[0:08] >> All right. Good morning.
[0:11] The meeting has commenced.
[0:14] This is the 11/12/2025.
[0:15] Organizational and general
[0:16] public hearing meeting of the
[0:17] Duval County legislative
[0:18] delegation. I want to welcome
[0:22] you all today. Please rise to
[0:23] be for the indication to be
[0:24] conducted by Representative
[0:29] Black.
[0:32] >> Men and women of faith.
[0:33] Please bow your heads as I
[0:36] pray. Your heavenly father,
[0:39] creator of us all. We gather
[0:44] here, Lord citizens. Family.
[0:50] Friends. Countryman, all. And
[0:51] we ask Lord that you would
[0:54] imbue us this day and bless
[0:55] this meeting with your divine
[0:58] presence. We would humble
[1:02] ourselves to you, lord, that
[1:04] would submit ourselves one to
[1:06] another in love out of
[1:13] reverence for you who love us.
[1:13] Heavenly father, all that we
[1:16] say and meditate here today,
[1:18] honor and glorify you and
[1:19] bring us together. The turn.
[1:25] Ali. And Lord grant us your
[1:26] wisdom, which comes from
[1:28] beyond the ages and give us
[1:30] the courage. To carry that
[1:34] out. This we pray to the GOD
[1:36] of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
[1:39] and I pray in the name of
[1:42] Jesus. Amen. Amen.
[1:44] >> Please remain standing. Ron
[1:45] Trez Lloyd junior from the
[1:46] Children's Home Society will
[1:46] lead us in the Pledge of
[1:51] Allegiance. I pledge
[1:52] allegiance.
[1:52] >> The flag of the United
[1:55] States of America and to the
[1:57] Republic for which it stands.
[2:01] One nation under GOD,
[2:01] indivisible, with liberty and
[2:02] justice for all.
[2:07] >> Please be seated. Thank you
[2:08] both. MISS Italia. Please call
[2:12] the roll.
[2:17] >> Senator David. Senator
[2:22] Yarborough here.
[2:25] Representative Baker here.
[2:28] Representative. But
[2:37] >> Representative Daniels.
[2:38] Representative it
[2:41] Representative Duncan.
[2:44] Representative Michael here.
[2:52] Representative Nixon. We have
[2:59] a core. Thank you.
[3:00] >> Okay. Our first order of
[3:02] business is to adopt the
[3:03] agenda, which are a delegation
[3:04] coordinator, MISS Italia
[3:05] circulated to all of us. Can I
[3:05] get a motion to adopt the
[3:10] agenda? Is there a second?
[3:12] Thank you all in favor. Aye.
[3:15] Show the agenda adopted. I
[3:16] want to begin with some
[3:18] opening remarks and give you
[3:20] all a road map on how this
[3:23] meeting is going to go today.
[3:24] We have 64 speakers who have
[3:27] signed up to speak today and
[3:28] we have a hard stop to be out
[3:30] of these chambers at 02:00pm.
[3:32] So we're going to begin with 2
[3:33] and a half minutes for each
[3:37] speaker to present. But as we
[3:37] get closer to the end, it
[3:39] looks like there might not be
[3:41] sufficient time. Please be
[3:42] aware that we MAY further have
[3:44] to restrict your time to
[3:46] speak. I would ask each of you
[3:48] to be respectful of the time
[3:49] for those of the people coming
[3:52] after you. I will further
[3:53] clarify. Delegation operates
[3:55] under the rules of the Florida
[3:57] House. Florida House is rules
[3:59] are different with respect to
[4:01] public comments. Then City
[4:03] Council, the chair will have
[4:04] complete and total control
[4:05] over decorum issues length of
[4:08] speaking and the like. So
[4:09] again, we would ask that each
[4:10] of you be respectful of our
[4:12] rules and of the process. We
[4:14] also have time at the end for
[4:15] additional speakers for those
[4:17] people not listed on the
[4:18] agenda to speak. Assuming
[4:19] there is time left over for
[4:23] additional speakers. Please
[4:24] restrict your comments to the
[4:25] delegation. Has a home please
[4:27] do not address comments to any
[4:30] particular delegation member.
[4:31] All materials that you
[4:32] submitted when you signed up
[4:34] to speak. Just so, you know,
[4:35] are in a three-ring binder
[4:38] here in front of us. So we
[4:39] have copies of everything that
[4:40] you submitted. You do not need
[4:43] to provide additional copies
[4:43] if you have additional
[4:45] materials that you did not
[4:47] submit, you MAY provide them
[4:48] to our staff in front of us
[4:49] and they will distribute those
[4:52] copies to us as we speak or as
[4:54] you speak, the rules of the
[4:55] Florida House prohibit the use
[4:56] of props or exhibits and
[4:58] public comment. If you
[5:00] intended to utilize any such
[5:02] prop or exhibit other than
[5:02] what you submitted that we
[5:06] have in our book you will not
[5:07] be allowed to do so if you
[5:08] cannot comply with that, he
[5:10] will not be allowed to
[5:12] continue speaking members, you
[5:13] will be able to engage in
[5:16] questions of any speaker at
[5:17] your desire. You will have to
[5:18] be recognized by the chair
[5:19] just as we do in committee in
[5:21] the Florida House. Please be
[5:22] concise, recognizing how many
[5:25] speak as we do have in the
[5:27] time limitations. I will
[5:28] remind you that the contact
[5:29] information of every speaker
[5:30] is in your book in case you
[5:31] want to have further
[5:31] discussions with any of the
[5:33] speakers on you can do that
[5:35] offline. I ask everybody to
[5:37] remain. Remember to silence
[5:39] your electronics and members
[5:40] as a reminder when you press
[5:42] the microphone button to
[5:43] speak, the cameras will
[5:46] automatically focus on you. So
[5:47] when you're done speaking,
[5:47] please remember to push that
[5:48] microphone, Biden in the off
[5:51] position. Members. Are there
[5:54] any other opening remarks?
