Top News: The Budget Progresses as Few Bills Move Forward
In the fifth week of the 2020 Legislative Session, both the Florida House and Senate approved their budget proposals on Thursday in their respective chambers. It is anticipated that budget conference will begin the week of the 24th. As budget proposals were discussed to close the $1.4 million gap between the House and Senate proposals, the major differences centered around Florida Forever, the Everglades protection fund, Visit Florida and affordable housing.
As the budget progresses, few bills have been passed through committee to be heard on the Floor. This was expected for the 2020 Legislative Session and may slightly pick up the pace over the next week.
Bill Statistics:
Total Bills Filed - 3,470
Passed a Committee -1,977
Passed First Chamber - 72
Passed Both Chambers - 11
Priority United Way Bills Heard this Week
Week of February 10-14, 2020
CS/SB 190: Medicaid School-based Services(Montford; D-Palm Beach) - Requires DCF & AHCA to identify children & adolescents who use crisis stabilization services & to meet behavioral health needs of such children & adolescents; requires managing entities & other relevant entities to develop plans promoting coordinated system of care for certain services; requires testing of provider network databases maintained by Medicaid managed care plans; requires DCF & AHCA to assess quality of care provided in crisis stabilization units. Passed by Health Policy on February 12.
CS/HB 163: Homelessness (Altman; R-Brevard) - Provides requirements for continuum of care catchment areas & lead agencies; requires continuums of care to create continuum of care plans; revises requirements for certain grants; establishes grant-in-aid program to help continuums of care prevent & end homelessness. Passed by the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee on February 4.
CS/HB 306: State Funds (Mayfield; R-Brevard, Indian River) - Exempting the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund from a provision authorizing the Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act, to transfer unappropriated cash balances from specified trust funds to the Budget Stabilization Fund and the General Revenue Fund. Passed by the Infrastructure and Security Subcommittee on February 3.
Click for Updates on all Florida United Way Priority Bills.
