What's next for DeSantis? And teens convicted of crimes could soon be banned from school sports
January 26, 2024 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
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Here’s the latest from Florida…
DeSantis’ influence on Florida politics
The aftermath of Ron DeSantis' withdrawal from the 2024 presidential campaign is sparking speculation about his future role in Florida politics. As the governor returns to his home state, the question looms: What version of DeSantis will emerge on the Florida political stage? Some predict a less intimidating governor, others believe DeSantis, now without a formidable $100 million political action committee that once underscored his influence, may face a less compliant Republican majority in the legislature. But questions remain whether DeSantis will reclaim dominance over the policy agenda in Tallahassee or operate in a more subservient role to former President Donald Trump, whom he endorsed after suspending his White House bid. The Florida governor is perceived by some as a lame duck, lacking the intimidation power he once wielded after being wounded in national politics. Still, with three years left in his final term, several top GOP lawmakers assert that he remains a force to be reckoned with. Immediately after announcing his exit from the presidential race, DeSantis swiftly returned to Tallahassee and resumed his duties, holding back-to-back meetings and emphasizing his veto powers amid suggestions by some Republicans that state funds be used to cover Trump's legal expenses. The Florida political stage awaits the unfolding narrative of DeSantis, especially as new leadership takes the helm later this year in the Senate with incoming President Sen. Ben Albritton (R-) and incoming Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) in the House. Whether he'll return to his previous culture war agenda or shift focus to more state-specific issues remains to be seen. Still, pundits anticipate a dynamic three years as DeSantis recalibrates his political trajectory.
Lawmakers move to ban teens convicted of crimes from school sports
HB 545, a bill that aims to ban teenagers convicted and sentenced as adults for serious crimes from participating in high school sports is advancing after passing the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in a 13-5 vote. The measure would apply to criminal offenses such as homicide, sexual assault, or lewd and lascivious acts by adding the restrictions to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s bylaws. The rule changes sponsored by Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Largo) were prompted by a Pinellas County family's complaint that a student convicted of a fatal 2020 boat crash was allowed to continue playing on his high school lacrosse team. It has proven to be controversial after lawmakers debated the legislation for more than an hour, with critics arguing it places an additional burden on children already punished by the courts. Meanwhile, supporters emphasize the need for consequences and accountability for those who commit serious crimes.
State senators pass sweeping bill investing millions in mental, maternal health
Florida senators unanimously passed a comprehensive bill, SB 7016, allocating hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars to address healthcare worker shortages and enhance access to care. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Colleen Burton (R-Lakeland), includes various provisions to improve mental, maternal, and the overall healthcare system in Florida:
Mental Health Care: Reimbursing student loans for mental health professionals working in underserved areas, offering up to $75,000 over four years. The bill also adds $30 million per year to the Department of Health’s loan reimbursement program which also expands to physicians, nurses, and dentists.
Medical Residencies and Foreign Doctors: Allocating $50 million for 500 physician residency slots and establishing the TEACH program with $25 million annually for clinical training at publicly-funded community health clinics. The hiring process for foreign doctors is simplified by outlining requirements that would allow them to automatically fulfill residency requirements in-state if certain conditions are met.
Maternal Health Care: Expanding a pilot program for maternal health care in minority populations statewide with a $23 million budget. The program would provide telehealth education, services, and medical devices to pregnant and postpartum women. Certain birth centers would be granted designation to conduct c-sections and administer anesthesia.
Non-Emergency Medical Help: Requiring hospitals to divert patients seeking non-emergency care in the emergency department with alternatives to reduce healthcare costs. The plan would reduce hospital and taxpayer expenses while freeing up the capacity of emergency departments. Hospitals would still be obliged to evaluate and stabilize patients who arrive at the ER with non-emergency needs.
Expanding Access to Free Clinics and Screenings: Increasing income eligibility for Florida's free clinics from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level, providing diagnostic services or nonsurgical treatment. Allocating $10 million for a Department of Health grant program that provides no-cost health care screenings.
Black grave sites possibly found on MacDill Air Force Base
The U.S. Air Force is set to expand its search for potential Black grave sites at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, following the discovery of 121 potential graves. The Air Force announced plans to expand its search and investigate a wider area that was once the site of a historic Black cemetery, known as Port Tampa Cemetery from the late 1800s to the 1920s. The base previously conducted a two-year nonintrusive archaeological survey that identified more than 58 probable and 63 possible graves using ground penetrating radar, cadaver dog searches, and examining historical records. The Tampa Bay History Center notified MacDill officials in 2019 about the possibility that the base was constructed over a historic unmarked Black cemetery when it was established in 1941. A memorial service was held on base in 2021 to honor those buried on site and memorialize the site. The findings from this year’s additional grave search should be completed in 2025.