[5:55] Seeing none. Thank you. Okay.
[5:56] We will now move to the
[5:58] election of the chair. The
[6:01] chair of the delegation is a
[6:03] one-year term and my term ends
[6:04] today. So we will elect a
[6:06] successor. I will open the
[6:07] floor for nominations for
[6:09] chair of the coming year.
[6:10] Speaker Duggan, you're
[6:13] recognized.
[6:15] >> Thank you, MADAM Chair. For
[6:16] the last time, I would just
[6:16] use MADAM Chair. Thank you for
[6:17] your service to our delegation
[6:19] this year. It's been
[6:21] exemplary. I would like to
[6:22] nominate for chair of the
[6:22] delegation, Vice Chair
[6:24] Representative Michael.
[6:25] >> Thank you. Is there a
[6:30] second? Senator Yarborough?
[6:30] You're recognized.
[6:31] >> MADAM Chair, I'd like to
[6:32] second the nomination for
[6:32] Representative Michael be
[6:33] chair of the delegation for
[6:35] the coming year.
[6:35] >> All right. We have a motion
[6:36] and a second to nominate
[6:37] Representative Michael as
[6:40] chair of the DuVal delegation.
[6:42] Are there any other
[6:43] nominations? Okay, seeing
[6:44] none. Is there a motion to
[6:47] close the nominations? All
[6:48] right. Senate Speaker dug in
[6:50] as we close the nominations
[6:51] and they are so close. We'll
[6:54] now proceed to a voice vote on
[6:55] the nomination of
[6:56] Representative Michael to be
[6:57] chair of the DuVal delegation.
[6:58] All in favor say Aye. Aye
[7:02] oppose no. Alright, that
[7:04] motion passes.
[7:05] Congratulations.
[7:05] Representative Michael as the
[7:06] new chair of the DuVal
[7:21] delegation.
[7:45] Thank you.
[7:47] Members. I especially want to
[7:48] thank you. Representative
[7:50] Baker. For your service to
[7:53] this community. And for your
[7:56] service as our chair, the
[7:57] DuVal delegation, I would like
[7:59] to express our gratitude by
[8:08] giving you this award. And
[8:09] they're ward reads represented
[8:10] to Representative Jessica
[8:13] Baker with sincere
[8:14] appreciation.
[8:14] >> And recognition of
[8:16] outstanding leadership and
[8:17] public service as the chair of
[8:19] the DuVal delegation,
[8:22] legislative delegation for
[8:37] Duval County 2025.
[8:37] I'd like to
[8:39] recognize that Representative
[8:40] Angie Nixon, he's now joined
[8:43] us. Thank you. Representative
[8:48] Baker. Our next
[8:48] >> item of business is the
[8:51] election of vice chair.
[8:52] >> I open the floor for a
[8:53] nomination for vice chair of
[8:58] the DuVal delegation.
[8:59] Representative Black, you're
[9:01] recognized for motion.
[9:04] >> I nominate Senator Clay
[9:04] Yarborough.
[9:05] >> Representative, like
[9:06] represents Senator Yarborough.
[9:11] Thank you. Is there a second?
[9:12] Representative Baker? You're
[9:15] recognized.
[9:16] >> Thank you, MADAM Chair. I
[9:18] second the nomination for
[9:19] Senator Yarborough as vice
[9:20] chair of the Duval County
[9:22] delegation. Representative
[9:23] Baker seconds. The nomination.
[9:27] We have a motion and a second
[9:28] to nominate Senator Yarborough
[9:29] as vice chair of the DuVal
[9:30] delegation. Are there any
[9:35] other nominations? We haven't
[9:38] moved to close. We saw move.
[9:44] I'm sorry, Senator.
[9:45] Representative Duggan seconds.
[9:49] The nomination. We now close
[9:51] to. We now move to close the
[9:53] nomination and we are so
[9:54] closed. We proceed with a
[9:59] voice vote on the nomination
[10:00] of Pearl to be vice chair of
[10:01] the DuVal delegation all in
[10:03] favor say yea.
[10:07] >> Oppose no. The motion
[10:08] passes. Congratulations.
[10:19] Senator Yarborough. Now we
[10:19] will move to our public
[10:21] comment portion of our
[10:23] meeting. I would like to
[10:23] reiterate, we have many
[10:25] speakers today and is very
[10:28] important. We keep time frame.
