Legislative Status Report
January 24, 2020
Since 1987, the Daytona Regional Chamber worked closely with our Volusia delegation and others to relay the local business viewpoint on matters that come before State government. In an effort to keep you, our members, informed of the Session in Tallahassee, we present our Legislative Status Report. If you have any questions regarding its content, please contact  Jim Cameron  at 386.566.2140.
FY 2020-21 Budget Details
In his State of the State address, Governor DeSantis outlined his budget priorities.

Part of his proposed $91.4 billion budget was $625 million...a portion of a $2.5 billion package of environmental projects which include rising sea levels, restoring the Everglades as well as addressing blue-green algae blooms and red tides.
Appropriations Subcommittees will be working their bills next week with a draft of the FY 2021 budget expected in early February.

A side note regarding the budget.... Amy Baker, Coordinator of the Office of Demographic & Economic Research is warning of a $867 million drop in tax revenue over the next two years. Such news could severely impact the State's budget projections.

Another side note regarding the budget.. Online sales tax could be expected to generate $750 million in new tax revenue. 
Health Care
Prescription Drug Coverage -
S 1338 by   Sen Tom Wright  - revises Florida Insurance Code (code) regarding oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) by the Office of Insurance Regulation. A PBM contracts to administer prescription drug benefits on behalf of a health insurer or a health maintenance organization (HMO) or employer. Many public/private employers and health plans contract with PBMs to help control drug costs. PBMs may negotiate drug prices with retail pharmacies and drug manufacturers on behalf of health plans or employers.
S 1338 provides greater PBM transparency requiring PBMs to submit an annual report to the OIR, which is consistent with a current federal reporting requirement. It iis before Banking and Insurance Committe e on  January 28

The House Health Market Reform Subcommittee approved a similar
 PCB HMR 20-02 – regarding Pharmacy Benefit Managers. 
Price Transparency in Health Care Services H 1205 by Rep Rodriguez
prohibits a health insurer from limiting a health care provider’s ability to disclose whether a patient’s cost-sharing obligation under his or her health insurance exceeds the cash price for a covered service. In addition, insurers must not prevent providers from communicating the availability of more affordable services to insured patients. 
H 1205 also prohibits an insurer from requiring an insured patient to make a payment for a health care service that exceeds the cash price of that service in the absence of health insurance. 

The Health Market Reform Subcommittee  approved it ( Rep Tom Leek voted YES ).Next stop - Insurance & Banking Subcommittee ( Rep Elizabeth Fetterhoff - member).
Education

District Cost Differentia l – the House PreK-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee had a workshop discussion on the DCD formula.

Click here to see details of the Wage Base report that was presented to the Committee.

There were no votes in today's meeting....and there will be similar meetings in the future to discuss this issue.
Equitable funding for the Volusia School District is a top Chamber priority. For now, the Chamber is working closely with the Volusia School District and we're " cautiously watching" how this new Wage Base report is being considered.
Tourism
Vacation Rental Units H 1011 by Rep Fisher preempts regulation of vacation rental units to state Dept of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) and prohibits cities/counties from regulating or requiring inspections/licensing of vacation rentals;

H 1011 was approved by the Workforce Development & Tourism Subcommittee and now goes to the
Senate version S 1128 by Sen Diaz is before the Commerce and Tourism  Commitee ( Sens Travis Hutson , Tom Wright, members).

The Chamber opposes S 1129 and H 1011. Cities and Counties should regulate Vacation Rental Units for fire, noise and make sure proper sales and bed taxes are collected. Most important, they should be properly zoned.
Insurance Issues
Insurance – H 359 by Rep David Santiago – is a comprehensive bill that addresses numerous areas pertaining to insurance…..
Motor Vehicle Salvage – relating to odometer disclosures; it conforms requirements for electronic signature security to the federal requirements.
· Workers’ Compensation Payments to Injured Workers – relating to lost wages paid to the injured worker;
· Insurer Trade Secrets - prohibits the publishing or dissemination of aggregate information containing protected trade secret information when the information can be extrapolated from the aggregate information.
· I nsurance Ratemaking and Form Filings Deadlines – extends the closure of the Office of Insurance Regulation’s review period for property and casualty rate and form filings

Click here for more information regarding H 359
Contingency Risk Multipliers
- S 914  by Sen Brandes would limit the amount of attorneys’ fees awarded in cases involving property insurance policies. It would involve situations where insurance companies are seeking to deny a claim by an insured individual.
S 914 prohibits the use of contingency risk multipliers in property insurance policy disputes and provides that the maximum attorney fee a court may award for those claims be based on the number of hours expended on the litigation multiplied by the hourly rate for the attorney’s services.
 
