This week, the Florida Senate passed COVID-19 liability protections for businesses and health care providers in a 24-15 vote. The Florida Senate also passed legislation seeking to protect farmers from nuisance lawsuits and unlawful claims. Both of these measures are critically important to our state as we recover from COVID-19 and plan for our future.
There are 42 days remaining in the 2021 Legislative Session, and we have a great deal of work to do. Chief among them is the state budget. Due to the economic downturn, our state is facing a decrease in revenue, and we must do more with less.
I will keep you updated as budget allocations are released, and the state budget takes form.

Florida COVID-19 Vaccine Update
As of Thursday, March 18, 6,993,528 vaccine doses have been administered in Florida. There are now 4,570,538 individuals who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Florida.
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced he will lower eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to age 50 starting next week.
Beginning Monday, the following populations will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines:
· Long-term care facility residents and staff;
· Persons 50 years of age and older;
· Health care personnel with direct patients;
· K-12 school employees of all ages;
· Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of ages and older;
· Firefighters 50 years of age and older; and
· People who are “extremely vulnerable” to the virus with a completed state form signed by a physician.
As more vaccines become available, eligibility continues to expand. Check the Florida Department of Health COVID-19 website for the latest information.

Pre-Register for the COVID-19 Vaccine & Use the DOH Vaccine Locator
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) launched a statewide vaccine locator site and preregistration system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Both websites help eligible Floridians preregister for the vaccine and locate nearby vaccination sites.

COVID-19 Update: Florida Case Data
As of March 19, there have been 1,999,257 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Florida, including 30,468 in Collier County, 4,392 in Hendry County and 58,577 in Lee County.
As of March 18, the state’s positivity rate for new cases is 5.02%.
To find the most up-to-date information and guidance, you can visit the Florida Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 webpage.
For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website.

Florida Senate Delivers COVID-19 Liability Protections for Businesses, Health Care Providers
Since day one of the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida’s health care providers put their health at risk to serve their fellow Floridians. In addition, Florida’s business owners worked tirelessly to stay open while adhering to changing safety guidelines and regulations.
The Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 72: Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19, by Senator Jeff Brandes, to shield businesses from fraudulent or opportunistic lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer protection from civil liability for health care providers who have served Floridians during the pandemic.
When a business makes a good faith effort to adhere to changing safety guidelines to reopen during a period of extreme uncertainty, our laws should protect them from frivolous and costly litigation. We must also work to ensure that health care providers are not threatened with unmerited lawsuits that hinder their ability to serve their patients.
As our state continues to fully reopen and recover, Senate Bill 72 works to separate the serious and merited claims from the fraudulent and unfair claims brought against a Florida business or health care provider.

Florida Senate Takes Action to Improve Child Welfare System
Ensuring the safety and stability of children in Florida’s foster care system is imperative. The Florida Senate unanimously voted to approve Senate Bill 80: Child Welfare, by Senator Jason Brodeur. The measure increases protections and consistency for children in out-of-home care by expanding existing laws related to sibling and transition placements.
The Florida Senate recognizes the relationships young children develop with out-of-home caregivers and siblings of the child’s biological family members. The bill works to reduce trauma from abrupt or frequent placement changes that remove children from safe, successful placements.
Senate Bill 80 also requires that a quick reference “FACE sheet” be created to summarize the status of each child’s case and goals moving forward.
“Our goal is to reduce the trauma children face when they are moved, sometimes abruptly, from one out-of-home placement to another,” said Senator Brodeur. “These are vulnerable young children who have been neglected or abused and we want to make sure they have the stability of a safe, permanent living situation as soon as possible.”

Heightened Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence Approved by Florida Senate
The Florida Senate approved two bills, by Senator Ileana Garcia, to heighten protections for victims of domestic violence as well as the advocates working at domestic violence shelters.
Senate Bill 70 provides a new criminal offense to further protect the locations of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) certified domestic violence centers. Senate Bill 68 exempts from public record the personal information and addresses of DCF domestic violence shelters’ current or former staff, domestic violence advocates and their families.
When victims of domestic violence seek refuge, it is imperative that, for their safety, their location remains confidential. With the passage of Senate Bill 68 and Senate Bill 70, survivors will be safer from their abusers.
Florida has 41 DCF certified domestic violence centers that provide crisis intervention and support services to adult victims of domestic violence and their children free of charge.

