April 15 – Background Screening Bill March- 15 Library Funding March 8 Committee Assignments

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

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