Expanded Immunizations by Pharmacists (View Bills)

Currently in the State of Florida, specially trained and certified pharmacists are authorized to administer the influenza immunization. On Wednesday, legislation which would allow immunizing pharmacists to also administer vaccinations for Shingles and Pneumonia was heard in its first committees of reference in both the House and the Senate.

HB 509 by Representative Ana Rivas-Logan was heard in the House Health Quality Subcommittee. Special thanks to John Hickman, an immunizing pharmacist with Walgreen's, for giving a presentation before the committee on the requirements for training, assessing patients, administering the shot, and patient follow-up. We are also very appreciative of the efforts of Committee Chair John Wood and Representative Matt Hudson for their advocacy on this important issue. The bill passed out of committee by a vote of 10 to 5. We do expect the bill to be heard in its next committee, Health Care Appropriations, next Wednesday.

SB 850 by Senator Steve Oelrich was heard in the Senate Health Regulation Committee. The bill met with quite a bit of resistance and it had two unfriendly amendments put on it in the end. However, we are in discussions with the Florida Medical Association, the chief opponents of the legislation, to strike a compromise palatable to both the doctors and the pharmacies.

Wage Theft (View Bills)

The two Wage Theft bills have moved fairly quickly with good progress. The House version, HB 609, by Representative Tom Goodson, has cleared two committee stops and is ready to be heard in its last House committee, Judiciary. The Senate version, SB 862 by Senator David Simmons, had its first committee hearing this week and passed that committee. It has two more Senate committee stops.

We are working with a coalition of religious groups and labor to fashion a bill that is acceptable to them and our members. Oddly enough, the two sides have pretty much always agreed philosophically; our differences were mostly on the process and constitutionality of the solution. We anticipate having a solution in the next week or so.

Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday (View Bills)

The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday bill, HB 737 by Representative Elizabeth Porter, was passed unanimously by the House Finance & Tax Committee on Thursday afternoon, January 26th. The next stop for the bill is the House Budget Committee and then to the House Floor for final action. The Senate companion bill, SB 982 by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, is still in its first committee of reference, but this should not be a problem since Senate President Mike Haridopolis has indicated he is very much a fan of the holiday. We are very optimistic that the Legislature will once again grant a Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday for the 2012 school year.

Unemployment Compensation (View Bills)

On Thursday afternoon, the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee took up Senate Bill 1416 by Senator Ellen Bogdanoff relating to unemployment compensation. The bill, which rebrands the state’s unemployment compensation program as the reemployment assistance program, was met with opposition by state business groups due to an amendment filed by Senator Nancy Detert which allows employee leasing companies, or PEO’s, to make a one-time election to report and pay contributions under the tax identification number and contribution rate for each of their clients. Business groups argued that allowing an employee leasing company to elect to shift a claim back to the employer, whose rates may differ from their rates, would in turn shift rates across the board, creating a need for an across-the-board rate adjustment which all businesses would be responsible for paying. Senator Bogdanoff expressed some concerns about the amendment and its potential to weigh down the bill, but agreed to accept it. Despite business groups’ voiced concerns, the amendment passed and Senate Bill 1416 reported favorably from the committee with a vote of 6 to 0.

SNAP Bills (View Bills)

Two bills restricting federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are working their way through the legislative process. The Federation is working with other affected parties to address our concerns with these bills, as we currently oppose them the way are written.

The bills are SB 1658 by Senator Ronda Storms and HB 1491 by Representative Scott Plakon. The Senate bill was approved on Wednesday by the Senate Children, Family and Elder Affairs Committee which Senator Storms chairs. It has two more committee stops in the Senate. The House version is scheduled to be heard on Monday by the House Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee. It also has two more stops after that hearing.

These bills will ban recipients from using electronic benefit transfer cards to get cash benefits outside of Florida, purchase alcohol or tobacco products, access ATM’s located in adult entertainment or gambling establishments, or use SNAP benefits at restaurants. In addition, these bills provide a list of places in Florida where recipients can’t get cash benefits by using their EBT card at an ATM. These bills also make the Department of Children and Family Services add certain foods regarded as unhealthy to the items that recipients can’t buy under the SNAP program.  

Alcohol Legislation

Local Bill Citrus County 

HB 637 by Representative Smith will issue a special alcohol license to any restaurant in Citrus County that meets all requirements. Two thousand five hundred square feet of service, equipment to serve 150 full-course meals, fifty-one percent of its gross revenue is from the 24 sale of food and nonalcoholic beverages, and alcoholic beverage consumption is limited to table service with meals. The bill passed favorably out of Economic Affairs Committee with 15 votes. The bill will be heard next on the house floor. Senator Dean has filed an identical bill, SB 1034.

Local Bill Clearwater, Pinellas County (View Bills)

HB 867 authorizes Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco of DBPR to issue temporary permits to nonprofit civic organizations for sale of alcohol for consumption on premises at outdoor events on public right-of-way in downtown Clearwater, subject to statutory requirements. HB 867 by Representative Hooper passed favorably in Community & Military Affairs. The bill passed favorably out of Economic Affairs Committee with 15 votes and will be heard next on the House floor.

Duplicate licenses

HB 4045 by Representative Horner removes a requirement that the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation issue liquor licenses in duplicate. The division would be able to maintain a copy of the license, but would no longer be required to maintain a hard copy. HB 4045 passed favorably out of Business & Consumer Affairs and Economic Affairs Committee. On Wednesday, the House voted the bill favorable with 117 votes.

Cosmetology Legislation (View Bills)

As a follow up to our BIC meeting Wednesday, January 18, we have been working with the legislature to address many of your concerns. Regarding SB 1252 by Senator Jones, the companion to HB 887 by Representative Ingram, we met with Senator Jones to discuss the three concerns you have with the language regarding barbering in a place of employment, make-up licensing, and license by endorsement. The Senator expressed similar concerns with sanitary and health issues regarding barbering in a place of employment.

We also met with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. They understand our concerns with clarity of make-up and permanent tattoos and have agreed to add clearness to the language. Regarding licensure by endorsement, DBPR is eager to allow licensed professionals from other states who are not able to provide documentation a chance to work in the state of Florida. We discussed that the language in the bill discredits the current standards Floridians must meet to become licensed Cosmetologist. They further reviewed statutes, and have come up with language allowing endorsement to licensed professionals who received their license in a state that require similar standards as Florida. As of now, we have not received further language regarding barbering in a place of employment.

Barbering Application Requirements (View Bills)

This bill repeals s. 476.124, F.S., which requires that a barbering applicant apply for the examination within 30 days of the examination date on forms prepared and provided by the department, furnish two signed photographs, and pay the required fee to the department. HB 4097 by Representative Caldwell was voted favorable out of both Business & Consumer Affairs and Economic Affairs Subcommittee. On Wednesday, HB 4097 passed out of the house favorably with 117 votes.