Second Committee Week of the 2022 Legislative Session Hears Presentations and Committee Updates   

After a short break, the second committee week reconvened and continued with committee presentations and speakers. This week ranged from presentations from the Florida Department of Transportation on Transportation Infrastructure Resiliency, a COVID-19 update on mitigation efforts and vaccination data, and updates on Coral Reef Protections, Red Tide, and the Clean Waterways Act. Additionally, both the Senate Reapportionment Committee and House Redistricting Committee and Subcommittees continued this week with presentations on redistricting law and applications in the Senate and on the map drawing application in the House. Next week, committee meetings will continue until Friday, October 22nd and the fourth committee week will resume on Monday, November 1st.

For more information on the redistricting process and updates, please visit FAC’s resource page.

Reapportionment/Redistricting Education Continues 

The Senate Reapportionment Committee met on Monday, October 11, 2021, to hear presentations. The Senators received a walkthrough of the Senate and House website – www.floridaredistricting.gov – which went live on September 22nd, along with the redistricting application that will allow Florida residents to submit redistricting and reapportionment maps to the applicable Senate and House Committees. In addition, Senators also received an introduction to the redistricting law, including the standards that must be applied in redrawing congressional and legislative districts during the upcoming 2022 Session. Lastly, Senators received a demonstration of the redistricting applications and its several functionalities.  

On October 12th, the House Redistricting Committee also received an update on the redistricting website. The Committee also received a presentation about the advanced functionality of the ESRI Redistricting Online application that the Senate and House have selected to use for the 2022 redistricting cycle. Esri Redistricting Online is a "web-based application that uses GIS mapping technology and the latest available census data to allow users to draw and analyze state legislative and congressional redistricting plans following the 2020 decennial census." This application will be available not only to members of the Legislature to submit maps, but also to members of the public and interested organizations to create and submit compliant maps to the redistricting committees for consideration. 

On October 13th, the House Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee and the House State Legislative Redistricting Subcommittee heard similar presentations, including updates about the Legislature redistricting website and the advanced functionality of the Esri mapping application. While these repetitive, the presentations are designed to educate legislative members and the public about the standards applicable in formulating compliant legislative redistricting maps in accord with the U.S. and Florida Constitutions and laws. 

The Senate and House presentations and recorded meetings are available below. 

Senate Reapportionment Committee: Video | Meeting Packet   

House Redistricting Committee: Video | Meeting Packet 

House Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee: Video | Meeting Packet 

Health Policy Committee Receives Update on COVID-19 

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) and Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) updated the Senate Health Policy Committee on the status of COVID-19 cases and mitigation efforts being undertaken to combat the virus. Data reported by DOH shows that from March 1, 2020, to October 7, 2021, there have been a total 3,601,755 COVID-19 cases in Florida with 56,667 fatalities. As of October 7, 2021, DOH statistics show that 13,718,950 Floridians (ages 12-65+) have been vaccinated or almost 72% have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Eighty-nine percent of individuals 65 or older have been vaccinated, while only 53% of individuals 20-29 have been vaccinated. The counties with the highest vaccination rates include Miami-Dade (92%), Broward (82%), Monroe (81%), Osceola (79%) and Sarasota (76%).  

Eligible Floridians that are Black continue to lag behind Floridians that are White or Hispanic in COVID-19 vaccinations with only 39% of Floridians that are Black having been vaccinated as opposed to 56% of Floridians that are White and 62% of Floridians that are Hispanic. DOH continues to deploy statewide media campaigns to provide the public with information about vaccines and to encourage Floridians to get vaccinated. Lastly, the department also updated the Committee about monoclonal antibody therapy treatments, including treatments approved by the FDA, persons eligible for such treatments, the number and location of treatment sites, and the number of treatments administered (135,919) as of October 10, 2021. 

AHCA reported on the federal regulatory waivers instituted by the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; hospital capacity issues; the agencies continued engagement with long-term care facilities concerning vaccinations, booster shots, monoclonal antibody therapy treatments; and infection control and prevention. 

The presentations may be accessed below:  

Senate Health Policy Committee: Video | Meeting Packet 

Senate Transportation Hears About Infrastructure Resiliency and Digital Driver Licenses and IDs 

On Tuesday, October 12th, the Senate Transportation Committee heard a presentation from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department regarding the Florida Smart ID. The Florida Smart ID is an application-based version of a driver license (D/L) or identification (ID) that meets the standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrator and International Organization for Standardization (iOS) standards. When rolled out (soon), the Smart ID will be available for use on iOS and Android smart devices (phones and tablets). The application will be available on the App Store and Google Play. 

The Committee also heard a presentation from the Florida Department of Transportation on Transportation Infrastructure Resiliency. The department's resiliency policy involves: 

• The ability to adapt to changing conditions and prepare for, withstand, and recover from disruption; 
• Identifying risks, particularly related to storms, flooding, and sea level rise; 
• Assessing potential impacts; and 
• Employing strategies to avoid, mitigate, or eliminate impacts. 

The department is implementing this policy through the Strategic Intermodal System Policy Plan. Implementation also involves updating the department's manuals and guidance to include resiliency consideration, incorporating resiliency in project design, including emergency management considerations, and using innovative solutions to address risks from hurricanes, extreme weather, erosion and other impacts to Florida's living shorelines.  

