Session Week 9 SINE DIE

Mayfield Minute - May 2, 2021

Good Morning!

This past week, the House and Senate reached an agreement on the 2021-2022 budget for our state. A final vote to pass the budget, and officially end the 2021 Legislative Session, took place on Friday, April 30th.

The 2021- 2022 FY Budget totals $101.5 billion with $6 billion in reserves. This includes:

$1,000 bonus payments for first responders, classroom teachers, principals, and early learning instructors
$354.5 million for Water Quality improvements, which includes
$102 million for Florida Forever
$116.7 million for the Wastewater Grant Program,
$10.8 million for the Blue Green Algae Task Force
$982.6 billion for Student Financial Aid, which includes maintaining Bright Futures award levels consistent with current law
$209.2 million for Affordable Housing programs
Fully fund the Medicaid program, which as a result of the pandemic has over one million additional enrollees for a caseload of 4.7 million Floridians. This comes at an increased cost to the state of more than $1.2 billion.
Fully fund the KidCare program serving 229,000 children with high quality health insurance.

The budget, also known as the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act, has been signed by Senate President Wilton Simpson and Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls. It will now be presented to Governor Ron DeSantis for his consideration.

The Governor has the authority to reject the budget, as well as line item veto authority which can be used to delete any specific budget item within the Appropriations Act. Once the Governor has completed his review, he then signs the General Appropriations Act into law, establishing the statewide budget for the next fiscal year. If you would like to express your support or concerns about any specific items included in the Legislature's budget, please Contact Governor DeSantis's Office .

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Senate Passes Legislation to Expand School Choice

The Florida Senate passed House Bill 7045, School Choice, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Manny Diaz, Jr. (R-Hialeah). The legislation maximizes parental choice by expanding eligibility and streamlining key school choice scholarship programs for students with unique abilities and students from lower income families.

The legislation expands school choice to allow a family of four earning less than $100,000 to receive full funding of K-12 education costs at a school of their choice under an expansion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. Eligibility is expanded to students who are not enrolled in a public school, students of parents serving in the military, and students who are in foster care or adopted.

The bill specifies that the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) will serve both low-income students and students with unique abilities. The two categories each have their own eligibility standards, enrollment caps, priority funding lists, scholarship amounts, and authorized spending uses.

The FES will be funded through the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) to ensure scholarship stability. The scholarship award is increased from 95% in current law to 100% of the funding a student is assigned through the FEFP based on the grade level and school district.

HB 7045 transfers the McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities and the Gardiner Scholarship Program into the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES). The FES funds for students with unique abilities will operate as an Education Savings Account (ESA), with the allowable expenses under current law.

The bill increases funding for students with unique abilities in Levels IV and V, and students in Levels I, II, and III will receive a scholarship equal to the average amount for these service levels. Existing Gardiner and McKay Scholarship students will receive the calculated amount under current law or the new law, whichever is greater, for the remainder of their time in the program.

The legislation modifies the participation cap to 20,000 students, with several exemptions to the cap, and maintains the annual growth rate of 1% of the total public school exceptional student population, not including gifted students. Under these provisions approximately 4,000 more scholarships will be available for students with unique abilities in the coming school year. The cap excludes students who are in foster care, adopted, or are dependents of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, received specialized services in VPK and are eligible for Kindergarten, attended public school the year prior, or received a McKay Scholarship in the 2021-2022 school year.

The legislation requires school districts to notify a student’s parent or guardian of available options under FES within 10 days after an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting and also requires the physician or psychologist who issued the diagnosis or IEP to determine if standardized testing is appropriate.

The FES funds for low-income students will continue to be used for tuition and fees at eligible private schools as under current law. Students on the direct certification list or below 185% of the federal poverty level also have the option for up to $750 in transportation costs to a public school other than the one assigned to the student and lab schools that do not provide transportation.

