Fiscal Policy

>>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS AND GUESTS. THE COMMITTEE ON FISCAL POLICY WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. MICHELLE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> Chair Gruters: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Sen. Arrington: >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: HERE. >> Sen. Davis: HERE. >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: A QUORUM IS PRESENT. >> Chair: SENATORS, AVILA, GRUTERS, JONES AND TRUENOW ARE EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING. SENATE BILL 524 ON SENATE BILL 1156 BY SENATOR TRUMBULL ON TAB 11 ARE TEMPORARILY POSTPONED. AS ALWAYS PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE FORM HAND IT TO A MEMBER OF THE SERGEANTS OFFICE. SHOULD YOU SELECT A WAY FOR SPEAKING TIME YOU POSITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE MEETING RECORDS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING THIS IS NOT JOE GRUTERS. I'M SORRY YOU'VE GOT ME TODAY, BUT GLAD TO BE HERE. FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE GOING TO JUMP AROUND A LITTLE BIT IN THE NUMBERS THAT ARE HERE WHO HAVE BILLS WE WILL DEAL WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE TRAVELING ARE GOING TO GO UP FIRST SO FIRST UP WILL BE SENATOR MASSULLO UNDER TAB FOUR AND FIVE IN YOUR BOOKS. THE FIRST ONE IS SENATE BILL 488 BY SENATOR MASSULLO. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIRMAN, MAJORITY LEADER PRESIDENT DESIGNATE AN SENATOR GRUTERS SUBSTITUTING ME. HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL. SB 488 IS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES AGENCY PACKAGE PICK WHAT THE BILL DOES MOSTLY HEARD OF BEFORE, IT BRINGS INTO COMPLIANCE FLORIDA WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL TAX ASSOCIATION. IT REFINED SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS PICKETT INCREASES THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM $500-$2000 AND IN THE MEN'S REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING THE BUILD IS A MOST IMPORTANT AS IT EXPANDS THE TYPES OF TRANSACTIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE DHSMV CAN USE EMAILS IN LIEU OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. IT ALSO UPDATES THE DEFINITION OF TANK VEHICLES IN FLORIDA TO PUT IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS. AND THAT, SIR, IS THE BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SEEING NO QUESTIONS, AND THE APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE BILL? WE HAVE ONE WAIVING IN SUPPORT AND THAT IS THE FLORIDA PBA. THANK YOU MR. SMITH. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, IS THERE DEBATE ON THE BILL? SEEING NO DEBATE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: MICHELLE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE BILL. >> Sen. Arrington: >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: YES. >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Bradley: YES. >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair Gruters: >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW SENATE BILL 48 REPORTED FAVORABLY. NICE JOB. YOU ARE ON A ROLL. WANT TO KEEP GOING. >> LET'S GO. >> Chair: SENATE BILL 490. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. SENATE BILL 490 IS A COMPANION MEASURE TO 488 THAT IS SIMPLY PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTIONS REGARDING THE EMAILS COLLECTED FOR SPECIFIC STATUTES USED IN THE PREVIOUS BILL. AND I WOULD TELL YOU IS ALL PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTIONS IT REQUIRES TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTE FROM ALL COMMITTEES AND ON THE FLOOR AND I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT TO KEEP THESE RECORDS PRIVATE. >> Chair: THANK YOU. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? QUESTIONS? ARE THERE APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE BILL? ANYONE HERE TO TESTIFY THAT DIDN'T FILL OUT A FORM? OKAY. MOVING ON. IS THERE DEBATE ON THE BILL? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> I WILL WAIVE CLOSE AGAIN. >> Chair: MICHELLE, PLEASE CALL THE ROW: SENATE BILL 490. >> Sen. Arrington: >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair Gruters: >> Chiar: BY YOUR VOTE, SENATE BILL 892 WILL BE REPORTED FAVORABLY >> I WISH YOU ALL A SUPER DAY AND WEEKEND. >> Chair: NEXT UP WE HAVE TAB 10 SENATE BILL 819 BY SENATOR MARTIN. YOU ARE TALL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> SBA 92 REVISES THE ENHANCED SENTENCING LAWS INCLUDING FELONY OFFENDERS, VIOLENT FELONY OFFENDERS, VIOLENT CAREER CRIMINALS AND UPDATES THE DEFINITIONS OF FIND OUT 024 REMOVING CERTAIN EVIDENTIARY AREA LANGUAGE INCLUDING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENHANCING CLASSIFICATION THE REQUIRES NOTICE BE PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE DEFENDANT PLEASER CHOOSES TO GO TO TRIAL WHEN ENHANCING STATUS SO THEY KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE ENHANCING ON THE ENHANCED SENTENCE IF THEY ARE CONVICTED AND IT ADJUSTS PRIOR CONVICTIONS ARE ENHANCED SENTENCING PURPOSES WILL CONTINUE TO EXCLUDE CONVICTIONS SET ASIDE REVISES THE PROCEDURES I COURSE MUST FOLLOW IN THE PROCESS EFFICIENT IN TAKING THE LOT OF THE STRESS AND PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROSECUTORS TO GET RECORDS AND CERTIFIED DOCUMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT IS IT. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. ARE THE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? WE HAVE ONE APPEARANCE FORM PICK BARNEY BISHOP FLORIDA SMART JUSTICE ALLIANCE WAIVING IN SUPPORT. IT WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, IS THERE DEBATE ON THE BILL? SEEING NO DEBATE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> I WILL WAVE. >> Chair: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL ON SENATE BILL 892. >> Sen. Arrington: >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair Gruters: >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW SENATE BILL 890 REPORTED FAVORABLY. THANK YOU SENATOR MARTIN. LET US RECALIBRATE FOR ONE SECOND HERE. SENATORS, NEXT UP UNDER TAB ONE WILL BE SENATE BILL 124 BY SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen. Rodriguez: SENATE BILL 124 UPDATES THE VIRTUAL SCHOOL STATUTE TO CLEAN UP OUTDATED STATUTORY LANGUAGE FOR THE BILL DOES NOT CHANGE A VIRTUAL SCHOOL SERVES STUDENTS DAY-TO-DAY AND CLARIFIES WHO IT SERVES, HOW IS IT FUNDED AND HOW IT REPORTS AND COORDINATES WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SEEING NO QUESTIONS, ARE THERE APPEARANCE FORMS ON THE BILL? WE HAVE ONE APPEARANCE FORM WITH FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU MISS BOSTIC. ANYONE ELSE THAT DIDN'T FILL OUT A CARD WISHING TO SPEAK? ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL ON SENATE BILL 124. >> SENATOR ARRINGTON? >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> SHOW SENATE BILL 124 REPORTED FAVORABLY. NEXT UP UNDER TAB TWO WE HAVE SENATE BILL 216 BY SENATOR McCLAIN. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING. GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT SENATE BILL 216 VICTORY IMPLEMENT PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY EMPLOYERS PAYING TAXES ON WAGES AND EMPLOYEES WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES PAYING THE TAX FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STATISTICS CURRENTLY SAY THERE'S 30,000 UNAPPOINTED CLAIMS OF 430,000 JOBS AVAILABLE. TO THAT END WE ARE WANTING TO TRY TO DO SOME THINGS TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE ARE PAYING THE CLAIMS OUT FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB BECAUSE WE THINK THERE ARE SOME AVAILABLE. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS DISQUALIFY AN INDIVIDUAL BILLING TO CONTACT THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS FAILING TO APPEAR ON THREE OR MORE SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE EMPLOYER, FAILING TO RETURN TO WORK WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO WORK BY THE FORMER EMPLOYER AND IT WOULD REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO VERIFY AN INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY BY MAKING SURE THE INDIVIDUAL IS WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE AND VERIFY IMMIGRATION STATUS PICK ONE OF THE CHANGE IS THEY HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY TWO WEEKS VERSUS I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT LESS OFTEN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALIVE AND NOT IN JAIL DON'T ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER JOB. IT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO SHARE INFORMATION RELATED TO FRAUDULENT CLAIMS OR RELATED LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND IT WOULD REQUIRE THIS IS A NEW REQUIREMENT AND WOULD REQUIRE THE PUBLIC COMMERCE TO PUBLISH ON HIS WEBSITE ACTIVITY AROUND FRAUDULENT CLAIMS EACH YEAR. THAT IS THE BILL MR. CHAIRMAN. >> Chair: QUESTIONS ON THE BILL. SENATOR OSGOOD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen. Osgood: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AND GOOD MORNING SENATOR MCCLAIN. >> I WAS WONDERING IN LOOKING AT THIS ABOUT THE FRAUD WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF WE HAVE FRAUD AND IMPLEMENT THESE VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS WE THINK ABOUT THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK FOLLOWING UP ON THIS. WHERE WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM TO IMPLEMENT THESE ADDITIONAL MEASURES? IN MY MIND I SEE SOMEBODY HAVING TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THIS VERIFICATION. >>Chair: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED AND FEEL FREE TO COME BACK AND FORTH. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS AND THEY DO THE INITIAL INTAKE OF THE EMPLOYEE. THAT TAKES UP THE MOST TIME. ONCE THEY STARTED BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY DOING VERIFICATION. THIS MIGHT JUST DO IT MORE TIMELY. I'VE BEEN IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SECRETARY WHERE HE HAS NOT INDICATED THIS WOULD PUT A GREATER BURDEN ON THE DEPARTMENT. >> THANK YOU. DID THE DEPARTMENT GIVE US DATA ON THE 32 BILLION IN FRAUD ATTEMPTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS? >> ACTUALLY, I DID SOME INFORMATION. I HAVE IT WITH ME. I CAN EITHER MAKE SURE I GIVE IT TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING BUT I DO STATISTICS THAT THEY GAVE ME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. >> Vice Chair Osgood: WE HAVE THE DATA OF THE FRAUD AND SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ADJUSTING OUR SYSTEM. DOES THAT FRAUD INDICATE OUR SYSTEM USING IS NOT WORKING? >> IT DOES NOT. IT MEANS IT IS WORKING. >>Chair: SENATOR ARRINGTON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. FEEL FREE TO GO BACK AND FORTH. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AS YOU KNOW I SAW THIS IN THE LAST COMMITTEE PICK ONE THAT I HAD BROUGHT UP AND I THOUGHT I WOULD ASK IT HERE SINCE ITS FISCAL POLICY IS THAT THE DCM AGENCY ANALYSIS OF LAST YEAR'S BILL SIMILAR TO THIS FORECASTED AND INCREASED COST OF THE AGENCY OF A.6 MILLION IN YEAR ONE AND 10.8 MELANIN 13.39 IN YEAR THREE. NOW WE HAVE NO FORECAST ON THE ANALYSIS IS INDETERMINATE BECAUSE WE CAN USE A DATA PROGRAM BUT THAT DOESN'T GO OVER STAFF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS AGAIN. I TRIED TO DO HOMEWORK AND HAD THE SECRETARY AND WE CHATTED THERE INDICATION IS THE BIGGEST PART IS WHEN THEY DO THE INITIAL INTAKE THE FOLLOW-UP IS NOT AS INTENSE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES OF THE INDICATION IS IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FISCAL IMPACT. >> OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NO QUESTIONS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF APPEARANCE CARDS. WELCOME FIRST OF ALL TO THE FLORIDA SENATE AND IF YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS 2 TO 3 MINUTES OF A GOOD NUMBER OF CARDS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE. FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE WAVING AGAINST REPRESENTING HERSELF. WE WILL PUT THAT INTO RECORD. AND ALSO WAVING AGAINST IS RONALD POLLARD. I WILL BE ENTERED IN THE RECORD. WAVING AGAINST IS MICHELLE. EXCUSE ME. MICHAEL GRENNON. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. ALSO WAIVING AGAINST IS GLENDA ABBOTT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DEREK LEVESQUE WAVING AGAINST. I PROBABLY BUTCHERED YOUR NAME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE ALSO HAVE WAVING AGAINST VICTORIA. ALSO WAVING AGAINST, JOHN LEWIS. THANK YOU, SIR. WE HAVE JANET MOODY WAVING AGAINST. WE ALSO HAVE GORDON LONGHOFFER WAIVING AGAINST. I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE. I THOUGHT SOME OF THESE WERE SPEAKERS. THAT'S OK THOUGH. ROZELLE WARREN, WAIVING AGAINST. THANK YOU. WE HAVE KELLY STEVENSON WAIVING AGAINST. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE MARIA RIVERA WAIVING AGAINST. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. RIVERA. THOMAS BUGIS OR BUGOS, WAIVING AGAINST. HOPEFULLY I WAS CLOSE ON THAT PRONUNCIATION SIR. THANK YOU. RYAN CALMONT, WAIVING AGAINST. THANK YOU, SIR. RONALD NIXON WAVING AGAINST. KENNETH WALL WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU MR. WALL. ALEXIS UNDERWOOD WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU MISS UNDERWOOD. WE HAVE JEANNIE FORD WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU. WE HAVE, I BELIEVE IT IS JORGE BOTELHO. MY APOLOGIES. THANK YOU, SIR. KEVIN DALY WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU SIR. CHARLIE FOX WAVING AGAINST. I'M SORRY, CHARLIE. EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WROTE IT. THANK YOU MISS FOX. LAKISHA WHITE WAVING AGAINST. AMY SMITH WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU MS. SMITH. STEPHANIE WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU. CARMEN WARD WAVING AGAINST. CRYSTAL TESSMAN WAIVING AGAINST. THANK YOU MISS TESSMAN. KIERA KERSEY, I BELIEVE. WAVING AGAINST. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. PATRICIA HATCH WAVING AGAINST. JEAN WAVING AGAINST. THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU, MA'AM. [NAME] AGAINST. THANK YOU. IT'LL OBVIOUSLY BE IN THE RECORD. CHRISTINA UNDERWOOD WAVING AGAINST. WE HAVE DOCTOR RICH TEMPLIN WISHING TO SPEAK FROM THE FLORIDA AFC YELLOW. WELCOME. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. MY APOLOGIES FOR THE CAUTION ON THE SPEAKING TIME. I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL SPEAKING BUT THEY ARE WAIVING AND HERE YOU ARE. YOU DON'T GET AN HOUR, >> I AM A LITTLE EMBARRASSED. YOU WERE ON A ROLL THERE AND I MESSED IT UP. APOLOGIZE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE SINCE 2010 AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION THE SYSTEM WAS IN BAD SHAPE. THE TRUST FUND OWED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR A BAILOUT THAT WE RECEIVED DURING THE RECESSION AND THE REASON WE HAD TO BORROW ALL OF THE MONEY WAS THE MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2000 EIGHT, 2009 AND 2010 AND ASKED FOR A WAIVER THAT WOULD HAVE INCREASED INSURANCE PREMIUMS TO PAY INTO THE FUND AND THAT'S WHY IT WENT INSOLVENT. IN 2000 ON WHAT WE DO? HOW DO WE PAY BACK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT CAME UP WITH AN IDEA. LET'S COMPLETELY CHANGE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE A VERY FEW PEOPLE GET IT. SO WE'LL STILL HAVE SEVEN DOLLARS PER MONTH PER EMPLOYEE. THAT'S THE RATE, THE PREMIUM PAID BY BUSINESSES INTO THE FUND. IT WILL STILL SAY STAY THE SAME IN OVERTIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY OFF THE DEBT. BUT WHAT THAT MEANT WAS VERY FEW PEOPLE COULD APPLY BECAUSE EVERYONE WENT ONLINE. I WAS BROUGHT IN TO CONSULT ON THE ONLINE PLATFORM AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME. AND OVER TIME WE HAD BILLS FILED TO TRY TO IMPROVE SOME OF THE SYSTEMS AND TRY TO IMPROVE SOME OF THE POLICY KEEPING SO MANY WORKERS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN RECEIVING THE BENEFITS THAT THEY DESERVED. THOSE BILLS FAILED. AND WE WARNED. THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US WHO SAID IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS, IF THERE'S A BIG DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY IT'S GOING TO BE A DISASTER IN FLORIDA. AND THEN 2020 HIT THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYBODY SAW IT AND SOMETIMES IT STINKS TO BE RIGHT. BUT OUR SYSTEM COLLAPSED. WE WERE NATIONAL NEWS AND IT WAS TWO PROBLEMS THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS APPLYING PICK SIMPLY GETTING IN GETTING AN APPLICATION BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAD BEEN MOVED ONLINE. THERE HADN'T BEEN ENOUGH SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE PEOPLE FILING ONLINE. THAT WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM. OVERTIME THE DEPARTMENT WORKED THROUGH IT AND PEOPLE'S OBLIGATIONS WERE FINALLY SUBMITTED. AND IN THE SECOND PROBLEM KICKED IN. THE POLICIES PROHIBITED PEOPLE GETTING BENEFITS. IT'S TOO HARD. THERE ARE TOO MANY CHECKS ON THE SYSTEM. I WAS A SECOND ROUND. MANY OF YOU GOT THE PHONE CALLS FROM THE SINGLE MOM WHO COULDN'T PETE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE WAS GOING TO THE FOOD BANK AND THEY TRIED TO APPLY AND THEY STILL HADN'T HEARD BACK. THAT WAS BECAUSE ALL THE CHECKS AND ALL THIS STUFF HAPPENING. MANY OF YOU GOT THE CALLS IN THE SENATE UNDER SOMEONE'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS COMMITTEE MADE FIXES TO THE INTAKE SYSTEM LIKE THE SOFTWARE, THE COMPUTER AND THE STRUCTURE WE FIXED THAT PROBLEM. PEOPLE CAN APPLY MUCH EASIER THAN THEY COULD BEFORE. BUT WE NEVER FIXED THE POLICY SO THEY ARE BEING DENIED TO. RIGHT NOW FLORIDA RANKS 52ND WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE TERRITORIES IN AN EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. OUR SYSTEM IS DEAD LAST. WE HAVE THE LOWEST RECIPIENTS THE RATE OF 10%. THAT MEANS 10 OUT OF EVERY HUNDRED WORKERS AT APPLY EVER GETS A BENEFIT. WE THE LOWEST BENEFITS IN THE COUNTRY. NOW IT IS CAPPED AT 256 FOR $250 A WEEK. THAT AVERAGES $168 A WEEK. THAT IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE GET. IT IS HARD TO GET THE MAX. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST EXHAUSTION RATE MEANING PEOPLE ARE FORCED OUT OF THE SYSTEM. THEY NO LONGER QUALIFY BEFORE THEY GET A JOB. WE ARE WORST IN THE NATION FOR THAT. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, RESPECT AND ADMIRE SENATOR McCLAIN VERY MUCH AS A LAWMAKER. AND I KNOW THE ATTEMPT IS TO TIGHTEN FRAUD. AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO THAT. WE DON'T NEED FRAUD EVERYWHERE. IT HURTS EVERYBODY. BUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE LEGISLATION IS RECIPIENTS HE RATE OF 10% COULD GO DOWN AS LOW AS 2% BY MY CALCULATIONS AND SOME FOLKS AT THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW CENTER. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS AND WE COME BACK AND WE LOOK INTO WEIGHT TO ILLUMINATE FRAUD. AGAIN, REQUIRING FOLKS TO GO TO FIVE JOB SEARCHES. IF YOU ARE IN A RURAL COMMUNITY WHEN YOU FIVE OR SIX EMPLOYERS, ARE YOU GOING TO COMPLETE THOSE FIVE JOB SEARCHES EVERY WEEK. YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND WHAT LITTLE YOU GET IN GAS TO MAKE THOSE. SO WE ARE ASKING WE FIND A WAY. AND BY THE WAY, THAT DOES NOT COMBAT FRAUD. THAT'S NOT FRAUD. SOMEBODY LOOKING FOR WORK BUT NOT GETTING A JOB, THAT'S NOT FRAUD. THE FRAUD IS ORGANIZED CRIME AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THAT IS NOT THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA. I PROMISE THIS, AND I WILL WRAP IT UP. THANK YOU FOR THE INDULGENCE MR. CHAIR. IF THIS LEGISLATION PASSES IT'S GOING TO PUT A NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. IF YOU LOOK AT ECONOMISTS, DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING, WHERE THE MIDDLE OF A BIG ECONOMIC SHIFT IN THE COUNTRY. WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, IT IS STILL A SHIFT THAT LEADS TO MASS LAYOFF EVENTS. OF THIS BILL PASSES AND THAT HAPPENS, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE IN YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE, IN YOUR CHURCH, IN YOUR FAMILY THAT ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOB THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON THE SYSTEM. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST REASON, WE ASK YOU TO VOTE NO. >> Chair: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK THAT DIDN'T PUT A CARD IN? SEEING NONE, WE ARE IN DEBATE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I'VE SEEN THIS BILL AT EVERY COMMITTEE STOP IN ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE IT. IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT BASED ON THIS BILL WE JUST DON'T WANT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. THAT'S HOW IT SOUNDS. JUST WANTED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE REASON WHY THAT'S UNFORTUNATE IS IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE IS GETTING. BUT WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY IS UNAPPOINTED COMPENSATION INSURANCE, THE WORKERS HAVE EARNED IT. IT'S THEIRS. THEY EARNED IT THROUGH THEIR LABOR. IT'S NOT A HANDOUT FROM THE STATE, IT'S NOT SOCIAL SERVICES, IT'S NOT WELFARE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE WORKERS HAVE EARNED. AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T WANT THIS AS A STATE BECAUSE THAT MONEY DOESN'T BELONG TO US. DOCTOR TEMPLIN SAID SOMETHING PROFOUND. WHY ARE WE IN A RACE FOR THE BOTTOM? I MEAN, $250 A WEEK, THE AVERAGE OF $160 A WEEK. THAT CAN'T KEEP YOUR LIGHTS ON. NOBODY WANTS TO BE ON UNEMPLOYMENT. PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. THAT NUMBER OF 10% OF THE PEOPLE WHO APPLY GET UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SHOULD HORRIFY US AT ALL. PEOPLE WANT TO WORK. NOBODY WANTS TO BE ON THIS. THEY WANT TO WORK. I AM AGAIN, DISAPPOINTED BY THIS BILL. I AM REMINDED -- AND HERE I AM QUOTING GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS. WHEN HE SAID DURING COVID THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS POINTLESS AND UNNECESSARY ROADBLOCKS. AND HE SO HERE WE ARE CREATING POINTLESS AND MORE UNNECESSARY ROADBLOCKS THE GOVERNOR SAID WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING. THEN AGAIN, I DON'T REPRESENT A RURAL COMMUNITY BUT I FEEL THE NEED TO ALWAYS BRING THIS UP. WE AS A LEGISLATOR AND PUTTING THE BEST FOOT FORWARD AND I DON'T REPRESENT THEM, BUT THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF OUR RURAL FLORIDIANS BECAUSE WE MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM. MANY OF THEM DON'T IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. YOU CAN GET TO ALL THESE JOB INTERVIEWS WE ARE MAKING IT HARDER. I DON'T REPRESENT ABOUT MANY OF THEM DOING THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF THAT. WITH HER OUT A LOT OF NUMBERS AND STATISTICS SO I'M GOING TO END ON ONE. IN 2025 300,000 BLACK WOMEN LOST THEIR JOBS. >> Chair: OTHER SENATORS IN DEBATE? SENATOR BRADLEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. CHAIR. I APPRECIATED THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME YESTERDAY AND TODAY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M SEEING THE BILL SO THIS WAS REALLY MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE INTO IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR GOAL OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE OUR UNEMPLOYMENT DOES NOT HAVE FRAUD BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE THE ON EMPLOYMENT OF THE TAXPAYERS OR THE BUSINESSES. ABSOLUTELY 100% ON BOARD WITH THAT. MY CONCERN WITH ABILITIES THIS IS A PRETTY BIG OVERHAUL OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. IT REQUIRES VERIFICATIONS THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE EVERY TWO WEEKS. I AM LOOKING AND I DON'T SEE AN AGENCY ANALYSIS THAT GIVES A SENSE OF WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD IT BE FOR GOING ON THE ACCESS TO THE SAME DATABASE FOR CITIZENSHIP IS NOW FREE. WHETHER OR NOT AN INDIVIDUAL IS EMPLOYED ELSEWHERE. I WAS AT DETERMINATION MADE. IS GOING TO BE A DATABASE THAT REQUIRES A TRANSACTION FEE. I DON'T KNOW IS I DECISION GOING TO BE MADE BY THIRD PARTY THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CREATE A CONTRACT FOR TO CREATE TO ADDRESS THAT. AND SO MY CONCERNS ON THE FACT WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN AGENCY ANALYSIS ON HOW MANY FTES DOES THIS REQUIRE. DOES THIS REQUIRE IT UPGRADES. I KNOW FOR MYSELF I BEEN MANY TIMES I ASKED AN AGENCY TO COLLECT A PIECE OF INFORMATION IN THE ANALYSIS COMES QUICK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FTE AND IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE AND I JUST DON'T SEE THAT. I DON'T SEE THAT HERE. SUCH A HUGE CHANGE. I DON'T SEE ANY AMENDMENTS IN THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE ON THE BILL. AND MAYBE IT'S A PERFECT BILL. YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLY GIFTED LEGISLATURE LACK OF THESE, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SENATE KNOWS WHAT WE ARE GETTING INTO. THAT WE GO INTO THIS EYES WIDE OPEN SO THE NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR AS WE HEAD INTO LEAN BUDGET YEARS ARE GOING TO GET A REQUEST FOR A RENOVATION OF THE IT PROGRAM, MORE FTE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. I WILL BE UP TODAY BUT WHEN HE HAD TO THE FLOOR I HOPE AS A SENATE WE CAN BE MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE ARE HEADING IN THIS. IT'S A BIG CHANGE TO A LOTTA FOLKS AND OF THE DEPARTMENT TASKED WITH IMPLEMENTING THIS PIC THANK YOU. >> Chair: THANK YOU SENATOR BRADLEY. SENATOR OSGOOD? >> Sen. Osgood: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AND THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST TIME SEEING THIS. AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH IT AND READING THROUGH IT, ACROSS FLORIDA THOUSANDS OF SENIORS ARE STILL WORKING. STATISTICS SAY ONE IN FIVE ADULTS AGE 65 AND OLDER ARE WORKING BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BUT BECOMES FIXED INCOMES ARE NO LONGER. I PROPERTY INSURANCE, THE COST OF EGGS, THE COST OF A MULTIPLICITY OF MEDICATIONS THAT THE TAKE. CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE PUSHED MANY ELDERLY ADULTS BACK INTO THE LABOR MARKET. THINK ABOUT IT IS HE GOING TO PLACES YOU SEE ELDERLY PEOPLE WORKING COUNTERS AND CVS AND OTHER PLACES PICK WHEN THEY LOSE A JOB DUE TO A LAYOFF OR BUSINESS CLOSURE OR HEALTH-RELATED DISRUPTION THEY GET SICK FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS AND THE EMPLOYER HAS TO MOVE ON. REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IS OFTEN THE ONLY BRIDGE KEEPING THEM HOUSED AND STABLE WAY THEY SEARCH FOR NEW JOBS. IS A LOOK AT THE BILL AND ADDS STRICTER JOB SEARCH REQUIREMENTS, HARSHER DISQUALIFICATION PENALTIES AND EXPANDS VERIFICATION RULES THAT ASSUME THAT THESE WORKING ELDERLY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PHYSICAL ABILITY OR DIGITAL ACCESS TRANSPORTATION. FOR OLDER WORKERS THAT ASSUMPTION IS VERY UNREALISTIC AND HARMFUL. SENIORS ARE LIKELY TO FACE MOBILITY CHANGES CHALLENGES, CHRONIC ILLNESS, CAREGIVING DUTIES AND LIMITED ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. MISSING AN INTERVIEW COULD BE BECAUSE OF MULTIPLICITY OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES OR EMPLOYEE MISCOMMUNICATION COULD RESULT IN THEM BEING DISQUALIFIED ARE CUT OFF FROM THEIR BENEFITS ENTIRELY UNTIL SIGNIFICANT WAGES ARE EARNED AND GAINED. FOR AN OLDER WORKER THIS COULD BE DEVASTATING. THE BILL ALSO INCREASES CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION DEMANDS THAT I BELIEVE SLOWDOWN BENEFIT PAYMENTS. DELAYS ARE NOT AN INCONVENIENCE FOR SENIORS LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. IT PUTS THEM IN A CRISIS PICK WHEN BENEFITS ARE HELD UP, SENIORS FALL EVEN FURTHER BEHIND ON THEIR RENT. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME ANY OF YOU PAID ATTENTION TO THE SIGNIFICANTLY GROWING AGING POPULATION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WE HAVE IN OUR LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. MAYBE THEY ARE NOT IN YOUR EXACT NEIGHBORHOOD BUT RIGHT AROUND AN AREA THEY REPRESENT, THEY ARE THERE. UNLIKE YOUNGER PEOPLE, MANY SENIORS ON A FAMILY SAFETY NET OR THE ABILITY TO QUICKLY READ ENTER PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS. I THINK THIS BILL IS GOING TO HURT THEM IN AN EXTREME WAY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE PIC I DON'T SEE ANY ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE ELDERLY POPULATION. I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS. IN A SMALL TOWN THERE WAS AN OLD BRIDGE EVERYONE DEPENDED ON. THAT CARRIED GENERATIONS A CROSSED THE RIVER. CHILDREN HEADING TO SCHOOL, PARENTS GOING TO WORK ON THE ELDERLY TRAVELING TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, CHURCHES AND GROCERY STORES. THE ELDERLY REMEMBER WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS FIRST BUILT. THEY PAID INTO IT THROUGH YEARS OF LABOR, TAXES, CAREGIVING AND SERVICE. THE BRIDGE WAS SUPPOSED TO GROW STRONGER WITH TIME JUST LIKE THE COMMUNITY IT SERVED. BUT OVER THE YEARS THE BRIDGE BEGAN TO CRACK. AND BEGAN TO BE, BEGAN TO FALL AND BE DEFICIENT. THE RAILINGS BEGAN TO WEAKEN. SIGNS WENT UP WARNING PEOPLE TO CROSS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE ELDERLY FELT IT FIRST. EACH STEP BECAME SLOWER, MORE PAINFUL. SOME WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE TOO OLD TO CROSS, OTHERS ARE FORCED TO CROSS WITHOUT SUPPORT. IF YOU TURNED BACK ENTIRELY. NOT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BUT BECAUSE THE BRIDGE NO LONGER FELT SAFE. SOME SAY IT WAS THE POLICY ADJUSTMENT PERHAPS TO SENATE BILL 216. CHANGE AND NOT A BRIDGE AND BE MAINTAINED AND WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS BUT THE ELDERLY KNEW IT BETTER TO THEM POLICIES LIKE THIS WASN'T JUST ABOUT RULE PICKED WAS ABOUT WHETHER THE BRIDGE WOULD STILL HOLD THEM. WITH THE BRIDGE BE REINFORCED SO ELDERLY COULD CROSS THE DIGNITY, WITHOUT FEAR FALLING THROUGH GAPS IN HEALTHCARE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC SECURITY? OR WHEN DID THE REPAIRS FAVOR SPEED AND THE COST OF SAFETY LEAVING THOSE WHO WALK SLOWLY TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. I'M GOING TO BE DOWN ON THE BILL TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE ALL OF US IN SOCIETY WILL BE JUDGED BY HOW WELL THE BRIDGE CARRIES ELDERLY. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CALL THIS MORNING. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO DIVE INTO THE BILL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AND I WANTED TO HEAR TESTIMONY, HERE'S SOME OF THE DEBATE, THE DISCUSSION AROUND THE BILL BEFORE COMING UP WITH HOW I WOULD LOOK AT THIS LONG-TERM. REPRESENT PARTS OF THE STATE SIMILAR TO THE PARTY REPRESENT. WHEN THE MILL CLOSED IN TAYLOR COUNTY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE FOLKS WHO LOST THEIR JOBS. IT DIDN'T JUST HURT ONE COMMUNITY. HURT AN ENTIRE REGION. SHORTLY AFTER A CURT HURRICANE WAS HIT IN THE WAS HIT TWO MORE HURRICANES. IT UPENDED FAMILIES TO THE EXTENT WHERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RURAL COMMUNITIES JOBS ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE, THEY ARE OUTSIDE A ZONE WHERE TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED SO WE LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. AND SO I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS BECAUSE I THINK RURAL FLORIDA WOULD BE HURT THE MOST FROM THE BILL IN ITS CURRENT STATE. BECAUSE IT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS ARE STILL LAGGING BEHIND. AND THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FOCUS ON HEAVILY ON HOW WE BRING OUR RURAL FLORIDIANS UP TO SPEED AND INTO THE 21ST CENTURY IN MANY RESPECTS. AND SO I GAVE YOU MY WORD AND WILLING TO VOTE UP ON THIS TODAY BECAUSE I SAID THAT TO YOU AND I WON'T GO BACK ON MY WORD. BUT IF I DON'T SEE THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE AS THE BILL HITS THE FLOOR, I WILL BE DOWN ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IN ITS CURRENT FORM THIS BILL MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE RURAL FLORIDA. SO I REALLY WANT TO CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU, SIT DOWN WITH THE FOLKS OVER AT COMMERCE. FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS THE PROPER WAY FORWARD IN OUR RETHINKING OF THIS HOLISTICALLY AS IT APPLIES TO ALL OUR FLORIDIANS, ESPECIALLY OUR RURAL FLORIDIANS IN OUR STATE. >> ANYONE ELSE IN DEBATE? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF SENATOR BRADLEY AND SIMON. I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICY BEFORE IT HITS THE FLOOR. I WANT TO SHARE I ALSO WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS WITH YOU THE PROPER COMMERCE. I WAS A LEGISLATIVE AIDE AND HAD A MEMORY OF THE EXPERIENCE OF FAMILIES IN SMALL WAYS DURING THE CRASH OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND HELPING WITH THE MOBILE FOOD DRIVES, THEIR FAMILIES YOU COULDN'T EVEN COME TO THOSE WHO WOULD CRY WHEN WE DELIVER FOOD TO THEIR FRONT YARDS FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I REMEMBER AND I WANT TO BE A PARTNER IN WHATEVER TWEAKS ARE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE I THINK THIS MATTERS A GREAT DEAL. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SENATOR. >> Chair: ANYONE ELSE? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T ONE OF THE BILLS EASY TO RUN AS A HUMAN BEING AND IT'S NOT THE EASIEST ONE TO HAVE DEBATES ABOUT OR HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT. AT THE END OF THE DAY SENATOR BRADLEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONVERSATION. SENATOR BRACEY DAVIS, SENATOR ARRINGTON AND SENATOR OSGOOD FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. I THINK ALL OF US HAVE A HEART FOR PEOPLE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMEBODY DOWN AND OUT GETS HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT AND ALL OF US WOULD REACH INTO OUR OWN POCKETS AND DO THINGS FOR THEM, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM SHOULD BE FOR THOSE WHO ABSOLUTELY ARE QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE IT AND THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE QUALIFIED TO. YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THEM ARE EYE-POPPING ABOUT SOME OF THE CLAIMS THAT WE TURNED DOWN OR DENY ELIGIBILITY AND IT IS PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL PART. WE HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE RANK VERSUS OTHER STATES. WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IS ARE GOING TO BE A COST GOING FORWARD. I HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH NO MORE THAN FOUR TIMES, MAYBE FIVE BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW-UP AND I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION. SENATOR BRADLEY, IF I WERE TO PASS THE NEXT YEAR THEY COME I WOULD BE WITH YOU AND TELL THEM NO BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT IS BEING INDICATED TO ME. BUT MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO EVERYBODY. IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO I CERTAINLY WANT TO DO THAT. I DO REPRESENT LEAVY COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY SENATOR SIMON. PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY ONES THAT YOU DON'T REPRESENT. I DO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THAT AND I WORRY ABOUT THOSE FOLKS. BUT I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON. >> Chair: CLOSE ON THE BILL, MICHELLE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL ON SENATE BILL 216. >> Sen. Arrington: NO. >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: NO. >> Sen. Boyd: YES. >> Sen. Davis: NO. >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW SENATE BILL 216 REPORTED FAVORABLY. SENATORS, NEXT WE WILL GO TO TAB 3382 BY SENATOR TRUENOW AND THE ESTEEMED SENATOR LEEK WILL PRESENT THIS BILL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen. Leek: IN PRESENTING THIS BILL FOR SENATOR TRUENOW, BUT UNWILLING TO ENTERTAIN ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS IF ANYONE WANTS TO SUGGEST IT. THIS RELATES TO E-BIKES. IT CREATES A PROVISION THAT RIDERS MUST YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS ON A SHARED PATHWAY TO PROVIDE A SIGNAL BEFORE PASSING. AND OPERATOR MAY NOT OPERATE A BICYCLE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 10 MILES AN HOUR IF THE PEDESTRIAN IS WITHIN 50 FEET. A PERSON FAILS TO COMPLY SUBJECT TO A NONCRIMINAL TRAFFIC INFRACTION AND IS PUNISHABLE AS A NONMOVING VIOLATION CHAPTER 318 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTE. GREAT THE TASK FORCE FOR THE STATE TO GET MORE CONSIDERATION TO THE IMPACT OF THE BIKES AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES MOVING ALONG OUR SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PEDESTRIAN LAYERS WHICH WOULD GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1, 2026 AND REQUIRE A REPORT TO THE STATE ON THE POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL GOVERNANCE THAT WE WOULD NEED FOR EBAGS AND THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? I ACTUALLY HAD ONE QUESTION. SEEMINGLY SENATOR TRUENOW KNOWS A LOT ABOUT ELECTRIC BIKES. DOES HE OPERATE ONE HIMSELF? >> I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. >> Chair: FAIR ENOUGH. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. SEEING NO QUESTIONS, WE DO HAVE SOME APPEARANCE CARDS. WE'VE MICHELLE LYNCH WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR INFORMATION. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IN THANK YOU CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, RANKING MEMBER AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS MICHELLE LYNCH AND I DROVE OVER FROM TAMPA YESTERDAY AND I WILL DRIVE BACK TODAY. IT IS A LONG WAY TO GO FOR THREE MINUTES BUT I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME AND SHARE MY STORY. IN FIVE SHORT WEEKS MY SON CONNOR WOULD'VE TURNED 22 AND I BROUGHT A PICTURE OF CONNOR SO THAT YOU COULD SEE CONNOR. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA IN MAY FULL OF PLANS, FULL OF DREAMS, AND EXCITED TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS. INSTEAD TO USE AGO THIS MONTH HE WAS KILLED WHILE WRITING IS ELECTRIC SCOOTER. HE HAD SIMPLY LEFT HIS KEYS IN A FRIEND'S CAR WAS WRITING BACK TO HIS APARTMENT WHEN A CAR STRUCK AND KILLED HIM. THE CAR TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF AN CONNOR DID NOT HAVE TIME TO STOP AND UNFORTUNATELY THE CHEST TRAUMA HE ENDURED FOR THE HANDLEBARS IS TOO MUCH TO SURVIVE. AFTERWARDS I LEARNED SOMETHING THAT SHOCKED ME BEYOND MEASURE AND THAT WAS THE DRIVER WHO HIT CONNOR WAS NOT CITED WITH AN IMPROPER LEFT TURN AND WHEN I ASKED THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER WHY, HE SAID CONNOR WASN'T WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE BIKE LANE. HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SIDEWALK. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NATURAL QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS HE SUPPOSED TO BE AND I WAS MET WITH UNCERTAINTY. THAT MOMENT MADE IT PAINFULLY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE CLEAR CONSISTENT RULES THAT GOVERN E SCOOTERS WHEN THE RULES ARE UNCLEAR SAFETY SUFFERS. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE COMMITTEE WORKING HARD TO ADDRESS THE GROWING CHALLENGES OF ELECTRIC MOBILITY DEVICES. THE CURRENT PROPOSED BILL TAKES AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR E BIKES. WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED AND INCLUDED E SCOOTERS AND SO IS QUITE DISAPPOINTED WHEN E SCOOTERS REMOVED SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE YOU CONSIDER ADDING E SCOOTERS BACK IN. E SCOOTERS ARE JUST AS COMMON AS E BIKES THEY ARE JUST AS FAST AND THEY ARE JUST AS DANGEROUS AS HE BIKES. CONNORS SCOOTER WAS CAPABLE GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR AT THE POINT OF IMPACT HE WAS ONLY GOING 23 WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE CURRENT STATUTES I 28 SO EVEN AT THE REDUCED SPEED IT WAS ENOUGH TO KILL HIM. YOU CAN GO ON AMAZON AND BUY AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER CAPABLE OF GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR. THERE'S EVEN A SCOOTER ON THE MARKET THAT GOES 100 MILES AN HOUR. THESE VEHICLES ARE ALREADY ON OUR BIKE LANES, THEY ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY ARE ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND WE REALLY NEED TO CLEAR RULES OF THE ROAD FOR THE FAMILIES WHO PURCHASED THESE. I AM HERE TO TELL MY STORY AND CONNER'S STORY TO HOPEFULLY HELP MAKE THE BILL STRONGER. I AND RESPECTFULLY URGING YOU TO CONSIDER PUTTING E SCOOTERS BACK INTO THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL SO FLORIDA HAS CONSISTENT STANDARDS AND CLEAR RULES OF THE ROAD. IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF THE RULES ARE IN PLACE TWO YEARS AGO THE GARDEN OF CONNOR WOULD STILL BE HERE. I DO HOPE YOU WOULD LET HIS STORY HELP PROTECT OTHERS AND SAVE LIVES THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW HOW HARD THAT MUST BE. I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR THE COMMITTEE WHEN I SAY WE SHARE YOUR GRIEF AND YOUR SYMPATHY. SO SORRY ABOUT CONNOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> Chair: WAIVING IN SUPPORT WE HAVE ALEC McNAIR FROM THE FLORIDA SHERIFF ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE. [NAME] WAIVING IN SUPPORT. AARP WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WE'VE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MARQUISE MILLER. ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I SAID THAT. WAIVING IN SUPPORT. WHO ELSE DID GET A CARD IN? HAVE YOU FILLED OUT A CARD? PLEASE COME AND SPEAK AND IF HE WOULD GET WITH THE SERGEANT SO WE CAN GET YOU IN THE RECORD. >> JOHN LEWIS SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION BECAUSE I AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE CODIFICATION CLARIFICATION. I'VE E BIKES AND I DO CONCUR THAT ALONG WITH MY SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONSIDERATION FOR E SCOOTERS. THANK YOU FOR THIS LEGISLATION. >> Chair: I BELIEVE SHE HAS A CARD FOR YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBERS, WE ARE IN DEBATE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF THE CHAIR FOR CONNOR'S MOM. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TRIP FOR THE THREE MINUTES OFTEN TIME THE LEGISLATURE WOULD MAKE DECISIONS AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONNECT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TO REAL PEOPLE AND FAMILIES. I TOO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I KNOW YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THAT YOU SCOOTER PROVISION. IF YOU DON'T I UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS TAKEN OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO DEBATE? SENATOR BURTON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU CHAIR AND ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT SENATORS SITTING ON SO MANY COMMITTEES. WE OFTEN TIMES SEE A BILL, AT LEAST ONE TIME BEFORE WE SEE IT IN THE HOUSE AND THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME SEEING THIS BILL. I TOO ON THE SAME QUESTION THAT SENATOR GRACIE DAVIS HAS REGARDING E SCOOTERS. AND I THINK IN CITIES LARGE AND SMALL ACROSS TO FLORIDA WE SEE A PROLIFERATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION. CAN BE BIKES OR SCOOTERS. I HAVE GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS RIDING THOSE AND FRANKLY, I'M NERVOUS WHEN I SEEN THEM CLOSE TO ME AND I'M DRIVING MY CAR. KEEPING IN MIND THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATORS IS WHAT SHOULD BE FOREMOST IN OUR MINDS PICK US UP WITH THIS LEGISLATION BUT I THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME I WOULD LOVE TO GET AN ANSWER E SCOOTERS SITUATION. MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WE ALREADY HAVE A REGULATION AROUND THEM. BUT WE SEE THEM EVERYWHERE WE SEE THEM IN THE SMALL CITY, WE SEE THEM EVERYWHERE. THINK THERE IS A GREAT NEED TO BE CONCERNED. WE CAN ASSUME THE DANGERS OF WRITING THESE INSTRUMENTS, E VEHICLES AROUND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS OF FLORIDA. IT MAKES AN IMPACT ON ME. YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH. I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING. BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN FLORIDA WHO TELLS US WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR LIVES FOR EVERYBODY WHO COMES THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BUT FOR EVEYBODY WHO COMES, I WANT TO SAY IT MATTERS AND WE HAVE FOLKS AT HOME WHO COULD TALK TO US ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS. CERTAINLY GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD DO MORE BUT I DON'T WANT TO PROHIBIT THEM BUT I MORE INFORMATION AND POTENTIAL SAFETY REGULATION AROUND THESE VEHICLES. WOULD CERTAINLY BE INTERESTING. THANK YOU. >> Chair: ANY OTHER MEMBER? BEFORE YOU CLOSE, I MADE A NOTE. I THINK EVERYBODY DID. I TALKED ABOUT THE E SCOOTER COMPONENT. I IMAGINE HE WILL BE BLOWN UP WHEN HE GETS BACK ON THE ISSUES. WE WILL WORK HARD TO SEE HOW THAT CAN BE INCLUDED. SENATOR LEEK, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >> THANK YOU. I TOO WANT TO SHARE MY THANKS TO CONNOR'S MOM. WHILE I CAN'T ANSWER THE SPECIFIC QUESTION OF WHY IT WAS REMOVED, THEY ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO GET THAT BACK AND HERE IS MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO DO THAT. FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IT SEEMS TO BE EVERY DAY LINE BETWEEN PEDESTRIAN A MOTORIZED TRAVELERS SEEMS TO GET BLURRED TO THE POINT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AND SIDEWALKS OF THE SPECIAL BIKE LANE OR GOVERNED LIKE GOLF CARTS. AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THE BILL DOES PICK IT MAKES CLEAR THEY SHOULD HAVE YOU ON SIDEWALKS BUT IT PUTS FORTH THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS FROM A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS AND THAT IS WITHIN THE TASK FORCE. SO I URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BILL. IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. I THINK THE BILL WILL ULTIMATELY CHANGE. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT MY DECISION. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. >> Chair: HAVING CLOSED ON CS FOR SENATE BILL 382, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL. >> Sen. Arrington: YES. >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: YES. >> Sen. Davis: YES. >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: YES. >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR SENATE BILL 382 REPORTED FAVORABLY. THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO TAB SIX. WE WILL MOVE TO TAB SEVEN. I APOLOGIZE. SENATOR AVILA? HOWEVER, SENATOR YARBOROUGH WILL PRESENT THE BILL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO PRESENT SENATE BILL 580. >> I'M NOT SENATOR AVILA BUT I WILL DO MY BEST. SENATE BILL 584 RELATES TO COMMERCIAL DRIVING SCHOOLS. AMONG THE PRESCRIBED DUTIES COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR SERVICE DEPARTMENT HIGHWAY CITY VEHICLE AGENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MOTOR VEHICLES VESSEL REGISTRATIONS, TITLE APPLICATIONS AND FOR THE ISSUANCE OF DRIVERS LICENSES FOR THE BILL STRENGTHENS A REGULATION OVERSIGHT OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER SCHOOLS TO GET GRANTS THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGENCY AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS TO ENFORCE STATUTORY PROVISIONS RELATED TO COMMERCIAL DRIVING SCHOOLS AND ENSURES CONSISTENT STATEWIDE WHILE ALLOWING LOCAL OFFICERS FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS ISSUES OCCURRING DIRECTLY ON THE PREMISE PICK OF THE REASONS AS TO WHY THE BILL IS NECESSARY, COMMERCIAL DRIVING SCHOOL OPERATORS INTERACT WITH TAX COLLECTOR OFFICES LICENSING TRANSACTIONS. PROBLEMATIC PRACTICES LIKE