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2005 Legislative Report (3)
April 1, 2005

The 2005 Florida Legislature will be in regular session from March 8 – May 6, 2005.  Appearing below is a summary of the major bills the Conference is following.  The report is organized under the key themes of Catholic Social Teaching.  Subsequent Legislative Reports will contain new bills filed and legislative action on these proposals.  The Conference is tracking several other bills, which may be accessed from the 2005 Legislative Page.

For additional information and the complete bill text of any bill listed on this report, please visit the websites of The Florida Senate or The Florida House of Representatives

Life and Death        Social Concerns        Education        Health        Miscellaneous

CLICK ON THE LINKS ABOVE TO ACCESS YOUR AREA(S) OF INTEREST


 Life and Death

WOMAN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT – SB 1862 (Dockery) & HB 1041 (Bean):  Relating to health care; revising requirements for rules of the Agency for Healthcare Administration relating to abortion clinics performing abortions after first trimester of pregnancy. [SB 1862 has been referred to Health Care; Judiciary; Health and Human Services Appropriations.  HB 1041 has been found favorable by the Health and Families Council and Health Care Regulation.  It is now on the House calendar.]

PARENTAL NOTICE OF ABORTION – SB 1908 (Dockery) & HB 1659 (Kottkamp): Enacting legislation pursuant to the passage of the constitutional amendment, which requires notification of a minor’s parent by a physician of her intention to obtain an abortion. [SB 1908 was found favorable by Health Care with amendments, and is referred to Judiciary. HB 1659 has been referred to Civil Justice and Justice Council]

RIGHT OF ACTION FOR LOSS OF PREGNANCY DUE TO NEGLIGENCE– CS/HB 839 (Llorente) & SB 1974 (Posey):  Creates s. 768.38, F.S. to create cause of action when pregnancy is wrongfully ended by negligence regardless of physical impact; provides that each parent may recover damages; provides for types of damages that may be recovered and exceptions. [CS/HB 839 was found favorable with committee substitute by Civil Justice and is now in Judiciary.  SB 1974 was referred to Judiciary, Banking and Insurance.]

UNBORN QUICK CHILD – SB 1526 (Baker) & HB 233 (Planas): Includes death of said child under DUI manslaughter; makes killing of said child rather than killing of viable fetus "vehicular homicide"; provides that killing said child by injury to mother that would be murder in any degree if it resulted in death of mother is murder in same degree; provides that death of mother does not bar prosecution under specified circumstances, etc. Amends FS. [HB 233 was found favorable by Criminal Justice and is referred to Judiciary and Justice Appropriations. HB 233 was found favorable by Justice Appropriations and Criminal Justice and is referred to the Justice Council.]

WITHHOLDING NUTRITION OR HYDRATION – CS/HB 701 (Baxley) & CS/SB 804 (Webster):  HB 701, The "Starvation & Dehydration of Persons with Disabilities Prevention Act" declares that an incompetent person in persistent vegetative state is presumed to have directed health care providers to provide necessary nutrition & hydration to sustain life and prohibits court, proxy, or surrogate from withholding or withdrawing nutrition or hydration except when persons clearly indicate a clear preference not to receive them in such situation, when nutrition and hydration are useless or cause suffering. This legislation was viewed by the FCC as an improvement over current law relative to persons in persistent vegetative state and would likely have impacted the Terri Schiavo case.  [CS HB 701 was passed by the House and received by the Senate and referred to Judiciary. CS SB 804 failed in the Senate by a 21-18 floor vote.] 

SOCIAL CONCERNS

ADOPTION - HB 1299 (Mahon) & SB 2154 (Campbell):  General Adoption; revises legislative intent to allow legal custodians to participate in certain private adoption plans; revises conditions under which adoption entity is guardian of minor; authorizes court to retain jurisdiction of minor until adoption is finalized within or outside of state; provides conditions under which unmarried biological father shall lose parental rights; revises requirements for withdrawing consent for adoption, etc. Amends Ch. 63. [HB 1299 has been found favorable by Future of Florida's Families and has been referred to Civil Justice and Health & Families Council.  SB 2154 has been referred to Children and Families and Judiciary.]

INMATES/PARENTS OF MINOR CHILDREN – SB 1128 (Wilson):  Provides legislative findings & intent re importance of inmate maintaining relationship with his or her minor child; requires DOC to consider inmate's proximity to his or her minor child when transferring inmate; requires that female inmate be assigned to facility in as close proximity as possible to her minor child, etc. Amends 944.17,.24,.8031. [SB 1128 has been referred to Criminal Justice; Children and Families.]