The bill removes the eligibility requirement that students be enrolled in public school the year prior and expands eligibility to include dependents of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, HB 7045 increases the initial eligible household income from 300% to 375% of the federal poverty level and maintains the current participation cap with an annual growth rate of 1% of the total public school enrollment.

Please visit flsenate.gov for more information about these bills and other legislation.

Senate Passed Legislation to Improve and Codify Public Safety Practices in Law Enforcement

The Florida Senate passed House Bill 7051, Law Enforcement and Correctional Officer Practices. The bill makes several changes to the requirements for the operations and standards of law enforcement and correctional agencies and training for law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and correctional probation officers. The bill also incorporates provisions of the “Kaia Rolle Act,” sponsored by Senator Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee), which unanimously passed the Senate earlier this month and prohibits the arrest of a child younger than seven years of age.

The legislation also requires an applicant for employment as a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or a correctional probation officer to disclose whether he or she is the subject of a pending investigation and whether he or she separated or resigned from previous criminal justice employment while under investigation.

The legislation also requires the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to develop standards for instruction to be incorporated into the basic skills training for officers and each law enforcement or correctional agency to develop policies regarding the use of force, including proportional use of force, alternatives to use of force, de-escalation techniques, and limiting the use of a chokehold, among others.

2021 Gaming Compact

After months of negotiations, Governor DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida executed a historic new thirty year gaming Compact that restores the State’s relationship with the Tribe, preserves and offers new opportunities for Florida’s legacy pari-mutuel industry, and provides substantial new revenues for the State of Florida.

The 2021 Compact creates a $2.5 billion revenue-sharing guarantee in the first five years, with $6 billion in new revenues for Florida through 2030. By comprehensively addressing issues raised for almost a decade, the 2021 Compact will maximize revenues for the state and provide new opportunities for both the Tribe and Florida’s pari-mutuel businesses by updating Florida law to better reflect the current gaming climate.

Some of the highlights of the new Compact with the Seminole Tribe include: • A new 30 year term;

• Craps and Roulette;

• Additional facilities on the Tribe’s Hollywood reservation;

• Enhanced revenue sharing brackets and;

• Statewide online sports betting in partnership with the pari-mutuels.

In order to take effect, the new Compact will need to be ratified by the Legislature. Therefore, in an effort to provide the opportunity for a more thorough vetting of these important issues, the Legislature convene in a Special Session the week of May 17, 2021.

Space & Treasure Coast Budget Highlights

The 2021 Legislative session came with a unique set of challenges due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Despite budget cuts, our delegation managed to secure $18,046,592 for the Space and Treasure Coasts.

Indian River County: $6,875,378

University of Florida Health Center for Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine- $500,000

To provide mental health and addiction services to residents of Indian River and surrounding counties. This is also an education site where training is provided to medical students, residents, and fellows for community psychiatry, psychology, and addiction specialties.

Indian River County South R.O. Plant Enhanced Recovery Project- $1,129,668

Indian River County Department of Utility Services is proposing a project to improve the efficiency of the reverse osmosis (R.O.) system at the South R.O. plant which provides access to safe and clean drinking water. Once complete, the project would provide an additional 0.94 million gallons a day (MGD) of potable water.

Mental Health Association Walk-in and Counseling Center- $300,000

The Walk-In and Counseling Center provides crisis intervention, risk assessments, substance abuse treatment, and safety planning to persons of all ages and income levels. The urgent mental health services at the Walk-In center stabilizes symptoms of patients who otherwise may have been Baker Acted or needed hospitalization or emergency room care.

Indian River County Higher- Speed Rail Safety Improvements- $4,945,710

This project will ensure that the construction of the Brightline Higher Speed Rail line will have additional safety improvements and upgrades at Indian River County Roadway crossings due to Brightline modifications necessary for higher speed rail service through the County

Brevard County: $11,171,214

Easterseals Florida Life Skills and Employment-Readiness Program- $200,000

The program will provide education and training to individuals with disabilities and special needs. The Program goal is to teach students the skills necessary to live and work independently. The program is anticipated to serve at least 80 students. An annual Individualized Program Plan (IPP) will be developed with each student enrolled.

