18.8
million for the foster care system. The House restores $5 million
of the $9.8 cut last year, but does not provide any additional
funding for 2009-2010.
- Guardian ad
Litem - Proposed cuts of 23% would result in a potential loss of
more than one-third of the staff needed to recruit, screen, train,
coach and mentor the volunteer child advocates who represent the
best interests of abused, abandoned and neglected children caught
in the state's dependency system.
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Youth Show Support During Secretary Sheldon's Confirmation
Hearing
 Veteran administrator George Sheldon was confirmed Monday
to head the Department of Children and Families after a brief hearing
before the Senate Children, Family and Elder Affairs Committee.
Governor Crist appointed him to the position after DCF Secretary Bob
Butterworth stepped down last year. During the hearing, a youth group
from Florida Youth Shine planned to stand and waive in support of Sec.
Sheldon's confirmation. Committee Chair Sen. Ronda
Storms requested the group come up and speak to the committee.
Afterward, there was not a dry eye in the room. Sec. Sheldon has a
long history of government service including an eight-year stint as a
state representative beginning in 1974. More recently, Sheldon served
under Butterworth as deputy secretary. Sheldon also worked in the
Attorney General's office. Sheldon credited improvements made to the
department by his predecessor and the thousands of DCF employees across
the state.
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Former Justice O'Connor in Town on Tuesday
 Retired U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor addressed the Florida Legislature Tuesday
during a joint session. She talked about the importance of civics
education and teaching social studies in American schools. O'Connor,
who was the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court in
1981, retired in 2006. Since her retirement, she has focused on pushing
civics education, saying she became increasingly aware of the lack of
knowledge many people had about government, particularly the courts.
Together with Georgetown University and Arizona State University,
O'Connor has launched www.ourcourts.org, a site designed to promote
interactive civics curriculum to students and teachers.
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Bill Passes to Reduce Property Tax for First-Time
Homebuyers
CS/HJR 97 by
Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee, Rep. Carl Domino (R-Palm
Beach) and others passed the Finance and Tax Council on Tuesday. A proposed
constitutional amendment, the bill would give an additional homestead
exemption to first-time homebuyers of 50 percent of the just value up
to $250,000. The tax-savings amount would be reduced by 20% each year.
The fiscal note projects a revenue loss to local government of $200
million by 2013-14.
Property Tax Cap Bill Ready for House Floor
HJR 385 by Rep.
Rivera (R-Miami-Dade) passed its final committee last week and now goes
to the House floor. The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to
limit ad valorem taxes levied by all jurisdictions (schools, cities,
counties and districts) to 1.35 percent of the taxable value (the
equivalent of 13.5 mills). House staff projects a $6.3 billion
reduction in local government revenues in the first year of
implementation. The Senate companion joint resolution, however, SJR 738, has
passed out of only one Senate committee, and has three more committee
references before it can go to the Senate floor. SJR 738 has not been
scheduled to be heard in its next committee. Chances of these joint
resolutions passing this session do not appear likely.
TABOR Bill Postponed
Again, Likely Dead
SJR 1906 by Sen.
Mike Haridopolos (R-Brevard) that calls for local governments to seek
voter approval before raising taxes was postponed again on Monday. The
controversial bill, vocally opposed by local governments, would limit
revenue increases to inflation plus population growth unless voters
approve it or a supermajority of local officials take a vote. Local
government groups have voiced concerns saying such a plan would
paralyze their ability to properly fund the kinds of services their
citizens expect.
Tobacco Tax Moves in
Senate
SB 1840 by Sen.
Ted Deutch (D-Palm Beach) passed the Policy and Steering Committee on
Ways and Means Tuesday by a vote of 16-1. The expanded bill would raise
taxes by $1 a pack on cigarettes, as well as other tobacco products
including cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff. Sen. Rudy Garcia said that
he will introduce an amendment when the Senate's budget comes to the
floor next week to try to remove hand-rolled cigars from the proposed
tobacco tax increase. He said the increase on cigars would mean 10,000
cigar rollers would lose their jobs in Florida.
"Double
Dipping" Bill Clears Senate Panel
SB 1182 by Sen.
