Bills that failed to pass this legislative session include: EDUCATION Several education bills died during session and did not make it into the conforming bill. These included: promoting computer coding courses in high school; ending mandatory third-grade retention based on state reading test results; changing class size penalties in order to allow all schools to Read more about Bills that Failed[…]
STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM The State University System’s board of governors recently revised how they will distribute performance funding. Performance funding is disbursed based on a series of metrics including graduation rates, excellence and improvement. The Board’s budget and finance committee voted to change the scale to 100 points, instead of 50 points. Last year, $200 Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE The second enrollment period for HealthCare.gov opened on November 15th. In Florida, fourteen companies offer medical insurance plans. Thus far, approximately one-half of the enrollees are returning customers. The deadline for obtaining coverage effective January 1st was December 15th, but consumers have until February 15th to elect coverage starting at a later Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
MANAGED MEDICAL CARE – The federal government granted Florida the required waiver to allow 2.9 million Floridians in the Medicaid program to move to managed care. The transition for this phase begins in April, 2014. Long term care Medicaid recipients are transitioning this August. INTERNET CAFES – Shortly after the passage of legislation prohibiting interest cafes and Read more about Summer 2013 Issues of Interest[…]
Health Care Reform – Both the Senate and House have now rejected an expansion of the Medicaid program under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to include Floridians at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. Senate Committee Chairman Joe Negron (R-Stuart) said he would like to pursue a “Florida Plan“, a voucher-like alternative that would Read more about Other Major Legislative Issues[…]