4/15/2010
CS/SB 1520 – Background Screening
CS/CS/SB 1520 was passed by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on 4/13/10. The bill substantially rewrites the requirements and procedures for background screening of persons and businesses that deal with vulnerable populations: children, the elderly and disabled. Among others, the bill:
• Provides that no person required to be screened may begin work until the screening has been completed;
• Requires all fingerprints be submitted electronically by July 1, 2012;
• Increases all level one screening to level two screening for persons working with vulnerable populations;
• Requires that volunteers working with vulnerable populations undergo a level two background screening; and
• Adds career offenders, sexual offenders, and sexual predators to those individuals who may never apply for an exemption from disqualification.
The bill significantly increases the number of people who will need to undergo background screening prior to working with vulnerable persons. It will also require screening to be done using level two standards instead of level one. Level one screening simply requires a name check against the state records, while level two screening requires a fingerprint search against state and national records. Level one costs $24.00 and level two costs $43.25. By increasing the cost and the number of persons subject to screening, there will be an impact on employers and employees. Senate staff has anticipated that in most cases, the fees will be passed onto the employee. Read the bill.
3/15/2010
Florida State Aid to Public Libraries Funding Eliminated in House & Senate Committees –Mobilize Your Communities!
The House and Senate Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Appropriations Committees are both proposing to entirely eliminate State Aid to Public Libraries funding. The current amount of $21.2 million was proposed by the Dept. of State and Governor and is supported by FLA. Because $21.2 million is the Maintenance of Effort amount the state is required to provide to receive $8.4 million in federal library funds, State Aid elimination also means loss of federal funds. Both Committees are scheduled to approve their bills soon and shortly later the House and Senate will take them to the floor for adoption.
Background- The library community knows the state budget is seriously stressed but library funding has already been cut by over a third, from $33.4 million in 2001 to $21.2 million today. Local funding has been deeply cut in last the 3 years and more reductions are coming in 2010-11. Many libraries report cuts exceeding 30%. This comes at a particularly bad time for Floridians who are turning to their public libraries for help during these challenging times:
Job seekers are getting help learning about and applying for jobs.
Floridians needing assistance applying for E-Government services and benefits are getting help from library staff, computers, and Internet service.
Families are relying on library books, cd’s and dvd’s to stretch household budgets.
Families continue to rely on libraries to help children learn to read and help parents and caregivers learn to be children’s first teachers.
Governor
§ Governor Charlie Crist – Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com / (850) 488-7146
House Leadership
§ Larry Cretul (r) – Speaker – Represents parts of Alachua, Levy, & Marion Counties – larry.cretul@myfloridahouse.gov / District (352) 873-6564 / Tallahassee (850) 488-1450
§ Rep. Dean Cannon (r) – Represents part of Orange County – Speaker designate 2011-12 – dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov / District (407) 623-5740 / Tallahassee (850) 488-2742
§ Rep. Will Weatherford (r) – Represents parts of Hillsborough & Pasco Counties – Speaker designate 2013-14 –will.weatherford@myfloridahouse.gov / District (813) 558-5115 / Tallahassee (850) 488-5744
§ Rep. David Rivera (r), Chair of the Full Appropriations Council On Education & Economic Development – Represents parts of Broward, Collier, & Miami-Dade Counties – david.rivera@myfloridahouse.gov / District (305) 227-7630 / Tallahassee – (850)-488-7897
House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee (TED)
§ Rep. Rich Glorioso (r), Chair – Parts of Hillsborough & Pasco Counties – rich.glorioso@myfloridahouse.gov / District (813) 757-9110/ Tallahassee (850) 488-0807
§ Rep. Mike Horner (r), Vice Chair – Represents parts of Okeechobee, Orange, Osceloa, & Polk Counties / mike.horner@myfloridahouse.gov/ District (407) 943-3077 / Tallahassee (850) 488-8992