Mike Fasano (R-Pasco) which would prohibit a retired state employee
from getting retirement benefits and a salary at the same time was
approved unanimously Tuesday by the Senate Ethics and Elections
Committee. The bill is aimed at "double dipping," where
employees leave to take retirement benefits, and then get re-hired. The
bill, approved as a committee substitute, would require any person who
retires under the Florida Retirement System after 2010 to forgo
retirement benefits as long as they are re-employed by the state.
FEA Says Floridians
Support Tax for Schools
The Florida Education Association released polling it took that
suggests a majority of Floridians would support a penny sales tax to
fund education. The poll, conducted by Hamilton Campaigns March 11-17,
found that 72 percent of Floridians would strongly favor or somewhat
favor a tax increase to help fund schools. The poll surveyed 800
people. "These polling results confirm that Floridians want to
make our schools a priority," said FEA President Andy Ford in a
press release. "It is more important than ever that our state's
political leadership make the investment in Florida's future - its
children." The House and Senate have pending legislation that
would consider a penny tax increase. The Senate version would attach
the penny tax increase to an amendment tweaking the class size
provision in the Constitution. However, House members remain largely
anti-tax, so passage is unlikely.
~ Courtesy of Florida News Service
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Florida
KidCare Bill Passes Senate Committee
KidCare bill, SB 918 by Sen.
Nan Rich (D-Broward), was approved by the Senate Health Regulation
Committee Monday. SB 918 will remove barriers to KidCare and make it
easier for families to enroll uninsured eligible children, and help
eligible children currently enrolled not lose their coverage. Thousands
of children needlessly lose coverage every month in the complex KidCare
program. Passing this bill will better position Florida to qualify for
federal bonus dollars under the Child Health Insurance Reauthorization
Act recently passed by Congress. Future federal funding allocation
to the states under the federal-state partnership will be based on the
states implementing some key streamlining provisions that are included
in SB 918.
Booster Seat Bill Passes with Amendment
SB 1404 by Sen.
Thad Altman (R-Brevard) was passed unanimously by the Criminal Justice
Committee on Monday. The bill requires booster seats
for children aged 4 through 7. An amendment was added to exempt usage
of a booster seat for a child being transported in the bed of pick-up
truck or riding on a parade float.
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Bill to Expand Detention on House Floor
A bill that is less
favorable for youth in the juvenile justice system is scheduled for its
second reading on the House floor. HB 173 by Rep.
Sandy Adams (R-Seminole) authorizes a court to retain jurisdiction over
a child and the child's parent or guardian until the costs, fees, and
costs associated with court-appointed counsel are satisfied.
DJJ Blueprint Commission
Bill Awaits Hearing
SB 2128 by Sen.
Victor Crist (R-Hillsborough) was placed on the agenda of its last
committee this week. If it passes, it will go to the Senate floor. The
bill seeks reform recommendations made by the Blueprint Commission
regarding the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The House
companion, HB 1211 by Rep.
Luis Garcia (D-Miami-Dade) remains in Criminal and Civil Justice
Appropriations. The legislation aims to
begin reforms of Florida's juvenile justice system by diverting youth,
protecting victims of juvenile crime and addressing issues surrounding
over-representation of minority youth.
Zero Tolerance Revisions
Get Support in Senate Committee
SB 1540 by Sen. Stephen Wise (R-Duval) revises
zero-tolerance policies and prohibits reporting of petty acts of
misconduct and misdemeanors to law enforcement. The bill, passed
unanimously out of the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee, now moves
to Judiciary. Related bill, HB 997 by Rep.
Jennifer Carroll, is currently in the Public Safety and Domestic
Security Policy Committee.
Bill Seeks to Improve Services for Youth in Juvenile
Justice
SB 2094 by Sen.
Victor Crist (R-Hillsborough) was added to the Criminal and Civil
Justice Appropriations agenda. The bill would make changes to the
juvenile justice chapter, along with conforming changes to a few other
relevant statutes such as the "Children and Families in Need of
Services" (CINS/FINS) statute and the "Comprehensive Child
and Adolescent Mental Health Services Act" in an effort to enhance
services for youth in the juvenile justice system. The House companion
(HB 1475) is
waiting to be scheduled for the Full Appropriations Council on General
Government & Health Care.
