Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government — Closed Captions

>>Chair Brodeur: APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ENVIRONMENT AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT WILL COME TO ORDER, JULIE CALL THE ROLL. >>Chair Brodeur: HERE. >>Vice Chair Berman: >>Sen. Arrington: HERE. >>Sen. DiCeglie: >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Massullo: >>Sen. McClain: >>Sen. Rodriguez: >>Sen. Sharief: >>Sen. Truenow: >> QUORUM IS PRESENT, SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE FORM HAND IT TO THE SERGEANTS OFFICE AND GET IT TO US AND SHOULD YOU WAIVE YOUR SPEAKING TIME YOUR POSITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING RECORDS. TIME TO GET ROLLING. TAB SEVEN SENATOR BRADLEY CS FOR SB 796, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PRESENT YOUR BILL. >> THANK YOU CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. FLORIDA HAS ALWAYS BEEN HEALTHCARE LEADER IN SOLUTIONS MAXIMIZING ACCESS TO CARE AND PREPARING FOR FLORIDA'S FUTURE GROWTH, ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO IN 1976 WE RECOGNIZED PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS FOR HUMANS ALLOWING PA TO PRACTICE UNDER PHYSICIAN SUPERVISION. THIS BILL BRINGS THAT SAME MODEL TO VETERINARY CARE AND CREATE THE TITLE VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES OR VPA'S AND FOCUSES ON HEALTHCARE FOR OUR PETS. THIS BILL WILL ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH A MASTERS DEGREE IN CLINICAL CARE TO PERFORM CERTAIN TASKS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED FLORIDA VET. THIS WILL BROADEN ACCESS TO AND REDUCE COST AND INCREASE CAREER OPTIONS FOR HIGHLY TRAINED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE VETERINARY MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THIS PROGRAM IS FULLY OPTIONAL FOR EACH VET. AND SHOULD A VETERINARIAN DECIDE TO HIRE A VPA HE OR SHE HAS FULL DISCRETION TO DETERMINE WHAT CARE SHOULD BE DELEGATED TO THAT VPA. SPECIFICALLY THE BILL ALLOWS THE TITLE VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATE TO BE USED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AN APPROVED PROGRAM AND PATH TO NATIONAL COMPETENCY EXAM. THE BILL ALLOWS A VET PA TO ENGAGE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE ONLY AS DELEGATED BY A VET AND UNDER THE VETS RESPONSIBLE SUPERVISION AND TO THE EXTENT THAT VET PA IS COMPETENT AND HAS THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE. THE BILL PROHIBITS VPA FROM PRESCRIBING CERTAIN DRUGS OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES OR FROM CERTAIN PERFORMING SURGICAL PROCEDURES OTHER THAN NEUTERING DENTAL PROCEDURES OR CLOSING INCISIONS OR LACERATIONS AND FINALLY THE BILL INCREASES THE TIME FRAMES FOR WHICH VETERINARY TELEHEALTH PROOF PROVISIONS MAY BE ADMINISTERED FROM FLEA AND TICK TO 30 DAYS FOR OTHER MEDS AND THAT IS THE BILL MR. CHAIR. >>Chair Brodeur: NO AMENDMENT SO ONTO THE QUESTIONS, NUMBERS DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS, SENATOR MUSSO. >>Sen. Massullo: THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU SENATOR BRADLEY. ARE THERE CURRENTLY THAT TECH, I'M SORRY, VET PA SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA? >>Chair Brodeur: SENATOR BRADLEY. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. FIRST WE WANT TO CREATE THE FRAMEWORK FOR WHICH THEY COULD BE LICENSED AND THE SCHOOLS WILL COME. THERE IS A SCHOOL IN COLORADO AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING SHOULD WE BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS EFFORT TO BRING THAT EDUCATION AND BRING THAT, THOSE EFFORTS HERE SO THAT THEY WOULD BE TRAINED HERE IN FLORIDA. >>Chair Brodeur: ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SENATOR. >>Sen. Massullo: SO I'M CLEAR THE PROGRAM WILL MIRROR FOR ANIMALS WHAT OUR PA PROGRAM HAS FOR HUMANS, CORRECT. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. LARGELY IT WILL BE A MASTERS PROGRAM, IT WILL BE FIVE SEMESTERS. WE WERE NOT OVERLY PRESCRIPTIVE IN THE STATUTE IN TERMS OF THERE HAS TO BE X NUMBER OF CLINICAL IT WILL BE AN ACCREDITED PROGRAM AND THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL COMPETENCY EXAMINATION AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM. >>Sen. Massullo: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Chair Brodeur: ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, SEEING NONE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, VERY EXCITING. ASHLEY WISHES TO SPEAK AGAINST. AND ON DECK WE HAVE JULIE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED, YOU ARE WELCOME. >> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS, MY NAME IS ASHLEY A FOURTH-YEAR STUDENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND I LEFT MY ROTATION TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN AGAINST THIS BILL. I GRADUATE THIS MAY AND I WILL NOT TAKE A JOB THAT HAS A VPA IN THAT PRACTICE. IT IS MY DUTY TO BECOME THE BEST DOCTOR I CAN POSSIBLY BE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CONDITIONS I HAVE YET TO TREAT ON MY OWN. AS A VETERINARIAN OR OPHTHALMOLOGIST ONCOLOGIST NEUROLOGIST YOU CAN'T LEARN THIS IN EIGHT YEARS OF SCHOOL. THIS VPA PROGRAM INVOLVES FIVE SEMESTERS OF ONLINE SCHOOL AND ONE SEMESTER OF IN PERSON TRAINING THOUGH I CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO OVERSEE ALONE LEAD ANOTHER PRACTITIONER UNDERNEATH ME IF I MYSELF DO NOT FEEL IF I AM A COMPETENT PRACTITIONER YET. 30% OF STUDENTS GRADUATING GO ON TO PURSUE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND RESIDENCY PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY CAN'T PRACTICE AS DOCTORS ON THEIR OWN EVEN THOUGH WE ARE LICENSED AND TRAINED. IF THIS BILL IS PASSED I FEEL THIS IS A CHOICE I WILL NOT EVEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE WHILE ESTABLISHED VETS CAN CHOOSE TO HIRE A VPA OR NOT AS A NEW ASSOCIATE WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THOSE OPTIONS. VETERINARY STUDENT DEBT OF STUDENTS WITH LOANS IS $212,000. NEW GRADUATES LIKE MYSELF ARE FORCED TO TAKE CORPORATE JOBS DUE TO HIGHER PAY WE HAD EVERY JOB COMES WITH CONTRACT SEEING US TO STAY THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND NON-COMPETES THAT REMOVE OUR ABILITY TO WALK AWAY NOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE VETERINARY FIELD IS OWNED BY CORPORATE ENTITIES THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE FORCED TO DO WITHOUT AN OPTION. IF WE SIGN THESE CONTRACTS AND TAKE THESE JOBS THESE CORPORATE COMPANIES WILL MAKE US PRACTICE WITH DEA'S BECAUSE IT IS A METHOD FOR THEM TO BE MORE PATIENTS WITH LESS DOCTORS SO THEIR OVERHEAD IS LESS WHILE THEY ARE TURNING HIGHER REVENUE AND THIS WILL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR LICENSE. I LOST 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO ENTER THIS PROFESSION BECAUSE IT IS A PASSION FOR ME. I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF LOSING MY LICENSED WHEN AN IMPROPERLY EDUCATED VPA HARMS A PATIENT AND I AM THE ONE HELD LIABLE FOR THEIR MISTAKE YET I STARTED TO APPLY FOR JOBS 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF MY GRADUATION DAYS, A SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL I INTERVIEWED WITH SEVEN OTHER NEW GRADUATE APPLICANTS. THERE IS NO LONGER A SHORTAGE, THIS BILL IS BEING PROPOSED AS A SOLUTION TO A SHORTAGE THAT DOES NOT EXIST, OR 32 ACCREDITED SCHOOLS, 13 NEW VETERINARY SCHOOL SEEKING ACCREDITATION AND THERE IS THE OPENING OF A SECOND VETERINARY SCHOOL IN JACKSONVILLE THIS YEAR. THIS IS A 40% INCREASE IN A 10 YEAR SEN. DICEGLIE SO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SAYS THIS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO MEET ANY DEMAND. THIS MEANS WE WILL NOT HAVE JOBS TO PAY BACK OUR STUDENT LOANS AND PUTS OUR FIELD IN A STATE OF CRISIS. THERE IS A LARGE SHORTAGE OF FOOD ANIMAL AND EQUINE PRACTITIONERS. THIS BILL WAS SENT BY SENATOR BRADLEY TO HELP SOLVE THIS CRISIS. I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WITH HORSES AND WENT INTO THE FIELD TO BECOME AN EQUINE PRACTITIONER. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA THERE ARE 120 STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE IN 2025, FIVE OF THOSE WANTED EQUINE MEDICINE AND TWO OF 120 STUDENTS CHOSE TO ENTER FOOD ANIMAL MEDICINE. THE SHORTAGE ONLY EXISTS WITHIN LARGE ANIMAL PRACTITIONERS BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING INTO LARGE ANIMAL MEDICINE FOR OTHER REASONS. CREATING APA PHYSICIAN WILL NOT SOLVE THIS CRISIS BECAUSE VETERINARY PAS CANNOT PRACTICE WITHOUT A VETERINARIAN SO THIS WILL DO NOTHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. BILL SB 796 IS A THREAT TO PATIENT SAFETY THE WORKFORCE AND CAREERS OF STUDENTS LIKE ME AND I AM PLEADING TO LOOK DEEPLY INTO THE EFFECTS OF THIS LEGISLATURE AND MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >>Chair Brodeur: APPRECIATE IT AND IT IS AT THIS TIME I WILL RELIANT WILL REMIND EVERYBODY WE HAVE A LARGE AGENDA AND A LOT OF FULL SPEAKING ON A LOT OF BILLS SO WELL DONE ON THE OPPOSITION IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BUT SHE COVERED IT FEEL FREE TO WAIVE WE CAN KEEP HEARING FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. JULIE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I AM A PRACTICING SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY IN TALLAHASSEE AND I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF. THE MAIN CONCERNS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE POSITION BEING PROPOSED. I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THE CONCEPT OF A VPA. MY CONCERN IS RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO FRAMEWORK IN PLACE FOR TRAINING OR ANY OVERSIGHT. THE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE DOES NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO LICENSE OR THE MONITORING THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION. IN ADDITION THIS POSITION AS IT IS PROPOSED IN THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW THESE VPA'S TO PRESCRIBE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS FOR ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MANAGEMENT WHICH IS SOMETHING NOT LEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW THOUGH IF I HAVE A VPA WORKING FOR ME THEY ARE DOING WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS BILL THEY WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW AND I WILL ALSO BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW TO HAVE THEM PRESCRIBING THESE MEDICATIONS SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO POINT OUT THERE IS A BIG DISCONNECT THERE BETWEEN FEDERAL LAW AND WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THIS BILL. SO THOSE WERE MY MAIN POINTS AS A PRACTICING VETERINARIAN. >>Chair Brodeur: MADISON MONROE. WAIVING IN OPPOSITION, WE WILL READ THAT INTO TESTIMONY. PATRICK MOISES. ON DECK, ALEX STEVENSON. NEW AND DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> MY NAME IS PATRICK MOISES AND I AM A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF COLLEGE VETERINARY MEDICINE WITH A YEARS WORTH OF CLINICS IN ANOTHER YEARS WORTH OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION LEFT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THE AMOUNT OF DEBT WE WILL APPROVE. GIVING INCENTIVES FOR NEW GRADUATES TO PRACTICE IN RURAL AREAS SUCH AS LOAN REPAYMENT AS OUTLINED IN SB 290 IS A SURE WAY TO PROMOTE OR STUDENTS TO PURSUE A CAREER. FURTHERMORE AS WE APPROACH BEGINNING OUR CLINICAL YEAR WE ARE REMINDED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENTIRE CARE TEAM NOT ONLY THE VETERINARIANS. CREATING A MID-LEVEL POSITION IS AN ATTEMPT TO FILL A GAP BUT DOES SO WHERE IT DOES NOT EXIST. THE TRUE NEED FOR PEOPLE IS IN THE ROLE OF VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON ELEVATING THEM AND ESTABLISHING LICENSURE AS OUTLINED IN 1308 GIVE THEM THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE AS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING PATIENTS WITH A GOLD STANDARD OF CARE LAST NIGHT I SENT OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE TO MY CLASSMATES REFERENCING SB 796 AND ASKING FOR THEIR OPINIONS AND WITHIN 16 HOURS I RECEIVED NINE PAGES WORTH OF RESPONSES BY MY COLLEAGUES WHO OPPOSE THIS BILL. AFTER FOUR SEMESTERS OF EDUCATION THERE IS STILL SO MUCH LEFT TO LEARN. MY EDUCATION UP TO THIS POINT CONTAINS FOUNDATIONAL TOPICS ESSENTIAL TO HIM UNDERSTANDING CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND WE HAVE YET TO COVER SOME OF THE TOPICS BPA'S WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM. INCLUDING SOME OF THE MORE ADVANCED PROCEDURES INTO SUCH A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME HAS CAUSED CONCERN AMONG ME AND MY COLLEAGUES, NINE PAGES WORTH AND GROWING ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE WORKING UNDER THEIR LICENSE. I ASKED TO CONSIDER OUR CONCERNS AND I AM OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS. >>Chair Brodeur: ALEX STEPERSON. ON DECK. SORREL GRILLS >>THANK YOU COMMITTEE, ALEX STEVENSON A VETERINARIAN IN TALLAHASSEE HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. A LOT HAS BEEN SAID AND I WILL SKIP OVER THAT, TWO MAIN POINTS, IT WAS SAID THIS BILL WILL HELP WITH A SHORTAGE OF DVMS AND ADDRESS THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE. NUMBER ONE THERE'S NO LONGER A SHORTAGE OF DVMS AND IN FACT THERE IS A SCHOOL STARTING IN JACKSONVILLE AND THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST CLASS THIS FALL. THE GOAL IS 150 STUDENTS, THERE'S 120 EVERY YEAR, DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF VETERINARIANS IN FLORIDA RIGHT AWAY SO THE SHORTAGE IS ABOUT TO BE NONEXISTENT EVEN IF IT EXISTS NOW NUMBER TWO REDUCING THE COST OF CARE THE REAL PROBLEM AT THIS STILL WANTED TO ADDRESS IS A SHORTAGE OF VETERINARIANS WHICH IS A RURAL LARGE AREA THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THAT SITUATION. THESE LARGE GROUPS THAT WANT TO HIRE THESE VPA'S ARE LOOKING FOR CHEAP LABOR. THEY WILL NOT PASS SAVINGS ON TO THE CONSUMER, THEY WILL PASS IT ON TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS SO THIS WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE. IT'S NOT GOING TO FIX THAT SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Chair Brodeur: SORREL GRILLS, WINTER SPRINGS. CORRECT TESTIMONY ON DECK, ALISHA. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I SARAH GRIMES FIRST YEAR STUDENT AT UF. STARTING AT THE VERY START OF OUR FRESHMAN YEAR WE ARE TAUGHT EXAMS STARTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE DOG TO THE BACK AND THIS IS PERFECTED OVER THE FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WHOLE ENTIRE ASPECT OF PATIENT CARE. AND IT'S NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR A DOG TO COME IN FOR A ROUTINE NEUTER OR A DENTAL AND WE LISTEN TO THEM AND WE FIND A CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT AND WE CAN'T GO UNDER ANESTHESIA. I'M WORRIED A VBA THAT DOES NOT HAVE A TON OF TRAINING WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THESE. OR SAY WHAT THE DENTAL THEY CAN BE DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA AND MISSING THESE DIAGNOSES WILL COST MANY LIVES. THIS EDUCATION CANNOT BE GIVEN IN FIVE SEMESTERS OF ONLINE SCHOOL. AS AN UPCOMING VET WHO IS VULNERABLE TO BEING FORCED INTO CONTRACTS AFTER GRADUATION I WOULD BE AT RISK FOR LOSING MY LICENSE I SPENT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WORKING TOWARDS. BECAUSE SOMEBODY WITH LACK OF TRAINING MADE A MISTAKE UNDER MY NAME EVEN IF I WASN'T IN THE BUILDING SO IF THIS DOES PASS THIS IS THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA MYSELF AND MY CLASSMATES WILL BE LOOKING TO GET EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ALSO I WANTED TO SHARE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, LAST YEAR WORKING AT A MIXED ANIMAL ER BEFORE STARTING SCHOOL I WAS STILL APPLYING AND I WAS WORKING WITH NEW GRADS, TECHNICIANS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME APPLYING TO SCHOOL THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN FOR SEVERAL CYCLES THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE PERSON WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL THAT THOUGHT VPA'S WHERE A GOOD IDEA AND NOW THAT I'M IN THAT SCHOOL SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SMALL ANIMAL ACCESS OF CARE THERE IS STILL NOT A SINGLE STUDENT I MET THAT THINKS THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. EVEN AFTER STUDENTS ATTEND PRESENTATIONS GIVEN BY PEOPLE STARTING THESE PROGRAMS THEY STILL THINK IS PREDATORY ON THE MEDICAL STAFF AND CLIENTS. IN FACT THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION RELEASES A LIST OF VETERINARY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CREATED THINGS SAYING THEY ARE AGAINST VPA. A SHORT PART OF THIS LIST INCLUDES THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOVINE PRACTITIONERS. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ROOM PRACTITIONERS AND MANY MORE. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE THEIR STUDENT CHAPTERS WITHIN OUR SCHOOL AND EVERY SINGLE STUDENT SO FAR I'VE SPOKEN TO HAS BEEN AGAINST THIS. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME OR ANY OF THE STUDENT BODY AT UF AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU MORE. >> Chair: THANK YOU. ALICIA IT DOES NOT SAY IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK OR WAIVE. WAIVING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TINA ROYALE WAIVING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DOCTOR APRIL STEELE WISHING TO SPEAK. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M A VETERINARIAN WHO IS DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE ACCESS TO CARE CRISIS WHICH DOES EXIST ESTIMATING THAT 75 BILLION CATS AND DOGS WILL GO WITHOUT CARE BY 2030 JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH VETERINARIANS TO PROVIDE IT. THE MYTH THAT THERE IS NOT A SHORTAGE IS A RIDICULOUS MYTH. THERE IS ECONOMIC DEMAND STUDIES ON HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN AFFORD VETERINARY CARE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW MANY SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS THERE ARE THAT NEED THIS CARE AND THAT'S DIFFERENT THINGS. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE IN NEED. IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY I COMPOSED TESTIMONY THAT SPEAKS TO THE IMPACT THIS ACT WILL HAVE AND HOW IT WILL GIVE HOPE TO MILLIONS OF PET OWNERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD ACCESS VETERINARY CARE ESPECIALLY THE 50 PERCENT WHO REPORT THEY HAD TO DECLINE NECESSARY CARE FOR THEIR PET BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD IT. AND HOW IT WILL DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE EUTHANIZED DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS RATHER THAN MEDICAL ONES. BUT AS I WAS PREPARING FOR THE DAY I RECEIVED AN E MAIL FROM A TRADE ASSOCIATION FILLED WITH INACCURATE INFORMATION MUCH OF WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY. IT SAID VPA'S WOULD BE UNQUALIFIED WITH MINIMAL EDUCATION STANDARDS BUT VPA'S WILL HAVE HAD SIX YEARS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. SIX YEARS. THE PREREQUISITES TO ENTER THE MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THOSE REQUIRED FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS INCLUDING PHYSICS AND ANATOMY CHEMISTRY AND THE OTHER FUN STUFF. THE MASTER'S DEGREE OF DENTAL SURGERY AND THE VETERINARY PROGRAM HAS ROBUST TRAINING IN DISEASE PROCESS, FORMAL COST-CUTTING, PHARMACOLOGY, AND DISEASE TECHNIQUE WITH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF LABS. THE E MAIL WENT ON TO SAY THE STUDENTS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE BUT THE PROGRAMS BEING DEVELOPED TO DELIVER THIS EDUCATION ALL REQUIRE EXPERIENCE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. VPA'S WILL ALSO LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS SO THEY CAN REFER THEM TO THEIR SUPERVISING VETERINARIANS. THIS ACT IS PERMISSIVE. THE ONLY VETERINARIANS WHO WANT TO UTILIZE VPA TREAT MORE PATIENTS AND INCREASE THEIR BUSINESSES AND IT HELPS THEM THAT VPA'S WILL ALWAYS WORK UNDER THE RESPONSIBLE SUPERVISION OF A VETERINARIAN. THIS ACT WILL RELIEVE SUFFERING AND SUPPORT MILLIONS OF PETS AND PET OWNERS. PLEASE VOTE YES ON SB 796. >> Chair: THANK YOU. YES? DOCTOR YOU ARE RECOGNIZE FOR QUESTION. >> Senator Massullo: WHICH BASICALLY MONITORS AND PRESCRIBES MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. THESE MPS AND VPAS ARE SUPERVISED 85 PERCENT OF THE TIME. DO YOU PLAN OR DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE INTENT THAT THESE ASSITANCE WILL MAKE LESS FOR THESE PROCEDURES? >> Chair: DOCTOR STEELE. >> IT'S DIFFERENT IN VETERINARY MEDICINE. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS IT VETERINARY MEDICINE. HOW THE TEAMS ARE COMPENSATED ONE IS STRAIGHT SALARY AND ONE HIS PRODUCTION SO IF YOU LOOK AT PRODUCTION AND YOU SEE A VETERINARIAN MAKES 24 PERCENT OF THEIR PRODUCTION OF VETERINARY PA WILL PROBABLY MAKE AROUND 70 PERCENT OF THEIR GROWTH OF PRODUCTION. THE SUPERVISING VETERINARIAN WILL MAKE TWO TO 4 PERCENT SO THEY WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION IN SALARY AND SO IT WORKS OUT TO A VETERINARY PA WILL MAKE ABOUT 80 PERCENT OPEN ABOUT WHAT A VETERINARIAN WILL MAKE. >> Senator Massullo: SO THE CHARGE TO THE ACTUAL PAGE OR WELL OBVIOUSLY CLIENTS IF THEY ARE A PARTNER OR PATIENT HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE IT, WILL IT BE LESS? >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. BECAUSE YOU HEARD TODAY IT WOULD NOT BE. BUT HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW. THERE ARE SO MANY ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE HOSPITALS LOOKING TO HIRE PEOPLE. VETERINARIANS ARE HOPEFULLY VPAS THAT HAVE SUBSIDIZED CARE, LOW COST CLINICS, THAT WILL NOW BE ABLE TO STAFF THOSE PHYSICIANS AND WE KNOW IT'S A SUPPLY AND DEMAND SITUATION. SO IF YOU ARE A TRADE ASSOCIATION AND YOU WANT TO KEEP SALARIES HIGH YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY COMPETITION WITHIN THE SUPPLY OF VETERINARY SERVICES BUT IF THE SUPPLY INCREASES THEN COST SHOULD GO DOWN ILLOGICALLY. CAN I SAY THAT THEY WILL BE CORPORATE PRACTICES OR ANY PRACTICE THAT HIRES A VPA AND DOES NOT PASS THE COST ALONG WE DON'T KNOW BUT WE KNOW DOING NOTHING WILL NOT DECREASE THE COST OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. >> Chair: ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? >> OKAY DON'T TAKE THIS WRONG AS FAR AS COST SAVINGS THERE IS NO GUARANTEE BY WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME THE ACTUAL MAMAS AND PAPAS VETERINARIANS? >> THERE IS A GUARANTEE IT WILL GO DOWN IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. DOCTOR YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SENATE BILL 796. I AM A VETERINARIAN AND PART OWNER OF SEVERAL THAT MARY PRACTICES IN FLORIDA. AND TO COUNTER SOME OF THE RECENT DISCUSSION FROM THE OTHER SIDE IN A RECENT SURVEY 50 PERCENT OF FLORIDA COUNTIES WERE LACKING VETERINARY SERVICES. ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL NEED IN FLORIDA. THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION CAN CREATE THE VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION WHICH IS AKIN TO THE RULE OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND HUMAN HEALTH CARE AS MENTIONED. THESE ARE ESTABLISHED ROLLS THAT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND COMFORTABLE WITH IN THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN WITH VPA. VPA PROVIDER ROLE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE WILL BRING AN INCREASED ACCESS TO CARE AND INCLUDE ALL THE EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SUPERVISORY SAFEGUARDS NEEDED TO ENSURE QUALITY CARE. FOR EXAMPLE HERE IN FLORIDA THE NEW LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN ORANGE PARK WILL HAVE A RIGOROUS ACCREDITED MASTERS AND VETERINARY CLINICAL CARE AND AS A GROUP THEY WILL GRADUATE VPA'S ALONG VETERINARIANS FROM THE VETERINARY PROGRAM ALSO VPA'S WILL BE REQUIRED AS HAS MENTIONED TO PRACTICE UNDER THE RESPONSIBLE SUPERVISION OF A VETERINARIAN. AND SO IN ADDITION TO INCREASING ACCESS TO CARE THE CREATION OF THE VPA ROLE ON THE VETERINARY TEAM WILL PROVIDE ENHANCED CAREER TRACK FOR THE VETERINARY TECHNICIANS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED THIS AFTERNOON. AND FOR THOSE PRACTICES THAT CHOOSE TO EMPLOY VPA THESE TEAMS WILL IMPROVE WORKFLOW, TEAM WELL BEING, AS WELL AS DECREASE BURNOUT AND TURNOVER IN VETERINARIANS. THERE WILL BE WINS ON ALL LEVELS WITH THE CREATION OF THE VPA HERE IN FLORIDA AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF SENATE BILL 796. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. AMY WAIVING IN SUPPORT. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO WEIGH IN? I SEE NONE. MEMBERS, WE'RE IN DEBATE. SENATOR BRADLEY YOU MAY CLOSE. WE HAVE DEBATE. SENATOR TRUENOW. >> Senator Truenow: THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS BILL. I DO HAVE CONCERNS LOOKING AT RURAL AREAS AND LARGE ANIMALS OR FOOD ANIMALS. WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE FOCUS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE MAYBE. I AM A YES TODAY BUT I WOULD LIKE MORE CLARITY. >> Chair: ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR MASSULLO. >> Senator Massullo: THIS IS A DIFFICULT BILL TO SWALLOW FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. I WILL GIVE THEM TO YOU. ABOUT 35 YEARS AGO WHEN VA'S BECAME MORE PREVALENT THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR THAT THEY WOULD DO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAID TODAY AND IT DIDN'T END UP BEING THAT WAY BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM THAT WAS SET UP AND THE DECISION AND THE FACT THAT VPAS WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT THE PHYSICIAN COULD AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT THEM AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM AND WAS ABLE TO OVERSEE IT BUT THE SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT IS HAPPENING IN MEDICINE, CORPORATE MEDICINE TODAY WAS SUPERVISING PHYSICIANS WHO ARE OFTEN DISLOCATED GEOGRAPHICALLY SOMETIMES DON'T EVEN KNOW THE PEOPLE. AND YET ARE 100 PERCENT RESPONSIBLE. THE WORLD OF ANIMALS ISN'T QUITE TREATED THE SAME AS THE WORLD OF HUMANS EVEN THOUGH WE LOVE OUR ANIMALS I HAVE THREE DOGS AND THEY MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. ONE OF THEM WAS AT THE VET ON MONDAY. AND THE VET THAT THEY SAW WAS AN EXCELLENT DOCTOR BUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSE WHAT MY DOG HAD AND NOW MY DOG NEEDS TO GO TO A SPECIALIST. AND ALL THAT BEING SAID I WILL VOTE FOR YOUR BILL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME SAFEGUARDS AS FAR AS SUPERVISION AND MAKE IT MORE CLEAR ABOUT DIRECT SUPERVISION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A RUNAWAY THING WHERE A VETERINARIAN COULD BE AT ONE OF THEIR CLINICS AND THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW VETS THAT ARE HIRED BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A VET PA SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OR AUTHORIZE THE PROCEDURE. AND THEN ALSO I THINK IF WE ARE CREATING THIS TYPE OF ENTITY WE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT IT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AT A LOWER AMOUNT. >> Chair: ADDITIONAL DEBATE. SENATOR BRADLEY. >> Senator Bradley: THANK YOU SENATOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK TODAY. I WANT TO ADDRESS A FEW OF THE POINTS THAT WERE RAISED. ONE SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE PRESCRIBING THAT IS ALLOWED IN THIS BILL WOULD VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW THE BILL CLEARLY SAYS UNLESS IT IS PROHIBITED BY FEDERAL LAW. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO ACT IN A WAY THAT WAS INCONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL LAW. ANOTHER ISSUE YOU HAD TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A SHORTAGE. THE SHORTAGE OF VETERINARIANS HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA VET SCHOOL AND WE HAVE 40 PERCENT OF OUR SHELTERS THROUGH THE STATE SEEKING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO BRING TREATMENT TO THEIR VETS. THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE HAS GONE UP 40 PERCENT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS YET YEAR OVER YEAR THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL VISITS HAS GONE DOWN. AND WHEN THE VISITS GO DOWN AND PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR ANIMALS THAT IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE REASONS WHY ANIMALS ARE SURRENDERED TO AN ANIMAL SHELTER. SO WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT LIKE VPAS 50 YEARS AGO WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROAD. WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS. AND VET VPAS WILL BE LICENSED TO PRACTICE UNDER REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE FLORIDA BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINES AND THEY WILL ENGAGE SUPERVISION AND THIS REQUIRES THAT THERE WILL BE SUPERVISION AND THIS IS FOR A VET WHO DECIDES THAT THEY WANT TO EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE AND WILL FOCUS SOME OF THEIR TIME ON MORE COMPLEX CASES AND ELECT A VPA TO DO SOME WELL CARE TO THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THAT PHYSICIAN. SO AS THE VPA HAS MORE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE MAYBE THEY GET DELEGATED MORE TASKS. I DON'T THINK ANYONE EXPECTS A BRAND NEW VPA AND A VETERINARIAN TO WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE FULL SCOPE. IT WOULD BE UNDER REGULATIONS BY THE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE BECAUSE THE GOAL OF THE BILL AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON PRECISE LANGUAGE OR THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SET UP BUT THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE PRACTICE AND BRING BETTER VETERINARIAN CARE AND MORE VETERINARY CARE AT A LOWER COST TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WHICH IS LACKING IN THE STATE. AND WE WANT A SAFE SYSTEM AND I CERTAINLY DO WELCOME AND HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF ALL THE FEEDBACK AND I WILL TAKE IT AS WE CONTINUE ON. WITH THAT I CLOSE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. >> Chair: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON CS FOR SENATE BILL 96. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> YES. >> SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: YES BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR SENATE BILL 796 REPORTS FAVORABLY. UP NEXT HAVE TAB 14 SENATOR TRUMBULL SENATE BILL 1682 YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Trumball: GOOD AFTERNOON. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OFTEN LACK CLEAR AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS PROBLEM VESSELS WITHOUT INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH CAUSES DELAYS ALLOWING SAFETY HAZARDS, ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, AND NAVIGATIONAL ISSUES TO WORSEN. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL STREAMLINES LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS A DERELICT ABANDONED AND PROBLEM VESSELS AND GIVE CITIES AND COUNTIES PRACTICAL TOOLS WHILE KEEPING AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND AUTHORIZES COUNTIES AND IS ABOUT THESE TO ADOPT ORDINANCES ADDRESSING AT RISK AND DERELICT VESSELS AND DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT TO THE FISH AND ONE THAT CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADOPT RULES AND THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: AMENDMENTS? YES MR. PRESIDENT ON THE DESK. READ THE FIRST AMENDMENT BARCODE 464856 BY SENATOR TRUMBULL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO READ THE AMENDMENT. >> Senator Trumball: THANK YOU. SENATORS, THIS AMENDMENT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF MOORINGS REQUIRED WITHIN 1 MILE OF KEY WEST BY DOC FROM 100 MOORINGS TO 60 MOORINGS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS TO REDUCE CONGESTION OF THIS WITHIN 1 MILE NOT REQUIRING TOO MANY MOORING IN A LIMITED AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT. THE AREA WHICH THIS IS BEING CONTEMPLATED IS A SMALL AREA AND THERE IS AN ISSUE RELATED TO THE DEVELOPER AS WELL AS A LOCAL COMMUNITY. SO THE REDUCTION OF THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE THOSE ISSUES AND ALSO WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER MOORING FIELD AS TO MOVE VESSELS AROUND EVERY 90 DAYS, WHICH APPARENTLY IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NOT POSSIBLE. >> Chair: QUESTIONS? PUBLIC TESTIMONY? DEBATE? OBJECTION? SEEING NONE SHOW THIS MOTION IS ADOPTED. THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE’RE NOW BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? OKAY I'M SEEING NONE. PUBLIC TESTIMONY? PETER FROM FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES WAIVING IN SUPPORT. GREAT. CHRIS DAWSON ESCAMBIA COUNTY WAIVING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO TESTIFY? SEEING NONE WE ARE IN DEBATE. MEMBERS? SENATOR TRUMBULL YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Senator Trumball: THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. CHAIR. THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY BILLS I HAVE EVER RUN AND THE COUNTIES HAVE WAIVED IN SUPPORT. BUT IT IS AN EXTREMELY GREAT PIECE OF POLICY AND DERELICT VESSELS ARE A PLAGUE THAT AFFECTS EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ANOTHER CLUE IN OUR TOOL CHEST TO FIX THAT PROBLEM SO WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. >> Chair: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> YES. >> SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: YES BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR SENATE BILL 1682 REPORTS FAVORABLY. NEXT WE HAVE TAB EIGHT CS FOR SENATE BILL 1028 BY SENATOR GRUTERS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Gruters: THIS INTENDS TO EXPAND INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF FLORIDA BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS. BACK IN 23 UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE LED CITIZENS TO A SET OF TWO SEPARATE CLEARINGHOUSES. ONE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND ONE FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. THE CLEARINGHOUSES ACT AS A FINAL CHECK TO MAKE SURE RISK IS QUALIFIED FOR CITIZENS COVERAGE ONLY AFTER PRIVATE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN EXPLORED. WHILE HOMEOWNERS CLEARINGHOUSE WAS CREATED AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL THE COMMERCIAL ONE WAS NEVER FULLY IMPLEMENTED. THIS BILL WILL REQUIRE CITIZENS TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED CLEARINGHOUSE BY JANUARY 1st, 2027, THAT KEEPS THE CURRENT ELIGIBILITY RULES INTACT WHILE OPENING THE DOOR FOR QUALIFIED PRIVATE INSURERS TO OFFER COVERAGE. THIS RESULTS IN MORE COMPETITIVE QUOTES OFTEN WITH BETTER TERMS AND LOWER COST INSTEAD OF DEPENDING UPON THE STATE-BACKED OPTION. THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: OUTSTANDING. THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS. OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE IS THERE PUBLIC TESTIMONY? WE HAVE OUR COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE MIKE IS HERE? COME ON UP. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE TODAY NOT TO SPEAK ON THE NOBLE GOAL OF THE POPULATING CITIZENS, WHICH IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE SHOULD STRIVE TO ALTHOUGH BE MINDFUL WE MUST ALSO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY MIX OF BUSINESS WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR RISK POOL. MAINLY THESE ARE SOME ISSUES WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING AS A KEY CONCERN AROUND THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THIS BILL. PARTICULARLY AT THE MACRO LEVEL I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS REALLY INVERTING THE TRADITIONAL WAY THAT INSURANCE IS PROCURED BY PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE HAVE THREE MARKETS IN OUR PROPERTY SPACE ONE OF WHICH IS THE ADMIT MARKET AND ONE IS THE SURPLUS LINE UP MARKET AND THE OTHER IS THE REASONABLE MARKET OR CITIZENS. WHEN A CONSUMER OF ANY KIND GOES TO SEEK INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THEIR PROPERTY THE FIRST GOAL IS ALWAYS TO PLACE THEM IN THE ADMITTED MARKET AREA. THAT IS BECAUSE IT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF KEY PROTECTIONS FOR THE OVERALL PURCHASE OF INSURANCE AND CLAIMS GIVING THEM THE ENTIRE MECHANISM OF HOW IT'S REGULATED AND FORMS ARE REVIEWED BY THE OFFICE FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY. THE SURPLUS LINES MARKET ON THE OTHER HAND IS ALMOST THE EXACT OPPOSITE. THE BARGAIN FOR EXCHANGE BELIEF IN THE SURPLUS LINES MARKET IS THAT THE CONSUMER WHO WILL PURCHASE THE TYPE OF PRODUCT IS OF A SOPHISTICATION OR WEALTH THAT THEY DO NOT NECESSARILY NEED THOSE STATE BACKED PROTECTIONS. PARTICULARLY THEREFORE THERE IS NO FORM FOR RATE REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ITEMS COMPLY WITH FLORIDA LAW. AND CONCEPTS AND PROVISIONS OF LAW THEY ARE BARRED UNDER THE STATE LAW IN THE VIEW OF THE OFFICE THEY ARE EXPRESSLY ALLOWED WITH IN THE SURPLUS LINES SPACE AND THAT CAN MANIFEST IN NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND SPEAKING OF THAT WORD THERE IS A KEY ISSUE I WOULD HOME IN ON THIS TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ADMITTED MARKET IN THE SURPLUS LINES MARKET. THE ADMITTED MARKET YOU HAVE VERY CLEAR COHERENT RENEWAL CANCELLATION AND CHANGE NOTICES THAT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE INSURERS BY THE INSURER TO THE CONSUMERS SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE IN THIS CASE IN THE SURPLUS MARKET YOU HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MECHANISM IN PLACE. ALL THE INSURER HAS TO DO IS PROVIDE THE MANIFESTATION OF INTENT TO RENEW AND MEET THE DEADLINE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SPACE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHAT THE NEW ID OR COVERAGE MAY BE AND THE NUMBER OF OTHER PROVISIONS MIGHT BE IN ITS PLACE UP UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE NEW POLICY IS SET TO RENEW. IT CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR A NUMBER OF CONSUMERS IN THIS RESIDUAL MARKETPLACE RIGHT NOW SUCH AS CITIZENS. IT IS AN ENVIRONMENT BE OF A SOPHISTICATION THAT CAN HANDLE THAT KIND OF AWARENESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR SPACE AND YOU CAN FIND THEM CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT COVERAGE IS ACTUALLY BEING OFFERED BY THE CARRIER AT THAT POINT AS WELL AS THE PRICING MEANS OF THE CARRIER AT THAT POINT IN ANOTHER CONCERN ABOUT THIS BILL WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IS IF THEY HAVE A CURRENT BROKER OR AGENT OR AGENT RELATIONSHIP IS ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPENING UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BILL THE RELATIONSHIP IS EITHER SEVERED ENTIRELY OR THAT AGENT IS PERMITTED TO GET A WITH CONTINUATION OF PAYMENT OF THE COMMISSION WITH NO SERVICES RENDERED OR THAT IS IF THE INSURER TAKES ON THE POLICY AND DEGREES TO A POINT THAT PARTICULAR AGENT OR ESSENTIALLY THE BROKER ADMINISTRATOR VENDOR RESULTS IN BEING HIRED BY CITIZENS FOR THESE SERVICES AND ESSENTIALLY BECOMES THE BROKER ON BOTH END OF THE TRANSACTION AND THIS IS A CONCERNING PROVISION FOR ANY INSURANCE REGULATOR FROM A CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE THAT IS FACE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROVISION. THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS WITH IN THAT. I MENTIONED ONE WITH IN THE FEE STRUCTURE ACCOUNTED FOR BUT THERE ARE FEES IN COMMISSIONS ON TOP OF FEES AND COMMISSIONS ON TOP OF FEES AND COMMISSIONS WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF THIS BILL. ALL THROUGHOUT THE CHAIN. IT IS CONCERNING FROM A PERSPECTIVE AS A LEGISLATURE GAVE ME A HARD TIME LAST YEAR RIGHTFULLY SO OVER AFFILIATED ARRANGEMENTS AND FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IN THE SURPLUS LINES SPACE THERE IS ACTUALLY ALMOST NO CAPPING OF FEES WHATSOEVER. THERE IS A THING CALLED A POLICY FEE INTO THE ADMITTED MARKET SPACE THAT IS CAPPED AND HEAVILY REGULATED. AND IN THE SURPLUS LINES SPACE IT WAS DEREGULATED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THERE ARE NO LIMITS ON POLICY FEES THAT IS CONCERNING TO US BECAUSE POLICY FEES ARE NOT ACCOUNTED TO A BASE LEVEL RATEMAKING AND ARE NOT ALWAYS TRANSPARENT TO THE CONSUMER IN THAT SPACE. ULTIMATELY I THINK THE OTHER CONCERN WE HAVE ON THIS RELATES TO THE MATERIALS WE SAW EARLIER FROM WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE VENDOR PARTICULARLY IN THIS ENDEAVOR BUT IT RELATES TO PLANS TO PERHAPS COMMODITIZE THE RISK AND SELL OFF PORTIONS OF POLICIES THROUGH DIFFERENT INSURERS THROUGHOUT THE IT IS ALSO COMMONLY KNOWN IN THIS SPACE AS FRONTING OR QUOTA SHARING. EVEN IN THE SURPLUS LINE MARKET THERE ARE LIMITS AND REQUIREMENTS AROUND HOW YOU CAN DO THAT ULTIMATELY BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE POLICYHOLDER HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHO IS ACTUALLY BACKING THE PLAN. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS BILL RIGHT NOW IS THERE IS NO REGULATORY OVERSIGHT WHATSOEVER OF THIS BROKER WHICH WAS FOR THE INSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR VENDOR. THERE IS NO REGULATORY OVERSIGHT WHATSOEVER OVER THE WAY THAT PERSON BEHAVES. IT IS A CONCERN. SOMETHING WE HAVE WORKED HARD ON OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WAS THE STAMP OUT WASTE AND ABUSE IN THE SYSTEM AND IT CAN COME FROM MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS. IT CAN COME FROM THIRD PARTIES DOING THINGS TO ABUSE THE SYSTEM AND IT CAN ALSO COME FROM AREAS WITH WITHIN. I SUPPORT THE ENDEAVOR TO FIND WAYS TO DEPOPULATE CITIZENS GENERALLY BUT I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL IN THE WAY THOSE IDEAS ARE CONTEMPLATED. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. LEADER BERMAN HAS A QUESTION. >> Senator Berman: HAVE YOU SUGGESTED SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE SPONSOR? OR WILL YOU WORK WITH THE SPONSOR TO GIVE YOU AMENDMENTS ALLAYING SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS? >> Chair: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> WE HAVE NOT ENGAGED DIRECTLY TO DO THAT. BUT ON THE HOUSE SIDE WE HAVE NOT ENGAGED WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE BILL BUT THAT BILL IRONICALLY WHILE IT SEEMED TO HAVE CODIFIED VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COMPARABLE COVERAGE IN THE ADMITTED MARKET CLEARING HOUSE PROGRAM IT DID NOT DO SO GOOD IN THE NEW SURPLUS LINE PROGRAM. BUT I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE CHAIR. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO TESTIFY? I AM SEEING NONE. WE ARE IN DEBATE. LEADER BERMAN. >> Senator Berman: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR., SENATOR GRUTERS, I WILL SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY BUT I HEAR CONCERNS WHEN I HEAR THE COMMISSIONER COME UP AND RAISE POINTS ABOUT THE BILL. SO I DO HOPE YOU CAN WORK WITH THIS PRODUCT AND WE CAN GET TO THE NEXT STEP I WILL SUPPORT IT TODAY BUT UNLESS WE PROTECT EVERYONE IN THIS HOUSE I HAVE SOME CONCERNS. >> Chair: ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR GRUTERS YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Senator Gruters: THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS. FIRST I WANT TO SAY THE FEES AND THE BILL ONLY TO COVER THE COST THAT IS THE TIGHTKNIT LANGUAGE BUT NUMBER TWO, 40 PERCENT OF THE COMMERCIAL MARKET IS ALREADY WRITTEN BY SURPLUS LINES RIGHT NOW. 40 PERCENT. SO IT IS A CONTINUATION. WITH THE GOAL IS WE HAVE $25 BILLION OF EXPOSED RISK FOR THE STATE SO WHEN THIS IDEA AND YOU KNOW I WAS TOLD ABOUT IT AND THE QUESTION IS WHAT HAVE WE SEEN JUST OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH INSURANCE RATES AS A RESULT OF THE EFFORTS OF THIS BODY, THE GOVERNOR, AND OTHERS, WE HAVE SEEN RATES GO DOWN AND WE HAVE SEEN THEM GO DOWN BECAUSE WE MADE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO DRIVE INCREASED CAPITAL INTO THE MARKET WHICH INCREASES COMPETITION WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY LOWER RATES. THE GOAL HERE IS WHEN YOU DO ANYTHING WITH INSURANCE ACROSS THE BOARD, THIS IS MY EIGHTH YEAR IN THE SENATE AND THIS IS THE FIRST INSURANCE BILL I HAVE EVER FILED. BUT IF YOU EVER TRY TO DO AN INSURANCE BILL THERE'S LOTS OF CONSTITUENCIES OUT THERE WITH A LOT OF OPINIONS. SO, WE HAVE TRIED TO DO FIRST DO NO HARM. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE NO ONE IS DISPLACED IN THE PROCESS. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A CLEARING HOUSE JUST LIKE ON THE PERSONAL ALLIANCE SET UP ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE THAT DOES NOT COST THE STATE ANY MONEY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BRING THIS CAPITAL IN AND REDUCE RATES FOR THE CONSUMER. THAT IS ULTIMATE GOAL. WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS. I MAY NOT BE HERE BUT SENATOR RODRIGUEZ WILL BECOME AN EXPERT IN THE INSURANCE SPACE SOON BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S VERBAL CONSIDERATION TODAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS TO MAKE SURE WE GET IN THE RIGHT SPOT. THANK YOU. >> Chair: CALL THE ROLL ON CS WAS SENATE BILL 1028. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> YES. >> SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: CS FOR SENATE BILL 1028 REPORT FAVORABLY. NEXT SENATOR LEEK. >> Senator Leek: THANK YOU CHAIRMAN. >> Chair: WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE. >> Senator Leek: LET'S START WITH SENATE BILL 394 IF YOU WILL HAVE IT. >> Chair: TAB NUMBER TWO SENATOR LEEK YOU ARE RECOGNIZED EXPLAINS IN SENATE BILL 394. >> Senator Leek: THANK YOU. THIS EXEMPTS UNDERWRITING MANAGERS WHO MANAGE RISK FOR REINSURER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS IF OF THE REINSURANCE BUSINESS IS MANAGED BY THE UNDERWRITING MANAGER IS LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE ASSUMED ANNUAL GROSS WRITTEN PREMIUM OF THE INSURER. UNDERSTAND THIS IS SUPER FASCINATING FOR MOST FOLKS BUT ESSENTIALLY THE BIGGEST EXCUSE ME. THE BIGGEST THING WE ARE DOING IS ALIGNING THE LAW WITH THE CURRENT PRACTICE. AND IN 2023 THE LAW GAVE DFS THE AUTHORIZATION TO REQUIRE LICENSURE. THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT SINCE 2023 BECAUSE IS NOT THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE BETWEEN THE REINSURANCE COMPANY AND ANOTHER CARRIER SO THEY ARE NOT FRONT FACING TO THE PUBLIC. WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS ALIGN IT TO THE EXISTING PRACTICE. >> Chair: DO ANY OTHER MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE PUBLIC TESTIMONY? IS THERE DEBATE? OKAY SENATOR LEEK YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Chair: HAVING WAIVED PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENT RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Senator Brodeur: IT SHOWS IN BILL 394 REPORTS FAVORABLY. WELL DONE ON THAT ONE. NEXT UP TAB NUMBER FIVE SENATE BILL 636 SENATOR LEEK YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Leek: THIS IS FASCINATING ABOUT BEACH MANAGEMENT IT'S NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PASSES FOR COUNTY AND ITS APOLOGIES TO OBTAIN THE CRITICALLY ERODED BEACH DESIGNATION. CEB ARE AREAS OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN. DESIGNATION BY THE FTE. IT ENCOURAGES MORE CEP AND ACS DESIGNATIONS AS THE SHORELINE CAN BE MAINTAINED BETTER WITH A LOWER COST OF PLANNED PROJECTS RATHER THAN A FREQUENT HIGH COST EMERGENCY REPAIR THINK OF IT THIS WAY. THIS ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GET IN FRONT OF THE ISSUE IN A POSTURE WHERE THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING AND TAKES A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO MANAGING BEACH EROSION AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR THE STORM TO COME THROUGH AND REPAIRING THINGS AFTER A STORM AT A HIGH COST. THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: THERE IS AMENDMENT BAR CODE 244086 BY SENATOR LEEK. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT. >> Senator Leek: THIS IS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT CLAIMING THE LANGUAGE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE A PERPETUAL EASEMENT. >> Chair: QUESTIONS? PUBLIC TESTIMONY? DEBATE? OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION SHOW THIS ADOPTED. WE’RE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. PUBLIC TESTIMONY? TRAVIS MOORE OCEAN MANAGEMENT WAIVING IN SUPPORT WITH BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, I APPRECIATE IT. AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SHORELINE BREACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION WE RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THE CONCEPTS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE BILL LIKE SENATOR LEEK EXPLAINED. THE IDEA TO GET AHEAD OF THIS IS A GOOD CONCEPT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT DO THAT SHOULD NOT PENALIZE BY NOT BEING ELIGIBLE TO ENTER INTO THE PROGRAM FOR THE CRITICAL DESIGNATION. THAT IS THE LITERAL FIRST STEP IN ORDER TO GET ACCESS TO THE STATE FUNDING THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP THAT IS IN CHAPTER 161. WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE AND HOW IT MIGHT APPLIED TO THE EXISTING DESIGNATION PROCESS. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SENATOR LEEK'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE. WE APPRECIATE HIS STAFF'S TIME IN LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE AND WE HOPE TO GET IT IN A POSTURE THAT WE CAN BE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE BILL AS WE MOVE FORWARD SO IT DOES NOT AFFECT OUR CURRENT PROGRAM BUT ALLOWS THE NEW AND EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE PATHWAY TO MOVE FORWARD. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR THIS TESTIMONY. DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO TESTIFY? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, WE ARE IN DEBATE. SENATOR LEEK YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Senator Leek: WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: CALL THE ROLL ON SENATE BILL 636. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: SHOW THIS BILL REPORTS FAVORABLY. WELL DONE. NEXT TAB NUMBER FOUR CS FOR SENATE BILL 546 SENATOR MAYFIELD YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Mayfield: THANK YOU. WE SPOKE ABOUT INSURANCE AND BEACH LAND. NOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT CONSERVATION. >> Chair: A GREAT COMMITTEE THAT HAS EVERYTHING. >> Senator Mayfield: THIS IS THE DECISION TO DISPOSE OF STATE OWNED CONSERVATION LAND BY STRENGTHENING PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEETINGS TO REVIEW THE SALE OR EXCHANGE CONSERVATION LAND. SPECIFICALLY THE BILL REQUIRES THE DIVISION OF STATE LAND WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO PROVIDE A 30 DAY NOTICE BEFORE ANY NEEDING TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED SALE OR EXCHANGE OF THE CONSERVATION LAND THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: WE HAVE NO AMENDMENTS. DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY TRAVIS MORE NATIVE SOCIETY. AND WE HAVE FLORIDA WILDLIFE FEDERATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE HAVE ELIZABETH FROM AUDUBON FLORIDA WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE HAVE NEIL STEIN TALL TIMBERS RESEARCH STATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE HAVE JENNIFER WEBB SIERRA CLUB FLORIDA WAIVING IN SUPPORT WE HAVE TINA REAL. IS IT REAL OR REAL? THERE WE GO. WAIVING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CHADWICK LEONARD THOUSAND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA WAIVING IN SUPPORT. LESLEY REED CONSERVATION FLORIDA WAIVING IN SUPPORT. VERY GOOD. NICE RUN. ANYONE WISHING TO TESTIFY? OKAY. WE'RE IN DEBATE MEMBERS. SENATOR MAYFIELD WILL CLOSE. >> Senator Mayfield: WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: CALL THE ROLL ON CS FOR SENATE BILL 546. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW THIS REPORTS FAVORABLY. >> Senator Mayfield: THANK YOU COMMITTEE. >> Chair: NEXT TAB ONE SENATOR GARCIA IS HERE FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL 3020 WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE STRIKE ALL FIRST? >> Senator Garcia: WE CAN. >> Chair: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN AMENDMENT 61883 TO DELETE ALL AMENDMENT. >> Senator Garcia: THIS REMOVES THE PROGRAM THAT THE ORIGINAL BILL HAS WITH CONCERNS OF FISCAL IMPACT AND STAYS SPECIFIC TO THE GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR PERMITTING DESIGN CRITERIA FOR NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS. THE STRIKE ALL BASICALLY AUTHORIZES THE MINIMUM DREDGING AND FULFILLING OF THE BISCAYNE BAY AQUATIC PRESERVE AS SUCH AND IS AUTHORIZED FOR ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING SUB STRAIGHT FOR VEGETATION, PLANTING, AND RESTORATION OF MANGROVES, AND SEA SALT MARSHES. I'M SORRY. GRASSES, AND OYSTER REEFS. THE AMENDMENT PROVIDES FOR STRUCTURES ALLOWED WITHIN THE PRESERVE TO INCLUDE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE COASTAL RESILIENCY. THAT IS THE AMENDMENT. >> Chair: QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? NO PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THE AMENDMENT. IS THERE DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT? IS THERE OBJECTION ON THE AMENDMENT? SHOWING NONE SHOW THIS ADOPTED. WE’RE BACK ON THE BILL. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? PUBLIC TESTIMONY? EDITOR FERNANDEZ WC3 WATER AND SEWER COOPERATIVE WAIVING IN SUPPORT. ENVIRONMENT EVENTS FUND WAIVING IN SUPPORT. CHADWICK LEONARD THOUSAND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA WAIVING IN SUPPORT. DEBRA PACINO FLORIDA SHORE AND BEACH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT. JENNIFER WEBB SIERRA CLUB WAIVING IN SUPPORT. JOHN LUTZ WAIVING IN SUPPORT. MICHAELA NEW CONCRETE WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE HAVE TRAVIS FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY WAIVING IN SUPPORT. ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC WISHING TO TESTIFY? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, WE ARE IN DEBATE. SENATOR GARCIA. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> Senator Garcia: I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND YOU PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I CANNOT BEGIN TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT RESILIENCY IS IN FLORIDA, SPECIFICALLY IN MY AREA. SO THANK YOU AND I ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT. >> Chair: CALL THE ROLL ON CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL 302. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. SENATOR TRUENOW. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL 302 REPORTS FAVORABLY. WHILE WE WAIT FOR JUST KIDDING. NEXT UP A TRIFECTA FROM SENATOR HARRELL. GET YOURSELF SITUATED. SENATOR HARRELL WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? SB 480 FIRST? >> Senator Harrell: LET'S DO IT. [INAUDIBLE]. >> Chair: TAB THREE SENATE BILL 480 BY SENATOR HARRELL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WANT TO GO RIGHT TO THE STRIKE ALL? >> Senator Harrell: YES THAT IS FINE. I WILL EXPLAIN THE BILL THEN I WILL ADD ONTO IT. I CAN DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME. >> Chair: LET'S DO IT ALL IN ONE TIME. WE WILL TAKE A BARCODE 816038. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT AND THE BILL. >> Senator Harrell: THANK YOU. AS YOU KNOW FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TRYING TO REALLY BRING OUR STATE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM INTO THE 21st CENTURY. WE ARE NOW A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH IT AND WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING. I SAT ON THE FIRST COMMITTEE BACK IN 2001 IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS SINCE THEN. WE FIRST BEGAN UNDER GOVERNOR BUSH BUT WE HAVE HAD MANY ITERATIONS I THINK THIS IS THE FOURTH. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY BE THE FIFTH AND THE FINAL. YOU HEARD MY BILL LAST YEAR ON ASSETS AND THIS YEAR WE WILL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT THE GOAL IS STILL THE SAME. TO MODERNIZE OUR IT SYSTEM AND REALLY MAKE AND CHANGE OUR PROCUREMENT SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY HAVING THE BEST SYSTEM THAT WILL BE ENTER OPERATIVE THROUGH OUT OUR AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I SHARE THIS FOCUS WITH PRESIDENT ALBRITTON WHO HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THIS AREA AS WELL AND I APPRECIATE HIM AND EVERYTHING OUR WONDERFUL STAFF TABITHA WHO IS HERE WHO HAS WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH ME AND WHAT THIS DOES FIRST OF ALL THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO ESTABLISH A NEW CENTRAL GOVERNANCE BODY THROUGH THE CREATION OF WHAT THIS YEAR WE WILL CALL DIGIT DIVISION OF INTEGRATED GOVERNMENT INNOVATION. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR ACRONYMS. SO THIS YEAR DO DIGIT. LAST YEAR WE TRIED TO DO THINGS THROUGH A CABINET LEVEL AGENCY REALIZING THAT WAS NOT GONNA HAPPEN I THINK IF WE AT LEAST START WITH OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND MOVE UP FL THE YES FLORIDA DIGIT SERVICE IN THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND REALLY STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP AND REFLECT THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY ACROSS OUR STATE THIS IS REALLY I BELIEVE THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO TO HAVE THAT AGENCY DIRECTLY UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S FLDS FLORIDA DIGITAL SERVICE WILL BE TRANSFERRED BY A TYPE TO TRANSFER TO DIGIT ON JANUARY 5th 2027. SO WE DO HAVE SOME TRANSITION TIME. IT WILL TAKE US A BIT OF TIME TO DO THIS. BUT IT WILL BE A TYPE TO TRANSFER AND THE STATE SEE I WILL ACT AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION AND WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CREATES A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR STATE AGENCIES THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT INTER AGENCY IT WORKGROUP. THIS TO ME IS ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THIS BILL. WE WILL WORK WITH ALL OUR STATE AGENCIES THROUGH THESE WORKGROUPS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIFORM IT A SPECIFIC POLICY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR ME, STANDARDS. AND ALSO IMPROVE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR AGENCIES SO WE DON'T HAVE THE SIDELOAD THINKING THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR 25 YEARS. AND FOR ME THESE WORKGROUPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THEY WILL BE SECURITY, DATA, INTEROPERABILITY. ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. QUALITY ASSURANCE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK VERY SPECIFICALLY AT PROCUREMENT. THAT IS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE BILL. IT WILL ENHANCE IT EFFICIENCY AND MODERNIZATION BY REQUIRING THE STANDARDIZATION AND OVERSIGHT OF IT PROCUREMENT TRACKING AND ADDRESSING TECHNICAL DEBT AND WE WANT TO ANALYZE AND REQUIRE AGENCIES TO GIVE US REALLY A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF WHAT THEIR TECHNICAL DEBT IS. BY THIS I MEAN WE HAVE ANCIENT SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT INTEROPERATE WITH OTHER SYSTEMS. WE WANT TO PLAN AND KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH FUNDING OF THESE THINGS LONG SO GETTING OUR TECHNICAL DEBT EVALUATED IS IMPORTANT. THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE ARE DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF DEVELOPING IT PROCUREMENT POLICIES, STANDARDS, AND BEST PRACTICES ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED METRICS TO OBJECTIVELY MEASURE THEIR PERFORMANCE THAT IS A KEY ELEMENT OF THE BILL. AND DIGIT IS TASKED WITH REDUCING NEED ASSESSMENT FOR EACH AGENCY TO FACILITATE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTS AND CURRENT IT MATURITY LEVELS. AGAIN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT DEBT. AND DIGIT WILL ALSO USE THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF TECHNICAL DEBT THAT EXISTS ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE AND ASSIST EACH AGENCY IN THE PRODUCTION OF PHASED ROADMAPS THAT MUST TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE AGENCY LEGISLATIVE BUDGET REQUEST. SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF THE ROADMAP AND WHERE WE ARE GOING. IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. IT IMPROVES IT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE ADDITION OF AN ANNUAL IT EXPENDITURE ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE STANDARDS. THOSE OF YOU INVOLVED IN IT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO HAVE THE ARCHITECTURE STANDARDS SO YOU CAN HAVE THE INTEROPERABILITY THAT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO A STATEWIDE SYSTEM. AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE AGENCY ASSESSMENTS SO WE KNOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE. AND IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE INVESTMENT OF STATE IT WORKFORCE BY INTRODUCING THE CREATION OF STRUCTURED CAREER PATHS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT BUILD ON IT TALENT. I THINK THIS IS AGAIN ANY ESSENTIAL ELEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITHIN INNER AGENCIES WE HAVE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND WE ARE BUILDING OUR WORKFORCE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE WITH IN OUR AGENCIES THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE CONTRACT OUT SO MANY TIMES. THIS WILL ALSO BUILD OUR WHOLE PIPELINE THROUGH INTERNSHIPS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER WORKFORCE TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM WORK. AND THEN AS WE MOVE ON TO THE ADDITIONS THAT ARE IN THE BILL IN THE AMENDMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE AMENDMENT BRINGS TOGETHER THESE ADDITIONS. THIS CONTINUES TO CLARIFY AND REALLY STRENGTHEN THE IT CLARIFIES VERY SPECIFICALLY CLARIFIES THAT THE DUTIES OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO EMPHASIZE COMPLIANCE WITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REPORTING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AND PROCUREMENT STANDARDS. THIS WILL BE ESSENTIAL. ALSO THE AMENDMENT STRENGTHENS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS BY REQUIRING DIGIT TO REVIEW STATE AGENCY LEGISLATIVE BUDGET REQUESTS AND COMPLIANCE WITH ID STANDARDS AND REPORTING FINDINGS TO THE GOVERNOR TO INFORM FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. AGAIN, WE MUST ADDRESS HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. >> Chair: ARE WE CLOSE TO BEING DONE WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE BILL? >> Senator Harrell: YOU WANT MORE? I'M ALMOST THERE. I'M ALMOST THERE. I'M ALMOST THERE. PLEASE. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AM I A LITTLE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. IT WILL DIRECT DIGIT TO DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED IT PROJECT PLANNING FRAMEWORK. VERY IMPORTANT. AND IT UPDATES THE DEFINITIONS AND ADDS REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT AND REQUIRES IT CONTRACTS TO ADDRESS DATA PORTABILITY OPERATIONAL DOCUMENTATION, TRANSITION SUPPORT AND TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP. REQUEST FOR QUOTES TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY. THAT IS THE ENTIRE STRIKE ALL. IT'S ONLY 104 PAGES IF YOU WANT TO READ IT. >> Chair: GOOD STUFF. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE STRIKE ALL MEMBERS? SENATOR MASSULLO. >> Senator Massullo: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO ASK. HOW CAN WE NUMBER ONE, I HOPE DIGIT HAS SOME IT ABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO COMBINE SOME OF THE CURRENT ISSUES THAT AGENCIES HAVE BUT HOW WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE THAT THE AGENCY'S USE WHAT WE ARE CREATING TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT? IF THEY HAVE THE POWER TO BASICALLY DENY WHAT THE USES ARE? >> Senator Harrell: THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ARE SETTING THE STANDARDS AND WILL REQUIRE ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS IN ADDITION THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO ADOPT. WE’RE EMPOWERING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL I THINK TO REALLY GO BACK AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. AND HE WILL REPORT TO EACH AGENCY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL WHERE THEY REPORT TO THE CHIEF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THEN BE ABLE TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT REQUIRING A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT BY ANNUALLY, ANNUALLY, TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO TO THE LEGISLATURE. SO WE WILL KNOW VIA THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING OR WHAT IS NOT HAPPENING. AND WE HOLD THE POCKET BOOK SO THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY SITS WITH US AS THE APPROPRIATORS. >> Chair: SENATOR TRUENOW. >> Senator Truenow: THANK YOU. ADJUSTMENTS JUST MENTIONED SOMETHING. THE POCKETBOOK. WHAT WILL THIS COST US AND HOW MANY FTES WILL IT TAKE TO MANAGE ALL OF THIS? >> Chair: SENATOR HARRELL. >> Senator Harrell: THE FIRST YEAR WERE TRANSFERRING IT FOR TYPE TWO SO IT WILL GO DIRECTLY OVER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE BUDGET WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR WILL BE IN THE BUDGET BUT THIS GIVES US A WAY TO KNOW AND PART OF WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT IS GETTING THE TECHNICAL DEBT. AND EVALUATION OF OUR TECHNICAL DEBT. I CANNOT TELL YOU WHERE THIS WILL GO THIS NEXT YEAR. I DO NOT ANTICIPATE IT BEING A MAJOR INCREASE IN BUDGET BUT YET WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO STATEWIDE. I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WE HAVE SPENT OVER A BILLION ON FX IN ACHA. WE HAVE SPENT A HUGE RESOURCE IN DCF AND WE HAVE AN ACCESS SYSTEM AND DCF ARE AND FOR TARIFF THAT IS 30 YEARS OLD. YES IT WILL COST US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. PART OF WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THE CHANGES IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AND CONTROL PROCUREMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT BEING TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS BY VARIOUS VENDORS. >> Chair: SENATOR PIZZO. >> Senator Pizzo: I’LL PROBABLY GET IN TROUBLE FOR THIS BUT I GOT A TEXT FROM ZACH HUBBARD TURNBULL AND SAID THIS IS THE DIVISION OF INTEGRATED GOVERNMENT INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY DIGIT SAYING ASK HER HOW I CAN GET HER DIGITS? [LAUGHTER] SO IF YOUR OFFICE CAN GET BACK TO ZACH. >> Chair: ANYONE ELSE WE ARE IN DEBATE. PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THE AMENDMENT. ANYONE ELSE. PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT. ANY OBJECTION? THIS IS ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION. QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THE BILL? DEBATE ON THE BILL? CLOSE ON THE BILL SENATOR HARRELL. >> Senator Harrell: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MR. CHAIRMAN. OKAY LET ME TELL YOU HOW MANY ITERATIONS OF THIS HAVE WE DONE OVER THE YEARS. SENATOR, YOU BEEN WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND I CAN SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A MAJOR CHANGE. IT WILL PUT REALLY THOSE KINDS OF CONTROLS THAT WE NEEDED TO ADVANCE THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WITH THAT I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT. >> Chair: CALL THE ROLL ON CS WAS IN BILL 480. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR MASSULLO. SENATOR MCCLAIN. SENATOR PIZZO. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SENATOR SHARIEF. VICE CHAIR BERMAN. CHAIR BRODEUR. >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR SENATE BILL 480 REPORTS FAVORABLY. NEXT WHICH ONE WOULD YOU LIKE? >> Senator Harrell: I THINK I HAVE P FOSS NEXT. >> Chair: SENATE BILL 1230 YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Senator Harrell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE OF YOU WHO SIT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WE FOREVER CHEMICAL HE FOSS THAT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL OVER MANY MANY YEARS BUT ALSO IN CONTROLLING FIRES IN ALL VARIETIES OF THINGS IT IS EVERYWHERE. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS REALLY ADDRESSING THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND LOOKING AT THE ULTIMATE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THIS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR AQUA'S FILM FORMING FOAM. A TRIPLE F WHICH IS WHAT I WILL CALL IT. AND THIS IS A HIGH RISK TO THE FIREFIGHTERS AND IT IS THE FOAM THAT IS USED IN BIG FIRES AND IT'S BEEN USED FOR YEARS AND YEARS. WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE READ A PROBLEM IN MARTIN COUNTY WERE IT'S ACTUALLY PERMITTING DOWN INTO THE WATER SYSTEM AND WE HAVE HAD MAJOR MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT THIS BILL DOES IT ADDRESSES THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS RAISED BY THIS AND IT ESTABLISHES A STATE WIDE PHASED STATEWIDE RESTRICTION AND EVENTUAL PROHIBITION OF THE USE OF THIS A TRIPLE F THAT CONTAINS P FOSS AND ESTABLISHES A TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR WASTEWATER FACILITIES AND COUPLE ENTITIES DISPOSING OF DOMESTIC WASTEWATER BIOSOLIDS. THE FACILITIES IN THE BIOSOLIDS WILL HAVE TESTING AND THEY MUST SAMPLE FOR P FOSS AND SUBMIT RESULTS TO DEP ANNUALLY. IT DEFINES WHAT AQUEOUS FILM FOAM IS A TRIPLE F FOR FIREFIGHTERS. AND ALSO PROHIBITS A TRIPLE F USE IN NONEMERGENCY TRAINING TESTING OR INSTRUCTION AND REQUIRES THE REPORT UNDER ALL ENTITIES TO REPORT A TRIPLE F INVENTORIES TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AS OF JULY 27 ANOTHER YEAR PREVENTS THE SALE, PURCHASE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF A TRIPLE F IN FLORIDA. IT PROHIBITS THAT AND AS OF EIGHT FULL PROHIBITION OF THE POSSESSION OF A TRIPLE F CONTAINING P FOSS WILL BE IN EFFECT. IT DOES, HOWEVER, VERY IMPORTANTLY EXEMPT CERTAIN THINGS. IT EXEMPTS FEDERAL AVIATION FACILITIES. THOSE THAT ARE UNDER FAA RULE. THEY MAY USE IT ONLY UNDER FAA RULE. IT EXEMPTS THAT. IT EXEMPTS MILITARY APPLICATION WERE NO APPROVED ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE. AND ALSO EXEMPTS EMERGENCY FIREFIGHTING SITUATIONS WHERE PFAS ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. AND IT REQUIRES THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT OBJECTION TO ADOPT RULES FOR CONTAINMENT COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL AND ALSO TO MAINTAIN P FOSS FREE ALTERNATIVES AND ESTABLISHES A GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP TRANSITION. THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: QUESTIONS? PUBLIC TESTIMONY? OKAY CHADWICK LEONARD THOUSAND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA WAIVING IN SUPPORT. BARNEY BISHOP FLORIDA SMART JUSTICE ALLIANCE WAIVING IN SUPPORT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? DEBATE? SENATOR HARRELL YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Senator Harrell: THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> Chair: CALL THE ROLL ON CS FOR SENATE BILL 1230. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON. SENATOR DICEGLIE. SENATOR GRALL. SENATOR