05/06/19

2019 Session: Week Nine Sine Die

The Legislative Session is over and Gov. Ron DeSantis now has the option to veto or sign bills into law. He can also let legislation become law without his endorsement.

The Legislature adjourned for the last time — known as Sine Die — on Saturday after voting on the 2019-20 fiscal year spending plan. Lawmakers had planned on wrapping their work by Friday but had to extend one more day to give members a mandatory 72-hour review period with the budget, which was published on Wednesday. DeSantis wields line-item veto power, meaning he can scrap individual appropriations from the budget.

The Legislature tackled major issues, some controversial, and leadership ushered their priorities through the process with relative ease.

Among the measures that prompted the most debate: An immigration enforcement bill, a bill to implement Amendment 4 — which restored voting rights to felons — and legislation that writes into law the recommendations of a school safety panel sparked after the Parkland shooting. That last bill has a provision that gives school districts the option to train and arm willing teachers.

House Speaker Jose Oliva successfully corralled the Legislature around a number of health care changes all with an eye toward lowering patient costs. The Legislature as a whole backed bills that would expand telemedicine, remove certain health provider certifications, increase health care competition, and create new opportunities to import foreign, cheaper prescription drugs.

Senate President Bill Galvano had identified a series of toll-road projects as one of his top priorities and the Legislature followed through by supporting a multi-year plan to dedicate state dollars toward three major highway constructions or expansions, including bringing the Suncoast Parkway, which starts in Tampa, up to the Florida-Georgia border.

Closer Look at Spending

The $91.1 billion spending plan lawmakers approved Saturday is the largest budget in state history. The state last year appropriated $88.7 billion.

The final number is closer to Gov. DeSantis’ recommended budget — $91.3 billion — than it is to the initial spending plans passed earlier this year by the House and Senate.

Lawmakers identified historic funding for the environment and education in the budget. Per-pupil student spending in K-12 schools, for example, is $243 higher than it was last year. The budget also exceeds the $625 million investment in the Everglades and water quality initiatives that DeSantis requested.

For Hurricane Michael, the Legislature agreed to spend $1.8 billion on relief and recovery. There was little debate over that dollar figure, with most lawmakers criticizing the federal government’s lack of response to the disaster.

Gaming Deal Falls Through

One interesting and nearly annual legislative story is the Legislature’s negotiations with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

This year, like in years past, lawmakers couldn’t reach a deal with the gambling entity in time.

But the stakes are higher now: What drove the need for a bill is the possible loss of income from the Tribe. The Seminoles had continued paying their share of casino gambling revenue each month — $19.5 million, with occasional balloon, or “true-up,” payments — but lawmakers did not count that money in their proposed budgets for 2019-20.

An agreement for the Tribe to keep paying despite a legal right to cut off the cash flow runs out at the end of May.

GrayRobinson Highlights

Throughout the appropriations process, we were proud to represent stakeholders that rely in part on state funding. Now that the budgeting process is over, we would like to highlight some of our client successes.

On behalf of Sarasota Memorial Health Care, GrayRobinson was successful in supporting $8,249,500 in funding for the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. Medicaid Region 8 (Collier, Lee, and Sarasota Counties) is the only region in the state experiencing a severe primary care physician deficit with supply critically below its citizen’s needs. This funding will allow all hospitals in Medicaid Region 8 with GME in primary care specialties to participate in the program.

Additionally, state funding was achieved for a Central Florida Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, which will provide jobs and an all-inclusive array of health services for high-risk and frail elderly adults. Cornerstone PACE, LLC, a not-for-profit organization, will receive $4,754,901 in state funds to provide comprehensive services.

GrayRobinson also advocated for the $150,000 appropriated to the Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services’ Host Homes for Homeless Youth Pilot Program. The program will provide continued support to South Florida’s most vulnerable youth as they age out of the state system.

On behalf of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, GrayRobinson was successful in supporting $300,000 in funding for phase 1 of the Downtown Miami Pedestrian Bridge project. The pedestrian bridge will provide safer passage for pedestrians and residents along Biscayne Bay and provide protection against storm surges in the Downtown Miami area.

Additionally, GrayRobinson advocated for $11.2 million in a combination of recurring and non-recurring funds appropriated for the BRIDG program, which is the top priority for the Orlando Economic Partnership.

Of course, all of the budget items have to survive the veto period, which will begin as soon as the legislature officially transmits the General Appropriations Act to the Governor, and will end 15 days later.

Issue Epilogue

The Legislature backed a bill allowing statewide expansion of a Miami-Dade County needle exchange program.

The measure (SB 366) gives counties the option to implement the program, which supporters say will help curb the spread of HIV and other diseases by ensuring addicts are using clean needles.
The House and Senate approved a sweeping criminal justice reform package that focuses on re-entry services, raises the felony-theft threshold and reduces occupational licensing barriers, among other things.

The bill (HB 7125) evolved throughout the lawmaking process and does not include any retroactive sentencing changes or judicial discretion for low-level drug offenders facing mandatory minimums.
A bill that sought to reduce regulations and even strip some occupational licenses in the state stalled during the last week of Session.

The measure (SB 1640) was postponed on the floor without explanation. Oddly, it was a priority for Gov. DeSantis, who had helped coordinate a “Deregathon” earlier this year.
A bill giving Attorney General Ashley Moody access to drug prescription monitoring information is on its way to Gov. DeSantis.

The legislation (HB 1253) is expected to aid Moody in pending litigation against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and sellers.

Client Spotlight

Orlando Economic Partnership

Sharon C. Smoley, Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy

My role at Orlando Economic Partnership entails: In my role, I work with business and community leaders to determine the region’s priorities and advocate for policy that supports those priorities. From transportation solutions to public safety efforts and economic development projects, I work with elected leaders locally, in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. to ensure that economic policies align with our region’s priorities.

Orlando Economic Partnership can help you: The Orlando Economic Partnership works each day to prepare our region for the growth and economic opportunities coming to our region. With a goal of broad-based prosperity, we are working to ensure that there is economic access and opportunity available to ALL Central Floridians.

Something you wish people knew about your job or Orlando Economic Partnership that might not be obvious: In addition to working with elected and appointed leaders in my specific role, I have the unique opportunity to see and understand the tremendous research and planning that the regional business community is working on each and every day. From technological advancements in areas such as health care and transportation, to new ways of providing experiences to our visitors, working at the Partnership provides great insight into where we are headed economically.

What excites you about going to work each day: We work each day to solve challenges that may be facing the business community. I work on such a broad range of issues and with every area of the community. The chance to work with different leaders across Central Florida on almost a daily basis is exciting. I learn every single day.

GRay Matters Video

2019 Session: Week 9

In this week's GRay Matters, Robert Stuart and George Levesque, joined by special guest Theodore Roosevelt Levesque, discuss budget and policy issues pertinent to the final week of the Legislative Session.

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

The GrayRobinson Team

* Denotes non-attorney professional

www.GRLobby.com

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