FNPN Weekly Legislative Report- April 19, 2019

THIS WEEK IN REVIEW:

The seventh week of the 2019 legislative session is coming to a close. It’s been an

exciting week at the Capitol, with many committees beginning to wrap up their business for the
session. Budget conference is supposed to start next week with the House and Senate working
through their difference of $400 million of the $90 billion budget.

After facing some difficulties reaching the floor, HB 857, regarding cancer treatment for
firefighters, will finally be heard in the Florida House. Similar to the Senate companion bill, the
House measure would require that, should a firefighter in good health be diagnosed with cancer,
it must be presumed that the cancer was a result of his or her work as a firefighter. It’s
companion bill, SB 426 has unanimously passed through the Senate Government Oversight and
Accountability, Community Affairs, and Appropriations Committee.

A plan to build new toll roads in the western portion of the state was put on hold by its
sponsor on Wednesday, as Democrats pushed for more details on the environmental and land-use
impacts that it would entail. The measure, SB 7068, calls for spending $45 Million next year to
extend the Suncoast Parkway from the Tampa Bay area to the Georgia border, extend the Florida
Turnpike westward to connect with the Suncoast Parkway, and to build a new transportation
corridor from Polk County to Collier County.

The Senate assignment of benefits bill passed in the Rules committee by a 11-6 vote on
Wednesday. The bill was amended just before the vote to bring it in line with the House
companion bill (HB 7065,) that passed in the chamber by a 96-20 vote. If passed, SB 122 would
restructure the current one-way attorney fee system in order to account for the difference
between the judgement sought by assignment of benefit contractors, and what the court awards.

Gov. Ron DeSantis reaffirmed his commitment to curb prescription drug costs through
the importation of prescription medicines from Canada. An ad campaign funded by the
Partnership for Safe Medicines voicing concerns over the Governor’s stance, arguing that,
“Importation undermines our core efforts to keep our medicine supply safe. On Wednesday,
Gov. DeSantis said that the claims were unfounded, and that all drugs brought into the country would be subject to FDA approval, stating, “It makes sense to give us the option to save money
for the state and for the people, and we wouldn’t do it unless the FDA says its safe.”

On Wednesday, Republican Senators voted down a series of amendments proposed to
their school safety bill on Wednesday, including one amendment that sought to remove the
provision to arm teachers in schools. The vote was split down party lines, 22-16 SB 7030 went
through first reading on the Senate Floor, and is set for its final vote with the provision intact that
would allow each school district and charter school to whether it wants teachers to carry guns
and teachers to decide if they want to do so.

Week eight will begin Monday, April 22nd. As always, we will keep you updated as
legislation moves.

Dr. Doreen Cassarino, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, FAANP, FNAP

FNPN 1st Vice President Legislative Affairs