ELECTIONS/FORMER FELONS' VOTE – SB 132 (Dawson) & HB 269 (Bendross-Mindingall): Cites act as "Citizens' Empowerment Act"; provides for automatic restoration of former felons' right to vote following completion & satisfaction of sentence of incarceration & community supervision; provides conditions for such automatic restoration; amends provisions to conform. Amends 97.041,.052,.053, 98.0977. [SB 132 was referred to Ethics and Elections; Criminal Justice; Judiciary.  HB 269 was referred to Ethics & Elections; Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations; State Administration Council.]

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES – SB 428 (Rich): Developmental Disabilities; requires AHCA to develop model waiver program to serve children with specified disorders; requires agency to seek federal waiver approval & implement approved waiver subject to availability of funds & certain limitations; authorizes rules. Amends 409.912.  [SB 428 was found favorable by Health Care and Children and Families, and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.

HIV/AIDS PREVENTION – SB 230 (Wilson): Increases number of HIV & AIDS minority coordinators within Health Dept.; requires dept. to expand its HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in state's minority communities & establish linkage programs for HIV-positive inmates prior to their release from jail; deletes obsolete provisions. Amends 381.0046.  [SB 230 was found favorable by Health Care and Criminal Justice, and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.]

PREGNANT WOMEN/HIV TESTING – SB 186 (Lynn): Requires all pregnant women to be tested for HIV infection; provides that each woman be informed of HIV test results; requires that information be provided to woman about medical & support services if test results are positive; provides exemption from testing requirements if pregnant woman objects. Amends 384.31. [SB 186 was found favorable in Health Care and Judiciary, and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.]

FAMILY COURT EFFICIENCY – HB 145 (Planas) & SB 348 (Lynn): Authorizes Supreme Court to create system to identify cases re individuals & families within court system; provides for limited admissibility of evidence in subsequent civil proceedings; provides for court to determine matters re child support in any proceeding under specified provisions; revises timeframe for completing parenting course, etc. Creates 25.37; [HB 145 was found favorable by Judiciary, Future of Florida’s Families, and is now in Justice Appropriations & SB 348 was found favorable by Children and Families and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.]

FEMA REORGANIZATION – SB 1544 (Rich) & HB 191 (Greenstein): Urges Congress of the United States to initiate review & reorganization of FEMA polices & administrative processes for purpose of avoiding delays in cleanup & reimbursement in aftermath of declared disasters. [SB 1544 has been referred to Rules and Calendar & HB 191 is referred to Domestic Security; Governmental Operations; Rules & Calendar Council; State Administration Council.]

FARM LABOR VEHICLES – HB 1059 (Gannon) & SB 1874 (Alexander, Hill):  Revises terms "migrant farm worker" & "migrant farm worker carrier"; requires certain seatbelts at each passenger position in vehicle; requires certain operators to have departmental authorization to operate vehicle; requires HSMV to create vehicle authorization sticker denoting authorization of vehicle for use in transportation of farm workers; requires display of sticker, etc. Amends 316.003,.620, 320.38, 322.031, 450.181,.33.  [HB 1059 has been found favorable with amendments by Agriculture and has been referred to Transportation, and State Resources Council.  SB 1874 has been referred to Transportation, Commerce and Consumer Services and General Government Appropriations.]

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY – SB 1278 (Hill):  Recognizes March 31, annually, as Cesar Chavez Day.  [SB 1278 has been adopted by the Senate.]

TUITION/RESIDENT STATUS – SB 226 (Wilson) & HB 119 (Zapata): Provides exemption from payment of nonresident tuition at community colleges & state universities for certain students meeting eligibility criteria; amends provision re general requirements for eligibility for state financial aid to specify procedures for determining resident status for purposes of receiving such awards. Amends 1009.21,.40. [SB 226 was reported favorably by Education; and is now in Education Appropriations.  HB 119 has been found favorable by Colleges & Universities and is now in Education Appropriations.]

IMMIGRANT CHILDREN/RESIDENCY STATUS – SB 498 (Margolis) & HB 809 (Roberson): Directs CFS Dept. or community-based care provider to determine whether dependent child is citizen of U.S. & to report information to court; provides that services to children alleged to have been abused, neglected, or abandoned be provided without regard to citizenship of child except where alienage or immigration status is explicitly set as statutory condition of coverage or eligibility, etc. Creates 39.5075.  [SB 498 was found favorable by Children and Families and Judiciary and is now is Human Health and Services Appropriations & HB 809 was found favorable by Future of Florida's Families and is now in Judiciary.]