It was approved by the Banking & Insurance Committee and now goes to the Judiciary Committee ( Sen David Simmons – Chair ; Sen Travis Hutson   – member )
Economic Development
Space Florida S 1070 by Sen Tom Wright revises Space Florida’s authorization to issue bonds; revises
the revenue sources by which revenue bonds may be secured or repaid; reduces the term of years for which Space Florida may issue bonds. S 1070 was approved by the Military, Veterans Affairs, Space agenda .

Appropriations Subcommittee (Sen Travis Hutson - Chair)
A similar House version, H 717 by Rep Sirois  removes the requirement that the Governor and Cabinet must approve Space Florida’s bond proposals, specifies that revenue bonds issued by Space Florida may not constitute an indebtedness of Space Florida and may not be secured by state appropriations, reduces the maximum length to maturity for bonds, and allows Space Florida to validate its bonds.

H 717 was approved by the Workforce Development & Tourism Subcommittee and now goes to the Ways & Means Committee ( Rep David Santiago , member). 

The Chamber supports S 1070 and H 717.
Environmental Issues
Clean Waterways Act - S 712 by Sen Mayfield – would impose new regulations on polluters as it seeks to limit excess nutrients from flowing into waterways. It was approved by the Senate Agriculture Environment General Government Appropriations Subcommittee .

It moves oversight of septic tanks from the Dept of Health to the Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) and directs DEP to stipulate where septic tanks can be located. It also directs DEP to develop updated stormwater rules, new rules to limit leaks from underground sewer pipes as well as other regulations.

Local governments would be required to implement new wastewater infrastructure projects with a new “wastewater grant program” to help cover their costs.

S 712 would enact recommendations from a blue-green algae task force established from last year’s Session.  Dept of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said the bill is a major boost on improving water quality in Florida. 

Click here for additional information.
Employment Eligibility

Verification of Employment Eligibility H 1265 Rep Byrd would require E-Verify be used for governmental employees and employees of contractors. It is now before the Commerce Committee ( Rep David Santiago – member).
Senate version S 1822 by Sen Gruters was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
 
Gov DeSantis wants to make E-Verify a mandate for all workers in the state. 
Legislative Conference Call with Rep Elizabeth Fetterhoff 
Monday, January 27  /  3:00-3:25 p.m.
Call-in #: (605) 313-5074
Access Code: 824926#

With the 2020 Legislative Session underway, the Chamber consistently maintains contact with our Volusia legislative delegation on business-related issues. Our conference calls offer the means to keep informed of key issues.
Agenda
 
Opening Comments from Rep Elizabeth Fetterhoff on recent House activity
 
Issues to be discussed:
·         Vacation Rental Units  – H 1011 and S 1828 would preempt to the State’s Dept of Business & Professional Regulation (vs cities/counties) the authority to regulate Vacation Rental Units.  Daytona Regional Chamber opposes.
 
·         Internet Sales Tax  – H 159 revises conditions for who must collect/remit sales tax; deletes exemption for certain dealers from collecting local option surtaxes; requires certain marketplace providers to register, collect and remit sales taxes; provides that marketplace seller is liable for sales tax collection and remittance.  Daytona Regional Chamber supports.
 
·         Workforce Housing  – H 381 prevents legislature from “sweeping” State Housing Trust Fund & Local Government Housing Trust Fund for other uses besides affordable housing. Daytona Regional Chamber supports
 
·         District Cost Differential  – the Office of Economic & Demographic Research is working on a wage rate study (to be complete in April) to determine how education funds will be allocated to each school district.  Equitable funding for Volusia County Schools is a top Daytona Regional Chamber priority.
 
  Due to a short time frame….we’re asking you to email your question to jim@daytonachamber.com
Chamber's 2018 Legislative Priorities
Click  2020 Legislative Priorities  to see the Chamber's recommendations for the Session. Compiled by our Legislative Action Committee - Phil Maroney, Chair (Root Company), this list was presented to the Volusia delegation at their November 20 meeting.  

Click here to see Chamber 2020 Legislative Priorities Bill Tracker

These recommendations will be tracked throughout the session and reported each week in the Chamber's Legislative Status Report.
Legislative Session Statistics/Data
Florida Legislature Regular Session 2020 Statistical Report
Click here to see subject index for legislation . 
Congratulations!
The Chamber would like to congratulate proud parents — Tonya and Sen Travis Hutson and their newest family member, Turner Easton Hutson. Born Monday, January 20. 
Contact Your House and Senate Members
Click here   to see Volusia's House/Senate contact information
as well as new committee assignment.

Click here to see  Florida House members   and  Florida Senate members

Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce
126 E. Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386.255.0981 | info@daytonachamber.com

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