The Florida Catholic Conference is the nonpartisan public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Florida.
 

2010 Legislative Report
 Florida Legislative Session
 March 2 – April 30, 2010

 January 26, 2010

This report identifies priority bills closely followed by the Florida Catholic Conference and is updated daily with activity taken by the legislature. In addition to the priority bills listed here, the Conference monitors other bills of concern. Further information on the Conference's public policy advocacy can be found at www.flacathconf.org. For complete text of any bill listed on this report, please visit the websites of The Florida Senate or The Florida House of Representatives. For definitions of legislative jargon, charts of how an idea becomes a law and other helpful information, click here. 

 

LIFE AND DEATH        SOCIAL CONCERNS        HEALTH        EDUCATION        OTHER
CLICK ON THE TOPICS ABOVE TO ACCESS YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST

Recent and scheduled activity - red
Passage in senate or house chamber - green
Failure in senate or house chamber - blue
Action taken by governor - purple

LIFE AND DEATH

Issue

Bill(s) and 
Sponsor(s)

Summary/Comments

Position

Bill Status
ABORTION
Public Records SB 1198 Judiciary Amends specified provision relating to a public records exemption for information contained in court files which identifies a minor petitioning for a waiver of the notice requirements contained in the Parental Notice of Abortion Act. Saves the exemption from repeal. Monitor On Committee agenda - Judiciary, 02/03/10, 10:00 am; also referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules
UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act

 SB 290
Fasano

HB 141
Poppell		 Defines the term "unborn child" for purposes of vehicular homicide. Revises terminology to refer to "unborn child" rather than "viable fetus." Provides that certain offenses relating to the killing of an unborn child by injury to the mother do not require specified knowledge or intent. Support SB 290 - Referred to Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
HB 141 - Now in Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy Committee; also referred to Policy Council; Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council
 


SOCIAL CONCERNS

Issue

Bill(s)
Sponsor(s)

Summary/Comments

Position

Bill Status
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
State Housing Trust Fund SB 262, SB 264
Bennett

HB 665 Aubuchon

Provides housing finance authority with additional purpose for which it may exercise its power to borrow; removes limitation on amount of proceeds from excise taxes on documents to be deposited in State Housing Trust Fund each fiscal year; provides additional policy guidelines under state housing strategy for development of programs for housing production or rehabilitation; includes needs of persons with special needs in strategy's periodic review and report; removes provision requiring Florida Housing Finance Corporation to transfer certain funds to General Revenue Fund; prohibits funds from State Housing Trust Fund or Local Government Housing Trust Fund that are appropriated for specified programs from being used for certain purposes.

 Support

SB 262, SB 264 - Referred to Community Affairs; Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations; Rules
HB 665 - Now in Military & Local Affairs Policy Committee; also referred to Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development; Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council
JUVENILE JUSTICE
Parole for Adolescent Offenders SB 184
Joyner

HB 23
Weinstein

Provides that an adolescent offender who was 15 years of age or younger when the offense was committed and who is sentenced to life or more than 10 years in prison is eligible for parole if the offender has been incarcerated for a minimum period and has not previously been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of or had adjudication withheld for certain offenses. Provides for retroactive application.

 Support

SB 184 - Referred to Criminal Justice; Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
HB 23 - Temporarily postponed by Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy Committee; also referred to Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations Committee; Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council
Juvenile Justice SB 1072
Wise		 Includes children 9 years of age or younger at the time of referral for a delinquent act within the definition of those children who are eligible to receive comprehensive mental health services. Encourages law enforcement agencies, school districts, counties, municipalities, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to establish prearrest and postarrest diversion programs. Creates the Disproportionate Minority Contact Task Force within the Department of Juvenile Justice. Monitor

Referred to Criminal Justice; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Massage Therapist Licensing SB 966
Joyner

HB 633
Burgin		 Revises the requirements for the license and the identification card that are issued to massage therapists. Requires criminal background checks for persons, firms, or corporations applying for a massage establishment license. Requires any person, firm, or corporation that operates a cosmetology salon or specialty salon that offers massage services to obtain a massage establishment license. Monitor