[10:29] We have a hard stop at
[10:33] 02:00pm. Accordingly. We will
[10:34] limit the speaker to 2 and a
[10:39] half minutes. I do want to
[10:40] allocate time for this members
[10:42] to ask questions as needed. We
[10:44] will call 3 speakers at a
[10:46] time. So you'll always know
[10:48] who isn't needs to speak. If
[10:50] you hear your name called,
[10:53] please make your way to the
[10:54] out form a line behind the
[10:57] petition or podium. And
[10:57] recognize each speaker to
[11:04] begin. Our first 3 speakers.
[11:06] Justin Jack Maloney, chief
[11:07] deputy separate supervisor of
[11:09] elections. Followed by
[11:14] Jennifer Casey. Followed by
[11:15] Melanie Bolded School board
[11:18] member. You are recognized.
[11:21] Thank you. MADAM Chair.
[11:21] >> In just a Jekyll chief
[11:22] deputy supervisor elections
[11:24] for Duval County. Here on
[11:26] behalf of Supervisor Holland
[11:29] and the Florida Supervisor
[11:29] Elections Association. What
[11:30] you have in front of you are
[11:32] the 20's. 26 legislative
[11:33] priorities of the association
[11:34] and I'm here to answer any
[11:37] questions that you MAY have on
[11:39] that. I'm also here on sunrise
[11:41] or Holland to discuss
[11:41] legislation that he believes
[11:43] will be coming back to in
[11:46] 2026. With regards to the
[11:48] dissipation of an automated
[11:52] independent audit change. But
[11:54] this really is is basically a
[11:56] machine audit of our
[11:58] tabulation system to do 100%
[12:00] audit. We believe this will be
[12:01] coming back around. I was
[12:04] introduced last year kind of
[12:06] his stance on it. We're at
[12:09] right now is 31 counties in
[12:10] the state currently have this
[12:13] system. It is a very expensive
[12:15] system. He did as you can see
[12:16] what the quote. And they're
[12:17] the first year for Duval
[12:19] County be about $392,000 will
[12:20] be impacted and then close to
[12:22] 100,000 year after year for
[12:23] the software maintenance,
[12:27] everything Should that get
[12:28] past? We would like the state
[12:31] mandatory this. To provide
[12:33] some funding for that to the
[12:34] counties around that are not
[12:35] far because of financial
[12:39] constraints of thing. He does
[12:40] believe that the hand count
[12:41] currently in place is
[12:44] sufficient. This machine audit
[12:47] will not alleviate the groups
[12:51] that believe that don't trust
[12:52] the machines. It's tough to
[12:54] hand audit actually allows him
[12:56] to come in. We can show them
[12:59] that the machines tabulating
[12:59] correctly and helps build
[13:01] confidence in our elections.
[13:05] With that in question.
[13:07] >> Recognized. Representative
[13:12] nuts. Representative Baker,
[13:13] you're recognized. Thank you,
[13:13] MADAM Chair, can you elaborate
[13:14] a little bit more on the
[13:15] differences between the 2
[13:18] systems? Recognized?
[13:21] >> MADAM Representative. Yes.
[13:22] So there's 2 ways that you can
[13:23] do it. One is a random sample
[13:26] of a hand count. So we'll do a
[13:28] certain percentage of a race
[13:29] of the precincts and we go
[13:32] through hand counted, get team
[13:33] set up for us depending on how
[13:35] many ballots we have to go
[13:36] through could be anywhere from
[13:38] 2 teams of 3 to 4 teams of 3,
[13:45] the machine. Audit is 100%. So
[13:46] every ballot he's going to a
[13:46] separate machine to be
[13:52] tabulated or to be. Compared
[13:52] to the actual tabulation of
[13:54] the images. It's tough on
[13:55] that. And then the
[13:56] discrepancies, we can look at
[14:04] on the machine.
[14:04] >> Representative Nixon,
[14:07] you're recognized.
[14:08] >> Thank you, MADAM Chair. And
[14:09] congratulations on your
[14:10] election.
[14:13] >> Hi, I'm deputy a.
[14:14] >> I have a question. Does
[14:18] your office this past election
[14:19] Does your office believe that
[14:20] the election that Hill was
[14:25] safe and secure?
[14:25] >> You're recognized MADAM
[14:26] Chair to represent it. Yes,
[14:31] ma'am. Thank you. MADAM Chair.
[14:35] And finally, in regards to
[14:36] mail-in do get does your
[14:37] office believe that the way in
[14:38] which you did the process of
[14:39] mail-in ballots, that that was
[14:41] in fact safe and secure.
[14:43] >> You're recognized MADAM
[14:43] Chair, the the representative.
[14:45] Yes, ma'am. No further
[14:52] questions. Further questions.
[15:02] Members. Thank you. Thank you.
[15:03] Good morning. MADAM Chair and
[15:04] the honorable members of the
[15:05] Duval delegation. My name is
[15:06] Jennifer Casey and the
[15:08] director of education and
[15:10] outreach.
[15:11] >> Supervisor Holland has
[15:12] asked for your support of
[15:14] proposed legislation to allow
[15:14] a Florida high school students
[15:16] to serve as public assistance.