2020 WATER STUDY COMMISSION – SB 98 (Saunders): Provides for appointment & qualification of members; provides duties of commission; provides for public hearings; provides for executive director & for technical advisory committees; requires reports; provides duties of DEP.  Appropriation: $250,000. [SB 98 is on the Environmental Preservation Committee agenda with references to Governmental Oversight and Productivity; General Government Appropriations.]

ALFREDO BAHENA ACT – SB 472 (Alexander): Repeals provision re advisory committee for Legislative Commission on Migrant Labor. Repeals 450.211. [SB 472 was found favorable by Commerce and Consumer Services and is now on the second reading.]

FLORIDA-FAITH BASED INITIATIVE – HB 455 (Peterman): Establishes Fla. Faith-Based Initiative; creates Fla. Families Faith-Based Institute & provides for administration by University of South Florida; provides definition & duties; prohibits imposition of fees for certain purposes; requires report; provides for open records & meetings. [HB 455 was referred to Future of Florida's Families; Colleges & Universities; Education Appropriations; Health & Families Council.]

FAITH-BASED COUNSELING REGULATION – SB 892 (Wise): Requires registration of faith-based counselors; specifies nonapplication of certain licensing provisions to certain counselors under certain circumstances; provides registration procedures & requirements; provides for renewal of registrations or certificates; provides continuing education requirements; authorizes Health Dept. to adopt rules; provides for confidentiality of certain information, etc. [SB 892 was referred to Health Care; Judiciary; Health and Human Services Appropriations.]

EDUCATION

MCKAY SCHOLARSHIPS/DISABILITIES – SB 584 (Jones) & HB 93 (Bilirakis): Excludes hospitalized or homebound students from participating in John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; excludes certain students in Juvenile Justice Dept. commitment programs from participation; provides requirements for transfer of amount of McKay Scholarship for students who exit dept. commitment program & choose to participate in scholarship program. Amends 1002.39.  [SB 584 was referred to Education; Education Appropriations; Rules and Calendar.  HB 93 was found favorable by Choice & Innovation, Education Appropriations, Education Council and has been placed on House calendar.]

MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS  – SB 2 (King, Jr):  Amends provision re John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; extends term of scholarship; requires that private school maintain physical location in this state; prohibits participating private schools from sending or directing scholarship funds to parents of scholarship student who receives instruction at home; requires DOE to determine eligibility of private school to participate in program, etc. Amends 1002.39, 220.187.  [SB 2 was referred to Education; Government Efficiency Appropriations; Education Appropriations and found favorable by Education and now on agenda for Government Efficiency Appropriations.]

CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – SB 766 (King, Jr.): Prohibits certain private schools & other entities from participating in Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program; prohibits certain students from participating in said program; revises limitations on allocation of annual credits granted under program; provides limitations on eligible contributions; requires nonprofit scholarship-funding organization to make scholarship payments at least on quarterly basis, etc. Amends FS.  [SB 766 was referred to Education; Criminal Justice; Government Efficiency Appropriations; Education Appropriations; Rules and Calendar and was discussed by the Office of EDR’s Revenue Impact Conference on 3/18/05.] 

EDUCATIONAL CHOICE – HB 1021 (Traviesa):  Establishes Reading Compact Scholarship Program to provide students with reading deficiencies option to attend public or private school of choice; provides eligibility requirements for receipt of Reading Compact Scholarship to attend private school & restricts eligibility therefore; creates provision re rights & obligations of private schools participating in state school choice scholarship programs, etc. Creates 1002.385,.421; amends 1002.20.  [HB 1021 has been referred Choice and Innovation, Education Appropriations, Education Council and was found favorable by Education Appropriations.]

K-12 GI BILL PROGRAM/EDUCATION CHOICE – HB 439 (Attkisson): Establishes said program to provide educational options for dependents of Fla. veteran, active duty member of any branch of U.S. Armed Forces, active or retired member of Fla. National Guard, or active member of Armed Forces Reserves; provides that student may receive K-12 GI Bill to attend public school in adjacent school district or to attend private school; provides K-12 GI Bill eligibility requirements, etc. Creates 1002.395; amends 1002.20.  [HB 439 was referred to Choice & Innovation, Education Appropriations, Education Council and was found favorable by Choice and Innovation.]