SB 966 - Referred to Health Regulation; Criminal Justice; Regulated Industries; Health and Human Services Appropriations
HB 633 - Now in Insurance, Business & Financial Affairs Policy Committee; also referred to Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development; General Government Policy Council
Sexual Exploitation of Children HB 535
Fresen		 Designates "Florida Safe Harbor Act"; provides for presumption that placement of child alleged to have been sexually exploited in short-term safe house is necessary; provides requirements for safe houses receiving such children; provides requirements relating to appropriations for safe houses; provides presumption against filing delinquency petition for certain prostitution-related offenses in certain circumstances. Support

Now in Health Care Services Policy Committee; also referred to Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy Committee; Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development; Health & Family Services Policy Council
IMMIGRATION
Verification of Citizenship or Legal Presence SB 856
Baker

HB 421
Adkins		 Requires Lottery Department to verify citizenship or legal presence of certain prize winners; prohibits local ordinances relating to undocumented; requires public employer verification of work status of new hires; requires driver's license applicants to show proof of citizenship or lawful presence; requires verification of lawful presence of certain public benefit applicants; prohibits certain acts by persons providing immigration assistance services; prohibits transporting or harboring undocumented; prohibits attending public educational programs or institutions unless citizen or lawfully present; requires student seeking state financial aid to show citizenship or lawful presence. Monitor

SB 856 - Referred to Regulated Industries; Community Affairs; Criminal Justice; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Education Pre-K - 12; Agriculture; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
HB 421 - Now in Governmental Affairs Policy Committee; also referred to Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development; Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council
ENVIRONMENT

Water Protection and Sustainability Trust Fund

 SB 604
Dean		 Authorizes water management districts to use certain moneys in the fund for water resource development projects. Support Referred to Environmental Preservation and Conservation; General Government Appropriations

Consumptive Use of Water for
Commercial Profit

SB 770
Lynn		 Prohibits until July 1, 2020, the governing board of a water management district or the Department of Environmental Protection from approving an application for a required permit if the applicant intends to resell the water for a commercial profit. Support Referred to Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Commerce; General Government Appropriations
Limestone Mining SB 1338
Dean

HB 617
Bembry		 Eliminates criteria for determining the ratio of mitigation-to-wetlands loss relating to limestone and sand mining. Provides that financial responsibility for mitigation for wetlands and other surface waters required by a permit for activities associated with the extraction of limestone is subject to approval by the Department of Environmental Protection as part of permit application review. Monitor SB 1338 - Filed
HB 617 - Now in Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee; also referred to Natural Resources Appropriations Committee; General Government Policy Council
OTHER
Unemployment Compensation HB 741
Rader		 Defines terms "alternative base period," "good cause," and "member of the individual's immediate family"; redefines term "base period"; revises requirements for eligibility to receive benefits. Monitor

Filed
Emergency Management SB 412
Bullard (L)		 Requires the Department of Children and Family Services, to the extent permitted by federal law, to expedite application procedures for persons who reside in an area damaged by a major disaster and who apply for temporary cash assistance. Authorizes the Governor to employ such measures as are necessary for the purpose of addressing the needs for immediate cash, shelter, or food assistance. Monitor

Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Military Affairs and Domestic Security; Health and Human Services Appropriations


HEALTH

Issue

Bill(s) 
Sponsor(s)

Summary/Comments

Position

Bill Status
Reproductive Health Services/Rape Survivors
Prevention First Act SB 652
Rich

HB 517
Gibson		 Provides duties of licensed health care practitioners and facilities relating to the treatment of rape survivors. Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to provide for enforcement and impose penalties. Requires licensed pharmacies to dispense certain forms of contraception without delay. Specifies conditions under which a pharmacy may refuse to provide a contraceptive

Oppose

 SB 652 - Referred to Health Regulation; Judiciary; Health and Human Services Appropriations
HB 517 - Now in Health Care Regulation Policy Committee; also referred to Health Care Appropriations Committee; Health & Family Services Policy Council
Public School Education/Human Sexuality
Florida Healthy Teens Act SB 1502
Deutch

HB 169
Fitzgerald		 Requires public schools that provide certain information or programs to students concerning human sexuality to provide information that meets specified criteria. Provides an exemption for certain students. Provides a process to review compliance with such requirements. Authorizes parents and guardians to seek review of a school's compliance. Oppose