[15:17] This request comes before you
[15:18] because under current Florida
[15:21] law, students under 18 they
[15:22] serve as poll workers only if
[15:23] they are pre-registered to
[15:24] vote and meet all other
[15:26] qualifications. As you know,
[15:27] Election Day means working a
[15:30] full 14 our day. There is no
[15:31] provision in the law for
[15:33] students to volunteer in a
[15:33] more flexible supervise
[15:34] capacity. While earning
[15:35] community service hours by
[15:37] does that matter, that work is
[15:39] to conduct elections and to do
[15:40] that requires a strong and
[15:42] persistently growing political
[15:43] base. Concerned about the
[15:44] potential of poll worker
[15:44] shortage is not today, but in
[15:48] the years ahead, average age
[15:49] of a poll working nationwide
[15:50] is 61 years old in Duval
[15:53] County. It's 67 years old.
[15:54] Many of our most experienced
[15:54] workers are retiring and we
[15:56] need to build a pipeline
[15:58] future. Election workers now,
[16:00] what would this legislation
[16:01] do? Supervisors of elections
[16:02] in Florida are currently
[16:05] prohibited from accepting
[16:06] personal services related to
[16:06] Election administration from
[16:08] individuals including
[16:10] students. The proposed
[16:11] language in this bill will
[16:12] allow Florida high school
[16:13] students ages 16 plus, who are
[16:16] registered pre-registered. The
[16:16] volunteers assisting poll
[16:17] workers for community service
[16:19] hours, which many students
[16:19] need for college applications
[16:21] and bright futures.
[16:23] Scholarships. The intent is
[16:23] that they would serve limited
[16:25] hours with appropriate
[16:26] supervision and training in a
[16:26] structured way serving on the
[16:27] weekends during early voting
[16:28] to avoid interfering with
[16:31] school. We believe this will
[16:33] support our existing election
[16:33] boards with nonpartisan,
[16:35] energetic and tech savvy
[16:37] student assistance and most
[16:38] importantly will prepare
[16:39] students for hands-on civic
[16:40] education that will inspire
[16:42] them return his future. Polar
[16:44] bears. Earlier this year, we
[16:44] were welcomed into public and
[16:45] private high schools across
[16:49] Duval County for our County
[16:50] Wide Student Voter
[16:52] registration competition. We
[16:52] spoke to thousands of students
[16:53] and register them to vote and
[16:54] we spoke to them about the
[16:56] opportunity if service, a poll
[16:58] worker as we move from school
[16:59] to school, a powerful theme
[17:02] emerged. Students understood
[17:02] that one day their vote would
[17:04] matter, but they didn't
[17:05] realize that they could be
[17:06] trusted to participate in
[17:08] democracy right now to see
[17:09] that spark a realization hit
[17:10] them that the adults in their
[17:12] lives don't just tolerate
[17:14] them, but welcome their
[17:15] contributions. Now and not
[17:16] only that, the see a future
[17:16] where their service is
[17:19] essential. That reaction stuck
[17:21] with us. It reminded us that
[17:21] civic engagement doesn't just
[17:24] magically began at 18. It
[17:25] begins when we offer the
[17:27] opportunity for a spark, we
[17:27] show them that their voice and
[17:30] their service matter today
[17:32] with this bill, you have the
[17:34] opportunity to create sparks
[17:34] of light and the fire to gauge
[17:38] and our young people.
[17:39] Representative, you're
[17:42] recognized. Thank you. MADAM
[17:45] Chair. Hi, MISS Casey. Really
[17:46] quick question. We're with the
[17:47] students be recruited from how
[17:49] would they have a?
[17:51] >> How would they be chosen?
[17:52] Yeah, the primary method would
[17:53] be as we go into the schools
[17:55] for our annual anyway
[17:56] competition. We have 1700
[17:59] students register to vote
[18:00] during that competition last
[18:02] year. And so if only 3% of
[18:03] those expressed interest,
[18:06] that's more than 50 new work
[18:06] assistant, then over time, we
[18:07] know that that will mean a lot
[18:12] more poll workers. Thank you.
[18:12] MADAM Chair.
[18:15] >> Is there any type criteria?
[18:16] Because if you get a
[18:17] overwhelming response, just
[18:19] want to make sure folks know
[18:19] like the application process
[18:22] and that type of stuff you're
[18:23] recognized chair, they would
[18:24] be subject to the same. Could
[18:26] contact application that our
[18:28] regular poll workers, you
[18:29] know, they would be subject to
[18:31] the same training. And so all
[18:32] of those requirements would be
[18:34] the same is the amount of time
[18:34] of their service would be
[18:41] different. Further questions.
[18:47] Thank you so much. You are
[18:52] recognized. Good morning.
[18:55] Melody will do county school
[18:55] board.
[18:56] >> And good morning, MADAM
[18:57] Chair and the members of the
[18:58] delegation. It's an honor to
[19:00] be here representing our
[19:01] school board. And I want to
[19:03] thank you for your partnership
[19:04] and your continued support of
[19:07] our students and our schools.
[19:09] We truly appreciate. First,
[19:11] your support rj Bill or local
[19:12] authority to retain
[19:13] independent legal counsel.