Legislation Promoting Civic Education Passes Florida Senate
The Florida Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 146: Civic Education, by Senator Jeff Brandes.
This legislation aims to help students gain civic experience both inside and outside of the classroom by requiring the Florida Commissioner of Education to develop criteria for a nonpartisan civic literacy practicum that may be incorporated into Florida high school United States Government courses.
Senate Bill 146 aims to promote civic literacy in Florida, enable students to engage in civil discourse, and provide more opportunities to equip high school graduates with sufficient knowledge of America’s civics.

Vietnam Veterans Honored by Florida Senate
To memorialize the sacrifices and experiences of those captured or missing in combat during the Vietnam War, the Florida Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 416: POW-MIA Veterans Bracelet Memorial, by Senator Danny Burgess.
The legislation establishes the memorial, which will be funded and administered by the Big Bend Chapter 96, Vietnam Veterans of America, and will be placed on or near the Florida Capitol Complex.
The Florida Senate is committed to ensuring Florida remains the number one state in the nation for our military and veteran communities, and their families.

Legislation to Modernize Right to Farm Protections Passes Florida Senate
Florida’s legacy farming communities contribute to our nation’s food supply and billions of dollars to our state’s economy. Senate Bill 88: Farming Operations, by Senator Jason Brodeur, increases protections for our farmers by modernizing Florida’s Right to Farm Act.
Our state has experienced tremendous growth since Florida’s Right to Farm Act was originally passed in 1979. The Florida Senate approved this legislation, which seeks to update this important law so existing farm work and complementary agritourism activities are protected.

New Tax Exemption Bill to Help Elderly Live Independently Passes Senate Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
On Tuesday, Senate Bill 224 by Senator Lori Berman unanimously passed its second committee stop.
SB 224 exempts the purchase of certain items that assist individuals in living and aging independently in their homes from the sales and use tax.
Specifically, the bill exempts the following items from the collection of the sales and use tax:
· Bed transfer handles selling for $60 or less;
· Bed rails selling for $110 or less;
· Grab bars selling for $100 or less; and
· Shower seats selling for $100 or less.
The bill specifies that the exemption only applies to purchases of these items made for personal or noncommercial use.
SB 224 will be heard in the Committee on Finance and Tax next.

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Up in Final Senate Committee
Senate Bill 598, by Senator Keith Perry, creates the 10-day Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday to help ensure students have the tools and supplies necessary to be successful in the classroom.
From Friday, July 30, 2021, to Sunday, August 8, 2021, the bill would eliminate taxes on items, including:
· clothing and footwear costing $60 or less;
· backpacks costing $50 or less;
· school supplies costing $15 or less; and
· personal computers and accessories costing $1,000 or less.
Next, SB 598 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bill to Increase Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Passes Its First Senate Committee
Senate Bill 874, by Senator Jason Brodeur, passed its first committee Wednesday. The legislation requires the DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) and the Alzheimer’s Association, to use existing, relevant, public health, and community outreach programs to incorporate and disseminate information to health care practitioners on Alzheimer’s disease.
The educational materials must cover:
· The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment.
· Utilization of a validated cognitive assessment tool.
· The value of Medicare annual wellness visits for cognitive health.
· The use of the Medicare billing code for care planning for individuals with cognitive impairment.
· Methods to detect early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
· Methods to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among individuals in diverse communities who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
The bill will be heard next in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

This week, Senator Rick Scott sent an open to letter to governors and mayors across the United States urging them to commit to reject and return any federal funding in excess of their federally-reimbursable COVID-19 related expenses. This commitment will serve the best interests of hardworking American taxpayers and send a clear message to Washington: politicians in Congress should quit recklessly spending other people’s money.

Senator Scott’s letter comes as Congressional Democrats passed President Biden’s massive, partisan and wasteful $1.9 trillion “COVID” spending package without a single Republican vote in support. This bill dedicates less than 10% of its funding to actually fight COVID-19 and raises the federal debt to $30 trillion.

