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Florida
AFL-CIO |
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State
Federation Hosts Annual Legislative Conference Here are some highlights: |
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| Department
of Labor & Employment Security Reorganization HB 73 by Merchant; SB 230 by Webster Efforts to reorganize and decentralize the Department of Labor & Employment Security (DLES) have passed out of their original committees in both chambers as committee substitutes. HB73 passed the House Government Rules Committee on a reconsideration vote Wednesday. Following that vote, the House withdrew the bill from the remaining committee reference and it will most likely go directly to the floor. The Senate version passed the Senate Governmental Oversight Committee last week and is now in Commerce. These bills call for the establishment of six divisions within the DLES as follows: Workers' Compensation; Blind Services; Safety (which is repealed on July 1, 2000); and Vocational Rehabilitation. Five field offices are created to carry out the responsibilities of these divisions. In addition, the Division of Safety is restricted to having jurisdiction only over the public sector and its employees. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is required to enter into local "public/private partnerships" as much as possible (privatization). The ULL has several concerns about this proposal. There are over 7,000 public employees who work for DLES - no information has come forth on how these people will be affected by such a huge change. Of major import is the lack of jurisdiction over private sector safety, unless requested by the employer. Another area of concern deals with the fact that much of the funding for DLES comes from federal sources. IT is unclear what impact such fragmentation of the Department will have on the release of Federal funds to Florida that are intended to implement many of the programs DLES is responsible for. It is very possible that major reductions in money may occur as a result of this movement. We are watching this bill very closely and attempting to make sure our concerns are addressed, if not eliminated. |
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| Educational
Accountability (School Vouchers) CS/HB 751 by Diaz de la Portilla; SB 1756 by Cowin The House has moved their version of the school voucher plan now called "Opportunity Scholarships" through both committee references and it is now on the House Calendar. We have been told that there is no stopping this bad bill on the House side and that the only possible barrier the bill will have lies with the Senate. Senate President Toni Jennings has repeatedly stated her opposition to school vouchers, but it is uncertain is she will be able to keep the bill from passing the Senate. So far the Senate Education Committee has temporarily deferred its version both times it has been on their agenda. If that committee does pass SB 1756 out, it will next go to the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee before going to the floor. That may change however. There is great determination by many legislators to pass this legislation this year and Governor Bush is ready to sign it into law. |
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| Florida Space
Transportation Planning Act HB 815 by Futch; SB 1254 by Sebesta The House Transportation Committee has passed out a bill intended to address a wide array of issues concerning planning, developing, improving and expanding space transportation facilities. The bill would exempt spaceports from airport site approval and licensing requirements, expands the boundaries of spaceport territory under the jurisdiction of the Space Florida Authority (SFA) to other areas in the state and allows it to exercise eminent domain powers to include any part of the state. The bill also deletes a prohibition on the SFA engaging in the business of furnishing electric power in areas annexed by the SFA. The Department of Transportation must include the promotion and development of aerospace transportation facilities in their 5-year work plan that involves airport and aviation programs, leaving fewer funds available for these programs. While the bill is touted as a means of encouraging new business and employment opportunities, there are no Service Contract Act protections mentioned that would help existing or new spaceport workers maintain current salary and benefits levels. The repeal of the ban on the SFA providing electric power in annexed areas could potentially affect utility workers, also The House bill has two other committee references, House Business Development and Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations. The Senate companion is referred to Senate Transportation Commerce and Fiscal Policy committees and has not been scheduled for a hearing. We will watch this bill as it moves through the process and try to get employee protections placed in the legislation. |
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| Unemployment
Compensation CS/109 by Bitner; SB 108 by McKay; PCB FT 99-08 by Finance & Tax These unemployment compensation bills all allow a one-year tax reduction for employer-paid taxes of 5% in most instances. HB 109 and SB 108 continues the tax reduction for this calendar year, while the PCB extends the reduction for the year 2000. All of these proposals now include provisions that increase the unemployment benefit to workers for the first eight weeks of unemployment to a maximum of $288.00 per week. Initially the PCB did not include this language allowing only for the business tax reduction. However ULL lobbyists were successful in getting this language placed in the bill. CS/HB 109 passed the House Business Development Committee the first week of session and is now in House Insurance, with two other committee referrals after that. SB 108 has gone through its committee assignments and is now on the Senate Calendar. Neither of these bills, nor the PCB has any language included to allow for "moveable" base benefits calculation. HB 31 by Starks included this language, but it was taken out when that bill was combined with HB 109. There are however, two bills that allow for an alternative base method of calculation. HB 663 by Logan and SB 1366 by Forman. We are working with these legislators to get these bills placed on committee agendas. |
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| Unemployment
Compensation/Domestic Violence HB 935 by Frankel; SB 1340 by Mitchell The House Business Development Committee has passed HB 935 unanimously and it will now go to Family Law Committee. This bill specifies that domestic violence is a "good cause" for leaving one's job if there is fear of recurrence of the domestic violence. This will allow victims the opportunity to relocate or move away from the threatening situation without facing the probability of having no income during the time of upheaval. The Senate bill SB 1340 is now waiting to be heard in Senate Fiscal Policy. |
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| HMO
Retaliatory Action Against Providers SB by Latvala This bill strengthens the law prohibiting HMO's from taking adverse action against a health care provider for giving patients all information about treatment of illness, regardless of cost, etc. The bill declares such action to be an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice and requires managed care plans to provide a written explanation for a proposed termination or nonrenewal of a provider's contract. SB 232 has passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and is now in Health & Aging. There is no House companion bill at this time. |
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| Campaign
Finance Reform The House Ethics & Elections Committee hosted a two hour workshop on campaign finance reform this week, but no decisions or votes were made on the issue. House Speaker, John Thrasher, is adamantly opposed to any change in contribution limits to political parties. The Senate passed a reform bill in the first week of session that caps contributions to political parties at $5000.00, requires advertisements featuring three or more candidates to provide equal time for each and requires greater disclosure of independent issue ads. Although it doesn't look like the House will take up party contribution limits, there is a small possibility that the so-called 3-pack ads and independent issue expenditures will be addressed in the House. We'll keep you updated as this issue progresses. |
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