Sen. Erin Grall

Traffic Offenses; Prohibiting a person from operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner; providing an exception; requiring that sustained use of a wireless communications device by a person operating a motor vehicle be conducted through a hands-free accessory until such use is terminated; revising penalty provisions relating to the use of wireless communications devices in a handheld manner in certain circumstances, etc.

Education; Prohibiting certain entities from expending funds on organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion; requiring that a public school student have prior written consent from his or her parent or guardian to receive instruction on reproductive health; authorizing a private school to purchase a supply of FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices, rather than epinephrine auto-injectors; revising the period of time for which a private prekindergarten provider is prohibited from delivering a prekindergarten program and receiving state funds under certain circumstances, etc.

Newborn Screenings; Citing this act as “Mattie’s Law”; requiring that newborns, beginning on a specified date, be screened for biliary atresia; requiring the Department of Health to consult with the Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council before adopting certain rules; requiring hospitals that provide birthing services to screen for biliary atresia in a specified manner, etc.

Administrative Procedures; Specifying that hyperlinks to material incorporated by reference are provided by the Department of State; requiring agencies to include a summary of their intended action on each rule identified for review within a specified timeframe; providing that the director of the Division of Administrative Hearings is appointed for a specified term from a certain list submitted by the statewide nominating commission; requiring that an agency’s regulatory plan include a list of existing rules scheduled for review during the next 12 months, a 5-year schedule for review of all rules, and a summary of the agency’s intended action for each rule identified for review in the next 12 months, etc.

Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates; Requiring a municipality to charge customers receiving its utility services in another municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it charges consumers within its own municipal boundaries under certain circumstances, etc.

Education; Requiring each Florida College System institution and state university to waive tuition and fees for members of the Florida State Guard if certain conditions are met; prohibiting a Florida College System institution or state university from admitting a student who is not a citizen of the United States or lawfully present therein; revising eligibility requirements for the Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program; prohibiting a Florida College System institution or state university from imposing certain graduation requirements; revising conditions for a student to meet the definition of homeless children and youths for purposes of tuition and fee exemptions, etc.

Speech and Debate Education; Creating the Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame; designating Florida Speech and Debate Week annually in February; establishing the Florida Debate Initiative, Inc., (FDI) as a statewide speech and debate organization that performs certain functions in support of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) in the Department of Education; requiring the Board of Governors of the State University System and the State Board of Education to develop specified undergraduate and graduate coursework, certificates, and micro-credentials, etc. APPROPRIATION: $2,400,000

Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death; Deleting a provision that precludes certain persons from recovering damages for medical negligence resulting in death, etc.

Pharmacy Audits; Revising requirements for audits of licensed pharmacies conducted by or on behalf of pharmacy benefit plans or programs; revising audit procedures, documentation requirements, reporting and appeal requirements, and recoupment limits and procedures; authorizing the Office of Insurance Regulation to investigate complaints of violations, issue cease and desist orders, impose fines and other administrative penalties, order restitution for improper recoupments, prohibit any person or entity from conducting audits for a specified timeframe upon certain findings, and suspend or revoke a pharmacy benefit manager’s registration under certain circumstances, etc.

Equity and Inclusion; Repealing a provision relating to minority representation on boards, commissions, councils, and committees; repealing a provision relating to the Center for Environmental Equity and Justice, etc.