Senate proposal includes $250M to replenish emergency fund controlled by Gov. DeSantis

The Senate this week voted to reauthorize an emergency fund controlled by the Governor. Now, it wants $250 million set aside to replenish the account, more than double what the House suggests.

The Senate approved legislation (SB 7040) that reauthorizes the existence of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund. The chamber shot down amendments offered by Democrats that would have restricted how much Gov. Ron DeSantis or his successors could devote to matters like detention of immigrants.

In unveiling the Senate’s proposed budget Friday, Sen. Nick DiCeglie, the Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations Chair, said funding disaster preparedness remains essential in a state prone to weather events.

“Thankfully our beautiful state was spared during the previous hurricane season,” he said in a statement. “Unfortunately, as we saw with the recent cold-snap, disaster can strike at any time, and we have to keep our guard up. Our budget continues to fund key emergency response infrastructure across our state.”

The Senate support substantially overshadows what got budgeted by House appropriators.

The House’s proposed budget includes $100 million to replenish the fund, and also puts guardrails that would restrict the money from being used for natural disasters.

Meanwhile, the Senate did not put any such limits in place.

Of note, neither chamber covers the amount tapped from the fund controversially to pay for costs associated with rounding up and deporting immigrants this year.

State officials have spent $405 million to fight illegal immigration, as reported by the Florida Phoenix. Much of the money went toward private jet flights, restaurant meals and badges.

The state has come under fire for the amount spent on immigration detention centers, most notably Alligator Alcatraz. DeSantis has remained insistent that funding will be reimbursed by the federal government.

The House has advanced legislation (PCB TED 26-02) that would state the fund can only be spent on a “natural emergency.” The proposed legislation would prohibit the spending of funds on vehicles. But no companion bill exists in the Senate.