Good Afternoon Valued Chamber Member,
As a result of Florida’s special legislative session, Governor Ron DeSantis signed four bills which could become law should the challenges to OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard be upheld. These Bills state that Florida companies could not mandate COVID-19 vaccines and regulations without first offering several exemptions.
A summary of the key points from these bills and their effects on business are as follows:
- Restricts businesses’ ability to mandate vaccines for their employees. Companies have to offer workers several exemptions or risk fines of at least $10,000 per violation from the state. This measure would expire on June 1, 2023.
- Bans school districts from passing mask mandates and prohibit governments from enacting vaccine requirements for public sector employees.
- Creates a public records exemption to conceal from public view investigations by the attorney general’s office into violations of the law restricting vaccine mandates. The investigations would become public once they are closed except for an individual’s religious or medical information.
- Directs Governor DeSantis to form a plan for the state to eventually create a new agency to replace the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in monitoring workplace safety.
- Strikes from state law the Surgeon General’s ability to mandate vaccination for an individual during a public health crisis.
These bills are not a blanket ban on vaccine mandates in the workplace and do not apply retroactively to businesses that have already laid-off employees who refused to get vaccinated. Governor DeSantis believes this solution will provide the most equitable outcome for Florida businesses.
Today is Giving Tuesday! Held every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, this day is an excellent opportunity to support local non-profit organizations. Created in 2012, the mission is simple: encourage people to do good. Last year, Giving Tuesday raised more than $400 million through online donations. The Chamber’s Golden Bell Education Foundation is one of the charities available for your donation. Your generous support enabled us to give over $105,000 to our local Boca Raton public schools this past year. Please consider supporting the Golden Bell Education Foundation by making a donation today. Our students thank you!
Be part of a unique opportunity to promote vital local & regional business priorities with one voice, one mission - as one united South Palm Beach County. Register now for the 2022 South Palm Beach County/Florida Chamber Fly-In.
This 3-day experience is designed to bring together CEOs, small business leaders, Chamber executives and Elected officials from across the state to discuss Florida's transitioning economy and top business priorities for the 2022 legislative session. Included in this package is two luncheons, two breakfasts, one evening reception - plus all the meetings and daytime events designed to put you in touch with administration officials and Florida's legislative members and staff. This trip is meaningful, impactful and fun! For more information, contact Sarah Pearson.
Looking for a quick way to find an event, register for an event, and receive pop-up notifications of important Chamber, County, City of Boca Raton, and City of Boynton Beach information? Download the Boca Chamber App – found on the App Store and Google Play Store. Keep your Chamber at the tip of your fingers! You can also stay up to date on all Chamber activities by visiting us at bocachamber.com.
We continue to provide you with valuable in-person and virtual experiences. Most virtual programs are recorded and available for you to access on the Boca Chamber’s YouTube Channel. Hit the subscribe button to find out when new content is posted on our channel.
Below is a list of our upcoming in-person and virtual experiences:
12/8 – 11:45 a.m. In-Person Boynton Beach Lunch and Learn
Sponsored By: iThink Financial
Topic: Credit Tips and Tricks & Is December the Best Time to Purchase a Vehicle?
Speaker: Shirley Gonzales, Branch Manager, iThink Financial
ServPro Boynton Beach
101 Commerce Road, Boynton Beach
12/8 – 5:30 p.m. In-Person Exclusive Trustee Holiday Party
Boca Grove Golf & Tennis Club
21351 Whitaker Drive, Boca Raton
12/9 – 7:45 a.m. In-Person Holiday Membership Breakfast
Sponsored By: Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl & The Boca Raton
Topic: College Football Bowl Game in Boca and The Transformation of The Boca Raton
Speakers: Doug Mosley, Executive Director, Boca Raton Bowl
Daniel Hostettler, President & CEO, The Boca Raton
The Boca Raton
501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton
12/16 – 11:45 a.m. In-Person Boynton Beach Coffee Plus
The early bird gets the worm! Enjoy this FREE monthly networking opportunity. Grab a cup of coffee, meet new people and give your best 30-second elevator pitch – all before the workday begins!
Location: Forthcoming
1/7 – 12:00 p.m. In-Person Exclusive Trustee Luncheon
Topic: A Conversation with Florida’s Chief Financial Officer
Speaker: Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer, State of Florida
The Boca Raton
501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton
We look forward to hearing from two exciting speakers next Thursday, December 9, at the Annual Holiday Membership Breakfast at The Boca Raton. Doug Mosley, Executive Director of the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, and representatives from the two teams playing in the Bowl game, will talk about the upcoming game and provide insight on their approach on how to win. Maybe even some challenges will be thrown out from the dais from each team!
In addition, Daniel Hostettler, President & CEO of The Boca Ration, will talk about the amazing transformation of the iconic Boca Raton Resort and present a snap-shot of the future of the property. We are fortunate and proud to have this luxury resort with its many different experiences right here in our special community!
As if that were not enough, we will be will be entertained by West Boca Community High School's Encore Ensemble Choir to ensure that we are all properly in the holiday spirit. This breakfast is a
can't miss event! To reserve your seat today,
click here.
Don't forget, the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton bowl game will be held on a Saturday for the first time since its inception. The date is Saturday, December 18, with a kick-off time of 11:00 a.m. at FAU stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University. Airing on ESPN, this game will be the first on that Saturday to be played. The game will also be carried nationally on ESPN Radio and locally on ESPN 106.3. For additional information on the Rooflclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, visit
RoofclaimBocaRatonBowl.com.
Together, we continue to Move Business Forward in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and South Palm Beach County, making our region the best place to Live, Work, Learn and Play.
Moving Business Forward,