K-12 GI BILL PROGRAM/EDUCATION CHOICE – SB 876 (Baker):  Establishes said program to provide educational options for dependents of active-duty member of any branch of U.S. Armed Forces, active member of Fla. National Guard, or active member of Armed Forces Reserves; provides that student may receive K-12 GI Bill to attend public school in adjacent school district or to attend private school; provides K-12 GI Bill eligibility requirements, etc. Creates 1002.395; amends 1002.20.   [SB 876 has been referred to Education; Community Affairs; Judiciary; Education Appropriations.]

VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM – SB 1230 (Carlton):  Expresses legislative intent to revise laws re Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.  [SB 1230 has been referred to Education Appropriations; Ways and Means.]

SCHOOL-ENTRY HEALTH AND VISION EXAMS – HB 199 (Richardson):  Requires children who enter public or private schools in state to present evidence of having received comprehensive vision examination; provides exemption; conforms provisions. Amends 1003.22, 1002.20,.42.  [HB 199 referred to Health Care General; PreK-12; Education Appropriations; Health & Families Council.]

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES/INDOOR AIR – SB 640 & HB 469 (Sands):  Educational Facilities/Indoor Air; requires each district school board to adopt & implement indoor air quality program; requires annual reports to DOE; requires uniform air quality inspections & evaluations; provides requirements for educational facility sites & project plans; provides requirements for heating, ventilating, & air-conditioning systems; requires indoor environmental quality training programs for staff, etc. Creates 1013.135.  [SB 640 has been referred to Education; Environmental Preservation; Education Appropriations HB 469 has been temporarily postponed by PreK-12.]

FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL – HB 533 (Troutman):  Provides for application of provisions re Florida Virtual School to approved school district franchises of school. Amends 11.45, 1000.04, 1001.42, 1002.20,.23,.37, 1003.02,.03,.52, 1007.27, 1011.61.  [HB 533 was referred to Choice & Innovation, Education Appropriations, Education Council and was found favorable by Choice and Innovation.]

ZANIYAH HINSON ACT – SB 352 (Lynn): Provides for child care program affiliated with religious congregation or parochial school to be exempt from regulation by CFS Dept. as religious-exempt child care program; requires said programs to display certificate of compliance issued by an accrediting agency recognized by dept.; provides requirements for said agency; requires said agencies to conduct initial onsite review, etc. Amends 402.316.  [SB 352 was found favorable with 1 Amendment by Children and Families found favorable in Commerce and Consumer Services and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.] 

CHILD SAFETY – SB 246 (Hill):  Requires school boards to promulgate policies re release of children; provides definition; requires copies of policies to be provided to DOE; requires nonpublic schools, private schools, & certain child care facilities to promulgate policies re release of children; requires making such policies available on premises of schools or child care facilities; provides definition.  [SB 246 was found favorable by Children and Families and Education, passed by the Senate and is now in the House in Messages.]

SCHOOL BUSES/SAFETY BELTS – SB 734 (Dockery): Provides that it is optional rather than mandatory for school districts to purchase & use school buses that are equipped with safety belts or other federally approved restraint systems; deletes provision re elementary schools receiving first priority in allocation of school buses equipped with restraint systems; provides for retroactivity. Amends 316.6145.  [SB 734 was referred to Transportation; Education; Rules and Calendar and has been temporarily postponed by Transportation.]

SCHOOL BUSES/SAFETY BELTS – HB 343 (Ross):  Revises provisions for safety belts or other restraint system on certain school buses; revises application of such provisions; removes implementation & allocation requirements. Amends 316.6145.  [HB 343 was referred to Transportation, PreK-12, Education Appropriations, State Infrastructure Council and was found favorable by Transportation.] 

PRIVATE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS – HB 535 (Arza):  Provides requirements for private school bus drivers, including specified qualifications, drug & alcohol testing, background screening, & certain registration or licensure. Amends 1002.42.  [HB was referred to Transportation, Education Appropriations, State Infrastructure Council and was found favorable by Transportation.]

TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED – SB 1168 (Alexander):  Revises membership of Transportation Disadvantaged Commission within DOT; revises number of members of commission needed to constitute quorum; requires that candidates for appointment to commission meet certain requirements for background screening; requires that dept. report to commission any candidate who fails to meet screening standards; requires that costs of screening be borne by dept. or candidate for appointment. Amends 427.012.   [SB 1168 has been referred to Transportation; Criminal Justice.]

