House approves PIP reform

Voting mainly along party lines, the House approved its attempt to reform Florida's no-fault auto insurance program.

Several changes during the committee process made HB 119 more palatable to critics than the original version, which would have required people injured in an auto accident to seek treatment in an emergency room within 72 hours of a crash. The final version allows the injured up to seven days to seek treatment at a variety of health care providers as long as the initial visit doesn’t cost more than $2,500.

In addition, the House’s version of personal injury protection, or PIP, reform requires insurers to file new rates to reflect the cost savings resulting from the changes; restricts chiropractors from participating in the program; caps attorney fees in individual disputes, but not class action suits; and allows insurance companies to examine policyholders, but not doctors, under oath to determine the facts of a case.

During floor debate, House members applauded Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, for leading the chamber’s efforts to reform the no-fault car insurance system. Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, said the legislation will help eradicate the “organized crime and worthless back rubs” that drive up car insurance costs.

Lawmakers defend JD Alexander over Polk County road deal

Reaction was mixed Friday to the news that $35 million had been slipped into a transportation budget for the planning of a portion of the Heartland Parkway in Polk County. The project had been previously supported by Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, who also has been pushing fo the creation of a 12th state university in Polk County, and who owns land along the possible route of the Heartland Parkway.

Alexander said he had nothing to do with the money appearing in the state spending plan.

"I haven't gotten any flak from my colleagues about it," said Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, chair of the House’s transportation appropriations committee. "There’s been a lot of media scrutiny of it, which would be the only reason I’d take a look at it.

"I believe ... (Alexander) is a man of high ethics and I have no reason to believe that this would be an area of concern."

The story, however, stirred strong reaction from conservative tea party groups and liberal environmental activists.

"We hope the Legislature stops this in the budget process before it gets to the floor," said Henry Kelley of the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party. "This highway will be another example of taxpayer funded crony capitalism."

Mariella Smith, a Hillsborough County resident and member of the Sierra Club, called the road an example of legislative "chicanery" that Alexander was "shoving down our throats."

But his colleagues stood by in support of him.

"It shouldn’t be characterized as JD’s road," said Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. "This has nothing to do with the Heartland Parkway. It’s a different road."

Alexander called Friday’s report "exceedingly inappropriate."

"I don’t think it’s accurate and correct," he said.

Alexander noted that he owns land far away from the proposed northern section of the road. Because it was more than 40 miles away, it would hardly benefit from the Central Polk Parkway or the new university that he’s been pushing that’s to the north of it. "It may be in the mind of the St. Pete Times that a future proposal might do something but there is no proposal today at all other than the Central Polk Parkway extension and I don’t own property anywhere near it," Alexander said.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has battled Alexander over the years on many issues. She said the northern section was crucial to the rest of the road. "Once that first part gets built, it’ll be easier for the rest of the road to get built," she said.

Others say it's clear the projects are all intertwined. "Just look at a map," said former state Sen. Rick Dantzler said. "It looks like each piece would compliment one another."

Michael Van Sickler and Mary Ellen Klas

Lawmakers to hammer out budget issues, deliberate parent trigger this weekend

We're headed into the last week of session, and lawmakers are working overtime. This weekend, they'll tackle two big issues:

Budget chairs from both chambers will deliberate the financial fate of several high-profile appropriations bills. On the radar are tuition hikes, the closure of several state prisons, and possible cuts to the section of the budget that funds the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families, Elder Affairs, Veterans Affairs and the Agency for Health Care Administration.

The Parent Empowerment Act, which would enable parents at low-performing schools to demand big changes, is scheduled for a hearing in Saturday's Senate Budget Committee. SB 1718, known as parent trigger, would empower parents to demand different teachers and school leaders--and in some cases, petition to have a neighborhood school turned into a charter school. It's the bill's last stop before the Senate floor.

'Anti-Sharia' bill banning foreign law passes House over protests

A bill that would ban courts or other legal authorities from using religious or foreign law as a part of a legal decision or contract was okayed by the House Thursday. For more, read here.

 

 

Lawmakers angry over decision to shut inmate re-entry centers in Broward, Manatee

The final days of a legislative session is the worst time for a state agency to create a full-blown political disaster, but that's what happened Friday with the Department of Corrections.

Struggling with a $79 million budget deficit, DOC decided to save $1 million in the current year's budget by shutting two faith-based re-entry centers that teach inmates work and life skills as they prepare to rejoin society. The centers, run by Bridges of America, are in Manatee and Broward counties. The head of the budget conference committee on prisons, Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, is from Broward, and said she has been beseiged with calls of complaint about the decision.

Bogdanoff demanded that Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker explain the decision at a hearing Friday, but Tucker was absent, and two aides were on the receiving end of wrath from Bogdanoff and Reps. James Grant, Rich Glorioso, Gayle Harrell, Eric Eisnaugle and Ray Pilon, all Republicans, who repeatedly said re-entry programs are more effective and cheaper than locking non-violent inmates in state prisons.

Bogdanoff was frustrated because closing the centers means 300 inmates will be returned to the general prison population, a point DOC Deputy Secretary for Operations Mike Crews confirmed. "There's a strong chance that most, if not all, of those individuals in those programs would go back into those institutions," Crews testified.

Glaring at Crews and DOC budget chief Mark Tallent, Bogdanoff said: "I would ask you at this point to work more closely with the Legislature in understanding the impact to our communities before you do what you do."

