Politics
Rural Renaissance among bills to be considered in extended Legislative Session
Most of the Rural Renaissance package prioritized by Senate President Ben Albritton will be discussed in an extended Legislative Session.
A House resolution calling for Session to be extended to June 6 called for 16 bills to remain under consideration. That includes the Rural Renaissance bill (SB 110), which had been passed in the Senate in March but carved and divvied among multiple pieces of legislation in the House afterward.
Only one of those bills made it through both chambers before the schedule end of Session. The House and Senate debated changes into Friday evening on that legislation (HB 1427) as it bounced between the chambers multiple times. In the end, the bill focused more significantly on nursing education.
Final engrossed legislation still contained key portions of the Rural Renaissance bill passed early in the Senate. It incentivized emergency room physicians to practice medicine in smaller counties, for example. It also revised eligibility requirements for the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) program, creating rural access to a Primary and Preventive Care Grant program.
However, two other train bills that hosted pieces of the Rural Renaissance cleared the House but ran into resistance in the Senate.
The House last week attached a number of economic development incentives in rural counties to another bill (HB 991) that also would eliminate all community redevelopment agencies in the state. After representatives approved that bill on a 69-42 vote, it was offered as a replacement to the Senate’s Rural Renaissance package
Sen. Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican who shepherded the original package through the upper chamber, said on the floor the House had “bastardized” the bill, and sent it back calling the House to recede from its action.
The bill has a chance to continue to evolve in the extended Session. But another bill appears dead.
Education portions of the Rural Renaissance legislation, including a Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, landed on education bill in the House (HB 1267) that also touched on civics curricula. The House passed that bill 86-27, but the Senate companion bill never made it to a Senate Rules Committee agenda, and thus was never be heard on the floor of the upper chamber.
Since it wasn’t included in the joint resolution extending Session, that bill is now dead. Of course, with the original Rural Renaissance legislation included, a vehicle remains for much of the contained policy.
The Senate President’s office made clear that with the Rural Renaissance bill included in the extension of Session, provisions can all still be considered in coming weeks.
The one bill that did pass ended up touching on broader areas of health care policy.
Late Friday, the House added contents to the health care legislation with language from another bill on nursing education that had been championed by Rep, Toby Overdorf, a Palm City Republican. “This is a great bill that will set us up to allow for nursing education to be No. 1 in the state of Florida, whereas now we are No. 50,” Overdorf said.
The bill earlier in the week had four components of the Rural Renaissance bill, along with a wide range of other health care policies. Amendments saw a disposal of controversial language about the scope of practice for dental hygienists that had proven controversial in both chambers.
The Senate debated the level of liability befalling school directors, enough concern to draw votes against it from four Democrats and one Republican, but the Chamber ultimately passed the bill.
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The horrific shooting in Australia that claimed at least 16 lives during a Hanukkah celebration has prompted an expression of sympathy from Florida lawmakers.
The Florida Jewish Legislative Caucus issued a statement of condemnation of the violence during the Jewish observance on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The Caucus published its statement Sunday afternoon.
“The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus unequivocally condemns the horrific and senseless killing that occurred during Hanukkah in Australia. An act of violence against Jews celebrating their faith is an attack not only on a single community, but on the fundamental values of freedom, religious liberty, and human dignity,” the Florida Legislative Caucus said in a news release.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, with the victims’ families, and with Jewish communities around the world who are once again forced to confront hatred simply for being who they are. The State of Florida’s Jewish legislators join in mourning, remembrance, and resolve.”
The Florida LegislativeJewish Caucus has a dozen members from the House of Representatives and two State Senators.
Hundreds of people had gathered Sunday at the beach for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when gunmen opened fire. At least 38 others were injured in the attack.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child. Three other children are being treated in hospital, he said.
“This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community. … What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity,” Park said.
The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those and Sunday’s shooting were connected. It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.
One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested and in critical condition, authorities said. Police said one gunman was known to security services, but there was no specific threat.
At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach, including hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report with permission.
Behavioral health officials have a list of precautions for Floridians to deal with anxieities heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While the holidays can bring a lot of comfort and joy, the can also be a stressful time and Florida’s health management entities are providing some helpful tips to deal with yuletide anxiety.
There are seven behavioral health managing entities in the state and all of them are aware that stress heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day can seem overwhelming at times. They’re advising balance may be one of the key elements in dealing with the holidays.
“The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be a time of stress, sadness and triggering situations,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Florida’s behavioral health Managing Entities remind Floridians that behavioral health services are available, even to those who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The state’s behavioral health professionals are also providing a list of tips to help come to grips with any holiday tension including:
— Get plenty of exercise. Exercising boosts your mood and combats depression.
— Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant that can cause feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression.
— Set healthy boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. Setting realistic expectations can help reduce stress.
— Seek the help of a counselor for mental health needs. If you feel overwhelmed or the need to get help to address your feelings, contact a counselor.
— Call 2-1-1 if needed to connect with resources in your community.
— Call 9-8-8 if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts.
A mental-health treatment network has been established in the state for providers who deliver services to residents needing help. Those services extend to parents and children, veterans and the homeless.
Providers serve patients for not only mental health needs, but substance use, housing, transportation and employment help. Those managing entities are often overseen by community organizations and administrators and are accountable to state and federal funds.
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