§ Rep. Evan Jenne (d), Ranking Democratic Member – Represents part of Broward County – evan.jenne@myfloridahouse.gov / District (954) 321-2760 / Tallahassee (850) 488-0245
§ Gary Aubuchon (r) – Represents parts of Charlotte & Lee Counties – gary.aubuchon@myfloridahouse.gov / District (239) 344-4900 / Tallahassee (850) 488-7433
§ Re. Esteban L. Bovo, Jr (r) – Represents part of Miami-Dade County – Esteban.bovo@myfloridahouse.gov / District (305) 364-3113 / Tallahassee (850) 487-2197
§ Rep. Jennifer Carroll (r) – Represents parts of Clay & Duval Counties –– Jennifer.carroll@myfloridahouse.gov / District (904) 573-4994 / Tallahassee (850) 488-5102
§ Rep. Joe Gibbons (d) – Represents part of Broward County – joe.gibbons@myfloridahouse.gov(954) 893-5006 / Tallahassee (850) 488-0145 / District
§ Rep. Audrey Gibson (d) – Represents part of Duval County – audrey.gibson@myfloridahouse.gov / District (904) 353-2180 / Tallahassee (850) 488-7417
§ Rep. Dorothy Hukill (r) – Represents part of Volusia County – dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov / District (386) 322-5111 / Tallahassee (850) 488-6653
§ Dave Murzin (r) – Represents part of Escambia County – dave.murzin@myfloridahouse.gov / District (859) 494-7330 / Tallahassee (850) 488-8278
§ Jimmy Patronis (r) – Represents parts of Bay & Franklin Counties – jimmy.patronis@myfloridahouse.gove / District (850) 914-6300 /Tallahassee (850) 488-9696
§ Hazelle Rogers (d) – Represents part of Broward County – hazelle.rogers@myfloridahouse.gov(954) 497-3367 / Tallahassee / District (850)488-8234
§ Maria Sachs (d) – Represents part of Palm Beach County – maria.sachs@myfloridahouse.gov / District (561) 266-6645 / Tallahassee (850) 488-1662
§ Rep. Robert Schenck (r) – Represents parts of Pasco, Hernando, & Sumter Counties – robert.schenck@myfloridahouse.gov / District (352) 688-5005 / Tallahassee (850) 488-6641
Senate Leadership
§ Senator Jeff Atwater (r) – President – Represents parts of Broward & Palm Beach Counties – atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov / District (561) 625-5101 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5100
§ Senator JD Alexander (r), Chairman, Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means – Represents Hardee, Highlands and parts of DeSoto, Glades, Okeechobee, Polk, and St. Lucie Counties – alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov / District (863) 679-4847 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5044
§ Senator Mike Haridopolos (r) – President designate, 2011-12 – Represents parts of Brevard, Indian River, Osceola, & St. Lucie Counties –haridopolis.mike@flsentate.gov / District (321) 752-3131 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5056
Senate Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee (TED)
§ Senator Mike Fasano (r), Chairman – Represents parts of Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, & Pinellas Counties / fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov / District (727) 848-5885 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5062
§ Senator Tony Hill (d), Vice-Chair – Represents parts of Duval, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, & Volusia Counties – hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov/ District (904) 924-1646 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5024
§ Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla (r) – Represents part of Miami-Dade County – portilla.alex.web@flsenate.gov / District (305) 643-7200 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5109
§ Senator Paula Dockery (r) – Represents parts of Hernando, Lake, Osceola, Polk, & Sumter Counties – dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov /District (863) 413-2900 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5040
§ Senator Andy Gardiner (r) – Represents parts of Orange, Osceola, & Seminole Counties – gardiner.andy@flsenate.gov / District (407) 428-5800 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5047
§ Senator Chris Smith (d) – Represents parts of Broward & Palm Beach Counties – smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov / District (561) 650-6801 / Tallahassee (850) 487-5112
Source: Faye Roberts, Executive Director, Florida Library Association: 386.438.5795 faye.roberts@comcast.net
3/8/2009
In a letter to members today, Senate President Jeff Atwater announced the updated 2010 committee assignments. The changes reflect the election of Senators Negron and Thrasher.