Also this week, Senator Rick Scott sponsored:

The Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country;
A resolution to condemn Communist China’s actions to militarize the South China Sea, applaud the United States Navy and Coast Guard for their efforts to ensure freedom of navigation operations, and send a clear message that the United States will not tolerate Communist China’s extension of power in waters beyond its legitimate territorial sea boundaries;
The Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends (FORCE) Act which would prevent President Joe Biden or Secretary Antony Blinken from removing Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List; and
The Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act which holds Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro accountable by prohibiting federal agencies from doing business with anyone that supports the oppressive Maduro regime.

Sen. Rick Scott: I’ll Never Stop Fighting Against Washington’s Dysfunction

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement after Senate Democrats voted to pass their massive and wasteful $1.9 trillion “COVID” spending package, of which less than 10% actually goes to help fight COVID.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Washington is completely dysfunctional. I’ve said all along that I want targeted relief for families and businesses suffering from the pandemic. That’s why Republicans just spent the entire night trying to work with Senate Democrats to get something done that will actually help Floridians and Americans across our nation who are still struggling due to COVID-19. But that’s not what the Democrats wanted. This was never about helping the American people. Instead, they’re using trillions of American taxpayer dollars, under the guise of COVID relief, to fund their liberal priorities and pay back their blue state Governor pals. They really should be ashamed of this political theater.

“Our nation is $28 trillion in debt. With the passage of this bill, Senate Democrats have increased the debt to $30 trillion, knowing that they and President Biden have no plan to address it or its devastating consequences for American families. At this rate and the direction Democrats are taking us, there is no way our nation will ever be able to pay off this unsustainable debt without significant change. It’s time to get serious about what this means for our nation moving forward. I will never stop fighting to ensure accountability to American taxpayers and get Washington’s insane spending under control.”

Sen. Rick Scott Urges Florida Congressional Delegation to Vote Against Wasteful $1.9 Trillion “COVID” Spending Bill

Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to the Florida Congressional Delegation urging them to vote against President Biden’s massive and wasteful $1.9 trillion “COVID” spending package which now heads back to the U.S. House of Representatives following its completely partisan passage in the Senate last week. The $1.9 trillion spending package dedicates less than 10% of its funding to actually fight COVID-19 and raises the federal debt to $30 trillion.

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Democrats Block Sen. Rick Scott’s No Budget, No Pay Proposal

As Democrats pushed their massive $1.9 trillion “COVID” spending bill that includes billions for wasteful liberal priorities, Senator Rick Scott fought against Washington’s dysfunction by securing a vote on his No Budget, No Pay proposal, which requires Congress to meet appropriations bill deadlines, or forgo their own salaries until the job is done.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Washington’s dysfunction is at an all-time high, and that was on full display as Democrats delayed voting all day so they could push their massive, wasteful and partisan $2 trillion spending package in the middle of the night. It’s clear Democrats don’t want to work with Republicans to get things done, but I will never stop fighting to make Washington work for the American people. Today, my No Budget, No Pay amendment received a vote on the Senate floor, which says if members of Congress cannot work together to pass a budget, they should not get paid.

“I grew up in a poor family, and I’ve been blessed to live in this country and enjoy the opportunities it provides. I’ve owned a business and I can tell you that in the business world, if you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. There’s no reason members of Congress shouldn’t be held to the same exact standard as the American people. If they can’t do their most basic job, they shouldn’t get a taxpayer-funded salary. Accountability shouldn’t be controversial. It’s ridiculous that my Democrat colleagues would block a simple measure to make sure they do their jobs, but I’ll keep fighting to get this common-sense proposal passed.”

