SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM Leon County’s Chief Circuit Judge, Charles Francis, tossed out a lawsuit aimed at blocking the expansion of Florida’s school voucher program. The expansion allows middle income families, beginning in 2016, to receive partial vouchers and removes a requirement that students attend a public school immediately prior to receiving a voucher. After the ruling Read more about Legal Updates[…]
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[…]
FLORIDA-GEORGIA WATER DISPUTE The decades-long dispute between Florida and Georgia over water rights is heading to the Supreme Court. Florida continues to assert that Georgia illegally diverts water from the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, depriving the Apalachicola Bay of needed fresh water. Unable to resolve the conflict under the provisions of a 1997 pact between Alabama, Read more about Legal Updates[…]
SENATE PRESIDENT STAFF Incoming Senate President Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando) announced several staff positions in his office, with many from Senate President Don Gaetz’s advisors staying. Reynold Meyer will serve as his chief of staff; Carol Gormley as health policy chief; Lisa Vickers as senior policy advisor; Katie Betta as communications director; George Levesque as general counsel; Read more about Movers and Shakers[…]
VOTER PURGE. As previously reported, the Governor announced his intention to continue with the removal of non-citizen registered voters as a result of a Supreme Court decision allowing such activities. Secretary of State Ken Detzner, who oversees the elected Supervisors of Elections, began a tour called ‘Project Integrity’ to explain the new procedures. Florida now plans Read more about Fall 2013 Legal Updates[…]