Circles of Care- Baker Act CSU Beds- $750,000

This project funds Baker Act Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) beds for the indigent population with acute mental illness. CSU beds are a critical part of the public safety net providing for both voluntary and involuntary psychiatric examinations of imminently dangerous persons due to mental illness in a restricted civil environment for the protection of the patient and/or others.

Manufacturing Talent Asset Pipeline (TAP)- $350,000

This program creates a strong manufacturing workforce through standardized job training and awareness of high wage career paths within manufacturing.

Palm Bay Nutrient Baffle Boxes and Treatment Drains- $300,000

Completion of this project will reduce pollutant discharges into the impaired Indian River Lagoon. The project consists of installation of two baffle boxes at outfalls into the Turkey Creek and Indian River Lagoon in order to achieve the reduction of pollutants Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) from stormwater runoff.

Brevard County Indian River Lagoon, 65 Quick Connects to Sewer - $585,000

This project will convert at least 65 septic properties to sanitary sewer. Priority will be to abandon systems which pose the highest threat to Indian River Lagoon water quality in terms of nutrient and pathogen loading.

Brevard County Indian River Lagoon, FL-518 Bridge Muck Removal - $2,500,000

This project will remove muck accumulations from the Eau Gallie Causeway (State Road 518) area of the Indian River Lagoon via environmental restoration dredging. This area has about 250,000 cubic yards of decaying muck smothering 75 acres of Indian River Lagoon downstream of a large tributary discharge area. The project is a priority for removing muck that depletes oxygen, feeds algal blooms, causes fish kills and prevents healthy seagrass habitats.

STEPS Women’s Residential Services with Medication Assisted Treatment- $500,000

Specialized Treatment, Education and Prevention Services (STEPS), Inc, will provide level II residential treatment with a combination of medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction to Pregnant; post-partum women and women with children, who are residents of Brevard County where no level II residential treatment beds exist.

Florida Institute of Technology, Restore Lagoon Inflow Research Project- $921,500

FIT is studying the effects of placing a pipe below Port Canaveral that will allow salt water from the ocean to flow into the lagoon which increases circulation and increases salinity. The study is seeking to find that by combining these two things will this help restore the lagoon to historical nutrient levels and tidal flow.

Brevard County Emergency Operations Center Construction- $1,000,000

As a new Emergency Operations Center has been recognized a priority need, Brevard County has identified $7M in local public safety funds to be utilized for Phase 2 Construction which includes complete exterior/structural build-out, full weatherization, and air conditioning of the entire space. Phase 2 Construction has a total estimated cost of $8M, necessitating the need to request funding assistance.

Brevard Adults with Disabilities Program- $199,714

This project will address increased employment and community inclusion opportunities for individuals with severe disabilities.

Port Orange License Plate Readers-$125,000

To purchase and install license plate readers at critical intersections to support regional public safety efforts. These license plate readers will also be used to increase efficiency and effectiveness in fighting crime by providing additional surveillance.

Brevard Zoo Aquarium- $500,000

The Brevard Zoo is in the process of planning and funding the development of a world class aquarium in Port Canaveral on a 14-acre site.

Melbourne Harbor City Treatment Train Phase 1 Water Quality Improvements- $627,500

Funds the installation of baffle boxes in Melbourne’s Harbor City Basin. These baffle boxes improve water quality by biosorption and reducing sediments, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from reaching the Indian River Lagoon.

My Community Cares, Inc. Brevard Reentry Portal- $612,500

My Community Cares facilitates the successful integration of ex-offenders returning to Brevard County based on evidence-based practices.

Florida Institute of Technology, Biomedical Aerospace Manufacturing- $2,000,000

Creates a multiplier effect in Biomedical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing education and research in the State of Florida with the addition of specialized equipment supporting multidisciplinary engineering and entrepreneurship curriculum.