02/11/19

2019 Session: Committee Week 4

Discussion of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget largely dominated the past committee week, as budget panels in the House and Senate met to review the new Governor’s recommendations.

DeSantis had recently detailed the largest spending plan ever proposed by a Florida Governor. He described the $91.3 billion budget, which makes significant changes to funding for education and the environment, as “aspirational but attainable.”

The “Bold Vision for a Brighter Future” plan will serve as a template for lawmakers to craft their own budget during the upcoming Legislative Session. As the saying goes: The Governor proposes and the Legislature disposes.

Although the Governor’s budget doesn’t come with any givens for the 60-day Session, it does provide an early insight into his office’s priorities.

For example, with respect to K-12 education, DeSantis wants an increase in per-student funding by $7,653, or $224 more than last year. The base student allocation grows by $50 per student. In total, DeSantis is recommending $21.7 billion for the Florida Education Finance Program, or FEFP.

DeSantis also directs an eye-popping $625 million Everglades restoration and resource protection. This will be a recurring recommendation from the Governor. His staff noted that an investment of this much each year would mean $2.5 billion in environmental funding through his first four years in office.

What They Are Saying

House Speaker Jose Oliva so far is showing signs of an early willingness to break from DeSantis’ spending plan.

In a carefully crafted statement that came hours after DeSantis announced the budget, the Miami Lakes Republican noted that lawmakers have “an additional responsibility to respect Florida’s taxpayers by spending each dollar wisely.”

House budget chief Travis Cummings has echoed similar caution. He told reporters last week that “you’re going to at times see some growth [in the budget], but it’s a matter of how you fund reserves, how you evaluate our current spending to make sure we’re putting those dollars in the core areas of what we think state government should provide.”

But Senate President Bill Galvano said that DeSantis’ budget reflects “many of our shared priorities not only in terms of state spending, but also with regard to setting aside ample reserves.” (DeSantis tucked away $5.2 billion in reserves in his spending plan.)

And Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley told media last week that he was “very pleased” with DeSantis’ spending plan.

“I think we’re going to have a good, productive dialogue with the Governor and our friends in the House this year,” added Bradley.

Bipartisan Appeal

Democratic members of the Florida House cheered DeSantis’ budget last week because it does not propose any sweeps to money set aside for affordable housing, a pool known as the Sadowski Trust.

Lawmakers have historically swept money from that fund to fuel other projects. Last year, the Legislature transferred more than $180 million from the Sadowski pool to other parts of the budget.

The issue isn’t partisan, but it did result in Democratic lawmakers commending DeSantis for keeping the Sadowski dollars untouched this year.

Budget writers in the House and Senate have both expressed a willingness to end the controversial sweeps to the fund. Still, the Sadowski Trust is often targeted when the numbers don’t add up in the budgeting process.

Pot Bill Evolves

Senators engaged in what appeared to be the first legislative kerfuffle of the 2019 Session when the Health Policy Committee considered state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ bill to permit patients to smoke medical marijuana.

Despite Brandes’ reluctance, the panel amended the bill to require a second doctor’s opinion agreeing with the patient’s primary physician that smoking is the best method of delivery for the patient.

This early conflict suggests that lawmakers may have trouble meeting a March 15 deadline — imposed by DeSantis — to change the law.

In fact, Galvano said on Friday he was sure the Senate would be able to get a bill off the floor, but could not "say with confidence" the House would accept it.

"I've seen bills that have seemed so much different chamber to chamber come together in the end," he said in an interview. "And so it's worthy to continue the excersise and to move forward. But right now our bills are quite different.

Education Developments

DeSantis is asking the Legislature to change a law that provides bonuses to teachers in part based on their ACT or SAT scores. As highlighted in his budget, he is directing almost $423 million toward teacher and principal bonuses.

The Senate Education Committee last week proposed legislation that would allow teachers to participate in the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, meaning those who go through training could carry a gun while teaching.

The provision is in line with a recommendation forwarded by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, a fact-finding panel tasked with making suggestions to lawmakers to prevent future school safety breaches.

Save the Date

GrayRobinson is hosting an upcoming Community Leader Forum in Orlando featuring President and CEO of Visit Florida Dana Young.

She will address the challenges of marketing Florida in the global marketplace and give a preview of what her plans are for her new role on Friday, February 22 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. hosted at GrayRobinson's Orlando office. If you wish to attend, you may register here before February 20.

Looking Ahead

Lawmakers will be meeting in committees for the next two weeks as they approach the March 5 Session start date.

The main budget committees in the House and Senate will again meet this upcoming week. The House will review the state’s finances and bond ratings. The Senate will hear a presentation on the state’s citrus industry.

As well, the Senate Education committee will meet next week to review the school safety changes it recently proposed. That meeting is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in room 412 of the Knott building.

Brandes’ marijuana bill will be heard by the Innovation, Industry, and Technology committee on Tuesday in room 110 of the Senate Office Building.

Client Spotlight

Uber
Stephanie Smith, Senior Public Policy Manager

My role at Uber entails: As the Senior Public Policy Manager, I oversee legislative efforts by working with state and local leaders on policy issues on behalf of Uber. I work every day to ensure that the regulatory framework in Florida supports the current and future technology of our platform.

Something you wish people knew about your job or Uber that might not be obvious: The future for Uber is more than ridesharing and cars. We're investing in modes that are not just ride-hailing. Uber CEO recently said, "Cars are to us what books are to Amazon," outlining a large vision for the platform going forward. Our business is growing to expand to all types of transportation methods like incorporating transit, e-bikes, and scooters.

What excites you about going to work each day: I'm inspired by the driver partners. The economic impact and flexible work options that the Uber platform provides to over 100,000 Floridians across the State. Uber driver and courier partners in Florida earned more than $870 Million in 2017. I want to continue to create an environment where earning opportunities for our partners continues to grow.

GRay Matters Video

2019 Session: Committee Week Four

In this week's GRayMatters video, Kirk Pepper and Dean Cannon provide a budget update.

Check out our video series and stay informed throughout the 2019 Session.

The GrayRobinson Team

* Denotes non-attorney professional

www.GRLobby.com

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

301 East Pine Street Suite 1400
Orlando, FL | 32801 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.