Sen. Rick Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Granting TPS Status for Venezuelans Fleeing Maduro’s Ruthless Dictatorship

Senator Rick Scott released the following statement applauding action taken by the Biden Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans fleeing Nicolas Maduro’s murderous regime. For years, Senator Scott has been calling for a long-term solution for the TPS program, and has twice pushed legislation on the Senate Floor to extend to TPS for Venezuelans who came to the United States to escape Maduro’s regime. Last month, he sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas outlining his priorities for DHS, including TPS for Venezuelans.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans are fleeing the violence and starvation of Maduro’s socialist regime and the United States must stand with them. For years, I’ve been calling for this action, as well as a long-term solution for TPS and I applaud the Administration for heeding my calls to grant TPS for Venezuelans. I have tried to pass legislation on the Senate Floor multiple times that would immediately grant TPS to Venezuelans and make much needed reforms to the program, but Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked it. Today’s announcement builds on President Trump’s action to give temporary legal status for Venezuelans through the Deferred Enforced Departure program, and is great news for the Venezuelan people. We must continue to do everything in our power to save Venezuela from this tyrannical dictator.”

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The Governor’s Executive Order to expand on the population eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine will go into effect on March 15th. The Executive Order 21-46 and 21-47 expansion includes:
Long term care facility residents and staff
Persons aged 60+
Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact
K-12 school employees aged 50+
Sworn law enforcement officers aged 50+
Firefighters aged 50+
Those deemed extremely vulnerable will need to present a signed form that can be found at this link: (bit.ly/3qbHLb4). It may then be taken to a pharmacy, physician, APRN, or to one of the 4 FEDERAL vaccine sites in the state (Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville) to receive a vaccine. Please note…the Department of Health-Collier County cannot provide the vaccine.

ONE NAPLES: At our March 1st meeting, Commissioners voted 4-1 to change zoning from Commercial to Residential. Some have expressed disappointment with the vote… but that’s the great thing about democracy… multiple viewpoints. However, I would hope informed citizens would look at the ENTIRE body of work of any elected official, their qualifications, and experience.

I went into the One Naples Commissioner meeting totally NEUTRAL. I was fully accessible and met with BOTH sides for months, went to the site MANY times as a Commissioner doing the homework required for this vote…and well before as a resident.. and did my homework from all angles to ensure I walked into the Commissioner meeting prepared… but also NEUTRAL and ready to hear closing arguments by all interested parties. It’s unfortunate some of the press and social media mischaracterized what actually happened at the vote. The “last-minute changes” by Stock Development were NOT some big shocker that threw everything into a tailspin and needed the vote to be delayed. In fact, the changes were ALL improvements the County and the opponents of the project were asking for.

I COMMEND “SAVE VANDERBILT BEACH” SUPPORTERS FOR INFLUENCING STOCK DEVELOPMDNT TO MAKE EVEN MORE/ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.

THE CHANGES
Reduced the number of total residences from 172 to 140
Cut the size of its towers AGAIN… this time from 14 stories to 12 (had been 16 previously to that)
With the further decrease in stories–the actual height of the towers now dropped from 186 ft to 165 (Ritz Carlton is 215)
Decreased the zoned height of its mid-rise residential buildings from 65 ft to 55
Increased the setback distance of the parking structure supporting the towers from 15 ft to 25
Limited the number of boat slips from 99 to 75 (and those still need approval)
Pledged almost $3 Million for improvements in safety features to upgrade County parking garage, add traffic lights, crosswalks, bike & walking paths, and turn lanes
I also gave Anita Jenkins (County Director of Planning & Zoning) a chance to reply at the podium for the last word (at the end of the meeting and before any vote) asking her if she and her staff needed more time, more details, or even another day to digest everything. She said NO… they commonly get changes and additions all the time–and they are dynamic & agile enough to adjust and respond… and had everything they needed… especially when the changes were ALL items the County was looking for. District 2 Commissioner Andy Solis (who has the One Naples property in his District) was also a leading supporter of the vote. Changing the zoning from commercial to residential was the right decision for multiple reasons. We have plenty of commercial areas in our County that create exponential increased traffic issues and also have many out of business stores that clearly were excessive and built in the wrong areas and create more problems than solutions. We don’t need more of that.