High school graduation rates rise as student absenteeism increases
Florida achieved a new milestone in its high school graduation rate, reaching 88% in 2023, a slight improvement from the previous year and surpassing the pre-pandemic rate of 2019. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) reported gains across various subgroups, including a 4.9-point improvement in the graduation rate for students with disabilities and a 1.7-point gain for Black students compared to 2019. While celebrating this achievement, Florida ranks No. 3 in the nation for student absenteeism rates, significantly increasing as factors like insufficient childcare, housing and homelessness, shortage of mental health resources, and limited school transportation options are to blame. Officials across the state are discussing the issue, and some Florida school districts are experimenting with implementing four-day school weeks and year-round schooling to combat absenteeism.
Florida Senate, House diverge on deregulating public schools
Divergent approaches to deregulation in public education are evident between the Florida Senate and House after the upper chamber unanimously approved three bills almost as soon as the 2024 legislative session got underway. Meanwhile, the House is debating a less expansive version of those bills. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo's priority to cut red tape in public schools includes measures to boost competitiveness amid increased parental school choice and eliminate what some lawmakers called “onerous” regulations. The Senate's substantial changes include reintroducing multiyear contracts for teachers and removing math and language arts testing requirements for high school graduation. Notably, a highly controversial earlier provision that allowed parents to override third-grade retention for their children with low reading test scores was removed. The House's less comprehensive bill focuses on eliminating specific state reporting requirements for school districts, ending redundant or outdated educational programs, and allowing virtual education providers to be religious-affiliated. The House’s more limited deregulation approach will likely match the Senate's more comprehensive strategy as negotiations between the chambers progress. About 80% of all schoolchildren in Florida attend a public school.
Largest deep-sea coral reef discovered off Florida coast
Scientists have mapped the largest deep-sea coral reef to date off the U.S. Atlantic coast, covering approximately 310 miles from Florida to South Carolina. The reef — nearly three times the total area of Yellowstone National Park — was discovered using new underwater mapping technology. Researchers, including scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), recently published 3D images of the ocean floor showcasing the expansive reef. Found at depths ranging from 655 feet to 3,280 feet, and reaching up to 68 miles wide at some points, the reef provides a habitat for a variety of marine life, including sharks, octopus, and shrimp. Deep-sea reefs, which differ from the less accessible and better-known tropical reefs, face similar environmental risks such as climate change and danger from oil and gas drilling.
Miami-Dade set to introduce fleet of 100 electric school buses
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is set to introduce 100 electric buses on its roads, doubling its current fleet as the nation’s third-largest school district transitions to an electric, low-emission fleet. A federal grant of nearly $20 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will fund the purchase of 50 new electric school buses and 16 fast chargers. This move will bring the district to operate one out of every ten buses electric by 2026, per estimates. Currently, the county has 20 electric buses in operation, with 15 more set to be purchased using the state's Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Trust Fund. The EPA is fully funding 50 buses, and Volkswagen is covering two-thirds of the cost for the additional 50 buses. The price tag for an electric school bus runs between $400,000 to $450,000 – about three times the cost of a diesel bus, but they operate more than three times cheaper due to no fuel costs and lower maintenance expenses.
First endangered Florida panther death reported in 2024
January 9 marked the first reported death of an endangered Florida panther in 2024, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) officials. The 1-year-old male panther was discovered dead on a rural road north of LaBelle in Hendry County due to an apparent vehicle strike – a leading cause of death for the endangered species. In 2023, a total of 13 Florida panthers were killed, with all fatalities attributed to vehicular accidents. The FWC approximates that 230 Florida panthers are left in the wild.
Street racers arrested after traveling 199 MPH on Florida’s Turnpike
Two men were arrested in Orange County, Florida, for street racing at speeds of almost 200 mph on the Florida Turnpike. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests around 1 AM on Sunday, January 21, after several calls reporting illegal street races in the area were received. The driver, identified as Luis Alejandro Lozano-Figueroa, 20, and passenger Mario Alberto Paz-Gil, 23, were charged with racing on a highway after the red Chevrolet Camaro, owned by Lozano-Figueroa's father, reportedly hit a top-speed of 199 mph – nearly three times the speed limit. Authorities discovered a camera in the car believed to be used for filming Instagram videos. The Orange County Sheriff's Office reported 157 arrests, 1,290 citations, and 54 seized vehicles related to street racing crimes in the previous year.
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