Rep. Alina García

Relief/Julia Perez/St. Johns County Sheriff's Office; Provides for relief of Julia Perez by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office; provides for appropriation of funds to compensate Julia Perez for personal injuries & damages sustained as result of negligence of employee of St. Johns County Sheriff's Office; provides legislative intent for waiver of certain lien interests; provides limitation on compensation & payment of attorney fees. CLAIM: $6,300,000

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of State Road A1A in twelve Florida counties as the "Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway." To mark this change, the state Department of Transportation is required to install appropriate signage along the road by August 30, 2024. The legislation applies only to the named highway and does not alter any existing traffic rules or funding allocations.

Security for Jewish Day Schools and Preschools; Requiring DOE to establish program to provide funds to Jewish day schools & preschools for specified security purposes; provides authorized uses for such funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new section in Florida law that officially defines the term "antisemitism" using the working definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. The legislation provides specific contemporary examples of antisemitism, such as denying the Holocaust, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for actions by Israel, or applying double standards to the State of Israel compared to other nations. It explicitly states that criticizing Israel in a manner similar to how other countries are criticized does not count as antisemitism under this definition. The law aims to help monitor and report hate crimes while ensuring it does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing antidiscrimination laws.

Release of Balloons; Revises prohibition on release of certain balloons to delete specified timeframe & number of balloons; deletes exemption from such prohibition for certain biodegradable or photodegradable balloons; provides that person who violates prohibition commits noncriminal infraction of littering; revises penalty for such violation; deletes provision authorizing petitions to enjoin release of balloons.

Exemption of Homesteads; Requires value of homestead exemption be adjusted annually; requiring Legislature appropriate funds for specified purpose; require funds be distributed in specified manner; requires specified counties provide certain documentation.

Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program; Establishes Dozier School for Boys & Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program within DLA; requires DLA to provide specified notice & accept & process applications for payment of compensation claims; requires DLA to pay specified compensation amount to approved applicants; limits compensation applicant may receive; authorizes Commissioner of Education to award standard high school diploma to specified persons. APPROPRIATION: $20,000,000

Veterinary Practices; Authorizing licensed veterinarians to practice veterinary telehealth in accordance with specified criteria; specifying the powers of the Board of Veterinary Medicine related to the practice of telehealth; providing that the practice of veterinary medicine is deemed to occur under specified circumstances; specifying the drugs that a veterinarian practicing telehealth may not provide unless specified conditions are met; providing specific authorizations for cases in which the patient is a food-producing species, etc.

Veterans; Revises provisions related to veterans including veterans' history program, Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., Veterans Employment & Training Services Program, grants, workforce training & recruitment, exemption from fees, advisory council on brain & spinal cord injuries, & required instruction on Veterans' Day & Memorial Day. APPROPRIATION: $91,207

Background Screenings and Certifications; Provides qualifications for person seeking certification as person with lived experience; requires continuum of care lead agencies to submit certain information to DCF for purposes of background screening; expands certain background screening requirements to apply to all health care practitioners; revises licensure, registration, or certification requirements for acupuncturists; optometrists; pharmacists; dentists; midwives; speech-language pathologists & audiologists; nursing home administrators; occupational therapists; respiratory therapists; dietitian/nutritionists; practitioners of orthotics, prosthetics, or pedorthics; electrologists; clinical laboratory personnel; medical physicists; genetic counselors; opticians; physical therapists; psychologists & school psychologists; clinical social workers, marriage & family therapists, & mental health counselors. APPROPRIATION: $250,000