[19:15] That step strengthens
[19:16] transparency, accountability
[19:18] and will enable greater
[19:18] efficiency and fiscal
[19:22] stewardship. And then the next
[19:25] item is a dedicated district
[19:26] model for the family
[19:27] Empowerment scholarship. And
[19:28] that's about simplicity and
[19:30] fairness. Skull clarity right
[19:33] now, the flow of funding and
[19:34] student data news through
[19:36] several systems. And then that
[19:38] creates unnecessary complexity
[19:41] and potential duplication. And
[19:42] a statewide district model
[19:45] would streamline that process.
[19:47] Enrollment and sure. Real-time
[19:48] enrollment tracking and help
[19:50] both public and private
[19:50] providers operate with
[19:53] accuracy and stability. We're
[19:56] also asking for funding too
[19:57] much. A student's safety
[19:58] fusion center. You guys saw
[20:02] that last year. So we're
[20:02] asking again and this connect
[20:04] our schools and our first
[20:05] responders. It would be the
[20:06] first time this is done. It
[20:10] would allow real time camera
[20:11] access and communication to
[20:13] our first responders. And it
[20:14] will allow Florida continue to
[20:16] lead the nation and proactive
[20:19] school safety technology.
[20:19] Duval already has the
[20:23] groundwork in place. Pilot
[20:23] that successfully. So we're
[20:25] hoping for your support and
[20:28] that again, our students are
[20:28] also already using ai tools
[20:32] are asking for help. The
[20:33] funding professional
[20:33] development for teachers so
[20:35] that they can keep up with
[20:36] their students and with
[20:37] everything else that's
[20:41] happening on the world stage.
[20:43] We want to guide our students
[20:44] responsibly so that we can
[20:47] future-proof our construction
[20:48] and then the item on facility
[20:50] planning addresses reporting
[20:53] system on paper. Some of our
[20:53] schools look, all even when
[20:55] principals complaint empty
[20:57] classrooms, the data doesn't
[20:59] always match reality. When you
[21:00] consider some of our students
[21:01] needs. Some of our classrooms
[21:02] are smaller because of css and
[21:04] some other things. Other
[21:07] programs. So right now and
[21:08] there's no current, there's
[21:11] currently no formal appeal
[21:13] process. So we'd like for
[21:14] modernization and flexibility.
[21:16] So capacity decisions reflect
[21:16] actual on-the-ground capacity
[21:18] in our schools. And finally,
[21:20] we're asking for increase
[21:22] spending for espn. The allow.
[21:29] Thank Thank you. No questions.
[21:30] Thank you very much. Up next,
[21:31] we have Bill Olson.
[21:36] >> Followed by Colonel Oliver.
[21:37] Shomari Gloucester, if you can
[21:49] make your way to the podium.
[22:00] MR. Oliver. Not
[22:00] >> Yes, my name is car now
[22:05] addresses on file. We'll tell
[22:06] you all the Florida
[22:06] legislature right now. I'm in
[22:08] favor of it. Redistricting
[22:11] process. But this is my reason
[22:15] why I'm in favor. Article one.
[22:15] Section 2 of the Constitution
[22:17] says was supposed to have one
[22:21] representative for 30,000.
[22:22] Underneath the 10th Amendment.
[22:23] United States Constitution.
[22:26] You have the state Powell to
[22:27] honor what the Constitution
[22:31] say. The problem with our
[22:32] country when it comes down to
[22:34] the power of the people, the
[22:36] people never heard. Because
[22:38] you maintain the power
[22:41] structure of the people at the
[22:43] top as a black American, this
[22:44] community that on the verge of
[22:49] self discovery. I want my or I
[22:51] want black American forces,
[22:54] Not just in time. But also in
[22:56] the state legislature and all
[22:59] local left. Because the power
[23:00] that you've given away from
[23:04] the peak. So the answer is a
[23:05] special corporation, interest
[23:08] groups and geo's. It's on did
[23:11] not believe the true. You took
[23:13] an oath of office each and
[23:17] everlast one up. That you will
[23:20] respect the it. And the pow of
[23:22] the people. But Republicans,
[23:26] it's like a talking point. The
[23:27] Democrats they have to get
[23:29] serious about this stuff. But
[23:31] for me as the Black America, I
[23:34] want my voice heard very and
[23:37] very precise. You know me. I'm
[23:40] not a gate keeper, some budget
[23:42] buster door wide open and
[23:44] shine a light everything you
[23:46] broke and that company of
[23:47] relationship with the people
[23:51] you, sir. If you go out you go
[23:55] for another. It redistricting
[23:55] process. You bet. Uphold
[23:56] principles of the
[23:59] Constitution. And if you do,
[24:00] it's a slap in the face to the
[24:03] people of this community. You
[24:05] can look at the clock, if you
[24:06] It's because I'm telling the
[24:13] true. You felt me. You felt
[24:14] the people because the people
[24:15] just don't know the true. But
[24:18] I do. Are you going to show
[24:19] your true colors when the
[24:21] legislative session? Happens
[24:22] again? You gon bowed out to
[24:25] that round. You don't have the
[24:26] guts to do the right thing
[24:31] that you my time. It's MISTER
[24:35] Bill. Also
[24:37] >> okay. We move on is not
[24:38] being here. Shomari
[24:43] Gloucester, up next. You're
[24:48] recognized.