SENATE PRESIDENT JEFF ATWATER
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
2008-2010
President Pro Tempore: Mike Fasano
Majority Leader: Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Minority Leader: Al Lawson
GROUP I
Policy and Steering Committee on Energy, Environment, and Land Use
—————————— ————————————-
Mike Haridopolos, Chair
Nan Rich, Vice Chair
Thad Altman
Dave Aronberg
Lee Constantine
Charlie Dean
Nancy Detert
Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Paula Dockery
Don Gaetz
Gary Siplin
Eleanor Sobel
Alex Villalobos
Agriculture
—————————— ————————————-
Charlie Dean, Chair
Larcenia Bullard, Vice Chair
Dave Aronberg
Carey Baker
Durell Peaden
Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities
—————————— ————————————-
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Chair
Arthenia Joyner, Vice Chair
Mike Fasano
Dan Gelber
Mike Haridopolos
Joe Negron
Steve Oelrich
Garrett Richter
Chris Smith
Community Affairs
—————————— ————————————-
Mike Bennett, Chair
Gary Siplin, Vice Chair
Thad Altman
Ted Deutch
Rudy Garcia
Andy Gardiner
Tony Hill
Jeremy Ring
Ronda Storms
John Thrasher
Stephen Wise
Environmental Preservation and Conservation
—————————— ————————————-
Lee Constantine, Chair
Eleanor Sobel, Vice Chair
Nancy Detert
Paula Dockery
Dennis Jones
Nan Rich
GROUP II
Policy and Steering Committee on Commerce and Industry
—————————— ————————————-
Mike Bennett, Chair
Jeremy Ring, Vice Chair
Ted Deutch
Rudy Garcia
Andy Gardiner
Dennis Jones
Arthenia Joyner
Charlie Justice
Evelyn Lynn
Durell Peaden
Garrett Richter
Chris Smith
John Thrasher
Banking and Insurance
—————————— ————————————-
Garrett Richter, Chair
Chris Smith, Vice Chair
JD Alexander
Mike Bennett
Mike Fasano
Al Lawson
Joe Negron
Jeremy Ring
Ronda Storms
Alex Villalobos
Commerce
—————————— ————————————-
Rudy Garcia, Chair
Dan Gelber, Vice Chair
Victor Crist
Nancy Detert
Charlie Justice
Evelyn Lynn
Steve Oelrich
Durell Peaden
Nan Rich
Eleanor Sobel
Regulated Industries
—————————— ————————————-
Dennis Jones, Chair
Ted Deutch, Vice Chair
Dave Aronberg
Charlie Dean
Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Tony Hill
John Thrasher
Stephen Wise
Transportation
—————————— ————————————-
Andy Gardiner, Chair
Larcenia Bullard, Vice Chair
Thad Altman
Carey Baker
Lee Constantine
Paula Dockery
Mike Haridopolos
Arthenia Joyner
Gary Siplin
GROUP III
Policy and Steering Committee on Social Responsibility
—————————— ————————————-
Don Gaetz, Chair
Charlie Justice, Vice Chair
Carey Baker
Lee Constantine
Nancy Detert
Paula Dockery
Rudy Garcia
Dan Gelber
Mike Haridopolos
Joe Negron
Gary Siplin
Ronda Storms
Frederica Wilson
Stephen Wise
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
—————————— ————————————-
Ronda Storms, Chair
Nan Rich, Vice Chair
Nancy Detert
Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Rudy Garcia
Tony Hill
Charlie Justice
Stephen Wise
Criminal Justice
—————————— ————————————-
Paula Dockery, Chair
Frederica Wilson, Vice Chair
Victor Crist
Charlie Dean
Ted Deutch
Gary Siplin
John Thrasher
Alex Villalobos
Education Pre-K – 12
—————————— ————————————-
Nancy Detert, Chair
Frederica Wilson, Vice Chair
Larcenia Bullard
Lee Constantine
Don Gaetz
Ronda Storms
John Thrasher
Stephen Wise
Health Regulation
—————————— ————————————-
Don Gaetz, Chair
Eleanor Sobel, Vice Chair
Thad Altman
Mike Bennett
Andy Gardiner
Dennis Jones
Al Lawson
Higher Education
—————————— ————————————-
Steve Oelrich, Chair
Chris Smith, Vice Chair
Dave Aronberg
Larcenia Bullard
Lee Constantine
Evelyn Lynn
Judiciary
—————————— ————————————-
Joe Negron, Chair
Arthenia Joyner, Vice Chair
Carey Baker
Mike Fasano
Dan Gelber
Mike Haridopolos
Durell Peaden
Garrett Richter
Jeremy Ring
GROUP IV
Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations
—————————— ————————————-
Dennis Jones, Chair
Dave Aronberg, Vice Chair
JD Alexander
Mike Bennett
Charlie Dean
Ted Deutch
Mike Fasano
Tony Hill
Al Lawson
Steve Oelrich
Jeremy Ring
John Thrasher
