My office staff and I welcome your contact regarding any issue that is important to you. As always, I consider it a pleasure to serve you, and the people of our district.
I also encourage you to visit "Online Sunshine," the official website of your Florida Legislature. At http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ you'll find links to both the Senate and the House websites. The site also provides links to Florida Statutes and other governmental information and entities. There is also a link to kid's pages that are designed to educate young ones about how our state government works.
Final Week of Session Wrap-up
Coming soon will be the Post Session Newsletter.
REPRESENTATIVE CLAY FORD PROTECTS FLORIDA'S SENIORS FROM ANNUITY FRAUD
The Senate and House unanimously passed the John and Patricia Seibel Act by State Representative Clay Ford (R-Gulf Breeze) and Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton).
"Seniors unfortunately are often targets of fraud because of the lifetime of savings they have collected," said Representative Ford. "I am grateful for my colleagues' support in protecting our most vulnerable citizens."
HB 1003 and SB 2082 increase penalties for unfair or deceptive practices during the sale of annuities and increases fines and penalties for the unlawful practices of twisting and churning accounts and willfully submitting a false signature. It also prohibits an agent from using designations or titles that falsely imply that he or she has special financial knowledge or training. The bill requires that the insurance agent obtain specified personal and financial information from the consumer relevant to the suitability of the recommendation and that they have an objectively reasonable basis for making a recommendation to a senior consumer.
Additionally, it increases the "free look" period from 10 days to 14 days after purchase of annuities for the consumer to obtain a refund. In a transaction involving the surrender or replacement of investment products, the bill would require an agent to provide the consumer with specific information concerning the differences between the annuity being recommended for purchase and an existing annuity that would be surrendered or replaced. This legislation also authorizes the Office of Insurance Regulation to order an insurer to rescind an annuity and provide a full refund when a senior consumer is harmed by a violation of this bill.
HOUSE APPROVES BUDGET WHICH REDUCES SPENDING, PRESERVES CORE MISSIONS, AND BALANCES THE BUDGET RESPONSIBLY
Looking to speed Florida's economic recovery and with an eye toward the future, the Florida House of Representatives today approved a prioritized $66.2 billion budget for FY08-09 that places the highest priority on education, health care and public safety while preserving core missions of government and responsibly balancing Florida's budget.
"We kept our promise to the people of Florida and crafted a thoughtful budget that is both compassionate and fiscally responsible" said Representative Ray Sansom (R-Destin) who serves as the House's chief budget negotiator. "It was not an easy task, but the leadership of the House made a commitment early on to address the state budget the same way families all over Florida are addressing their personal budgets. We focused on preserving the core missions of government, we reduced spending to a level Floridians can afford and we didn't raise taxes or recklessly spend all of our savings. We stayed focused all session on making Florida affordable again and getting the state's economy moving and this budget helps us meet those goals while protecting Florida's future."
"The leadership of the Florida House of Representatives made a commitment to the taxpayers of Florida, and we delivered on that promise," said Representative Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach). "Despite the best efforts of Democrats to raise taxes, expand gambling, and abandon responsibility on the budget, we decided to focus on the needs of Floridians not the wants of governments. The budget we approved today is fiscally responsible and sets an example of how other states and our country should react in challenging economic times, and the approach we took will play a major factor in revitalizing our economy."
Despite continued declining revenues, the budget approved today preserves core missions and sets real priorities.
2008-2009 Budget at a Glance:
- The budget approved today does not raise property taxes, does not expand gambling, and does not use non-recurring dollars for recurring purposes.
- The budget reduces Senators and Representatives salaries by 5%.
- The budget maintains per student education funding above 2006-2007 levels, with more than $6,900 being spent on average statewide for every K-12 student in Florida.
- Appropriates $354.4 million in nonrecurring funds from the Lawton Chiles Endowment to fund Medically Needy programs and county health departments.
- The Department of Revenue includes a $51.4 million budget increase directed toward child support enforcement, which is the department's top priority.
- There is no overall increase in property taxes in the budget this year. Instead, legislators gave local school districts the flexibility to redirect funds from school construction to school operating funds.
- The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is protected with $14 million in restored funding, and no eligibility cuts were made.
- Critical healthcare services were protected with no reductions to: hospice services; adult dental services; adult hearing services; adult vision services; Healthy Families funding; Children's Medical Services; and Healthy Start funding.
- Military Affairs core funding is preserved, with $6.6 million being spent on armory revitalization, $400,000 to continue the Family Readiness Program, $100,000 for body armor replacement for state active-duty personnel.
- Includes a $5.2 million funding increase for the Florida Highway Patrol, amounting to a 5% pay increase for the Florida Highway Patrol law enforcement officers, effective October 1, 2008.
- No reductions were made in prison construction, crime lab or DNA forensics.
HOUSE PASSES SWEEPING EDUCATION REFORMS
The House of Representatives today passed a sweeping education bill which seeks to build on successful education reforms championed by House Republicans during the past eight years.
