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In This Issue...
1. SENATE AND HOUSE RELEASE PROPOSED BUDGETS, GUN BILLS TO BE HEARD THIS WEEK AND MORE
2. BILL SUMMARY UPDATE
3. FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: WEEKLY ROUNDUP
SENATE AND HOUSE RELEASE PROPOSED BUDGETS
The Florida House last week released a $91.3 billion proposed budget. Here is the House proposed budget. The House proposal comes in more than $1 billion less than the Senate proposed budget of $92.8 billion which was released hours before the House. The House typically submits a smaller budget. This week, both chambers' budget committees will begin work on the proposals, kicking off the 2020-21 budget writing process.
GUNS BILLS TO BE HEARD THIS WEEK
Although there is only one bill, HB 6001, that addresses guns on college and university campuses which is not moving, there are a few other bills of interest to the general public.
CLOSING THE 'GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE' (SB 7028)
This bill strengthens the safe-storage law to keep guns away from minors, and the red flag law that notifies authorities when someone may present a risk to themselves and others. Sen. Lee, the bill's sponsor, acknowledged the difficulties in trying to balance public safety with a constitutional right to firearms: “We’re trying to thread the needle here.” The NRA’s top lobbyist in Florida, however, called the bill the worst universal background check she had ever seen. “If political eyewash is your cup of tea, this bill has a whole pot of it," Marion Hammer said. "This bill is nothing less than gun control on steroids.” The bill is two committees away from the Senate floor, but there is no House companion.
ENSURING THE SAFETY OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS (HB 1437)
The bill allows people to carry concealed weapons at religious institutions that share a location with a school. With 13 shootings in churches and synagogues, argues the bill sponsor, no one should contest the proposal. “We are doing the absolutely right thing,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, in debate.
Opponents still want to keep guns away from places where there are children. Angie Gallo of the Florida PTA said, “The Florida PTA firmly believes the only people who should be armed on a school campus are trained school resource officers.” The bill has cleared the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on a 12-2 vote. It waits to be scheduled for an Education Committee hearing. There is no Senate companion.
PROHIBITED PLACES FOR WEAPONS, FIREARMS (HB 183)
The measure repeals the ban on local elected officials carrying concealed weapons to their public meetings. House members say they support the proposal because it contains an explicit recognition that gun free zones need to be eliminated. “When I’m in my office working at 8 o’clock at night, working by myself, I’m a sitting duck,” said Rep. Jamie Grant, R-Tampa. “Our county commissioners, our school board members, are sitting ducks at all times.”
But supporters of gun free zones argue that people who carry guns add more danger. “We have the research to prove it,” said Gallo about criticisms from Grant, Sabatini and other members of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee when they approved the bill with an 11-3 vote. “Every argument they make we can come up with a counter,” Gallo said.
The bill will be heard in the Local, Federal & Veterans Affair Committee on Monday, Feb. 3. It has one other committee to clear before it can go to the House floor. The Senate companion has yet to have a hearing.
THE VERBAL THREAT PROHIBITION (SB 728)
The proposal makes it a third-degree felony to threaten the use of a firearm to do bodily harm. The measure passed the Infrastructure and Security Committee on a unanimous vote. It has two more committee stops before it is introduced on the Senate floor. The House companion gets its first committee hearing on Monday, Feb. 3.
FLORIDA TAXWATCH ATTESTS TO THE VALUE OF THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Florida TaxWatch Op Ed (The Ledger) Another View: The Florida College System benefits communities - and taxpayers.
We welcome you to track our progress weekly in Capitol Perceptions. Feel free to share it with a college friend who is not an AFC member. The online AFC Advocacy Toolkit is filling up with valuable and informative resources for you including a link to each week’s most recent 2020 AFC/FCS Bill Tracking Matrix.
BILL SUMMARY/UPDATE
For a complete summary spreadsheet of all bills being tracked download each week’s: 2020 AFC/FCS Bill Tracking Matrix.
To review the Council of Presidents Legislative Budget Request CLICK HERE.
Priority Bills the AFC is tracking:
HB 3231: The Florida College Risk Management Consortium (Rep. Ponder/Sen. Hutson)
• APPROPRIATION Request: $18,668,823
• The Florida College System Risk Management Consortium;
• Provides an appropriation to offset extensive reserve payouts due to storms for deductibles.