[24:49] >> Good morning, MADAM Chair
[24:50] and congratulations. MADAM
[24:50] Chair, MISTER Vice chair and
[24:52] to the Dubai delegation. Thank
[24:54] you. Early relating Pledge of
[24:56] Allegiance by gentleman to my
[24:57] right, MISTER On Trez Lloyd
[24:59] Junior. He is an outstanding
[25:00] student at Great White High
[25:01] School. A community
[25:01] partnership school program
[25:04] here in Jacksonville, Florida.
[25:04] Regionally led by Kimberly
[25:06] Barrett, our executive
[25:07] director and the Community
[25:08] Partnership School is led by
[25:09] Christopher Stone, the senior
[25:13] director. To the delight gate.
[25:14] We say thank you. We
[25:15] appreciate your continued
[25:16] support for over the last 10
[25:16] years, making certain that the
[25:18] community partnership school,
[25:20] the model that has
[25:20] demonstrated success,
[25:22] improving student behavior,
[25:22] increasing academic
[25:24] achievement and graduation
[25:25] rates and strengthening parent
[25:26] involvement in schools
[25:26] throughout Duval County and
[25:30] the state. We say thank you.
[25:31] Collaborative approach, this
[25:32] model position. Schools is
[25:35] central hubs to address child
[25:35] well-being and interrupt
[25:37] barriers like counseling
[25:39] medical needs dental tutoring
[25:41] after school enrichment,
[25:45] mentoring and so much more by
[25:46] integrating the supports the
[25:48] community partnership school,
[25:49] create learning environments
[25:51] that expand opportunities and
[25:52] increased the likelihood of
[25:52] success students all
[25:53] throughout Florida. So that
[25:53] way, they're great
[25:56] contributors to our economy.
[25:59] For the 2025 2026 fiscal year.
[26:00] Your support his impact over
[26:01] 50 schools throughout our
[26:05] state. Team. Duval, we truly
[26:05] appreciate this delegation. We
[26:06] truly appreciate your
[26:08] continued support and
[26:09] connecting us to all of the
[26:09] resources that help us do the
[26:12] work that we do chs. We do
[26:13] good. And because of
[26:18] delegation. Thank you very
[26:19] much. Up next, we have Dawn
[26:24] Gilman. Catherine Ross. Katie
[26:25] Hathaway. Please make your way
[26:40] towards the podium.
[26:41] Dawn
[26:45] Gilman. Catherine Ross, Katie
[26:54] Hathaway. Okay. We'll move on.
[26:57] Please make your way. Come
[26:57] forward. Please. You are
[27:00] recognized.
[27:02] >> Hello, my name calf in
[27:07] Boston by addresses on file.
[27:09] Florida stands to lose as much
[27:11] be 0.5 million acres
[27:12] development and the next 50
[27:16] years. Including 2.2 million
[27:20] acres of agricultural land.
[27:22] Residents across the political
[27:24] spectrum. I've made it clear
[27:26] they want this out of control
[27:29] development. The stop. You
[27:31] listen. Top voices last year
[27:32] and pass the state parks as a
[27:37] patient at. I want you to do
[27:39] more to protect what matters
[27:40] to Floridians in the coming
[27:44] legislative session. And
[27:45] imposes start would be to
[27:48] repeal sections of sb 180.
[27:51] Well, new law is well
[27:52] intentioned. That's in
[27:53] positions up going to be a
[27:55] disaster in the making
[27:58] communities across the state.
[28:02] And must be fixed and 2026. I
[28:05] asked each project hp 105, and
[28:08] asked Till 8. He'll spend in
[28:10] by and for developers and
[28:12] special interests. But and
[28:17] Sir, put sb 240. Which would
[28:17] give local governments the
[28:19] ability to regulate single use
[28:23] plastics and their community.
[28:23] It is vital for the
[28:25] legislature to fully fund well
[28:27] enough of a program at
[28:31] 300 million dollars. As well
[28:33] as to provide 150 million
[28:37] dollars. Patients. Canal
[28:42] location, all both a leash.
[28:43] All state has some of the most
[28:44] ibis unique those systems, the
[28:47] wobbled. The losom for every
[28:49] vote would be a tragedy. They
[28:52] must be protected. You have
[28:55] the power leave a lasting
[28:58] legacy, current and future of
[29:01] The saved by old Florida.
[29:04] Thank you. MISS Ross. There is
[29:06] a question, please.
[29:07] >> Representative Duggan,
[29:11] you're recognized. Thank you.
[29:11] MADAM Chair, as Ross. This is
[29:12] my delegation meeting. I
[29:14] believe you spoken and
[29:14] everyone you in your mother,
[29:15] one of the first people I met
[29:17] when I was out first elected
[29:18] to the house. I just want to
[29:19] commend you for your civic
[29:23] engagement, starting as a as a
[29:24] young student and now going
[29:25] into an adult young adult. And
[29:29] you're an excellent role model
[29:30] example of what homeschooling
[29:30] can produce. So thank you for
[29:31] that.
[29:36] >> Thank you, Ben. Thank you.
[29:41] MISS Frost. Up next, Kate, the
[29:42] Kate Katie Hathaway followed
[29:46] by Gloria, I Sting and Lindsay
[29:46] Raw. If you can make your way
[29:50] towards the podium out the way
[29:51] you are recognized morning.