SOLICITATION, FRAUD OR INTERFERENCE OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE SYSTEM HAPPEN IN OR AROUND TAX COLLECTOR FACILITIES. THE TAX COLLECTORS LACK CLEAR STATUTORY AGAINST THESE BEHAVIORS THIS BILL CLOSES THE GAP BY GIVING TAX COLLECTORS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS AND MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF DRIVERS LICENSING OPERATIONS. CHAIR, THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SEEING NO QUESTIONS WE DO HAVE AN APPEARANCE FORM WAIVING IN SUPPORT BY BARNEY BISHOP FLORIDA SMART JUSTICE ALLIANCE. WE ARE IN DEBATE. ANY DEBATE? SEEING NO DEBATE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. WAIVING CLOSE. WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL ON SENATE BILL 584? >> Sen. Arrington: YES. >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: >> Sen. Boyd: YES. >> Sen. Davis: YES. >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL 584 WILL BE REPORTED FAVORABLY. NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO TAB EIGHT CS FOR SENATE BILL 656 ON INTERNET CRIMES BY SENATOR BRADLEY. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen. Bradley: MEMBERS, THIS BILL STRENGTHENS FLORIDA'S COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING FLORIDA'S CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATION. THE BILL DOES TWO THINGS. IT STRENGTHENS FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO ONLINE EXPLOITATION BY CODIFYING THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN'S TASK FORCE OTHERWISE KNOWN AS -- WITHIN FDLE. IT PROVIDES STRUCTURE STABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITIES OF THE FUNDS WILL CONTINUE TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT FRONTLINE INVESTIGATIONS, TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY AND PERSONNEL. SECONDLY THE BILL RENAMES THE ONLINE STING OPERATIONS GRANT PROGRAM TO BE KNOWN AS THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN'S PROGRAM TO BETTER ALIGN. IT EXPANDS THE AUTHORIZED USE OF GRANT FUNDS AND ENSURES AFFILIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONTINUE PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. THAT IS THE BILL. >> Chair: THANK YOU SENATOR BRADLEY. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SEEING NO QUESTIONS WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF APPEARANCE FORMS. FIRST WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE BILL IS. [NAME] FROM THE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE. WE DO A LOT OF WORK AND I KNOW THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS AROUND VARIOUS PROPOSALS CAN GET VERY DIFFICULT THIS BILL IS NOT -- THIS BILL TRIES TO GIVE THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS MORE RESOURCES TO GO AFTER THAT WE'LL FIND IMPORTANT. THANK YOU'S AND HEALTHY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> Chair: ALSO WAIVING IN SUPPORT IS BARNEY BISHOP WITH FLORIDA SMART JUSTICE AND ALLIE McNAIR WITH FLORIDA SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO. >> Sen. Osgood: THE BILL? MEMBERS, WE ARE IN DEBATE. DEBATE ON THE BILL? SENATOR BRADLEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED CLOSE. >> Sen. Bradley: WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: MICHELLE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE ON CS FOR HP 565. >> Sen. Arrington: YES. >> Sen. Avila: YES. >> Sen. Bernard: YES. >> Sen. Boyd: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Davis: >> Sen. Bradley: >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: >> Sen. Simon: >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair: AND SENATORS, BY YOUR VOTE SHOW CS FOR SENATE BILL 656 REPORTED FAVORABLY. SENATOR BRADLEY, YOU ARE ALREADY BETTING 500. WANT TO GO FOR A THOUSAND. >> Sen. Bradley: I THINK I MISSED THE VOTE ON MY OWN BILL. WE WILL CLARIFY THAT LATER. >> Chair: TAKE UP TAB NINE, SENATE BILL 816. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THIS BILL ESTABLISHES THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA DIABETES INSTITUTE IN STATUTE FOR PURPOSES OF ADVANCING RESEARCH, IMPROVING CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ALL FORMS OF DIABETES. IN 2015 THE DIABETES INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WAS FOUNDED TO SERVE AS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION UNDER WHICH ALL EDUCATION RESEARCH AND TREATMENT WOULD BE HOUSED. SINCE ITS CREATION IT HAS BECOME A GLOBAL LEADER IN RESEARCH TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN THIS BILL WOULD AUTHORIZE THE INSTITUTE. IT WOULD FORMALIZE IT IN STATUTE AND ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE ITS GOOD WORKER RESEARCH, PREVENTION, CARE, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. >> Chair: THANK YOU. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SEEING NO QUESTIONS, WE DO HAVE SOME APPEARANCE FORMS. MONICA RODRIGUEZ IN SUPPORT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK OR WAIVE? WAVING? OKAY. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU MS. RODRIGUEZ. [NAME] ALSO WAIVING IN SUPPORT. AARP IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? WE ARE IN DEBATE. ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED CLOSE. >> WAIVE CLOSE. >> Chair: PLEASE CALL THE BROOKLYN SENATE BILL 816. >> Sen. Arrington: YES. >> Sen. Avila: >> Sen. Bernard: YES. >> Sen. Boyd: YES. >> Sen. Davis: YES. >> Sen. Bradley: YES. >> Sen. Burton: >> Sen. Calatayud: YES. >> Sen. Gaetz: >> Sen. Jones: >> Sen. Leek: >> Sen. Mayfield: >> Sen. Passidomo: >> Sen. Rodriguez: YES. >> Sen. Simon: YES >> Sen. Truenow: >> Sen. Yarborough: >> Vice Chair Osgood: >> Chair: BY YOUR VOTE SHOW SENATE BILL 816 REPORTED FAVORABLY. ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO THE END OF THE AGENDA. DOES ANY SENATOR WISH TO BE RECORDED VOTING ON BILLS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY? SENATOR RODRIGUEZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO BE RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON TAB 4. >>Chair: SENATOR ARRINGTON. >> I WOULD LIKE TO BE RECORDED VOTING AFFIRMATIVE ON TAB FOUR, FIVE, 10 AND ONE. >>Chair: THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SENATOR LEEK? >> I'D LIKE TO BE RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON TABS ONE, FOUR, FIVE AND TEN. >> Chair: ANYONE ELSE? SENATOR BRADLEY? >> IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON TAB EIGHT. >> Chair: VERY NICE. WE WERE KIND OF THINKING THAT. GLAD TO CONFIRM IT. SENATOR CALATAYUD. >> AFFIRMATIVE ON TAB FOUR, PLEASE. >> Chair: ANY OBJECTION? SEEING NONE. MOTION TO ADOPT IT. ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? PLEASE TELL SENATOR GRUTERS HE STILL HAS A SPOT. I DIDN'T TAKE IT FROM THEM TODAY. NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, SENATOR SIMON MOVES WE ADJOURNED. IF THERE OBJECTION? SEEING NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.