Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman

Health Care Practitioner Identification ; Prohibits use of specified titles & designations by health care practitioners not licensed as physicians or osteopathic physicians, as applicable, with exception; provides that use of such titles & designations constitutes unlicensed practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine, as applicable; authorizes department to pursue specified remedies for such violations; authorizes health care practitioners to use names & titles, & their corresponding designations & initials, authorized by their respective practice acts; specifies manner in which health care practitioners may represent their specialty practice areas; specifies titles & abbreviations certain health care practitioners may use; provides construction; specifies specialist titles & designations that physicians & osteopathic physicians, respectively, are prohibited from using unless they have received formal recognition by appropriate recognizing agency for such specialty certifications; revises written notification requirements for adverse determinations made by health maintenance organization.

Insurer Disclosures on Prescription Drug Coverage; Requires health insurers & HMOs to provide notice of prescription drug formulary changes within certain timeframe to current & prospective insureds, insureds, prospective subscribers, subscribes & treating physicians; requires insurers & HMOs to maintain record of formulary changes; requires insurers & HMOs to annually submit specified report to OIR by specified date; requires health insurers & HMOs & their pharmacy benefit managers to apply payments of prescription drugs by or on behalf of insureds & subscribers toward total contributions of insureds' & subscribers’ cost-sharing requirements under certain circumstances; provides disclosure requirements; requires health insurers & HMOs to keep records of third-party payments for prescription drugs under certain circumstances.

Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Program Funding; Revises requirements for uniform minimum standards & policies governing apprenticeship & preapprenticeship programs & agreements to include requirements for partnerships between local educational agencies & apprenticeship & preapprenticeship programs; revises required date for specified report on apprenticeship & preapprenticeship programs; requires DOE to develop standard model contract template for local educational agencies & apprenticeship & preapprenticeship programs; provides requirements for local educational agencies & apprenticeship & preapprenticeship programs that enter into partnership agreements; requires DOE to develop apprenticeship funding transparency tool; provides requirements for District Workforce Education Funding Steering Committee meetings; provides requirements for certain workpapers; authorizes such meetings to be held using communications media technology.

Emergency Opioid Antagonists in Public K-12 Schools and Postsecondary Educational Institutions; Authorizes public schools to purchase, use, & maintain supply of emergency opioid antagonists that meet specified criteria, rather than only naloxone; & revises definition of term "emergency opioid antagonist."

Biomarker Testing; Requires AHCA to establish provider reimbursement schedule & billing codes for specified medical services & procedures coding to cover biomarker testing; authorizes Medicaid program coverage of certain colorectal cancer tests; requires Medicaid managed care plans to cover certain colorectal cancer tests at certain level; requires agency to contract for cost-benefit analysis.

Holocaust Remembrance Day; Requires Governor to proclaim specified day annually as "Holocaust Remembrance Day"; authorizes "Holocaust Remembrance Day" to be observed in this state's public schools & be observed by public exercise as Governor may designate; authorizes specified instruction.

Maddy summaryHB 559 redesignates the S.S. American Victory - a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 and currently operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship. The bill amends Florida Statutes to replace the previous designation with this vessel, recognizing its service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects the ship's ceremonial status as Florida's symbolic flagship. This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming, with no new policies or funding.

Sampling of Beach Waters and Public Bathing Spaces; Revises provisions related to bacteriological sampling of beach waters & public bathing places, including rule adoption & enforcement; issuance of health advisories; closure of beach waters & public bathing places; & notification & signage requirements.

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.

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