A.G. Gancarski
Changes are coming for the state’s gift ban, and a beloved veteran attorney’s struggle is the reason why.
Senate Budget Chief Rob Bradley’s SB 1490 will allow non-elected state employees to “accept any gift or compensation, regardless of value” if it is applied directly toward the expenses incurred from treating their or their child’s “serious disease or illness.”
The bill cleared Governmental Oversight and Accountability on Monday, putting it one stop from the Senate floor.
The background: Alexis Lambert, an attorney working for the Florida Lottery and previously for the Constitutional Revision Commission, got Stage 3 colon cancer.
Known for her probity, candor, and resilience, it quickly became clear that she was facing, literally, the fight of her life
And the public payroll offered insufficient ammo.
Bills quickly exceeded her ability to pay. Friends in The Process tried to help … but the gift ban precluded her from accepting the financial help she desperately needed.
Bradley noted that the gift ban currently applies to state employees, which “creates unforeseen hardships for affected employees that need to be addressed.”
“This puts state employees at a disadvantage to others outside state employment,” Bradley said, noting the exception is solely for “serious disease or illness.”
An amendment allowed for people to be expressly permitted to give those gifts.
When asked how this would “play out in real life,” Bradley suggested hearing from “real life examples” in testimony.
“Let’s see how public testimony goes,” Bradley urged.
First up: Alexis Lambert herself, who recited her story, including the first 60 days of spending, tests, etc.
“I quickly learned that cancer is a rich man’s disease,” Lambert said, describing the impact of bacterial infections and the need for bedrest, neuropathy and seizures, loss of hair and her ovaries shutting down.
“Cancer stole my children from me,” Lambert said. “I can never give my grandmother the grandchildren she wanted.”
“The average state employee in the state of Florida cannot afford to get cancer,” Lambert said, describing in graphic detail the myriad ways patients get shivved by everyone from Big Pharma to the pharmacy benefit managers.
The Florida League of Cities and James Madison Institute supported the bill.
Sen. Kevin Rader, who had posed the question to Bradley, said that his initial question was answered. And that he would “probably” be a co-sponsor.