"The world is getting flatter and smaller, and competing with school systems in our own country is just not good enough anymore," said Speaker Marco Rubio (R-Miami). "The legislation approved today will refresh our curriculum with proven enhancements that are currently working all over the world, so that the next generation of Florida students can compete and thrive in a global setting."
"Accountability must remain a key component of our education system. We want parents and teachers to have a concrete understanding of what their kids are supposed to be learning, and whether or not they are learning it," added Rubio.
"Over the past eight years, Republicans in the House have increased per student funding by more than 41%, and through accountability-driven reforms we have seen remarkable improvement in our schools," said Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach). "We have made a historic investment in our schools, but we also recognized that when it comes to education, it isn't how much you spend, but rather how wisely you spend it that matters most. The reforms approved today will help us spend each penny wisely on a refocused school system that better prepares our kids for work, for college and for life."
Committee Substitute for Senate Bill (CS/SB) 1908, would require the State Board of Education to review and replace the current Sunshine State Standards with Enhanced Sunshine State Standards, a set of more rigorous and relevant standards that help students progressively learn essential core content from K-12.
"The three R's are no longer enough," added Chairman Joe Pickens (R-Palatka). "For our kids to succeed and emerge as global leaders, they need a balanced curriculum that builds on a rigorous foundation of advanced language, math and science skills, as well as stressing civics instruction and foreign languages - and continues to build on this base year after year."
In addition to fundamental instruction, students would also be taught critical thinking and problem solving; communication, reading and writing; technology, information and media literacy; and collaboration and civic engagement.
The legislation proposed today would also improve upon the current Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test by directing the Commissioner of Education to revise the FCAT to align it with new standards. Other changes to the FCAT include changes to the dates when the FCAT is administered (no earlier than the week of March 1 for the Writing+ portion, and no earlier than April 15 for other portions) as well as changes to the time in which FCAT scores are reported (the week of the first Monday in June). In addition, social studies will be added to the FCAT by the 2012-2013 school year.
"Florida's education system is leading the nation in accountability driven reforms, but we recognize that reform is never final," said Representative Anitere Flores (R- Miami). "This legislation reflects all that we have learned and applies it toward building an education system that doesn't just lead the nation, but competes to lead the world."
CS/SB will now go to the Governor for approval.
CS/SB 1908 at glance:
Enhanced Sunshine State Standards
The bill requires the review and replacement of the current Sunshine State Standards with standards that achieve the following:
- Establish the core content of the curricula to be taught in all K-12 public schools and the core content knowledge and skills that students are expected to acquire.
- Establish distinct grade-level expectations for the following subject areas: language arts, science, mathematics and social studies.
- Provide a logical and sequential progression of core curricular content that incrementally increases a student's knowledge over time.
- Align with expectations for success in postsecondary education and employment.
- Include specific curricular content for each subject area.
- Integrates the following skills: critical thinking and problem solving; communication, reading and writing; technology, information and media literacy; collaboration and civic engagement.
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and End-of-Course Assessments
- Directs the Commissioner of Education to revise the FCAT to align with the new standards.
" Provides that FCAT Writing+ be administered no earlier than the week of March 1, all other FCAT assessments be administered no earlier than April 15, and student test results be reported by the week of the first Monday in June. - Allows the Commissioner to establish end-of-course assessments for subjects in addition to those required for the FCAT that are standardized, statewide, aligned to the standards and administered within the last 2 weeks of the course. The Commissioner may use AP, IB or AICE exams if the exams qualify.
- Prohibits schools from suspending regular curriculum instruction in order to administer FCAT test preparation activities and provides exceptions.
Instructional Materials
" Requires instructional materials to demonstrate alignment to the new standards.
HOUSE APPROVES EXPANDED HEALTHCARE OPTIONS FOR FLORIDA'S UNINSURED
The Florida House of Representatives approved legislation creating two healthcare proposals which will provide the more than 3.8 million Floridians currently without health insurance options to access affordable, quality health insurance.
The legislation includes provisions to initiate the Cover Florida proposal, a priority of Governor Charlie Crist, and the Florida Health Choices program, a priority of the Florida House of
Representatives. The bill also appropriates $1.5 million to provide start?up costs for the Corporation, which is expected to be self?sustaining in the future.
"67% of all people get health insurance through their employers. The House plan will expand that number by helping small businesses and their employees purchase health care coverage, while the Governor's plan offers affordable insurance to individual Floridians who are uninsured," said Representative Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach), Chairman of the House Council on Healthcare. "Passing both plans together gives Floridians the greatest number of options and will ensure that the maximum number of Floridians will have access to quality, affordable health care."
"Our goal was always to complement the good work product suggested by Governor Crist to provide Floridians with more options and greater choices," added Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach). "No one is sure when we will get the next opportunity to vote for expanded health insurance options. Instead of limiting Floridians to just one approach, we went the extra mile to propose a bold plan to reach as many uninsured Floridians as possible."
