Peter Schorsch
Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2018 Legislative Session
The Last 24
Good Tuesday evening. We have allocations, the big blocks of dough needed to start budget conference, and a House member is getting sued for blocking a constituent on social media. Don’t worry: Sixty Days still follows you. Here’s your nightly rundown.
Allocations arrive: The House and Senate agreed upon the broad outlines of a state budget Monday night and will soon name conferees to work out the details.
Finishing touches: Budget conference assignments were rolled out and lawmakers have until Friday to complete negotiations on their policy-specific areas — anything left unresolved will go to Chairs Rob Bradley and Carlos Trujillo.
‘Marshal’ mandate: Despite the outcries of parents and educators, the House appears poised to pass a school defense program in which people would be deputized to carry firearms on public school campuses.
‘Social’ justice: A measure is on the move that would give law enforcement more power to investigate threats made on social media.
Immigration ire: Speaker Richard Corcoran labeled Senate Republicans as “not real conservatives” for failing to move forward with his priority to ban “sanctuary cities.”
Disposable dodge: A bill intended to stop companies from dodging workers’ comp payouts to undocumented workers injured on the job is likely dead.
Reported & blocked: The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida says it’s suing state Rep. Chuck Clemons “for blocking a constituent from the representative’s official social media accounts.”
League in line: After Jimmy Patronis blasted the group for “knowingly peddling a deceptive report,” the Florida League of Cities now says it no longer opposes a workers’ comp bill that could provide help first responders with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
Again with AOB: A business group pushing the House version of assignment of benefits reform is releasing video testimonials by consumers who feel they were harmed by AOB abuse.
USF umbrage: A last-minute attempt to delay legislation that would force the consolidation of various University of South Florida campuses has failed.
Memorial movement: A bill that would create a memorial to honor the untold number of slaves in Florida history awaits Gov. Rick Scott’s signature.
Quote of the Day
“I would no more allow someone to be hostile or abusive online than I would if they were standing on my front porch.” — Rep. Chuck Clemons, in a Tuesday statement about a lawsuit filed against him after he blocked a constituent from his social media accounts.
Bill Day’s Latest
3 Questions
The topic of mental health has quickly elevated to the top of the priority list for policymakers. On Friday, Gov. Scott unveiled a list of initiatives addressing school safety and mental health, followed by a similar announcement by House and Senate leaders.
We turned to Alisa LaPolt, executive director for the state’s largest mental health organization, NAMI Florida (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for some insight on key issues.
Q: Do proposals from the Governor and Legislature for school mental health services go far enough?
We are very pleased this issue is a priority for policymakers. We support measures that give school districts the ability to partner with community mental health providers and develop teams to “triage” those kids who need immediate intervention.
The funding for this needs to stay with the Department of Education.
Q: What else can be done?
The opportunities are endless, and this is just the beginning.
We’d like to see stronger language around making sure all students have mental health screenings, just as they do physical health screening before they enroll in school each year. Also, for those students who are flagged as “at risk” for mental health problems, we need to make sure resources are available. Florida has a severe shortage of psychiatrists and mental health professionals, and we need to look ways to cultivate and grow a bigger workforce in this area.
Q: There’s been a lot of discussion about mental illness and guns. What’s NAMI’s take on that?
When people talk about taking guns away from “the mentally ill,” what do they mean? Someone with depression? Schizophrenia? Mental illness, specifically the untreated symptom of psychosis, is one of many risk factors for violent behavior. Others include being young and male and abuse of drugs or alcohol. But the biggest predictor of violent behavior is previous violent behavior, including domestic violence. That’s why the governor’s proposal for Violent Threat Restraining Orders is so important — it empowers families and law enforcement to petition the court to remove firearms from those exhibiting violent behavior — regardless of the gun owner’s mental health status.
Lobby Up
Doctor Dolittle may have talked to the animals, “chatting with a chimp in chimpanzee,” but Florida critters have a lobbyist.
Baker Donelson attorney Ralph DeMeo has registered to lobby for The Florida Bar Animal Law Section, effective Feb. 13, registration records show.
DeMeo’s practice “focuses on environmental regulation, land use and real estate development, environmental land use and administrative litigation,” according to his law firm bio.
He’s also an “active member of The Florida Bar leadership and is past Chair and current member of the Animal Law Section.”
DeMeo serves as an adjunct professor and lecturer at Tallahassee Community College and Florida A&M University, including teaching animal law.
Breakthrough Insights
The Next 24
Aides to Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis are scheduled to meet to discuss issues in advance of a March 7 Cabinet meeting. That’s at 9 a.m., Cabinet Meeting Room, The Capitol.
The Senate Democratic caucus will meet before a floor session. That’s at 9 a.m., 200 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a floor session and hear dozens of bills, including one that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on the grounds of churches and other religious institutions that include schools. That’s at 10 a.m., Senate Chamber, The Capitol.
The House will hold a floor session and is scheduled to take up dozens of bills, including a proposal that would make texting while driving a “primary” traffic offense. That’s at 10:30 a.m., House Chamber, The Capitol.
The Senate Special Order Calendar Group will set the special-order calendar, which lists bills that will be heard on the Senate floor. That’s 15 minutes after Senate floor Session, 401 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal to repeal the state’s no-fault auto insurance system. The system includes a requirement that motorists carry personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage. That’s at 4 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, The Capitol.