Ironically, in a recent message to all DOC employees, Tucker touted the many advantages of re-entry programs as an effective way to reduce recidivism. Bridges has run the centers since 2005, but Crews said there is no specific legislative appropriation to run them. Bridges is represented by a half-dozen lobbyists, including Barney Bishop III, Mark Flynn and Fred Leonhardt, all of whom had front-row seats to watch prison officials endure the lawmakers' criticism. The provider is considering filing a lawsuit to keep the centers open. --- Steve Bousquet

George Firestone, former FL Secretary of State and Miami legislator, dies

George Firestone, 80, passed away today.  A New York City native, he and his family moved to Miami in 1936. Firestone, a Miami businessman and community booster, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1966 in a district that covered Dade and Monroe counties. In 1972, he was elected to the Florida Senate, left two years later and thenm in 1978, was elected Florida Secretary of State. He resigned in 1987.

From House Democratic leader Ron Saunders of Key West:

"I am saddened to learn of the passing of George Firestone. Having served in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, George represented well the citizens in Dade and Monroe counties. He also will be remembered as a reform-minded Florida Secretary of State who helped to promote the arts and culture of our state. He was a businessman and a great advocate for many Floridians.

"On behalf of the Florida House Democratic Caucus, I send my condolences to his family and our appreciation for his many years of public service."

UPDATED Ileana Ros-Lehtinen asks ICE to issue deportation stay for North Miami high school valedictorian; Bill Nelson sends letter; Marco Rubio calls for 'way to help talented kids'

Students staged a protest Friday outside North Miami High School for valedictorian Daniela Peláez, who as ordered by a judge this week to leave the country. The 18-year-old Peláez was brought to the United States from Colombia by her parents when she was 4.

A federal immigration judge issued the order for voluntary departure on Monday after Peláez's green-card request was denied. (Story by Paradise Afshar and Laura Isensee here.)

Though Peláez's deportation is not imminent, students protested on her behalf to draw attention to Peláez's case. And at least one member of Congress has taken notice.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami Republican, said in a statement Friday that she has sent U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement a letter asking the agency to intervene and stay Peláez's deportation.

"Congress needs to pass the Dream Act so that many young people can form part of our armed forces or attend college and contribute to our generous and great nation," Ros-Lehtinen said. "There are many such desperate cases in our community and, instead of causing such anxiety we can allow these teenagers to realize their dreams in a legal manner."

Ros-Lehtinen also said she met a student in a similar situation as Peláez earlier this week at Miami Jackson Senior High. The Dream Act would allow undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children and who are students or serving in the military to obtain legal status.

Read Ros-Lehtinen's letter here.

UPDATE: Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, has also chimed in on the case, asking homeland security and immigration officials to explain Peláez's potential deportation.

"Given that the chief missions of our immigration enforcement are national security, public safety and securing our borders, how is it we have the time and resources to target a high-school honor student like Daniela?" Nelson asked in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. See Nelson's letter after the jump.

UPDATE #2: Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, issued a statement saying his office would reach out to Peláez's lawyer to learn more about her case. "I have always said that our country needs to figure o ut a way to accommodate high academic achievers brought here at a very young age by their parents but who now find themselves undocumented through no fault of their own," Rubio said. Read his full statement after the jump.

Senate refuses to fast track ‘parent trigger’ legislation

The Senate is divided again. This time it is over the so-called "parent trigger" bill that would empower parents of children in failing and low-ranked schools to set in motion the firing of a principal and the shift in the school to a charter school.

 

The bill passed the House on Thursday on a party-line vote and Senate Rules Chairman John Thrasher tried to pull the Senate companion by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto out of its last committee and directly onto the floor. But, after Democratic Leader Nan Rich objected, the motion failed to get the required two-thirds votes of the 40-member Senate and failed on a 20-19 vote.

 

Thrasher had a back up plan. He announced that the Senate will hold a rare Saturday morning meeting of the budget committee -- at 8 a.m. -- to take up the lone bill. "Be there or be square,'' he said after the vote.

Drug testing bill shields lawmakers from urine tests, passes House

Florida lawmakers approved a plan to allow random drug tests for state employees Friday, while rejecting an amendment that would require similar tests for themselves and the governor.

The proposal, which has been clouded in questions of constitutionality since last year, passed the House of Representatives on a 79-37 vote, with Republicans backing the measure amid outcry from Democrats.

“There were over 141,000 [drug-related] arrests last year,” said Jimmie Smith, R-Lecanto, who is sponsoring the bill. “This is not to do drug testing because they’re state workers. This is to do drug testing for one problem: Drugs in Florida.”

Black lawmakers push for early voting changes

A coalition of African-American legislators is pushing to allow early voting on the Sunday before Election Day, saying a yearslong tradition was eliminated by elections changes approved last year.

In response to the challenges of the 2000 general election, the Legislature greatly expanded early voting in 2002. Black churches began to encourage congregants to vote immediately after Sunday services the weekend prior to any election day, an effort known as “Souls to the Polls,” Sen. Chris Smith, D-Ft. Lauderdale, said. The event sometimes accounted for 20 or 30 percent of all African-American turnout, he said.

But the elections changes approved last year limited early voting hours and restricted early voting within 3 days of an election, which effectively ended “Souls to the Polls."

“Last year’s elections law took us back,” Smith said.

He has proposed an amendment to SB 1596 that would allow, but not require, counties to offer early voting on the Sunday prior to election day. In general, SB 1596 includes less controversial proposals such as removing a prohibition approved last year that prevents poll workers from using the address on a voter’s photo identification to confirm the voter’s legal residence and updating rules for campaign advertisements and campaign accounts.

Several components of the 2011 election laws are under federal government review.