HB 3231 Reported out of Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee 12/10/2019. Now in Appropriations Committee. 1st Reading on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
HB 171/SB 372: Postsecondary Education for Certain Military Personnel (Rep. Ponder/Sen. Lee).
• Postsecondary Education for Certain Military Personnel BOG and SBE, in consultation with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, to create a uniform process for the awarding of postsecondary credit to certain service members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces
HB 171 reported out of Education on 01/23/2020, placed on Calendar for 2nd reading.
SB 372 favorable out of Appropriations on 01/23/20, placed on Calendar for 2nd reading.
HB 725/SB 418: Workforce Education (Rep. Robinson/Sen. Diaz)
• Authorizes school district career centers to offer an AAS or ASN degree program in nursing, but only to graduates of a licensed practical nursing program offered at that same career center.
HB 725 passed out Education Committee, added to 2nd reading.
SB 418 passed 6-1 in Education Committee, now in Appropriations Education Subcommittee.
HB 953: Charter Schools (Rep. McClain )
• Authorizes state universities & Florida College System institutions to sponsor charter schools;
• Revises reporting & accountability requirements; provides for funding;
• Authorizes career & professional academy to be offered by charter school.
HB 953 passed out of PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee and the Appropriations Committee. It now heads to the Education Committee.
HB 187: Postsecondary Education for Secondary Students (Rep. Zika)
• Provides reporting requirements for postsecondary institutions;
• Revises provisions relating to dual enrollment programs;
• Renames collegiate high school programs as early college acceleration programs;
• Revises requirements for such programs, provides free instructional materials to certain DE students
HB 187 reported out of Appropriations. CS Filed. 2st reading 01/31/20.
SB 1246: Dual Enrollment (Sen. Stargel)
• Students eligible for dual enrollment programs include students who are enrolled in home education programs;
• Prohibiting district school boards and Florida College System institutions from denying students who have met eligibility requirements from participating in dual enrollment except under specified circumstances;
• Providing that certain independent colleges and universities are eligible for inclusion in the dual enrollment and early admission programs;
• Establishing the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program, etc.
SB 1246 favorable out of Education on 01/21/20. Now in Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
SB 132/HB 55: Sunshine Scholarship Program Establishing the Sunshine Scholarship Program (Sen. Braynon/Rep. Jones
• Requires the Department of Education to administer the program;
• Requires certain financial aid to be credited to a student’s tuition and fees before the award of a Sunshine Scholarship;
• Requires a student to repay the scholarship amount under certain circumstances, etc.
SB 132 favorable out of Education on 01/21/20. Now in Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
HB 55 favorable from Higher Education & Career Readiness Subcommittee on 01/22/20. Now in Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
SB 774: Public Records and Meetings/Applicant for President/State University or Florida College System Institution
(Sen. Diaz)
• Providing an exemption from public records requirements for any personal identifying information of an applicant for president of a state university or Florida College System institution;
• Providing an exemption from public meeting requirements for any meeting held for the purpose of identifying or vetting applicants for president of a state university or Florida College System institution and for any portion of a meeting held for the purpose of establishing qualifications of, or any compensation framework to be offered to, such potential applicants which would disclose personal identifying information of an applicant or potential applicant; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemptions; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
SB 774 passed through the Education Committee and now heads to Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee..
FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA….
WEEKLY ROUNDUP: ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS
TALLAHASSEE --- It’s everyone’s favorite time of year: budget time.
Well, maybe not everyone, but in Tallahassee this week all eyes were focused on proposals for the 2020-2021 state budget, which will drive most other big decisions during the rest of the legislative session.
Starting with the top-line numbers, the Senate and House are $1.46 billion apart in budget proposals released Thursday. The Senate is seeking $92.83 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1, while the House is proposing a $91.37 billion spending plan.
Both proposals differ from the $91.4 billion recommendation Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled in November, and legislators have until March 10 to carefully maneuver negotiations on the funding gaps if they hope to wrap up the 60-day session on time.