Ethics and Elections
—————————— ————————————-
John Thrasher, Chair
Charlie Justice, Vice Chair
JD Alexander
Carey Baker
Lee Constantine
Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Mike Fasano
Andy Gardiner
Arthenia Joyner
Nan Rich
Garrett Richter
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
—————————— ————————————-
Jeremy Ring, Chair
Gary Siplin, Vice Chair
Victor Crist
Charlie Dean
Mike Fasano
Dennis Jones
Al Lawson
Eleanor Sobel
Military Affairs and Domestic Security
—————————— ————————————-
Dave Aronberg, Chair
Steve Oelrich, Vice Chair
Mike Bennett
Ted Deutch
Tony Hill
Evelyn Lynn
Durell Peaden
Alex Villalobos
Reapportionment
—————————— ————————————-
Mike Haridopolos, Chair
Chris Smith, Vice Chair
Mike Bennett
Charlie Dean
Andy Gardiner
Al Lawson
Joe Negron
Jeremy Ring
Gary Siplin
John Thrasher
GROUP V
Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means
—————————— ————————————-
JD Alexander, Chair
Ted Deutch, Vice Chair
Thad Altman
Carey Baker
Mike Bennett
Victor Crist
Mike Fasano
Don Gaetz
Rudy Garcia
Dan Gelber
Mike Haridopolos
Tony Hill
Charlie Justice
Al Lawson
Evelyn Lynn
Joe Negron
Durell Peaden
Nan Rich
Gary Siplin
Eleanor Sobel
John Thrasher
Alex Villalobos
Frederica Wilson
Stephen Wise
Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations
—————————— ————————————-
Victor Crist, Chair
Frederica Wilson, Vice Chair
Dennis Jones
Arthenia Joyner
Alex Villalobos
Education Pre-K – 12 Appropriations
—————————— ————————————-
Stephen Wise, Chair
Gary Siplin, Vice Chair
Larcenia Bullard
Nancy Detert
Rudy Garcia
Garrett Richter
Finance and Tax
—————————— ————————————-
Thad Altman, Chair
Charlie Justice, Vice Chair
Mike Bennett
Jeremy Ring
Ronda Storms
General Government Appropriations
—————————— ————————————-
Carey Baker, Chair
Al Lawson, Vice Chair
Dave Aronberg
Charlie Dean
Steve Oelrich
Health and Human Services Appropriations
—————————— ————————————-
Durell Peaden, Chair
Nan Rich, Vice Chair
Don Gaetz
Mike Haridopolos
Joe Negron
Eleanor Sobel
Higher Education Appropriations
—————————— ————————————-
Evelyn Lynn, Chair
Dan Gelber, Vice Chair
Lee Constantine
Ted Deutch
John Thrasher
Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations
—————————— ————————————-
Mike Fasano, Chair
Tony Hill, Vice Chair
Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Paula Dockery
Andy Gardiner
Chris Smith
GROUP VI
Rules
—————————— ————————————-
Alex Villalobos, Chair
Dave Aronberg, Vice Chair
JD Alexander
Lee Constantine
Victor Crist
Ted Deutch
Don Gaetz
Rudy Garcia
Andy Gardiner
Dennis Jones
Charlie Justice
Al Lawson
Evelyn Lynn
Joe Negron
Gary Siplin
Chris Smith
Eleanor Sobel
Ronda Storms
John Thrasher
Stephen Wise
Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
—————————— ————————————-
Arthenia Joyner, Chair
Charlie Dean
Alex Villalobos
Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight
—————————— ————————————-
Lee Constantine, Chair
Thad Altman
Paula Dockery
Rudy Garcia
Dan Gelber
Chris Smith
Joint Legislative Auditing Committee
—————————— ————————————-
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Alt. Chair
Andy Gardiner
Charlie Justice
Jeremy Ring
Stephen Wise
Joint Legislative Committee on Everglades Oversight
—————————— ————————————-
Gary Siplin, Chair
Steve Oelrich
Garrett Richter
Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
—————————— ————————————-
Tony Hill, Chair
Nancy Detert
Mike Haridopolos
Frederica Wilson
Joint Legislative Sunset Committee
—————————— ————————————-
Ronda Storms, Co-Chair
Thad Altman
Durell Peaden
Nan Rich
Eleanor Sobel
GROUP VII
Joint Legislative Budget Commission
—————————— ————————————-
Rudy Garcia, Alt. Chair
JD Alexander
Lee Constantine
Mike Fasano
Charlie Justice
Al Lawson
Jeremy Ring
GROUP VIII
Select Committee on Florida’s Economy
—————————— ————————————-
Don Gaetz, Chair
Jeremy Ring, Vice Chair
JD Alexander
Mike Bennett
Dan Gelber
Mike Haridopolos
Tony Hill
Joe Negron
Garrett Richter
Eleanor Sobel
John Thrasher