Bill Raises License
Renewal Fee, Uses Funds for Prevention
SB 1724 by
Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations and Sen. Victor Crist
(R-Hillsborough) passed the Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and
Means Tuesday. The bill would raise the surcharge on license tax from
$1 to $1.50 when an owner renews his/her registration for a motor
vehicle, moped or motorized bicycle. The money generated would go to
the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within DJJ to be used for
prevention programs. The fee increase is estimated to generate an
additional $8.4 million in revenues annually. For Fiscal Year
2009-2010, the surcharge is estimated to generate approximately $6.3
million.
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INDEPENDENT LIVING / FOSTER CARE
Concurrent
Custody Continues Movement
A strike-all amendment
offered by Sen. Mike Fasano and containing all agreed-upon revised
language for SB 1888 (Storms)
passed unanimously out of Senate Judiciary Committee as a committee
bill on Monday. The main change is that relatives must obtain written
consent from one of the parents in order to pursue a petition for
concurrent custody. The bill now goes to Senate Criminal and Civil
Justice Appropriations Committee. The companion House bill, HB 1519 by Rep.
Rich Glorioso, is scheduled to be heard in its final committee.
TAKE ACTION: Contact Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
Committee Chair Sen. Victor Crist
and ask him to schedule the Committee Substitute for SB 1888 next week.
Please also contact members of the House Policy Council
and urge them to pass HB 1519 next week.
Bills Advance to Help Foster Youth Access Their
Records, Maintain Education
SB 126 by Sen.
Paula Dockery (R-Polk) passed the Judiciary Committee on Monday. The
bill would provide foster children with access to their own records. It
still has two committees of reference before it can go to the floor. SB 1128 by Children, Families, and Elder
Affairs; Education Pre-K - 12, was scheduled for the Policy
& Steering Committee on Ways and Means. This bill addresses
problems faced by foster youth in continuing/ maintaining their
education when their placement changes. It also provides other supports
for foster youth in schools.
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"Transparency Florida" Act
Requires Local Governments to Post Financial Data Online
SB 1796 by JD
Alexander (R-Polk) and HB 971 by Rep.
Dorothy Hukill (R-Volusia) would require local governments to submit to
the state extensive information on annual revenues, expenditures,
salaries, contracts and bonded indebtedness for inclusion on a public
access website. SB 1796 was passed unanimously by the Governmental
Oversight & Accountability Committee, which is its last committee
prior to reaching the Senate floor (an additional Senate committee of
reference was removed last week to accelerate the bill's movement to
the Senate floor). HB 971 has already passed out of one
committee. An additional House committee/council of reference was
also removed for HB 971, meaning that it has only one committee stop
before it reaches the House floor.
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TAKE
NOTE
The Children's Cabinet Wants Your Input
The Florida Cabinet for
Children and Youth has adopted recommendations to establish an outcomes
accountability process, linking child well-being indicators to budgeting,
action plans and performance measures. Baseline indicator data aligned
with four key Cabinet strategic plan goal areas already have been
established. Next, the Cabinet will select "headline"
indicators on which to focus efforts for the next 3 to 5 years. The
Policy Group for Florida's Families and Children is assisting the Cabinet
in this effort, and would like to hear from a broad range of people on
which indicators they believe would best demonstrate improvement
in the well-being of Florida's children. Anyone interested can
provide input through a short online survey.
All responses are anonymous and information will be collected in the
aggregate. The Policy Group asks that participants provide their
affiliation when completing the survey. The survey will be available
until April 17. The survey is also available directly through the Policy Group web site.
Report
Ranks Florida Pre-K Low on Money Spent, Quality
Florida's voluntary
prekindergarten program remains among the poorest nationally when rated
on money spent and quality, according to a national report card released
Wednesday. However, the state rates second for access in the annual
Preschool Yearbook issued by the National Institute for Early Education
Research. With respect to spending, Florida ranked 34th out of 38 states
that fund pre-k programs, spending about $2,500 per child last year. Only
Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina and Maine spent less. The state average
was more than $4,000. The "2008 State Preschool Yearbook" is
sixth in a series of annual reports profiling state-funded
prekindergarten programs in the United States. The latest Yearbook
presents data on state-funded prekindergarten during the 2007-2008 school
year. Download a copy of the report.
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Capitol
Connection is also available online at the FCSC web site.
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