Teacher pay increases, an issue that is at the top of the governor’s priority list, will be among the issues that will need to be ironed out during the talks.
The House and Senate plans show an intent to inject money into salary increases for teachers and no commitment for teacher bonus programs. Still, the House and Senate are $150 million apart on reaching consensus about teacher pay.
Other gaps that will be conversation-starters in the Capitol revolve around the environment, economic development and health care.
As Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Chairman Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, put it: “There’s not enough money in health care to cover every need or want.”
HEALTH CARE SPENDING PLANS UNVEILED
House and Senate budget writers rolled out health-care spending plans that would set aside money in key areas such as nursing homes and drug importation but still have wide differences.
The Senate’s proposed $39.4 billion health spending plan tops the $38.7 billion plan in the House.
While Bean boasted that he was “proud” of the budget,” he said it still wasn’t enough to fully fund the six health care-related agencies that serve Florida’s poor, elderly, disabled and veteran populations. The current-year budget for the agencies is $37.6 billion.
Both chambers have proposed increased Medicaid spending on nursing-home care, as well as money to boost a fledgling drug-importation plan that lawmakers passed last year but is still awaiting federal implementation.
The Senate’s proposed budget would increase nursing home payment rates by $104.8 million, significantly higher than a House move to increase rates by $44.8 million.
Both chambers also have agreed to target money toward the state’s Canadian prescription-drug importation efforts, with the Senate seeking $15 million. That is less than the $20 million that DeSantis pushed in his budget proposal but more than the $10 million included in the House spending plan.
LAWMAKERS DITCH TEACHER BONUS PROGRAMS
Although negotiations remain nascent, one thing appeared certain this week: Lawmakers have no intention of funding teacher bonus programs in the 2020-2021 budget.
As House and Senate education budget writers scrambled to find money to increase teacher pay, they agreed to cut off the state’s current Best and Brightest teacher-bonus program.
The $284.5 million tied to the program, they said, will be put toward increasing salaries of public school teachers.
The House’s proposed $650 million plan for raising teacher pay tops the $500 million proposed by the Senate. Both plans include money for giving pay increases to veteran teachers.
DeSantis has asked the Legislature for $602 million to set a minimum salary for teachers at $47,500, which he says would boost pay for over 100,000 current teachers. He also wants $300 million for a new bonus program that would focus on teachers and principals who work at schools in low-income areas, but that program isn’t included in the legislative proposals.
VISIT FLORIDA AND FLORIDA FOREVER ON TABLE
While the House is ready to turn out the lights on the state’s tourism-marketing agency, the Senate wants to give Visit Florida a slight funding boost.
Meanwhile, affordable housing, an economic-development program and the Florida Forever land-conservation program are shaping up as early fronts in the negotiating battles that will take place in the coming weeks.
The Senate budget proposal would tack on $2.5 million to the $50 million requested by DeSantis for Visit Florida, with the additional money going to market the state’s universities and colleges.
House leaders want to do away with the tourism-marketing agency altogether.
The Senate also offered to maintain full funding of affordable housing through about $387 million in trust-fund money, while the House is seeking to spend $147 million on affordable housing programs, including $25 million for a hurricane housing recovery program.
The difference is likely to refuel a long-running debate about whether lawmakers should take affordable-housing trust fund money and use it for other parts of the state budget.
Another difference focuses on the Florida Forever program, where the Senate would spend more than the $100 million sought by DeSantis.
The Senate proposal would provide $125 million for Florida Forever during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which starts July 1. The House proposed spending $20 million on the program, which is getting $33 million this year.
Meanwhile, the Senate is proposing $639 million for water-related projects, of which $322 million would be for ongoing Everglades restoration efforts. The House would spend $646.8 million, with $318.3 million dedicated to the Everglades.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The House and Senate this week released competing spending plans, the first formal step in budget negotiations for the upcoming fiscal year.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We know that for a decade Republicans have had no problem with the office being where it is, as long as it was run by a Republican. But now that a Democrat sits in this office, the first woman ever elected to this office, it suddenly needs to be moved.” --- Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, referring to a House proposal that would move the Office of Energy from her department to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.
Capitol Perceptions is compiled weekly during the Florida Legislative Session and distributed to AFC members.
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