[29:52] Thank you all. I'm Katie
[29:53] Hathaway, a proud Duval County
[29:55] Public School parent and
[29:56] advocate.
[29:57] >> I'm here to ask you all to
[30:00] stand up. First all, students,
[30:00] our teachers in our community
[30:03] and put our children in public
[30:05] schools. First, Floridians
[30:05] deserve transparency and
[30:07] accountability for our tax
[30:07] dollars. Our current school
[30:10] choice model lacks both the
[30:11] new schools of hope role has
[30:12] completely veered away from
[30:14] its original purpose. And it
[30:15] now strips local communities
[30:17] of control of their own
[30:20] schools here in Duval County.
[30:22] 25 Letters of intent from just
[30:22] one charter operator already
[30:25] on the books. The co located
[30:27] inside our public school
[30:29] buildings. Rent free was your
[30:30] oversight. That's an imminent
[30:31] threat to our neighborhood
[30:34] schools in an outrageous case
[30:35] of overreach, families didn't
[30:37] ask for this and are locally
[30:38] elected school board members
[30:41] have no authority to stop it.
[30:41] That isn't hope. It's a
[30:42] hostile takeover and it needs
[30:44] to be repealed. We also need
[30:48] to fix the voucher program.
[30:49] Florida is projected to spend
[30:49] 5 billion next year on
[30:51] vouchers. And that's billions
[30:52] being pulled away from the
[30:53] public schools that serve the
[30:57] most of our children. And
[30:57] nearly 70% of our new voucher
[30:59] users were already in private
[31:02] schools. That is not choice.
[31:04] That's a taxpayer subsidy for
[31:06] the wealthy. Every student
[31:07] should have a Florida
[31:08] education id number so we can
[31:09] follow the money and ensure
[31:11] oversight. And we can't talk
[31:12] about strong schools without
[31:14] talking about our awesome
[31:15] teachers. Florida ranks dead
[31:17] last in teacher pay. That's
[31:19] unacceptable. Our teachers are
[31:20] professionals and heroes and
[31:21] they shouldn't have to work 2
[31:23] or 3 jobs just to stay in the
[31:25] classroom. Finally, we cannot
[31:26] ignore the dangers idea of
[31:29] eliminating property taxes
[31:29] which fund nearly 60% of
[31:32] Florida's school budgets doing
[31:34] so would blow a hole in public
[31:35] education funding and shift
[31:36] the burden to families through
[31:37] a sales tax that could reach
[31:39] up to 12%. But which would be
[31:40] one of the highest in the
[31:42] nation. Public schools are the
[31:43] heart of every community there
[31:44] where we come together and
[31:46] where we build our future. We
[31:47] need policies that strengthen
[31:48] them, not schemes that
[31:51] stripped them for parts. It's
[31:52] time to protect what's ours,
[31:53] our students, our teachers and
[31:54] our public schools. Thank you
[31:56] all so much. Thank you. And
[32:03] congrats, Michael. Come
[32:10] forward to the podium. Please.
[32:14] You're recognized. My name is
[32:18] Lindsay Roth. I live in
[32:19] Jacksonville and Senator Davis
[32:21] and Representative Baker
[32:21] District.
[32:25] >> I'm here to tell you. That
[32:26] my unique family and how
[32:26] education choice is helping
[32:30] thrive. We have 3 children.
[32:34] The land that low can call all
[32:34] 3 are diverse and learn in
[32:35] different ways. Thanks in part
[32:37] to the flexibility of
[32:40] Florida's education choice
[32:42] ships. We moved to
[32:43] Jacksonville 8 years ago. All
[32:44] 3 of my kids attended a small
[32:47] Catholic school. When it was
[32:49] time for middle school. My 2
[32:50] oldest the can call. I knew we
[32:54] needed to change. This coal
[32:55] experience. Some very intense
[32:59] bullying. I has dyslexia and
[33:01] adhd. We needed new
[33:02] environments where they could
[33:06] feel safe. We, too, many. Of
[33:07] the great learning
[33:08] opportunities in Jacksonville
[33:09] for Luke. And we found that
[33:12] the discovery school. Project
[33:15] based Montessori idea, School
[33:19] Jax Beach, my youngest Dylan
[33:20] joined him and my oldest is
[33:21] now attending the of School of
[33:24] Jacksonville in 11th grade.
[33:25] Running my kids to all 3 of
[33:25] these different environments
[33:30] is a lot, but it is worth it.
[33:31] Our family would not have been
[33:33] able to afford to customize
[33:34] education in this way, without
[33:35] the financial sense tense. The
[33:40] Florida scholarship program.
[33:41] As local press high school and
[33:41] your choices were limited for
[33:42] our son who learns
[33:45] differently. These experiences
[33:46] with my kids inspired me to
[33:49] get more hands on myself. Good
[33:50] friend. And I started a micro
[33:54] high school. The Academy of
[33:55] Jacksonville currently serving
[33:58] 20 students. Full-time and
[34:00] some part-time. Including my
[34:04] son, Luke. Without the
[34:06] scholarships overhead, half of
[34:07] our students would not be able
[34:11] to be a colossal. We are
[34:12] divided into an upper and
[34:12] lower classes with 2 full
[34:14] time. Teachers. We focus on
[34:17] project based learning check
[34:21] ins and with mastery for math.