SB 1502 - Filed
HB 169 - Referred to PreK-12 Policy Committee; Health Care Services Policy Committee; PreK-12 Appropriations Committee; Education Policy Council


EDUCATION

Issue

Bill(s)
Sponsor(s)

Summary/Comments

Position

Bill Status

SCHOLARSHIPS/VOUCHERS/SCHOOL CHOICE
Florida Tax Credit Scholarship     Support  

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
Teacher Certification SB 848
Rich

HB 383
Long		 Provides that prekindergarten instructors in school-year prekindergarten programs delivered by private providers and public schools must meet new professional credentialing requirements beginning July 1, 2013. Monitor SB 848 - Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
HB 383 - Now in Insurance, Business & Financial Affairs Policy Committee; also referred to Policy Council; PreK-12 Appropriations Committee; General Government Policy Council

OTHER
Sales Tax Exemption/Books
/Clothing/School Supplies 		SB 160
Baker

SB 514
Fasano

HB 469
Flores		 Specifies a period during which the sale of books, clothing, and school supplies is exempt from the tax on sales, use, and other transactions. Support SB 160 - Referred to Finance and Tax; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
SB 514 - Referred to Finance and Tax; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
HB 469 - Now in Finance & Tax Council; also referred to Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council
Virtual Schools SB 534
Altman		 Provides that a virtual school operated by an approved provider under s. 1002.45, F.S., may be a charter school for purposes of s. 1002.33, F.S. Provides that the virtual school is not subject to certain provisions pertaining to facilities or student transportation. Monitor Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations
Childhood Vaccinations SB 117
Ambler

HB 222
Ring

 Revises requirements for administration of certain vaccines required for school entry. Monitor SB 117 - Now in Health Care Regulation Policy Committee; also referred to PreK-12 Appropriations Committee; Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee; Health Care Appropriations Committee
 HB 222 - Referred to Health Regulation; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
Student Voter Education SB 524
Fasano

HB 407
Brisé

 Requires each district school board and county supervisor of elections to jointly provide voter-education program to high school students who are eligible to register or preregister to vote; requires presentation to be made available to nonpublic high schools upon request; provides guidelines for program content. Support SB 524 - Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Ethics and Elections; Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations
HB 407 - Now in Governmental Affairs Policy Committee; also referred to PreK-12 Policy Committee; PreK-12 Appropriations Committee; Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council

OTHER

Issue

Bill(s) 
Sponsor(s)

Summary/Comments

Position

Bill Status
MISCELLANEOUS

Sales Tax/Review of Exemptions and Exclusions

SB 216 Lynn

 Provides additional responsibilities of the Joint Legislative Sunset Committee for the purpose of reviewing exemptions from the general state sales and use tax and exclusions of sales of services from such taxation. Provides for future elimination of all sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and storage tax exemptions except those for general groceries, medical, guide dogs for the blind, and household fuels, etc.

Monitor

 Referred to Finance and Tax; General Government Appropriations; Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means; Rules
Parental Authority HB 285 Horner Provides that motorsport liability release signed by minor is valid if release is also signed by minor's parent or guardian; authorizes natural guardians to waive & release, in advance, any claim or cause of action of minor child to same extent that adult may do so on his or her own behalf; provides that such waiver & release shall not relieve party of liability for any acts of sexual misconduct committed against minor child. Monitor

Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee (10-3); also referred to Criminal & Civil Justice Policy Council


CONTACTS

For questions regarding bills listed on this report or other proposed legislation, please contact the appropriate staff member listed below:

D. Michael McCarron, Executive Director - (850) 205-6819, mccarron@flacathconf.org
Michael B. Sheedy, Associate Director for Health - (850) 205-6824, msheedy@flacathconf.org
Sheila S. Hopkins, Associate Director for Social Concerns/Respect Life - (850) 205-6826, shopkins@flacathconf.org
James B. Herzog, Associate Director for Education - (850) 224-7906, jherzog@flacathconf.org
Michele M. Taylor, Associate Director for Communications - (850) 205-6817, mtaylor@flacathconf.org

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