The presentations may be accessed below:  

Senate Transportation Committee: Video | Meeting Packet 

DEP and FWC Update House on Coral Reefs and Red Tide 

On Wednesday October 13th, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee heard updates from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Wildlife Commission on Coral Reef Protection efforts and the Red Tide monitoring program. DEP Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection Director Alex Reed highlighted the economic vitality of Florida’s coral reef tract as well as the coastal flood protection benefits of a healthy reef. Since 2014, Florida’s coral reef has experienced an outbreak of a coral disease known as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease impacting nearly half of all reef building corals. DEP has prioritized the treatment and propagation of coral species in a laboratory setting to help reintroduce affected corals. Response efforts are focused on collaboration between local, state, and federal government alongside non-profits and universities. Coral reef monitoring assessments identify water quality concerns including land source nutrient pollution, indicators of freshwater sources, and sedimentation/turbidity concerns. DEP has requested $10.5 million for the Resilient Coastlines funding specifically to mitigate the impacts of the coral disease and continue regional offshore water quality monitoring.  

FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Director Gil McRae provided an update on the state Red Tide program and recent fish kills on the gulf coast. A red tide, or harmful algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic algae. In Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, the species that causes most red tides is Karenia brevis. The ongoing Red Tide event has lasted 11 months and impacted 12 coastal counties in southwest Florida, Tampa Bay, he Big Bend, and the Panhandle. Red Tide response is an interagency effort with FWC, DEP, and local governments. FWC has agreements with Pinellas and Sarasota Counties for red tide response and is also partnering with Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte and Pasco counties, and their partner cities. The FWC Center for Red Tide Research continues the development of new technologies for sampling and field monitoring with the Mote Marine Laboratory.  

The presentation may be accessed below: 

House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee: Video | Meeting Packet 

House hears update on Clean Waterways Act Implementation 

On Thursday October 14th, the House Environment, Agriculture, & Flooding Subcommittee received updates from DEP Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs John Truitt on the implementation of the Clean Waterways Act (SB 712) from 2020.  SB 712 implemented necessary actions by the department, local governments, and industry based on the Blue-Green Algae Task Force’s recommendations. DEP’s rulemaking process is underway to update potable reuse rules based upon the Potable Reuse Commission’s 2020 report. Deputy Secretary Truitt indicated that ratification is expected next session. Additionally, DEP is currently in the rulemaking process to update the stormwater design and operation regulations. Deputy Secretary Truitt provided an update for the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system (OSTDS) program, septic system regulations. Effective July 2021, the onsite sewage program transferred from the Department of Health to DEP. DEP’s program staff coordinate with Florida’s 67 county health departments on local septic permitting issues, as set forth in an Interagency Agreement between DOH and DEP. The agreement is for a period of five years, after which time staff will complete the transfer from DOH to DEP and work directly for DEP under county delegations and DEP’s regional district offices.  SB 712 established the OSTDS Technical Advisory Committee to consider nutrient-reducing septic systems, regulatory options, and requirements for setback distances to surface water, groundwater, and wells.  

The presentations may be accessed below: 

House Environment, Agriculture, & Flooding Subcommittee: Video | Meeting Packet 

Presentation on Florida’s Long Range Financial Outlook in Senate Appropriations Committee 

Amy Baker, Coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, gave a presentation on the Long-Range Financial Outlook to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, October 14th. Ms. Baker discussed the Coronavirus impact on Florida’s Gross Domestic Product and Personal Income, as well as the current employment conditions. Additionally, she discussed that the Florida housing market has soared during the pandemic. She also focused on the effects of the revenue forecast which was revised in August, as well as the anticipated spending needs throughout the five-year planning period. She also discussed the current General Revenue Outlook, which compares estimated revenues with the anticipated expenditure levels based on 2021 expenditures. Compared to the 2020 outlook developed this time last year, the 2021 outlook is much better, showing revenues exceeding projected expenditures by $6.9 billion with reserves of $1.5 billion, whereas the 2020 outlook at this time showed projected expenditures exceeding revenues by $1.9 billion with $1 billion in reserves. 

The presentations may be accessed below: 

Senate Appropriations Committee: Video | Meeting Packet 

2021 Florida COVID-19 Cases Surpass 2020 Records 

As of October 7, 2021, 56,667 Floridians have died from COVID-19 according to the Florida Department of Health’s Weekly COVID-19 Report. Throughout the past year, Florida’s COVID-19 cases have continued to hit new records, especially with the arrival of the Delta variant to Florida this past Summer. The Delta variant accounted for Florida’s worst COVID surge and unfortunately hit the unvaccinated community the hardest. The New York Times reports COVID-19 cases in Florida had three major peak periods based on a 7-day average, on July 16, 2020 with 11,865 cases, on January 8, 2021 with 17,991 cases, and most recently August 16, 2021 with 29,711 (please note - a data anomaly occurred on that date). Following the largest case surge in August 2021, there was a reported 17,269 hospitalizations based on a 7-day average on August 23, 2021. As cases dwindle down from the August surge, experts predict more COVID-19 variants in the future and continue to encourage vaccinations.  

Alongside the spread, 13,718,960 Floridians are vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose. A total of 63% of Floridians are fully vaccinated. Miami-Dade County has the highest rate of vaccinations at 92% of the population or 2,532,479 individuals over the age of 12. Broward, Monroe, Osceola, and Sarasota follow Miami-Dade in highest vaccination rates with over 75% of their populations vaccinated.  

Resources

Tracking Coronavirus in Florida: Latest Map and Case Count

Florida Department of Health WeeklySituation Report