Legislative Halftime Report: We are now halfway through session and things have been moving quickly. The Arc of Florida is tracking many bills that still have to work their way through the different committees as well as the House and Senate floor. Both chambers have passed their respective budgets and there will be budget conference committees set up which could begin this week. These joint committees have both House and Senate members as they negotiate the differences in budgets. As you know, the budget will have to be identical in the House and Senate to be sent to the Governor for consideration. As of April 10, an across-the-board rate increase is not included in the House or Senate budget. There is a 10% increase for Waiver Support Coordinators in the Senate budget. Although it’s unfortunate that our top priority issue is not in the budget, we continue to educate legislators and staff about the impact if there isn’t an increase. The good news is that there will be additional dollars for the Waiting List.
A few of the substantive bills moving through the process include the following:
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Managed Care Pilot Bill: This would be a voluntary managed care program using General Revenue dollars focusing on individuals on the Waiting List in Miami - HB 831 (Rep. Duggan). HB 831 has made it in the last committee of reference and was unanimous in first committee and 11-4 in the second committee. It is on the agenda this week. SB 1084 (Sen. Trumbull) has made it through one committee and has two more to make it to the floor; the yes vote was unanimous. The two bills are not identical.
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Individual Education Plans: This legislation requires information to include ways in which students may provide informed consent to allow his or her parent to continue to participate in education decisions. This will help parents support their children as they become adults while still in school without getting a guardianship, but will educate on different options to continue to participate in education decisions. HB 19 (Rep. Tant) and SB 636 (Sen. Simon) are both preparing to go to the floor this week.
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Person with Disabilities Registry: This bill authorizes local law enforcement agencies to develop and maintain a registry for specified purpose; provides for enrollment in and removal from registry; authorizes local law enforcement agencies to provide access to registry and relevant information from registry to law enforcement officers under certain circumstances. HB 1275 (Rep. Plasencia)/SB 784 (Burgess) have improved on last year’s registry bill by placing guiderails on its use by law enforcement. The good news is that only the person with a disability (or their guardian if a guardianship is in place) can voluntarily place to be on the registry. There is also a process to be removed from the registry if the registered individual or their guardian makes that decision. The issue that has repeatedly come up during committee hearings is the need for training for law enforcement so they can better serve person with disabilities.