SCHOOL STUDENTS/PSYCHOTROPIC MED – SB 1766 (Crist) & HB 209 (Barreiro): Defines term "psychotropic medication"; prohibits recipients of state funds used for educational purposes from requiring student to be prescribed or administered psychotropic medication as condition of receipt of educational services; provides requirements for administration; provides restriction re diagnosis of treatment of mental disorders. Creates 1006.0625.  [SB 1766 has been referred to Education and Health Care and HB 209 was found favorable by PreK-12, Health Care Regulation and is now in Education Council.]

SECONDARY SCHOOL/INVOCATION AT EVENT – SB 1420 (Wise) & HB 355 (Holloway): Authorizes individual district school boards by resolution to allow invocation or benediction at specified secondary school-related events; provides legislative intent; provides severability.  [SB 1420 has been referred to Education; Judiciary and HB 355 was referred to Choice & Innovation; Education Council.]

STUDENT ATHLETES/DRUG TESTING – HB 257 (Llorente):  Requires Fla. High School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws re steroid use & adherence to coaches code of ethics; requires development of such code; requires said association to make recommendations for pilot drug testing program to test for performance-enhancing drugs. Amends 1006.20.  [HB 257 was found favorable by PreK-12, Judiciary and is now in Education Appropriations.]

EDUCATOR/HATE CRIME TRAINING PROGRAM – SB 92 (Margolis) & HB 389 (Gibson): Provides legislative findings to enunciate that effective educator in this state is able to demonstrate awareness of actions that may constitute hate crime by completing hate crimes training program offered by Legal Affairs Department. Amends 1012.52.  [SB 92 was referred to Education; Education Appropriations and HB 389 was referred to PreK-12; Criminal Justice; Education Appropriations; Education Council and has now been temporarily postponed.]

K-12 INSTRUCTION/PHYSICAL EDUCATION – SB 126 (Margolis):  Requires physical education on full-year basis for students in grades 1 through 8; requires development of physical education program; increases physical education credit requirements & decreases elective credit requirements for high school graduation; requires State Board of Education to adopt rules for satisfaction of certain credit requirements, etc. Amends 1003.42,.43.  [SB 126 was found favorable in Education and is now in Education Appropriations.]

ACCELERATED HS GRADUATION/OPTIONS – SB 104 (Constantine): Revises requirements applicable to selecting such accelerated option; revises required courses for 3-year standard college preparatory program; deletes provisions authorizing student to select 3-year standard career preparatory program; revises requirements for grades that must be earned to participate in accelerated program; provides for default to standard graduation requirements in certain circumstances. Amends 1003.429. [SB 104 was referred to Education; Education Appropriations.]

BOOKS/CLOTHING/SCHOOL SUPPLIES/TAX – HB 101 (Sansom): Specifies period each year during which sale of books, clothing, & school supplies are exempt from tax on sales, use, & other transactions; provides definitions; provides exceptions; authorizes DOR to adopt rules. APPROPRIATION: $206,000.  [HB 101 was found favorable by Finance & Tax, Fiscal Council and was placed on Special Order Calendar where it was read a second time, amendment(s) withdrawn and ordered engrossed.]

CHILDREN’S SUMMER NUTRITION / MS. WILLIE ANN GLENN ACT – HB 227 (Greenstein) & SB 752 (Wise): Requires each district school board to develop plan to sponsor summer nutrition program; provides criteria for operating program sites; authorizes exemption from sponsoring said program & provides procedures therefore; authorizes school boards to encourage not-for-profit entities to sponsor said program under certain circumstances; authorizes superintendent of schools to collaborate with specified agencies to implement said program, etc. [SB 752 has been found favorable by Education, Children and Families and is now in Education Appropriations and HB 227 has been found favorable by PreK-12 and is now in Future of Florida’s Families.] 

HEALTH

MEDICAID REFORM – House committees passed four components of a Medicaid Reform package, with an amendment that would establish pilot programs in southeast and northeast Florida.  In the House plan, the long-term care portion of the program would not be moved into managed care. The Senate Medicaid reform committee discussed elements of a reform package, and is generally moving more slowly than the House at this time.

Florida KidCare Program – CS/SB 1324 (Rich) & CS/HB 569 (Garcia): Provides for year-round enrollment in Florida’s KidCare programs, moving away from more limited, periodic enrollment periods.  Enrollment in the programs has dropped by approximately 100,000 children since the current process was established.  [SB 1324 was found favorable with a committee substitute in Health Care and is now in Health and Human Services Appropriations.  HB 569 was found favorable with a committee substitute in Health Care General and is now in Future of Florida's Families.]

