Senate in Session — Closed Captions

>> ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS WILL PLEASE LEAVE THE CHAMBER. ALL SENATORS AND GUESTS IN THE GALLERY PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SENATORS PLEASE INDICATE YOUR PRESENCE. A QUORUM IS PRESENT MR. PRESIDENT. THE SENATE WILL BE IN ORDER. GOOD AFTERNOON. SENATORS AND GUESTS IN THE GALLERY PLEASE RISE FOR THE OPENING PRAYER TO BE GIVEN BY THE MOST REVEREND ERIC T HOLMEIER, BISHOP OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. BISHOP HOLMEIER SPONSORED BY THE SENATE. >> FOR GOD, YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF LIFE AND GIVER OF EVERY GOOD GIFT. IN THIS MOMENT OF PRAYER WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU DESIRE THE GOOD OF THE HUMAN FAMILY. YOU DESIRE AN ORDERED SOCIETY THAT WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF EACH OF YOUR BELOVED CHILDREN. YOU CALL EVERY PERSON TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS. AND TO USE THEIR TALENTS FOR A NOBLE PURPOSE. I ASK YOUR BLESSING ON EACH PERSON HERE, GIVE THEM THE GIFTS OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT SO THAT THEY ARE GUIDED BY WISDOM. INFUSED WITH KNOWLEDGE. MOVED BY UNDERSTANDING AND STRENGTHENED WITH FORTITUDE. HELP THEM RECOGNIZE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT. THEY ARE FRUIT FROM THEIR INTEGRITY AND HELP THEM OVERCOME PERSONAL WEAKNESS. BRING TO THEM A SENSE OF SHARED MISSION IN CRAFTING LAWS THAT TRULY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA. GIVE THEM BOTH A STRENGTH OF CONVICTION AND A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN. GIVE THEM THE EYES TO SEE THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US AND DISCOVER YOUR PLAN FOR HUMAN THRIVING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. CREATE A TRUE SENSE OF COLLABORATION IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS AND THE SENSE OF PURPOSE FOR THE COMMON GOOD. FOR EVERY CHALLENGE AND THE PATH AHEAD GUIDE THEM. LOVING FATHER WE ALSO PLACE IN YOUR CARE THE FAMILIES OF EACH PERSON HERE AND INTENTIONS DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS. FILL THEM WITH GRACE AND PEACE AND EASE THEIR HEARTS OF EVERY WORRY THAT COMES FROM THEIR WORK AND LIFE IN THIS WORLD. MAY THIS WORK BEFORE THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME AND CARE OF YOUR BELOVED CHILDREN. AND WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD AMEN. >> THANK YOU, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY SENATE PAGES, GIULIANA OF MIAMI SPONSORED BY THE SENATOR OF THE 36TH SENATOR GARCIA. ELIJAH BEING OF SAINT AUGUSTINE BROTHER OF SENATE PROFESSIONAL STAFFER OLIVER THOMAS AND SPONSORED BY THE SENATOR OF THE SEVENTH SENATOR LEEK AND TROY SANCHEZ OF MIAMI SPONSORED BY THE SENATOR OF THE 39TH SENATOR AVILA. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DOCTOR OF THE DAY IS DOCTOR DAVID WINCHESTER OF GAINESVILLE SPONSORED BY SENATOR OF THE NINTH SENATOR McLEAN SPECIALIZING IN CARDIOLOGY. WE HAVE A LIST OF INTRODUCTIONS, WE WILL START SENATOR SIMON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I BELIEVE IN THE WEST GALLERY WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE TALLAHASSEE STATE COLLEGE FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE AT THE CAN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO EXTEND A SISSY AND SEE HER APPRECIATION TO PRESIDENT MURDOCK AND HIS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THERE WE GO, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR SHARIEF YOU HAVE AN INTRODUCTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. I RISE TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING LEADERS FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING MY DISTRICT TO JOIN US IN THE GALLERY TODAY. THEY ARE BOTH SIDES BECAUSE THERE IS SO MANY. THESE STUDENTS ARE IN TALLAHASSEE FOR THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM ACTIVITY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE WHERE THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY AND FUNDING FOR THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM. PRIVACY SAFETY AND SECURITY EXPANDED LEARNING AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND ACADEMIC NEEDS. THEY ARE PROUD TO BE SUPPORTED TODAY BY THEIR COLLEGE PRESIDENT TORI ALSTON AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR REMINDING US FOR THIS FUTURE ISN'T SOMETHING WE WAIT FOR, IT'S BEING SHAPED RIGHT NOW BY THE STUDENT LEADERS, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA STATE SENATE. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR JONES FOR AN INTRODUCTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS, IN THE EAST GALLERY THERE BEHIND THE GLASS AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET INSIDE BUT I WILL STILL INTRODUCE THEM IS THRIVING MINES SOUTH FLORIDA, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENSURES SAFETY NET ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED CARE FOR PEOPLE IN MENTAL ILLNESSES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS FOR THE SOUTHERN REGION. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THEY HAVE DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED. THRIVING MINES NETWORK INCLUDES 49 NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS CAPPED AT 10%, THEY ARE THE FIRST TO BE ABLE TO RT, THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK. AND THEY ARE SO SUCCESSFUL. LET ME INTRODUCE WHO IS HERE. WE HAVE LAUREN MELITO. STEVE ZUCKERMAN, LEWIS COLLAZO, PAUL M RON, NATALIE KELLY AND PAUL ARE ONLY HERE FROM THRIVING MINES SOUTH FLORIDA, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE, SENATOR WRIGHT YOUR RECOGNIZE FOR INTRODUCTION. TODAY IN THE WEST GALLERY WE WANT TO INTRODUCE EVERYBODY FROM THE EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY WHICH IS THE PREMIER SPECIALIZED INSTITUTION FOR AVIATION AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND RELATED FIELDS WITH CAMPUSES IN DAYTONA BEACH, WEST, ARIZONA, SINGAPORE ALONG WITH A VAST WORLDWIDE CAMPUS OFFERING ONLINE AND HYBRID LEARNING. EMBRY RIDDLE SERVES 32,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY AND OFFERS 100° PROGRAMS, EVERY LEVEL OF THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION TODAY, THEY ARE STANDING IN THE WEST GALLERY AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DOCTOR BARRY BUTLER PRESIDENT OF EMBRY RIDDLE. SARAH BAR CHECK VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS. INDIRA DIAZ, SGA ADVISOR. ANDER, SGA PRESIDENT, ALLIE RAMEY, SGA CHIEF JUSTICE, NATHANIEL WROBEL, GENERAL MANAGER OF WKID 102.5 FM AND AREATA KRIEGER, STUDENT SENATOR, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR BURTON FOR AN INTRODUCTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING PARTICIPANTS IN CATHOLIC DAYS AT THE CAPITAL SEATED IN BOTH CHAMBERS. THEY ARE LAY WOMEN AND MEN, PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS AND STUDENTS FROM ACROSS FLORIDA, MANY OF THEM WEARING SENATOR SEVERAL PANELS AND MY FAVORITE COLOR RED, WE ARE INVITED WITH THEM AND BISHOP HOLMEIER AND THE OTHER CATHOLIC BISHOPS WHO CELEBRATE THE RED MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. THOMAS MORE ON TENNESSEE STREET THIS EVENING AT 6:30. MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR VISITORS FOR CATHOLIC DAY. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE, SENATOR RODRIGUEZ YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. THAT JOIN ME IN WELCOMING IN THE EAST GALLERY THE COUNCIL GENERAL OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO IN MIAMI. SHE IS THE VICE CONSUL THE INTERNATIONAL REBATE RELATIONS LIAISON AND I HAVE FILED SENATE RESOLUTION 1798 RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO'S BUSINESS TRADE AND CULTURAL COOPERATION WITH FLORIDA AND ENDURING DIPLOMATIC BUSINESS AND CULTURAL TIES BETWEEN MOROCCO AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR BURGESS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. IN THE WEST GALLERY I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE TWO DYNAMIC INTERNS BACK FROM THE DISTRICT, EMILY FELICIANO AND AIDEN DECOSTER, IT'S A LITTLE EASY EARLY FOR US TO DO IN TURN RECOGNITION BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WOULD BE HERE TOWARDS THE END AND EVERY ONE OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW WITH SOMEONE WHO WOULD FORMULATE OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SO GLAD THEY ARE HELPING ADVANCE OUR TEAM AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND WELCOME YOU TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR ROUSON YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. SENATORS, NONNY FITZGERALD IS THE STATE DIRECTOR OF THE MISS BLACK FLORIDA USA SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT AND A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL DEDICATED TO ADVANCING COMMUNITY WELLNESS EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT INITIATIVES ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. A FORMER MISS BLACK FLORIDA USA TITLEHOLDER SHE HAS CONTINUED HER COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERMENT AND LEADERSHIP BY CREATING PLATFORMS THAT FOSTER CONFIDENCE, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS FOR YOUNG WOMEN IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. SHE HOLDS A BACHELORS DEGREE A MASTERS DEGREE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND APPLIED RESEARCH AND IS CURRENTLY PURSUING HER PHD IN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. SHE'S ALSO THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF OUR CORNER AND INCLUSIVE RESPITE AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE NAVIGATING NEURO-DIVERGENCE BY PROVIDING SAFE AFFIRMING SPACES AND ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SHE'S STANDING RIGHT THERE IN THE GALLERY AND THE PINK. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME FORMER MISS BLACK FLORIDA USA NORI FITZGERALD. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR DAVIS FOR AN INTRODUCTION. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I ALMOST FORGOT, DIDN'T HEAR MY NAME. SENATORS PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM DIDN'T GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD TO THAT CAPITAL TODAY. THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADERS REPRESENT COLLEGES ACROSS OUR STATE AND WORK TO ALLEVIATE THE VOICES, I'M SORRY, WORK TO ELEVATE THE VOICES LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS OF FLORIDA'S COLLEGE STUDENTS. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE THEM HERE AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THEY ARE SEATED IN THE EAST GALLERY, YOU ALL STAND UP. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR HARRELL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. AND I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE WITH US FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY TO SEE HER MOM IN ACTION ON THE SENATE FLOOR MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTER STEPHANIE HARRELL. DOCTOR STEPHANIE HARRELL PHD FROM FSU. AND ALSO I'M JUST SO PROUD TO HAVE HER HERE BUT ALSO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE INVITATION TO MEET MY SON IN LAW ADAM JOHNSON WHO IS A PHD FROM FSU ALSO AND HIS NEW BOOK JUST CAME OUT, THE WAYFINDER, WE ARE HOLDING A RECEPTION FOR YOU TO MEET HIM TONIGHT AT 5:30 IN THE PORTICO PLEASE COME JOIN US AND YOU WILL HAVE AN AMAZING EVENING I CAN GUARANTEE IT BUT THANK YOU AND WELCOME STEPHANIE. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR CALATAYUD, YOU HAVE AN INTRODUCTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I RISE TO RECOGNIZE THE HOMECARE ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA REPRESENTING OUR STATE 2700 LICENSED HOME HEALTH AGENCIES AND PLEASED TO WELCOME MORE THAN 60 HOME CARE PROFESSIONALS VISITING THE CAPITAL ENGAGING WITH US AS POLICYMAKERS. THE HOMECARE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS OUR STATES PROVIDERS THROUGH EDUCATION ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION INJURING VULNERABLE FLORIDIANS CAN RECEIVE SAFE CARE AT HOME. NOT SURE, AWESOME AND LIKE SENATOR DICEGLIE NOT SURE WHAT SIDE THAT IS. BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL YOU ARE HERE TODAY. THAT WOULD BE THE EAST GALLERY. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE, SENATOR OSGOOD YOU HAVE AN INTRODUCTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS SERVES 500 GIRLS ANNUALLY AND IS CELEBRATING 34 YEARS OF SERVICE. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE THEM HERE IN THE WEST GALLERY WITH ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE YOUNG LEADERS OF THE PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS OF BROWARD COUNTY. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND. YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY IS POWERFUL BECAUSE IT REMINDS US IN THIS CHAMBER IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE LAWS ARE DEBATED BUT IT IS A PLACE WHERE FUTURES ARE SHAPED. AT PACE YOU'RE LEARNING LEADERSHIP SISTERHOOD AND SELF-WORTH. THOSE VALUES ARE NEEDED RIGHT HERE IN THE FLORIDA SENATE. EVERY VOICE MATTERS, EVERY STORY MATTERS AND YOUR STORY MATTERS WE HAD A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT THE PASTE ENTER, I CALL IT A PLACE OF GRACE AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR BRACY DAVIS YOU HAVE AN INTRODUCTION YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. GREETINGS SENATORS, TODAY I AM HONORED TO WELCOME FAITH IN FLORIDA TO THE HALLS OF THE FAITH CAPITAL, THEY ARE A POWERFUL ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN FAITH JUSTICE AND A BELIEF OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND IT WORKS BETTER WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN ACTION AND EVERYONE HAS ONE VOICE. FAITH IN FLORIDA IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A STRONG MULTICULTURAL NONPARTISAN NETWORK OF CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ACROSS OUR STATE. YOUR PRESENCE REFLECTS WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN FAITH MEETS ACTION AND LOVE MEETS POLICY. I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FIERCE DIRECTOR OF DEMOCRACY, A LIFELONG FREEDOM FIGHTER, TRAILBLAZER WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY MOTHER AND NAMESAKE, DOCTOR LAVON WRIGHT BRACY, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. SENATOR DAVIS, YOU HAVE AN INTRODUCTION YET AGAIN. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I HATE THAT YOU HAD TO CALL ME AFTER SENATOR BRACY DAVIS WITH THAT INTRODUCTION BUT THAT WAS WONDERFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A RESOLUTION BEING ADOPTED INTO THE JOURNAL TODAY AND I'VE WORKED WITH SOME MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO DO THIS. IT'S A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AUGUST 2026 AS IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. JUST A FEW LINES I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DOCTORS THAT ARE HERE THAT HELPED US WORK WITH THIS, WHEREAS HIGH IMMUNIZATION RATES IN GENERAL HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE INCIDENCE OF VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHEREAS IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ADULTS AND PARENTS TO BE FULLY INFORMED AS TO THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF SUCH VACCINATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE WISE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF AUGUST HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AS THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT AUGUST 2026 IS THE RECOGNIZED DAY OF IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WE HAVE SOME DOCTORS THAT ARE HERE WITH US, IF YOU WOULD STAND IN THE EAST GALLERY THAT HELPED US WITH THAT. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE, SENATOR GAETZ YOU HAVE AN INTRODUCTION, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. WE ARE HONORED TO BE JOINED BY DONATE LIFE FLORIDA WHOSE MISSION CONTINUES TO SAVE LIVES ACROSS OUR STATE, DONATE LIFE FLORIDA REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATIONS AIMED TO EDUCATE FAMILIES ABOUT THE LIFESAVING IMPACT OF ORGAN I AND TISSUE DONATION. MORE THAN 6000 FLORIDIANS TODAY OUR AWAITING A LIFESAVING DONATION. DONATE FLORIDA IS WORKING TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES. WE PROBABLY PROCLAIMED THIS SATURDAY IS NATIONAL DONOR DAY IN FLORIDA, A DAY DEDICATED TO THE SELFLESS DECISION TO REGISTER AS AN ORGAN, EYE OR TISSUE DONOR AND HAVE AN IMPACT THAT LASTS FAR INTO THE FUTURE BEYOND OUR OWN LIVES AND IF YOU ARE HERE PLEASE STAND UP. WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. >> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. FOR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE GALLERY THAT HAS NOT BEEN WELCOMED, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SENATE. WE HAVE ONE MORE, SENATOR POLSKY. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, THIS ONE IS SERIOUS FOLKS. CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE? TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR AND REMEMBER LIVES TAKEN AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 14, 2018. AHEAD OF THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY COMING UP THIS SATURDAY. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE LIVES TAKEN IN MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL IN PARKLAND AND THE 17 INJURED AS WELL. HONORING THE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS WHOSE FUTURES WERE STOLEN BY SENSELESS VIOLENCE. THEIR NAMES AND STORIES CONTINUE TO REMIND US OF THE PRECIOUSNESS OF LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITY WE SHARE TO PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. IN THE FACE OF UNIMAGINABLE LOSS THE PARKLAND COMMUNITY SHOWED RESILIENCE COURAGE AND A DEMAND FOR CHANGE. THERE ADVOCACY LED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL PUBLIC SAFETY ACT, THE PROVISIONS OF WHICH HAVE WORKED TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES FROM SIMILAR ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND MUST CONTINUE TO BE UPHELD. MAY REMEMBRANCE KEEP THEIR LEGACY ALIVE AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMITMENT TO COMPASSION SAFETY AND JUSTICE. THEIR NAMES AND STORIES REMIND US BEHIND EVERY TRAGEDY ARE REAL PEOPLE WHOSE ABSENCE IS FELT EVERY DAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE VICTIMS NAMES ALLOWED FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. MELISSA ALLA DEATH, NICHOLAS DWORAK, MARTIN DUQUETTE, PETER WANG, ERIN VICE, CHRIS HICKSON, CAROL LONGER AND, JAMIE GUTTENBERG, GINA MONTALTO, JOAQUIN OLIVER, ELENA PETTY, MEADOW POLLOCK, LUKE LAWYER, ELENA RAMSEY, IT'S GOT LEGAL, ALEX SCHECHTER. WE WILL STAND IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH THE ORDER OF BUSINESS, OR THEIR REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT. MOTIONS RELATED TO COMMITTEE REFERENCE. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR OR OTHER MEDICATIONS. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT. MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT. MATTERS ON RECONSIDERATION. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT. TAKE UP THE SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR AND READ THE NEXT BILL. >> AN ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF WHO WAS A KOREA BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. SENATOR RODRIGUEZ YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE BILL BE 13 THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. SENATE BILL 14 IS A SETTLED CLAIMS BUILT FOR THE RELIEF OF ALWAYS A KOREA FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, LAWFULLY CROSSING SOUTHWEST 40TH STREET INTERSECTION OF LEJEUNE ROAD WHEN A DRIVER FAILED TO OBSERVE MR. CORREA WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CAUSING A COLLISION, MIAMI-DADE HAS ADMITTED FULL AND SETTLED WITHOUT A TRIAL, THIS CLAIMS BILL FOR $4.1 MILLION IS SUPPORTED BY THE CLAIMANT AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THAT IS THE BUILT C1 ARE THERE AMENDMENTS. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT BE ONE QUESTIONS OF THE SPONSOR, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. SHOW THE MOTION CARRIES, PLEASE READ THE BILL ONE THIRD TIME. >> SENATE BILL 14 ENTITLED AN ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF JOSÉ CORREA BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. IS THERE DEBATE, SENATOR RODRIGUEZ TO CLOSE. CLOSE. SECRETARY WILL UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS WILL PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED, SECRETARY WILL RECORD THE VOTE. >> 37 AYE, ONE NAY. SHOW THE BILL PASSES. >> SENATE BILL 16 AN ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF CAROL BIRDSALL BY THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG. SENATOR ROUSON YOUR RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. SENATE BILL 16 IS AN UNCONTESTED CLAIMS BILL AGAINST THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG FOR $2.3 MILLION. THE FACTS ARE ON JUNE 18, 2023 THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG POLICE OFFICER FOUND MR. SANCHEZ LYING ASLEEP IN A DAYTIME ONLY PART AROUND 10:00 A.M.. AFTER AWAKENING HIM HE WAS UNLAWFULLY ARRESTED FOR MISDEMEANOR TRESPASS. I DON'T TIMES MR. MAYAN WAS COMPLIANT AND RESPONSIVE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY PLACED HIM IN HANDCUFFS, USING A METAL BELLY CHAIN RESTRICTING MR. SANCHEZ ABILITY TO BRACE OR PROTECT HIMSELF. THEREAFTER THEY PLACED HIM IN AN UNRESTRAINED MANNER WITHOUT SEATBELTS ON A BENCH IN THE BACK OF A VAN. ON THE WAY TO THE JAIL THE VAN STOPPED SHORT SENDING MR. SANCHEZ FLYING HEADFIRST INTO THE BULKHEAD WHERE HE REMAINED MOTIONLESS. HE WAS STILL UNCONSCIOUS UPON ARRIVAL AT THE JAIL AND INSTEAD OF SEEKING MEDICAL HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUED TO TRY TO WEEK HIM. WHEN THOSE EFFORTS FAILED THEY DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THE VAN BY HIS ANKLES CAUSING HIS HEAD TO STRIKE THE VANS REAR DOOR BUMPER AND EVENTUALLY THE CEMENT FLOOR. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO TAMPA GENERAL AND IT WAS DISCOVERED HE SUSTAINED CATASTROPHIC INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURES THAT RESULTED IN MR. SANCHEZ REQUIRING DOUBLE ABOVE THE KNEE LEG AMPUTATIONS. AND RENDERING HIM A QUADRIPLEGIC. HE WILL REQUIRE CONTINUED MEDICAL AND FULL-TIME HOME CARE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG AGREED TO SETTLE THE CASE FOR 2.5 MILLION. THE SPECIAL MASTER HELD A HEARING IN OCTOBER AND REPORTED THE CASE FAVORABLY AND THAT IS THE BILL. ARE THERE AMENDMENTS. >> NONE ON THE DESK MR. PRESIDENT. ARE THERE QUESTIONS, SENATOR ROUSON MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING YEA. HOLD PLEASE, SENATOR OF THE 16TH SENATOR ROUSON MOVES HB 6517 OUR FIRST HOUSE BILL ON THE WAY OVER BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 16, IS THERE OBJECTION, SEEING NONE SHOW THAT ADOPTED, READ THE HOUSE BILL. >> 6217 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT WHERE THE DIFFERENT -- RELIEF OF SANCHEZ MAYEN CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG. >> ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> NONE ON THE DESK. ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SENATOR ROUSON MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? PLEASE READ THE BILL A THIRD TIME. >> AN ACT TO BE ENTITLED ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF SANCHEZ MAYEN BY THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG. IS THERE DEBATE? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE? CLOSE. SECRETARY UNLOCK THE BOARD AND PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? SECRETARY LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORDS ABOUT. >> 39 AYES, ZERO NAYS. >> PLEASE READ THE NEXT BILL. >> A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT FOR EDWARD THE TOUR BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. >> SENATOR ON THE 22ND YOU ARE RECOGNIZED EXPLAIN THE BILL. THIS IS AN UNCONTESTED CLAIM BILL IN LOCAL FUNDS FOR 500,000 PAYABLE FOR UNENCUMBERED FUNDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BASED ON A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN LAWRENCE AND EDWARD IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SOME CIVIL ACTION THAT AROSE FROM NEGLIGENCE TO THE COUNTY THAT CAUSED INJURY TO HER AND HER HUSBAND EDWARD. >> ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> NONE ON THE DESK. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? THERE IS A COMPANION HOUSE BILL. PLEASE EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES IF YOU PLAN TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SENATE BILL. SENATOR OF THE 22ND MOVES HB 6515 BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SENATE BILL 24. IS THEIR OBJECTION? SHOW THAT MOTION ADOPTED READ THE HOUSE BILL. >> 6515 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT RELATED FOR THE RELIEF BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. >> ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> NONE ON THE DESK. >> QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SENATOR GRUTERS MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SHOW THE MOTION ADOPTED. >> HOUSE BILL 6516 ABLE TO MEET ENTITLED AN ACT RELATED FOR THE RELIEF BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. >> IS THERE DEBATE? SENATOR GRUTERS TO CLOSE. >> I WANT TO THANK SENATOR RODRIGUEZ RUNNING THIS THROUGH THE COMMITTEES AND SENATOR JONES MAKING SURE THIS PROCESS. SECRETARY UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS WILL PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? SECRETARY WILL UNLOCK THE BOARD OR LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 38 AYES, ONE NAY. >> READ THE NEXT BILL. >> SENATE BILL 52 A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO SECURITY SERVICES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. >> SENATOR GAETZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED EXPLAIN THE BILL. >> THANK MUCH MR. PRESIDENT. HOUSES OF WORSHIP HAD NOT ONLY BEEN SACRED PLACES BUT SAFE PLACES FOR GATHERING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT SAFETY CAN NO LONGER BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. IT IS COMMON FOR SYNAGOGUES, CHURCHES AND MOSQUES AND EVEN IN OUR STATE TO HAVE ARMED SECURITY OFTEN USING PROFESSIONAL LICENSED SECURITY PERSONNEL. SOME HOUSES OF WORSHIP WHO CAN'T AFFORD HIRING AN OUTSIDE SECURITY SERVICE ARE USING VOLUNTEERS. SENATE BILL 52 EXEMPTS PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER ARMED SECURITY FOR CHURCHES AND OTHER PLACES OF WORSHIP FROM THE CLASS D AND CLASS G LICENSING REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL SECURITY SERVICES. IT MAKES CLEAR PRESENT TO VOLUNTEER PROVIDE SUCH SECURITY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AS A PAID SECURITY SERVICE. THAT IS THE BILL. >> ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> NONE ON THE DESK. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE YAY. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SHOW THE MOTION ADOPTED. READ THE BILL. >> COMMITTEES OF TODAY FOR SENATE BILL 52 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO SECURITY AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. >> DEBATE? SENATOR GAETZ? SECRETARY UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS WILL PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? SECRETARY LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE. >> 39 AYES, ZERO NAYS. >> READ THE NEXT BILL. >> A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO THE FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL. >> SENATOR RODRIGUEZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED EXPLAIN THE BILL. >> SENATE BILL 124 A PLACE OF FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL STATUTE THE CLEANUP OUTDATED STATUTORY LANGUAGE. THE BILL DOES NOT CHANGE OF FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL STUDENTS DID BY DATE. IT CLARIFIES WHO THEY SERVE, HOW IT IS FUNDED AND GOVERNED AND COORDINATES WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THAT IS THE BILL. >> ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? ARE THERE QUESTIONS? SENATOR RODRIGUEZ MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE ALL THOSE OPPOSED? READ THE BILL A THIRD TIME. >> A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO THE FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL. >> IS THERE DEBATE? SENATOR RODRIGUEZ? >> WAIVE CLOSE EXPECT SECRETARY UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS PROCEED TO FILE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? HAS SENATOR DAVIS VOTED? THE SECRETARY WILL LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 39 YAH, ZERO NAYS. READ THE NEXT BILL >> SB 504 A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS. SENATOR BURGESS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE BILL. THIS BILL SETS MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUT CHOOSE TO ALLOW CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO HAVE BODY CAMERAS. ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> NONE ON THE DESK. QUESTIONS OF THE SPONSOR? SENATOR BURGESS MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE SIGNIFY? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. PLEASE READ THE BILL A THIRD TIME >> EXPORT COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE PIPE FOR A BUILT ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS. IS THERE DEBATE? SENATOR BURGESS HAVING WAIVED THE SECRETARY WILL LOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? HAVE ALL -- THERE WE GO. SECRETARY LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 39 AYES, ZERO NAYS. PLEASE READ THE NEXT BILL. >>506 A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORD. STAYING WITH THE SENATOR OF THE 23RD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. STAYING WITH THE PREVIOUS BILL THIS IS THE PUBLIC RECORDS BILL THAT CREATES A LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE IN SB 504. ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> NONE ON THE DESK. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SHOW THE MOTION PASSES. >> SENATE BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS. IS THERE DEBATE? HAVING WAIVED OF THE SECRETARY WILL UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS WILL PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? SECRETARY LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 38 AYES, 1 NAY. READ THE NEXT BILL >> A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO TRUST FUNDS. THE SENATOR OF THE 21ST YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE BILL. >> SB 7040 RE-CREATES THE EMERGENCY REPAIR PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FUND WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. THE BILL EXTENDS THE EPF ARE TO DECEMBER 31, 2027. WHICH IS TO HURRICANE SEASONS FROM NOW. THE POLICY OF OUR STATUS FUNDS NEEDED MUST ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE CREATION OF THIS TRUST FUND THE GOVERNOR WAS AUTHORIZED TO SPEND FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAT COULD BE UNINCORPORATED RESERVE FUNDS, FUND FROM THE STABILIZATION FUND, ETC. WHEN THIS WAS CREATED IN MAY 22, WE LIMITED THE EMERGENCY SPENDING POWER TO DRAW FROM GENERAL REVENUE. NOW EMERGENCY SPENDING CAN ONLY COME FROM FUNDS THAT WE SPECIFICALLY APPROPRIATE INTO THE TRUST FUND. OUR CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TERMINATION OF A TRUST FUND WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS TRUST FUND TAKES EFFECT FEDERALLY 17TH, 2022. TODAY IS FEBRUARY 11. IF THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT PASS, THE TRUST FUND WILL EXPIRE NEXT MONDAY AT THE DATE PICKED THE GOVERNOR WILL HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO SPEND FUNDING ON FUTURE EMERGENCIES UNLESS LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES FUNDS DURING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THAT IS THE BILL. ARE THERE AMENDMENTS? >> ON THE DESK. >> READ THE AMENDMENTS. >> AMENDMENT BARCODE 722464 DELETE LINES 15 TO 17 AND INSERT. >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD CHANGE THE AUTHORIZED USES OF THE EMERGENCY FUND. UNDER THE AMENDMENT THE FUND WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO ANY NATURAL DISASTER SUCH AS A HURRICANE, A TORNADO, A FLOOD. FOR AS LONG AS A STATE OF EMERGENCY REMAINS IN EFFECT. FOR ALL OTHER EMERGENCIES, MAN-MADE OR TECHNICAL, THE FUND WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE FIRST 60 DAYS OF A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY BUT CONTINUED USE WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION. THE LDC WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE THIS FUNCTION, FILLING IN THE GAPS BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ADDRESS ITEMS WE COULDN'T FORESEE. THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES A BARE MINIMUM LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT OVER THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT IN THIS FUND. AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS RECENTLY, HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT ON IMMIGRATION WITH NO TIMEFRAME ON REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 405 MILLION WAS SPENT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, INCLUDING HALF A MILLION SPENT ON PRIVATE JETS AND THOUSANDS SPENT AT RESTAURANTS. THIS FUND IS ONLY CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT HAS BEEN USED TO ENABLE A POLITICAL STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT HAS GONE ON FOR OVER THREE YEARS. WE NEED TO PREVENT THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRUST FUND FROM BEING USED WITHOUT OVERSIGHT AND THAT IS THE AMENDMENT. ARE THERE QUESTIONS OF THE SPONSOR? IS THERE DEBATE? SENATOR ARRINGTON, IN DEBATE. THANK YOU LEADER BERMAN FOR THIS GREAT AMENDMENT THAT PROVIDES THE PERFECT BALANCE OF ALLOWING EMERGENCY POWERS FOR SPENDING WHEN THERE TRULY IS AN EMERGENCY. BECAUSE EMERGENCY POWERS ARE MEANT FOR HURRICANES, TORNADOES, FLOODING. NOT LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE DETENTION FACILITIES BUILT AND CURRENTLY BE MAINTAINED BY NO-BID CONTRACTS. EVEN IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW THE FUND IS BEING USED CURRENTLY, WHAT ABOUT THE AUTHORITY TO SET FUTURE GOVERNORS WITH DIFFERENT PRIORITIES? I URGE YOU TO JOIN IN VOTING UP IN THE GREAT AMENDMENT FROM LEADER BERMAN. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR JONES IN DEBATE. MEMBERS, WANT TO START WHERE I BELIEVE MOST OF US AGREE THAT IS THE GOVERNOR DESERVES FLEXIBILITY. HE DESERVES, HE OR SHE NO MATTER THE ADMINISTRATION DESERVES THE ABILITY TO ACT SWIFTLY IN TRUE EMERGENCIES. HURRICANES, NATURAL DISASTERS AND IMMINENT THREAT REQUIRE EXECUTIVE ACTION. BECAUSE IT EMERGENCY AUTHORITY DOES NOT REQUIRE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WHEN THE AUTHORITY IS EXTENDED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. THIS AMENDMENT THAT SENATOR BERMAN JUST PUT FORTH, PERSONALLY I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WEAKENS THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WHAT I BELIEVE THIS DOES, IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WHOLLY ACCOUNTABLE, WHOEVER THE LEADER IS, OF HOW THEY ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY. THIS DOES NOT WEAKEN THIS LEGISLATION AT ALL. AS A MATTER OF FACT PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE WE AS A RESPONSIBLE FIDUCIARIES OF TAX PAYER DOLLARS, I THINK THE BEST THING FOR US TO DO IS PUT GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO ENSURE DOLLARS THAT ARE APPROPRIATED IN THESE TAXPAYERS SITTING IN THESE CALORIES THAT THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF WHERE THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND IT IS NOT BEING SPENT FRIVOLOUSLY. I HOPE WE CAN PASS AT THIS AMENDMENT NOT TO WEAKEN THE LEGISLATION BUT TO STRENGTHEN IT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING RIGHT BY TAXPAYER MONEY. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR POLSKY IN DEBATE. WE ARE SPENDING AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY GOING AROUND THE STATE EXAMINING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUDGETS. TURNS OUT EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED SEEMS TO OVERSPEND BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IF WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE EXERCISE, SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY DISRUPTING A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHY DON'T WE DO IT WITH OURSELVES? WE ARE LETTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS GO UNCHECKED. PUT ASIDE OUR POLICY DIFFERENCES ON THE IMMIGRATION EMERGENCY ORDER. I KNOW EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CHAMBER AGREES WITH ME THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A HANDLE ON THIS MONEY. I WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS FUND. I DID LAST TIME. WE ALL DID. WE VOTED FOR THE BILL. IT WAS UNANIMOUS AND BIPARTISAN. LET'S MAKE THE LEGISLATION WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY UNANIMOUS AND BIPARTISAN BY PUTTING ON APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS. WE ARE NOT GETTING RID OF THE FUND, WE ARE NOT AFFECTING THE FLEXIBILITY. THIS IS THE PERFECT BALANCE WE TRY TO SEEK IN THE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND DOING RIGHT BY OUR CONSTITUENTS. HAVING THE MONEY AVAILABLE IN A TRUE EMERGENCY. IT SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL -- IT SHOULD NOT BE A TOOL, IT SHOULD NOT BE A TALKING POINT FOR A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. IT IS OUR CONSTITUENTS, IT IS OUR MONEY, IT IS TAXPAYER MONEY SO WE NEED TO HAVE A HANDLE ON IT. LET'S DOJ OURSELVES. LET'S PASS THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE THIS IS FAIR AND BALANCED AND YOU KNOW IT. PLEASE LET'S VOTE THIS AMENDMENT IN WE CAN ALL VOTE UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE FUND. THANK YOU. SENATOR PIZZO IN DEBATE? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HAVE TO EXTEND AN EMERGENCY UNTIL IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY ANYMORE, IT'S JUST AN EXPERIMENT. AND IT BECOMES THE NORM VERY SIMPLY THERE SHOULD THE LANGUAGE SO TO SPEAK INTO 52 AND THERE ISN'T. I THINK THE DIRECTOR WAS CLEAR THE OTHER DAY AND APPROPRIATIONS WHEN HE SAID LISTEN, YOU TELL US WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE MONEY WHEN WE GET REIMBURSED. YOU TELL US WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THESE FUNDS AND WE HAVE THE EXPECTATION WAS IF DON GAETZ LENDS ME 50 BUCKS BECAUSE I HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND I PROMISE I WILL GET HIM BACK BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE DOES IT FOR THAT, WHEN I GET REIMBURSED DATE I SHOULD GET BACK TO GAETZ. I DON'T KEEP THE 50 AND THEN GOES UP TO IN THE LAST SESSIONS WE HAVE GIVEN 4.77 BILLION DOLLARS TO THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. BUT THEY SPENT 6.5 BECAUSE OUT OF REIMBURSABLES LET GO BACK TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY WHEN YOU COLLECT SOMEBODY ELSE WE GROUP INCORPORATED IF YOU COLLECT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE GOT CONSTITUENTS OPTED WHEN A THIRD-PARTY INTERVENES. INSTEAD THEY TAKE AN EXTRA 1.8 BILLION DOLLARS THEY HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED FROM THE MONEY WE LOANED THEM AND GAVE THEM AND KEPT IT AND KEPT IT, WHICH TAKES OUT OF OUR CONTROL, OUT THERE WHICH ARE STATUTE IS CLEAR ABOUT IS OUT OF CONTROL, IS OUR DECISION. I'M NOT EVEN SPEAKING TO OR CHARACTERIZING OR CLASSIFYING ANY OF THE EXPENDITURES WHETHER IT'S $573,000 PER IMMIGRATION ON 4.5 FOR HAITI RELIEF OR 1.5 TO GET AMERICANS OUT OF ISRAEL. I'M NOT MAKING A CHARACTERIZATION. I'M JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT THE LAW IS WE ARE THE ONES WHO EXTEND FUNDS ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND ONCE YOU RECEIVE MONEY FROM 1/3 PARTY WHICH ARE CONSTITUENCY REMEMBER, BUT THE $50 MILLION LOAN TO FUND $50,000 PER SMALL BUSINESS WE WERE OVERSUBSCRIBED BY 8000 COMPANIES IN A DAY. THE MONEY HAD TO COME BACK TO US A CONDITION OF THE LOAN WAS WHEN PPP MONEY WAS GIVEN, THOUGH SMALL BUSINESSES HAD TO PAY IT BACK. WHY DON'T THEY? THIS IS REALLY SIMPLE. BECAUSE IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO WHAT I ASKED SENATOR BURGESS AND HE DID IT IN GOOD FAITH AND HE MEANT WELL WITH ESSBASE 98. SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL AND APPROPRIATIONS. I SAID CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT AN EMERGENCY MIGHT BE? HE WAS LIKE THERE COULD BE A FEW. ABOUT A HURRICANE? YES. HOW ABOUT A MASSIVE FIRE? YES. HOW ABOUT IMMIGRATION? I DON'T KNOW. AS OF RIGHT NOW, NO. SLOW MOTION. WE SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL. IF WE GIVE OUT HALF A BILLION A YEAR ON THE ENTITY WE GIVE HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO A YEAR GETS 200 MILLION BACK, THAT IS NOT THEIRS. IT IS THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S MONEY WHO HAS ELECTED US TO DECIDE AND DETERMINE WHAT IS A VALID, REAL AND RESPONSIBLE EXPENSE FOR THEIR EMERGENCY. I'M SORRY WE ARE IN THIS POSITION BUT THIS IS WHY SENATOR BURGESS I'M SURE WILL REMEMBER SENATOR BRANDIS AND I SAID WE WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT A BILLION. IF YOU BRING IT TO HAVE A BILLION WE WILL VOTE FOR THE BILL. AND I VOTED FOR IT. SO DID SENATOR BERMAN AND SENATOR POLSKY. THAT'S IT. IT IS AN ACCOUNTING MEASURE AND THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT PERSON OR PERSONALITY. IT'S ARE WE BEING GOOD FIDUCIARY STEWARDS OF THEIR MONEY? WE HAVE NOT BEEN. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR SMITH IN DEBATE. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. SENATORS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE HAVE GUARDRAILS IN THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND. I DON'T BELIEVE THE GUARDRAILS WE HAVE IN THIS FUND CURRENTLY HAS WRITTEN AND AS PRESENTED ARE SUFFICIENT. I DON'T THINK THE GUARDRAILS REALLY EXIST. WE HAVE A CONVERSATION IN APPROPRIATIONS RECENTLY WHERE THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, DO YOU BELIEVE THE APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS ARE IN PLACE TO CURB EXCESSIVE SPENDING? THE RESPONSE WAS THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT DETAILS WHAT THE EMERGENCY SPENDING HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND HAVE THE OVERSIGHT. OF COURSE THAT HAS BEEN AFTER-THE-FACT. WE JUST LEARNED RECENTLY BASED ON THAT REPORT PUBLISHED IN THE LAST WEEK TO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE THAT IN THE SIX MONTHS AFTER WE -- LAST YEAR FROM THE REGULAR SESSION, WHICH WE ALL KNOW WAS A LONG ONE. IN 16 MONTH PERIOD, $405 MILLION WAS SPENT OUT OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND. THIS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY IN A CONDENSED PERIOD OF TIME. SOME OF THE DETAILS AROUND WHAT THE EMERGENCY SPENDING IS FOR A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. INCLUDES $2100 OF SPENDING UP PAGE ROSE TACOS AND TEQUILA HERE IN TALLAHASSEE. $1199.70 THAT -- SPORTS BAR. $1366 AT LIBERTY BAR AND RESTAURANT. ONE OF MY FAVORITES. DELICIOUS. OUR MONEY INTENDED TO BE SPENT AS PART OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE. HI KNOW THESE ARE LARGE FIGURES. THERE ARE LARGER FIGURES I'M FUNDAMENTALLY CONCERNED ABOUT. I'M CONCERNED EVEN OUTSIDE THAT SIX MONTHS THAT $573 MILLION OF OUR MONEY PAID BY TAX PAYERS, WHICH IS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS SPENT ON THIS EXTREME IMMIGRATION DEPORTATION REGIME THAT IS TERRORIZED OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT HAS NOT OPERATED AS IT WAS BUILT TO BE TARGETING THE WORST OF THE WORST FILE INCREMENTAL. AND BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND WE DON'T HAVE GUARDRAILS, WHICH LEADER BERMAN IS TRYING DILIGENTLY IN THIS AMENDMENT TO TRY TO ENACT, WE NOT ONLY HAD SPENDING THAT IN MY OPINION IN THE OPINION OF THE CONSTITUENTS WHO ELECTED ME IS NOT BEING SPENT ON A TRUE EMERGENCY LIKE A HURRICANE OR A NATURAL DISASTER. THAT IT IS BEING SPENT FOR POLITICAL REASONS AT INFLATED COSTS. INFLATED COSTS. WE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND SPECIFICALLY ON THE SO-CALLED EVERGLADES DETENTION CAMP OR THE SO-CALLED ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ. ON PAPER IT IS THE SOUTH FLORIDA DETENTION CENTER. AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE DETAINEES WHO ARE HELD IN THERE WITH THE FUNDING FROM THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND IS ONE IN FOUR HAS WHAT ICE CONSIDERS A CRIMINAL CONVICTION. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WERE TOLD WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR TAXPAYER MONEY. AND AT SUCH AN INFLATED COST, BY THE WAY. I READ TO YOU THE BAR TABS BEING RUN UP WITH TAXPAYER MONEY FOR AN EMERGENCY, BUT THAT DOESN'T EVEN SKIM THE SURFACE. I SEE ACCORDING TO THE REPORT WE JUST RECEIVED THAT A COMPANY CALLED DUTY CALLS, HAS PROVIDED $93 MILLION WORTH OF PORTER POTTIES ON THE EVERGLADES SWAMP. THAT'S A LAW. WITH OUR MONEY THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SPENT. I MET WITH A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO HUMBLY ASKED FOR $90 MILLION TO FUND THE STATE COLLEGE SYSTEM THAT IS NEEDED TO. IT IS NEEDED TO FUND THEIR EDUCATION, THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP THEM SUCCEED TO. WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT $93 MILLION ON PORTER POTTIES THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE SPENT. SENATORS, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF LEADER BERMANS AMENDMENT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE ONLY GUARDRAIL NEEDED. THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT IS NEEDED. WE NEED TO PUT A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF RENEWALS. WE NEED TO REIGN IN THIS SPENDING TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO BID CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR $93 MILLION. I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ABSURDITY ON THE EXCESSIVE SPENDING WE ARE SEEING AND WHAT HAS BECOME AN EMERGENCY SLUSH FUND THAT SHOULD NOT BE AUTHORIZED. SO I APPLAUD LEADER BERMAN BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD IN TRYING TO BRING SOME OF THE NECESSARY GUARDRAILS WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER MONIES THANK YOU SENATOR. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR HOOPER? THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. IT SEEMS TO ME WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF ISSUES THAT HAVE NO MEANING TO THIS WHATSOEVER. I BELIEVE SENATOR BERMAN AMENDMENT CLEARLY STATES SHOULD THE GOVERNOR TRY TO EXTEND AN EMERGENCY TIME, THE LDC MUST APPROVE THAT. I THINK THAT'S ALL HER AMENDMENT SAYS. IT DOESN'T SAY A WORD ABOUT PORTER POTTIES. THAT IS NOT PART OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR WHICH WAS LAST MONTH, AN ENTIRE SERIES OF TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE AMENDMENT IS NOT WELL INTENDED, BUT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE AN LDC MEETING RIGHT NOW FOR THREE MONTHS. AS THE CHAIR OF THE LDC, I CAN TELL YOU AND LDC AMENDMENT MUST BE APPROVED THREE TIMES BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. IF ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES DOESN'T WANT TO PLAY, THE AMENDMENT IS NOT DEALT WITH. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK THAT BODY MAY BE MAD AT US AND DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT AMENDMENT? I AM NOT. MONDAY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT THIS TRUST FUND EXPIRES SHOULD SOMETHING OCCUR TUESDAY MORNING THE GOVERNOR HAS NO AUTHORITY TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY AND I CAN'T TELL YOU THE LDC WOULD BE ANXIOUS TO HAVE A MEETING THAT QUICK TO ADDRESS A TRUE EMERGENCY THAT OCCURS IN THIS STATE. WHILE I RESPECT LEADER BERMAN AND I KNOW HER HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS BODY DO NOT APPROVE THE AMENDMENT. LEADER BERMAN TO CLOSE ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I DO AGREE. THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES A BARE LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT. OVER THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MUCH MORE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. JUST IN THIS AMENDMENT ALL WE ARE SAYING IS ANY EMERGENCY FUNDS CAN GO ON AS LONG AS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS DECLARED. FOR ALL THE EMERGENCIES, ONCE YOU DECLARE IT YOU HAVE THE 60 DAYS. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION. 11.94 FLORIDA STATUTE ALLOWS THEM TO MEET BY TELECONFERENCE SO THEY CAN DO THAT. THE JOINT RULE REQUIRE SEVEN DAYS NOTICE. THE OF 60 DAYS AND UNDER THIS AMENDMENT AND WITHIN THE 60 DAYS THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSIONS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET. IF SOMEBODY IS MAD AT SOMEBODY, HE'S THE ONE ASKING FOR THOSE FUNDS SO IT WOULD TO BE HIS PROBLEM IF HE STOPS THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION. I WANT OUR GOVERNOR TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO EMERGENCIES. WHETHER THEY ARE TECHNICAL OR MAN-MADE. BUT I CAN'T APPROVE OFFERING A BLANK CHECK. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS OFTEN IGNORED IN THE ROLL OF THIS LEGISLATURE. THE AMENDMENT DOESN'T TIE THE GOVERNORS HAND BUT IT ENABLES OUR BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE REAL OVERSIGHT OVER THE EMERGENCY FUND. THIS IS THE WAY OUR FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION INTENDED OUR GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION. MY HOPE IS THIS BODY WILL RECLAIM OUR POWER OF THE PURSE. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING YAY. ALTHOUGH OPPOSED NO. SHOW THE AMENDMENT DOES NOT PASS. SEEING FIVE HANDS THE CLERK WILL UNLOCK THE BOARD AND MEMBERS PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL MEMBERS VOTED? SECRETARY LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 12 YAYS, 27 NAYS. READ THE NEXT AMENDMENT. >> NONE ON THE DESK. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THE BILL? SENATOR POLSKY, ANY QUESTIONS? CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS AS FAR AS THE HOUSE VOTING FOR SINCE IT EXPIRES ON MONDAY? SENATOR HOOPER. I WOULD NEVER SPEAK FOR THE HOUSE. I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THE SENATE IS TAKING ACTION TODAY. HOPEFULLY THE HOUSE WILL BE CONSIDERING THIS IN THIS FUND DOES NOT EXPIRE. I CAN'T SEE ANY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS FUND EXPIRING PUTTING US IN A POSITION TO RESPOND TO OUR CITIZENS. I HAVE NOT TALKED TO MY COUNTER PART ABOUT THIS BILL. SENATOR POLSKY. THANK YOU. I ASK BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING. THE HOUSE IS MEETING THIS AFTERNOON AND THAT'S IT. IT HASN'T BEEN HEARD IN ANY COMMITTEE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS IF YOU CAN ENLIGHTEN US. SENATOR HOOPER. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY ACTION THE HOUSES PROPOSING. I BELIEVE I THINK APPROPRIATIONS MEETS TOMORROW. THEY HAVE TIME TO TAKE UP THE LEGISLATION AND VOTE IT UP OR DOWN. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? SENATOR HOOPER MOVES THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SHOW THE MOTION CARRIES. SEEING FIVE HAND THE CLERK WILL UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS WILL PROCEED TO VOTE. THEY ARE VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO ROLL THIS TO A THIRD READING. THE CLERK WILL UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS WILL PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 27 YAYS. READ THE BILL A THIRD TIME. >> A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT RELATING TO TRUST FUNDS. IS THERE DEBATE ON THE BILL? SENATOR PIZZO IN DEBATE. MAYBE HE WILL RUN FOR THE HOUSE NEXT YEAR BUT PRESUMABLY YOU ARE NOT BACK. LET ME ASK YOU THIS. I ASK YOU TO ADDRESS THIS WOULDN’T IT BE PRUDENT FOR AT LEAST WE ESTABLISHED A PARTY CHART. WELL-RUN COMPANIES. WELL-RUN BUDGETS DO X NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT GO OUT WHEN DOLLARS COME BACK AND SOME OF IT HAS TO BE SPENT ON OUR CONSTITUENTS. ON INFRASTRUCTURE. PRESIDENT ALBRITTON WAS INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS IN APRIL 23 WHEN WE HAD HORRIBLE FLOODING IN MY DISTRICT. CAME BY THE OFFICE AT 3:00AND SAID HE LOOKED BUSY, I WANTED TO SAY HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. I SAID CAN USE IT FOR A SECOND? LOOKS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH FLOODING. 6 1/2 HOURS LATER WE REALIZED THROUGH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS, DIRECTOR GUTHRIE IN OUR COMMANDER AT FHP THAT MY DISTRICT IS NOT PHYSICALLY AT THE TIME SUITED FOR AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY. A CAT 1 WOULD HAVE WIPED US OUT. PRESIDENT ALBRITTON CAME DOWN, WE MET IN HOLLYWOOD. 