I respect opposing views but certainly it’s not shared by everyone. Some citizen characterizations of greed & money controlling all, certainly doesn’t describe my integrity or anything I use to guide my decisions or votes when it comes to serving in this position. As a retired Air Force Colonel, Air Force Academy graduate, and having served my country for 24 years… the intellect & integrity I use to make informed decisions, is well intact. Quite a bit of what residents enjoy in this community (maybe even where you live) were protested by plenty of people over the years. Then in the end after it was built–citizens enjoyed their beautiful piece of paradise even more.

There is a BIG difference between “development” and IMPROVEMENT… and I know the difference. If you’ve been to the One Naples parcel, you will find that the beach is beautiful, but the surrounding area has been neglected for quite a while in many areas. Not sure another series of strip-malls would be a major improvement… and that IS what was coming. Many argued they would love another “Mercato” there… but if you have visited Mercato lately–you’ll see almost half the stores are out of business… most before Covid even hit. Not sure that’s improvement.

I encourage you to drive down US 41 in my District 1 (East Naples) and see the multitude of storage units, overabundance of gas stations, and other structures that are either falling down or never should have been built. That’s the District I am now working so hard to reverse & improve that I inherited three months ago when I was elected.

One Naples construction does NOT start tomorrow the way many think. There are more plans and details Stock Development must meet and we must approve. We will ensure tight oversight of the project and ensure the next steps are met or exceeded… or denied. We are quite far from having Stock Development put a shovel in the ground. We voted to convert zoning from commercial to residential… if One Naples continues to move forward with more detailed designs–we must approve or deny, ensure it’s built correctly, adds to the area, and is a success.

Thank you to those who reached out to me… both for and against One Naples. I’m glad you all are following my efforts and are engaged and concerned citizens. I welcome all to continue to follow my service as a full-time County Commissioner, the progress we are making addressing long-overdue neglected areas in District 1, and the thousands of other responsibilities on a Commissioner’s plate. I would hope citizens would continue to watch my voting record, integrity, qualifications, experience, and leadership. Remember… I’m ALWAYS available for constructive, healthy, professional, and mature conversation. We may disagree on One Naples, but I encourage citizens to continue to track my actions, record, & results. We have many years of neglect in District 1 and our County in quite a few areas… I look to make progress with continued citizen feedback & support… even if we don’t agree on everything.

What We’ve Been Up To In Tallahassee

Committee Votes

Session has officially kicked off! This past week I’ve attended my committees and voted on several bills. This first section of the newsletter is dedicated to showcasing the bills I’ve voted on, what they are about, and how I voted on them.

HB 241 – Parents’ Bill of Rights

This bill aims to prevent the state from infringing upon the rights of parents to direct their child’s upbringing. HB 241 requires that school districts adopt policies to promote parental involvement, that parents must provide consent before any identification information for their child is collected, that health care practitioners and their employees have parental consent before performing health care services on their minor child, and that parents are notified when a state actor (such as a teacher) suspects a child is the victim of a criminal offense (except if it is reported to DCF).

The committee voted 13-7 in favor of the bill passing. I voted up on HB 241.

HB 1 – Combating Public Disorder

This bill is a response to the violent riots and disorderly protests that have been occurring across the nation. The majority of the bill serves to increase criminal penalties to individuals or groups who cause damage to any person or property while rioting. HB 1 has several other changes to law that all work to ensure the safety of our officers, our businesses, and the public.

The committee voted 10-5 in favor of the bill passing. I voted up on the bill as it protects our communities, our businesses, and our police officers while safeguarding the role of peaceful protests in our republic — peaceful demonstrations.

Bill of the Week:
HB 1505 – Consumer-First Workforce Systems

Getting to Work

This week I had the honor of presenting my first bill in committee: The Consumer-First Workforce System Bill (HB1505)! Thank you to Chair McClain for allowing the bill to be heard in committee and to my colleagues for a unanimous passing vote!

HB 1505 requires CareerSource Florida, the DEO, DOE, and DCF to collaborate and create a single Workforce Information System so that consumers can access services from multiple agencies through one site. This streamlines consumer’s ability to register for workforce training and pre-qualify for benefits all in one location.

This bill also tackles apprenticeships. For instance, this bill requires that the DOE reports data on earnings from those who participate in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. This data collection will provide invaluable insights on the effectiveness of such programs.