HEALTH CARE ADVANCE DIRECTIVES – HB 1345 (Homan) & SB 2308 (Crist):  Creates a new category of conditions for which an incompetent person’s nutrition and hydration, as well as other life-prolonging procedures can be discontinued with or without an advance directive.  It also contains other provisions.  On the positive side, it provides that certain pregnant patients may not have life-sustaining treatment withdrawn or withheld, etc. Amends FS Ch. 765.  [HB 1345 has been referred to Health Care Regulation; Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations; and Health & Families Council.  SB 2308 has been referred to Health Care; Judiciary; Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations.]

Medicaid Eligibility/Asset Transfers – HB 543 (Brown) & SB 1522 (Baker): Tightens asset transfer limitations for determination of eligibility for nursing facility services under Medicaid program; authorizes DCFS to adopt rules. [HB 543 was passed by Elder & Long-Term Care; now referred to Health Care Appropriations; and Health & Families Council. SB 1522 has been referred to Health and Human Services Appropriations; and Ways and Means]

HEALTH CARE ACT/ACCESS/POVERTY LEVEL – HB 151 (Sorensen) & SB 1032 (Bennett): Revises definition of low-income person to expand poverty level family income criterion to 200% from 150%. [HB 151 has been adopted by the House and is in messages to the Senate. SB 1032 has been referred to Health Care; Health and Human Services Appropriations]

CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT – HB 1233 (Hasner), HB 1235 (Hasner), SB 2378 (Fasano) & CS/SB 1872 (Saunders):  The "Florida Cancer Research & Treatment Act" provides for deposit of portion of said funds into Cancer Research & Treatment Trust Fund for certain uses by Florida Cancer Council, etc.  [HB 1233 and HB 1235 have been referred to Health Care General (HFC); Economic Development, Trade & Banking; Health Care Appropriations; Health & Families Council.  SB 2378 was combined with SB 1872 to create CS/SB 1872 and was found favorable by Health Care and referred to Ways and Means.]

HOSPITALS/HURRICANE DAMAGE – SB 662 (Clary) & HB 1125 (Bogdanoff): Creates commission to study effect of 2004 hurricane season on certain hospitals & identify hospitals unable to comply with Fla. Building Code or located in flood-prone areas.  It provides for membership, reimbursement, & duties of study commission to be staffed by Community Affairs Dept.  The commission will issue a report & recommendations to Governor & Legislature.  [SB 662 was found favorable by Health Care; and is now in Community Affairs.  HB 1125 has been referred to Health Care Regulation; Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations; Health & Families Council.]

Indigent Care Surtax – SB 470 (Argenziano) & HB 55 (Kendrick): Authorizes small counties having specified population to levy an indigent health care surtax subject to referendum approval. [SB 470 was adopted by the Senate and HB 55 was found favorable by Health Care General and Finance & Tax, and is in Local Government Council.]

FAMILY PLANNING – SB 2276 (Geller):  Requires school districts to provide comprehensive family life and reproductive education that includes contraception.  It also requires the provision of emergency contraceptives – which may prevent development of an already-conceived human being – to rape survivors.  The Church supports use of these drugs to prevent conception, but is concerned about use in cases when developing human life – an innocent party to the violence perpetrated – is at risk.  [SB 2276 is referred to Health Care; Education; Education Appropriations; Ways and Means.]

HEALTH BUDGET INTERESTS - The FCC is concerned over changes that negatively impact access to care for over 100,000 persons served by the Medically Needy and Meds Adult Disabled programs.  Also of concern are under funded price level increases for hospitals ($146 M), and nursing homes ($199 M), as well as a hospice rate reduction ($16.5 M).

MISCELLANEOUS

FREEDOM TO WORSHIP SAFELY ACT – CS/HB 319 (Ryan) & SB 1096 (Smith): Provides for upgrading of degree of offense that involves use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual if offense is committed at location where religious institution is conducting or carrying on religious services or activities; provides for gain-time eligibility & severity ranking of offenses; provides for application of severity ranking chart of Criminal Punishment Code; provides applicability. Creates 775.0861; amends 921.0022. [HB 319 was found favorable with a committee substitute by Criminal Justice, Justice Appropriations and Justice Council; placed on House Calendar.  SB 1096 was found favorable with one amendment by Criminal Justice; referred to Judiciary; Justice Appropriations.]

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