27 CITY SHOWED UP TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WHAT STATE SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE IF THEY CALLED US. I'M NOT CONDEMNING, CRITICIZING DOLLARS BEING SPENT BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT TRIAGE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIORITY. IF I CAN'T BRING HOME FIVE OR $6 MILLION EVEN FOR STORM WATER AND WASTEWATER, ALL OF THESE THINGS MIGRATE DISASTERS THAT SPEAK TO THE SPIRIT AT 250 1.27 11 WHAT IT IS MEANT FORWARD TO RESPOND TO, THE FIRST SUBSECTION I WANT MEMBERS TO REALIZE. THE VERY FIRST SUBSECTION IS NOT ABOUT RESPONSE AND REACTION. IT IS ABOUT PREPARATION. AND CHAIR BRODER BY A LAW THAT ARE LOCAL FUNDING INITIATIVE REQUESTS AS THEY RELATE TO STORMWATER AND WASTEWATER IN ALL KINDS OF WATER PROJECTS AND IT WAS PRESIDENT ALBRITTON WHO GOT IT FROM 0 TO 500 MILLION TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS FIVE YEARS AGO. HE SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR IT. THE PLAIN READING OF THE STATUTE SAYS PREPARATION. I WILL TELL YOU THIS. AS I MENTIONED IN THE MEETING LAST WEEK, OBJECTIVELY THE $573 MILLION THAT WENT TO SOMETHING ELSE, THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ARE WORTH A LOT MORE. THEY ARE US CITIZENS, PATRIOTS. THEY LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS. THEIR STREETS FLOOD, TREES FALL. ALL THESE THINGS. THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR STORMS WE ARE NOT EVEN ENSURING THE EMERGENCY FUND IS GOING TO THE PREPARATION FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN PEOPLE. PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS. IF WE HAVE EXTRA LEFT OVER, I REALLY DON'T CARE. YOUR MOM AND DAD SAID GET YOUR HOMEWORK DONE, EAT YOUR VEGETABLES AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO. I DON'T CARE. HERE IS WHAT I CARE ABOUT. WE HAVE TO SIT THERE AND PLAY GAMES AND HOPE OUR LOBBYIST GOT IN THE EAR AND SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY AND IT MAKES IT INTO THE HOUSE. WHAT? I HAVE NEVER BROUGHT HOME MORE THAN EIGHT OR $9 MILLION A YEAR. SOME OF MY NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS BRING HOME 50 MILLION AND THEN YOU GO AND CRITICIZE MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WANT TO DOJ THEM. GUESS WHAT? I OBSERVED WITH PEOPLE IN THIS BODY WHO HAVE BROUGHT HOME $470 MILLION IN THE NEARBY DISTRICT WHEN I BROUGHT HOME 35. SO YES, MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND A LOT MORE AND LOOK LIKE THEY ARE OVERSPENDING TO BACKFILL THE PROJECTS THE STATE WENT AHEAD AND PAID THE REPUBLICAN DISTRICT. I MENTIONED THIS LAST YEAR. YOU ARE CHOKING THEM. THERE ARE AMERICANS IN FLORIDIANS AND FAMILIES. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SPEND THE MONEY ON US LONG AS HE RAISING HER OWN CHILDREN FIRST. WHY THE HECK ARE WE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. WE DON'T KNOW THE 4.77 BILLION DOLLARS THAT WENT OUT THE DOOR IS REIMBURSED, IT WAS POLICY AND PROCEDURE AND UNDERSTOOD. IT WAS THE INTENT WE WOULD TO GET IT BACK. WE EXTENDED CREDIT AND LET THEM CONTINUE TO USE OUR FULL FAITH AND CREDIT AND BANK ACCOUNT TO LEVERAGE THAT AND SPEND MORE MONEY. WHICH I DON'T CARE ABOUT. BUT YOU ARE NOT CARING ABOUT MY DISTRICT. I NEED A BILLION DOLLARS TO ROAD SIDEWALKS AND PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE. KING TIDES, WE ARE WIPED OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FAMILY STRUGGLING GET WIPED OUT AND WE HAVE TO GET IN LINE AND HOPE THE JUPITERS MOON IS ALIGNED IN THE RIGHT ORBIT TO BRING HOME A COUPLE OF BUCKS BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SHORTAGE TO COME UP WITH HALF A BILLION TO DO AN EXPERIMENT. HERE IS WHAT IS MOST UPSETTING FOR A DOLLAR SPENT IN MY DISTRICT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE STATE OF FLORIDA. A DOLLAR ON ANYTHING ELSE IS AN EGO EXPERIMENT WITH NO GUARANTEE OF REIMBURSEMENT. THAT IS CARELESS. IT IS SELFISH AND WRONG. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR HOOPER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. SORRY, SENATOR ROUSON IN DEBATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. PRESIDENT. I WISH AMENDMENT 72264 BY LEADER BERMAN HAD PASSED. WHEN HE CREATED THIS TRUST FUND BACK IN 2022 WE ELIMINATED THE EMERGENCY SPENDING POWER TO DRAW FROM GENERAL REVENUE. NOW EMERGENCY SPENDING CAN ONLY COME FROM FUNDS WE APPROPRIATE OR WE YOU ARE THE LDC APPROPRIATES INTO THE TRUST FUND DURING THE EMERGENCY WE GET NOTICE OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS FILED UNDER THE EMERGENCY ORDER WHEN FUNDS ARE EXPENDED. LAST SESSION THE MAJORITY OF US, WHEN I SAY MAJORITY MEAN A VOTE OF 34/1 WITH ONLY ONE SENATOR VOTING NO. WE VOTED FOR A BILL SPEARHEADED BY SENATOR DICEGLIE THE PUT INTO PLACE STRONG TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE TRUST FUND AN EMERGENCY SPENDING. LET ME REMIND US OF WHAT WE PUT IN PLACE EFFECTIVE LAST MONTH JANUARY ONE OF 2026. FOR EMERGENCIES THAT EXCEED 90 DAYS, THE GOVERNOR AND AGENCIES HAVE TO NOTIFY US WITHIN 72 HOURS OF EXECUTING A CONTRACT. FOR EMERGENCIES THAT EXCEED 90 DAYS THE GOVERNORS AND AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE OF ALLSTATE EXPENDITURES, REVENUES RECEIVED, AND FUNDS TRANSFERRED DURING THE PREVIOUS MONTH TO SUPPORT THAT DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY. WHEN AN EMERGENCY EXCEEDS ONE YEAR, THE AUDITOR GENERAL MUST CONDUCT A FINANCIAL AUDIT OF ALL EXPENDITURES IN A COMPLIANCE AUDIT OF ALL CONTRACTS. THOSE MUST TO BE UPDATED ANNUALLY UNTIL THE EMERGENCY IS DECLARED TO BE ENDED. FOLLOWING EXPIRATION OF AN EMERGENCY, THE AUDITOR GENERAL MUST CONDUCT FINAL AUDITS PER DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS REQUIRED TO REPORT TO US BY JANUARY 15 EVERY YEAR ON EXPENDITURES RELATED TO EMERGENCIES OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MUST REPORT SUMMARIZE EACH EMERGENCY EVENT AND ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE DIVISION. IT MUST DETAIL EXPENDITURES AND INCLUDE AN ACCOUNTING OF INVENTORY. THESE ARE SOME GUARDRAILS THAT JUST WENT INTO EFFECT LAST MONTH. WE ALSO REQUIRED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO TELL US WHEN IT APPLIES FOR FEDERAL FUNDS FOR NEW PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE DIVISION. ANY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED AND IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT MANNER OR ANY PROGRAM THAT WOULD ACQUIRE A NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR A STATE MATCH. THESE CHANGES, ESPECIALLY SENATOR DICEGLIE EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE EMERGENCY INTO EMERGENCY SPENDING JUST LAST SESSION. I FEEL LIKE WE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, WE REACTED AND CHANGED THE LAW IN A WAY THAT DIDN'T DISRUPT THE WORK OF THE DIVISION IF WE, AND THINK GOODNESS WE HAVE NOT HAD A NATURAL DISASTER IN RECENT DAYS. WE CAN RE-APPROVE THIS TRUST FUND THROUGH THE END OF 2027 SO WE CAN SEE HOW THESE NEW ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES WORK, THEREFORE I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE AND PRUDENT WAY FOR US AT. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR OSGOOD IN DEBATE. I THINK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SHARED TO DATE IN THE SITUATION WE ARE IN. I THINK WE MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF, BUT I THINK WE ARE TALKING IN CIRCLES. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE REAL DEAL. WITH SOMETHING IN PLACE, MONEY WAS SPENT. TO ME THIS WAS NOT ABOUT ANYTHING AROUND THE APPLICANT IS ABOUT BEING ACCOUNTABLE AS A LEGISLATURE. WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE LEGISLATURE AND WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK RUSS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO GO UP AND DOWN, IT PUTS ME IN THE POSITION THAT I AM BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOMETHING I WAS UNABLE TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT TO. A LOT OF OUR CONVERSATION TODAY IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS AND LOTS AND GO BACK HOME. SENATOR PIZZO BROUGHT UP INTERESTING POINTS. IT'S A GIFT SO DIFFICULT TO COME HERE AND DO YOUR JOB AND GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH DIRE NEEDS AND THEN THEY LAY OUT THE DATA OF THE DISCREPANCY OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPENED US TO THE WAY WE FUND SOME THINGS AND DON'T FUND OTHER THINGS. WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AROUND THIS BILL. IT IS A LIVE CONVERSATION. I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR NEEDS PERMISSION EVERY TIME HE WANTS TO SPEND MONEY. I'M SO GLAD WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THIS. I HEAR ALL THE CHATTER. I SIT AND LISTEN TO EVERYBODY RESPECTIVELY, AND I ALWAYS DO. WHEN I HAVE MY OPPORTUNITY I'M GOING TO SPEAK AND ASK KINDLY YOU GIVE ME THE SAME GRACE. I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE SHARED TODAY WE NEEDED TO SEE IT. I DO THINK WE NEED TO FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN ADDRESS POLICIES IN THE FAIRWAY AND NOT END UP DIVIDING US IN A SENSIBLE WE ARE ALL TRYING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. THANK YOU. SENATOR JONES IN DEBATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS, $573 MILLION AND IN THE ANALYSIS OVER THE COURSE SINCE 2022 TO DECEMBER 2025 WE HAVE SPENT 4.77 BILLION DOLLARS. $573 MILLION THAT WE ARE WAITING TO FIGURE WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL DO IN 4.77 BILLION DOLLARS OF A SLUSH FUND THAT HAS BEEN USED NOT ON OUR CONSTITUENTS. I USE A THEME QUITE OFTEN TALKING ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AND THEY ROTATE DOWN. SHOW ME WHERE YOU PUT YOUR MONEY AND I WILL SHOW YOU PRIORITIES. SHOW ME WHERE YOU PUT YOUR MONEY AND I WILL SHOW YOU YOUR PRIORITIES. OUR PRIORITIES AND EVERY ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS IS OUR CONSTITUENTS. SENATOR PIZZO WAS ELOQUENT IN SAYING SOMETHING AND I AGREE WITH HIM BECAUSE OF HOW MONIES ARE DISTRIBUTED WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS. UNFORTUNATELY IT COMES WITH HOW YOU PORTRAY YOURSELF ON THE FLOOR. THAT IS NOT HOW YOU ROLL. BUT BY THE TIME IT GETS DOWNSTAIRS, HER STUFF GETS VETOED. FOR WHAT? FOR POLITICS. I CAN TELL YOU IN MY DISTRICT WE'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR MY DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE. SENATOR BERMAN THIS AMENDMENT SHE HAD, ALL WE ASKED FOR WAS GUARDRAILS AND I UNDERSTOOD WHAT SENATOR HOOPER WAS SAYING. BUT HERE'S THE THING I WANT US TO BE CLEAR ON THAT IF WE GO BACK HOME AND AT OUR DISTRICTS ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THE REASON THE STATE CANNOT CONTRIBUTE HELPING FIX X, Y AND Z YOU FILL IN THE BLANK. THE EXCUSE WE HAVE TO SAY IS BECAUSE TALLAHASSEE IS PLAYING POLITICS AND WE ARE ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EVEN POLITICAL. I MEAN, WE ALL SHOULD BE OUTRAGED. THE FACT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT US IN OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHO SOME ARE SITTING IN THIS GALLERY. I'M SURE THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE $573 MILLION, WHETHER WE WILL GET THAT BACK OR NOT THE 7.4 MILLION EXISTS RIGHT NOW. HOW IT WAS SPENT. OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF HOW MONEY IS BEING SPENT. MY ARGUMENT IS NOT HOW THE GOVERNOR SPENDS HIS MONEY. THIS GOVERNOR OR THE NEXT GOVERNOR. WHAT OUR OBJECTIVE ONE THING WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IN DOING IS ENSURING THE GOVERNOR IS RESPONSIBLE WITH THESE PEOPLES MONEY. WE SHOULD HAVE PASSED THAT AMENDMENT. THERE IS NOTHING POLITICAL. YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS? IT WOULD'VE ALLOWED US TO WALK OUTSIDE THE DOOR TO MAKE SURE WE TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS WE PUT GUARDRAILS TO MAKE SURE YOUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT CORRECTLY. AND WE DID NOT DO THAT. MY NO VOTE IS NOT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR NOW OR LATER SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND MONEY ON EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF. THAT IS NOT MY NO VOTE REASON. MY NO VOTE REASON IS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING THE PEOPLES MONEY THE RIGHT WAY WHEN WE DON'T PUT GUARDRAILS ON HOW MONEY IS BEING SPENT. AND I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. PRESIDENT. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR SMITH? THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF THE GOVERNOR TO USE EMERGENCY TRUST FUND DOLLARS TO PROTECT OUR ESTATE FROM HURRICANES, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND REAL EMERGENCIES. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN. WE DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS ON THE EMERGENCY TRUST FUND AND AS A RESULT THE SPENDING HAS BEEN OFF THE RAILS REMEMBER WEEK AFTER WE -- LAST YEAR IS WHEN WE DISCOVER THAT THESE SO-CALLED ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ DETENTION CAMP, THE SOUTH FLORIDA DETENTION CENTER, IS GOING TO BE BUILT. WE WERE HERE FOR 105 DAYS AND THEY DID NOT TELL US THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT WAS AN ACT OF OVERSIGHT AVOIDANCE. I DO SEE THE BENEFIT OF ALLOWING FOR THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND TO EXPIRE PICK THE BENEFIT ICY BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVEN DAYS. IT GIVES US AS A LEGISLATURE THE OPPORTUNITY TO START FROM SCRATCH AND REBUILD THIS EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS AND OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS NECESSARY. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE IN 2022 WHEN THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND WAS CREATED. I VOTED AGAINST THE CREATION OF THE FUND. THE REASON I VOTED NO IN 2022 WAS BECAUSE I FEARED THE RESPONSE FUND WOULD BE TURNED INTO A SLUSH FUND THAT WOULD TO BE ABUSED THAT WOULD TO BE LEVERAGED FOR SPENDING FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES AND POLITICAL GAIN. I REGRET SEEING THOSE FEARS HAVE BECOME A REALITY. IF WE ALLOW FOR THIS EMERGENCY SLUSH FUND DEBBIE REAUTHORIZED WITHOUT THESE GUARDRAILS, MY FEAR IS THAT WILL CONTINUE IN EVEN MORE EXCESSIVE WAYS THAT WILL COST TAXPAYERS DEARLY. SENATORS, I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR POLSKY IN DEBATE. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE TO SAY AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CHAMBER. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN'T WORKING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD HAVE. IN 2022 WE VOTED FOR THIS FUND FOR NATURAL DISASTERS BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WAS TOO HARD TO GET THE MONEY. WENT TO COME BACK I GOT MONEY FOR HURRICANE MICHAEL. AND THAT IS CUMBERSOME AND WE ARE NOT HERE ALL THE TIME. I UNDERSTOOD AND TOOK THE LEAP OF FAITH AND VOTED FOR IT. BUT WE HAVE HAD FOUR YEARS TO SEE WHAT THIS HAS BECOME WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX IT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE TRY TO FIX IT IN A BALANCED, NUANCED BIPARTISAN MATTER AND YOU ALL DIDN'T FIX IT. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONES FIX THINGS BUT WE CAN LOOK AT LEGISLATION AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S A MISTAKE OR WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE SHOULD HAVE. I DON'T THINK ANYONE AGREES A BLANK CHECK ON IMMIGRATION EMERGENCY AFTER THREE YEARS OF RENEWING IT IS THE WAY WE SHOULD SPEND OUR MONEY. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE BLEW IT AND I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED. ADDITIONAL DEBATE? SENATOR HOOPER TO CLOSE. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO QUESTIONED OR DEBATED. I KNOW YOU ARE SPEAKING FROM YOUR HEART AND I KNOW IT'S WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND I RESPECT EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE WAY YOU ARTICULATED YOUR FEELINGS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO SENATOR PAZO COMMENTS, I WANT TO SHARE EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER PRESIDENT ALBRITTON LOVES EVERYONE AND YOU AND YOU ARE ALL TREATED REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IN A WAY THAT WARMS MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU LOOK OUT FOR ALL OF US. [APPLAUSE] I CERTAINLY WANT TO COME IN MY VICE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR ROUSON, FOR ARTICULATING THE NEW GUARDRAILS THAT ARE NOW 42 DAYS OLD. NOT A LONG HISTORY BUT THEY ARE THERE AND SHOULD BE THERE. I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS ALL THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS AND PROCESSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED. SOMETIMES THEY TAKE A WHILE. AFTER ALL, CONGRESS ONLY CARES ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR US AND THEY DO IT AT WARP SPEED EVERY DAY. BLESS THEIR HEART. PRAY FOR THEM. SENATORS, I THINK NEXT SESSION IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DIG INTO THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO PREPARE AND HANDLE EMERGENCIES AND DO SO IN A MANNER THAT IS WELL THOUGHT OUT. GOES THROUGH SEVERAL POLICY COMMITTEES. NOT JUST ONE APPROPRIATION STOP. AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND MAKE IT THE CORRECT THING THAT HOPEFULLY WOULD ACHIEVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE. HERE'S MY CLOSE. CREATING THIS TRUST FUND WOULD ENSURE THIS DATE IS PREPARED TO RESPOND FOR DISASTERS UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2027. I WOULD HOPE I HAVE YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT. SECRETARY UNLOCK THE BOARD AND SENATORS PROCEED TO VOTE. HAVE ALL SENATORS VOTED? LOCK THE BOARD AND RECORD THE VOTE. >> 29 YAYS, 10 NAYS. SHOW THE BILL PASSES. BEFORE WE RESUME WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS. SENATOR McCLAIN? >> THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT TODAY IS MARION COUNTY DAY AT THE CAPITOL. WITH MARION COUNTY FOLKS IN BOTH SIDES OF THE GALLERY. IF YOU STAND UP A LITTLE BIT BETTER WE ARE JOINED BY COMMISSIONER CARL, COMMISSIONER McLEAN