Florida Health Choices Program at a glance:
The House's Florida Health Choices Program offers an innovative solution to the problem of access to affordable health care. It's a market?based program that empowers those who matter most ? Florida's patients and consumers.
" Florida Health Choices is an innovative public?private partnership ? a marketplace ? creating a new environment for buying and selling health insurance and health services.
" Using competitive market principles, Florida Health Choices uses simple, common sense principles to empower consumers with buying power, increase choice, foster competition and expand information on price and quality.
Voluntary Participation
" Participation in Florida Health Choices will be voluntary and open to small businesses, municipalities with less than 50,000 population, school boards in fiscally constrained counties and statutory rural hospitals. These employers and their employees will be able to use pre?tax dollars to purchase health coverage in the program.
Individual Choice of Plans and Programs
" Once employers enroll in Florida Health Choices, resources for health benefits are placed in the hands of employees who can choose the best use of those resources to suit their individual needs. Employees will be able to individually choose any health coverage product in the market including comprehensive insurance plans, limited benefit plans, flexible spending accounts and other contracts for specific services.
Portability for a 21st Century Workforce
" Insurance plans and products purchased through Florida Health Choices will be individual and portable, allowing employees to maintain coverage even if they change jobs. The individual employees are the real consumers, selecting the plan or products they wish to purchase. The plans or products are fully portable regardless of change in work status. The individuals participating in the marketplace can then continue to buy services and coverage for as long as they choose.
Competition Spurs Innovation in the Market
" The consumer?focused environment of the marketplace will encourage innovation so that vendors offer new arrangements and service agreements. Concierge medical services, information services, disease management, wellness programs and obesity interventions are just a few examples of the types of options that may help consumers improve their health and obtain the services they need. Giving consumers real choice and having vendors compete means consumers will benefit from more services and lower health care prices.
Free?Market Competition Attracts Providers and Benefits Individuals
" Florida Health Choices puts trust in consumers, not government, to determine the best way to purchase coverage and health services for them and their families.
" Transparent pricing and a competitive environment provide the foundation for affordable health care products.
" Regulatory relief will serve as an additional tool for stimulating affordability as well as
attracting the participation of vendors. Insurers, HMOs and pre?paid clinic providers currently face extensive bureaucratic hurdles in order to do business in Florida. These hurdles raise the cost of health care coverage and discourage innovation in health coverage and service delivery. By providing relief from these extra costs, Florida Health Choices empowers consumers to make the choices when it comes to their health care.
A Governance Structure Proven for 18 Years
" The Florida Health Choices Program will be administered by the Florida Health Choices Corporation, a private entity that will create and implement the marketplace. The Corporation helps provide oversight to ensure that transparency and fair practices are maintained to protect consumers.
" The Corporation will provide administrative services to employers, allowing them to offer more affordable choices to their workers without having to maintain expensive human resource capabilities.
" The bill appropriates $1.5 million to provide start?up costs for the Corporation, which is expected to be self?sustaining in the future.
" A shared resource for small employers and their employees throughout Florida, the Corporation will ensure that the health care choices offer real value to consumers. This kind of public?private partnership is based on Florida's award?winning Healthy Kids Corporation, a proven model which has been hailed nationally and has helped bring affordable health insurance to Florida's families.
Consumer Protections
" The Florida Health Choices Program offers common sense protections for Floridians. The Program will encourage a diversity of benefit packages, but only insurers and HMOs licensed by the Office of Insurance Regulation can sell health insurance policies, limited benefit policies and other risk?bearing coverage.
" Health care providers and organizations can only offer pre?paid service contracts or other instruments that enable individuals to pay directly for health care services. Direct purchase will benefit consumers by giving them access to lower prices and the ability to spread the financing of health care purchases over time.
" The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) will review risk-bearing products and provide comments to help consumers evaluate the products.
Market?based Solution Provides Answer to Uninsured Crisis
" The goals of the Florida Health Choices Program are to encourage competition, offer more affordable choices to consumers, provide individual and portable coverage and make price and quality information transparent to consumers who control the decisions about use of resources for health care.
Suggestions and Public Appearances
I and my staff use the newsletter as a cost-effective tool to keep you in touch with what is happening in your State and in your Florida Legislature. We welcome all suggestions and comments. Do not hesitate to contact my District Office to let us know of issues you are concerned about and would like us to address in this newsletter.
As my schedule allows, I am happy to speak at local community events or groups about issues of interest. My Legislative Assistant, Ray Walker, or my Secretary, Mary Katherine Peebles, will be happy to work with you in making such arrangements.
Utilizing email as a newsletter distribution tool is a fiscally-responsible means to distribute information to my constituency about what is going on in their Florida Legislature.
Please feel free to e-mail The Ford Update to your friends and relatives. Alternatively, please let others know they can be added to my email list by clicking here.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any of your needs or concerns. My district office is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is:
1804 West Garden St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 595-5550
