Rep. Lauren Melo

Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact; Creates Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact; provides for recognition of access to social work services, including through telehealth, in member states; provides for development of data system, reporting procedures, & exchange of specified information between member states; specifies licensees practicing in remote state under compact must adhere to laws & rules of that state.

Forms of Identification; Expands list of acceptable forms of identification for certain voter registration applicants; requires that certain ID cards & driver licenses exhibit specified letters to denote that they have been issued to noncitizen.

Complaints Against Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers; Requires copy of complaint, signed by complainant under oath, to be provided to law enforcement officers & correctional officers who are under investigation; prohibits certain personnel action from being taken against law enforcement officer or correctional officer unless such officer receives copy of complaint signed under oath by complainant; prohibits investigative file of certain investigations of law enforcement officers or correctional officers from being included in such officer’s personnel file; prohibits existence of certain investigations from affecting officer’s ability to receive promotion, raise, or other commendation; requires complaint against law enforcement officer or correctional officer to be in writing & signed under oath by person filing complaint; provides penalties for making false complaint.

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.

Medicaid Enrollment for Permanently Disabled Individuals ; Requires that certain Medicaid-eligible persons who receive specified Medicaid-covered services & who are permanently disabled be presumed eligible for continued Medicaid coverage during redetermination processes; requires AHCA to continue to make payments for such services; requires certain persons to notify AHCA & DCF of certain changes in disability or economic status; authorizes DCF to conduct redetermination of eligibility; requires DCF to make notifications; requires AHCA to seek federal authorization to exempt certain persons from annual redetermination of eligibility; requires AHCA & DCF to develop specified process.

Lifetime Disabled Parking Permits; Provides for issuance of lifetime disabled parking permit to certain permanently disabled persons; authorizes certain certificates of disability to be older than 12 months for replacement of certain disabled parking permits.

Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities ; Requires Agency for Person with Disabilities to provide list of all qualified organizations located within region where client resides & to post its quarterly reconciliation reports on its website within specified timeframes; requires agency to participate in transition planning activities & to post total number of individuals in each priority category on its website; establishes Statewide Family Care Council; provides duties of agency relating to statewide council & local councils; provides for method of voluntarily choosing to enroll in Medicaid managed care; revises implementation & eligibility requirements of pilot program for individuals with developmental disabilities; provides for method of voluntarily choosing to enroll in pilot program.

Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles ; Revises provisions relating to duties of tax collectors, as agents of DHSMV, issuance of certain registrations & licenses, & revocation of certain driving privileges.

Maddy summaryHB 519 allows medical practitioners (like doctors) to authorize certified paramedics to administer controlled substances during emergency medical care. This directly affects paramedics and the healthcare providers who oversee their work. The key provision requires a practitioner’s specific authorization for paramedics to use medications classified as controlled substances (such as opioids or sedatives) in urgent situations. It does not expand the types of drugs available but clarifies the process for their use under medical direction. The bill focuses on updating protocols for emergency care without changing drug classifications or creating new requirements for paramedics.

Maddy summaryHB 809 exempts individuals employed as school social workers from specific educator certification requirements. This means that these professionals would not need to meet certain teaching credentials typically mandated for other educators.