Christine Jordan Sexton
With a little more than a week to go before the start of the 2015 Special Session details of plans continue to emerge.
In a memo sent to senators, Senate President Andy Gardiner outlined the timeline he plans to follow during the session, showing that the chamber will focus on health care access the first day. He “likely” will plan budget conferences with the House the weekend of June 5 to 7.
“So you should plan on staying in Tallahassee” the first weekend, Gardiner told members.
The memo also laid out the financial effect of the federal government’s tentative decision this week to allow a $1 billion Low Income Pool program for the 2015-16 year and a $600 million program for the next year. The $1 billion figure is less than half of that currently authorized and, in short, the announcement could have a $1.2 billion effect on the entire budget, based on decisions the Legislature makes regarding hospital Medicaid rates. The budget repercussions could balloon to $1.4 billion in 2016-17, he said in the memo.
“Consequently, yesterday’s announcement will have a ripple effect throughout our entire budget, providing a renewed and elevated importance to the discussion of a Florida solution to coverage for the uninsured as we head into Special Session.”
Reiterating his commitment to developing a Florida solution to the uninsured problem, Gardiner said the Senate’s proposal to expand access to health care for 800,000 people, called the FHIX plan, will be filed by Sen. Aaron Bean prior to the session. It will be heard in the Committee on Health Policy on June 1. It will be heard the following day by Appropriations and by the full Senate on June 3.
The memo shows the Senate will — during the second and third week of the Special Session — meet and if necessary consider other bills consistent with the criteria outlined in the joint proclamation. Additionally, Gardiner advised members that every Monday and Friday afternoon a “sitting” will be planned. Sittings will also be planned for one other day during the week, but the memo doesn’t indicate what days will be picked.
“I hope this brief outline is helpful in your planning. Should you have any foreseeable conflicts with the schedule outlined above, please inform my office as soon as possible.”
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli outlined his chamber’s tentative schedule in a memo to members on Thursday.