[34:22] Our science. We filed the guy
[34:23] Harvey curriculum. Hands-on
[34:27] creative way. Learn science.
[34:28] All of our kids are creating
[34:31] their own small businesses.
[34:35] From the ground up. And are
[34:36] even learning how to become
[34:37] boat captains. But going out
[34:39] on the water. And that working
[34:43] hours. My 3 kids are amazing
[34:50] and I'm so proud. The question
[34:51] you can find issue Senate's
[34:58] vote. Thank All. 3 of my kids.
[34:58] Are doing great. When cold
[34:59] grows up, he wants to move to
[35:01] Chicago and become. Get into
[35:03] commercial real estate. My son
[35:06] moved the one that this wlex
[35:08] and hopes to own his own
[35:08] business possibly get into
[35:13] trade. And my daughter, you in
[35:14] is inspired by her journey
[35:16] with Lyme disease so much that
[35:17] she has dreams of getting into
[35:18] medicine to help others, the
[35:19] way that they helped her. In
[35:23] short. My family and our small
[35:23] business is a living
[35:26] breathing. Proof. That the new
[35:28] world of public education.
[35:29] It's here in Florida and it's
[35:33] working. When you let parents
[35:33] make the best choices for our
[35:37] kids. There are no limits to
[35:38] what these amazing kids can
[35:40] do. I want to thank all of
[35:44] you. Here in the delegation
[35:45] today support education
[35:49] choice. And Florida and urge
[35:49] you to continue supporting the
[35:51] families like mine. Please
[35:53] help us give many of these
[35:57] kids as possible. The unique
[35:57] learning environments, but
[35:59] they need thrive. Thank you
[36:02] very much. Thank you. Up next,
[36:02] we have.
[36:05] >> Now fillman. If you can
[36:06] make your way towards the
[36:09] podium. And 11. Since you're
[36:26] Rogers. You are recognized.
[36:27] >> All right. Good morning on
[36:28] Fellman PRESIDENT League Women
[36:29] Voters, Jacksonville first
[36:30] coast with numbers across Clay
[36:32] Duval Nassau and Saint Johns
[36:34] counties. Lee was founded over
[36:36] 100 years ago. We have a
[36:36] non-partisan mission of
[36:38] empowering voters in defending
[36:40] democracy. I'm here today with
[36:41] a simple ask we ask you to say
[36:43] no to mid-decade
[36:45] redistricting. Or Koreans have
[36:46] made it abundantly clear that
[36:47] they don't want political
[36:49] districts strong with a
[36:50] partisan intent. We asked you
[36:51] to say no to bills that make
[36:53] it harder to vote or register
[36:55] to vote. Voting is a right. We
[36:56] urge you to respect that right
[36:57] by posing any efforts to make
[37:00] voting harder, more onerous.
[37:02] We are sure to fully fund
[37:03] election administration. We
[37:04] ask you to ensure that
[37:04] secretary of state and local
[37:07] supervisors of elections of
[37:07] the necessary resources to
[37:10] fair, secure and efficient
[37:12] elections and each county from
[37:13] rural communities to large
[37:14] metropolitan areas and
[37:17] everywhere in between.
[37:18] Florida, families expect the
[37:19] need our elected leaders to
[37:20] focus on kitchen table issues
[37:22] affecting our daily lives, not
[37:24] divert millions in tax dollars
[37:25] to a rushed and unnecessary
[37:27] district redistricting process
[37:28] that does not address their
[37:32] daily economic reality.
[37:33] Redistricting is not free. The
[37:35] last statewide process cost
[37:35] Floridians millions in
[37:36] consultant fees. Staff time in
[37:39] new technology. Floridians
[37:40] overwhelmingly supported the
[37:41] fair districts amendment and
[37:43] 2010 send a clear message to
[37:45] elected officials in Florida
[37:46] district map should be drawn.
[37:47] Fairly maps must not be drawn
[37:50] with the intent to favor or
[37:51] disfavor any political party
[37:53] or politician and districts
[37:54] must follow existing political
[37:55] and geographical boundaries
[37:56] when possible. But just city
[38:00] or county lines, redrawing
[38:01] congressional districts in the
[38:03] middle of a decade on partisan
[38:04] grounds without new census
[38:04] data defies the will of the
[38:05] people and undermines the
[38:09] Florida Constitution. Changing
[38:10] electoral maps. Haphazardly
[38:10] creates confusion, reduces
[38:12] accountability and weakens the
[38:13] connection between those
[38:15] elected to serve and their
[38:17] constituents from the
[38:19] Panhandle to the key, stable
[38:20] electoral maps means
[38:21] communities and count on
[38:22] consistent representation to
[38:24] address their local concerns
[38:24] to include clean water and
[38:25] disaster recovery at the
[38:29] federal level. Constant
[38:30] redrawing of electoral map,
[38:31] Swiss instability of
[38:31] democracy, roads, better
[38:34] confidence in elections. All
[38:36] confusion and makes harder for
[38:37] communities to elect their
[38:38] preferred candidates or their
[38:40] particular needs. League looks
[38:41] forward to your leadership on
[38:42] these issues. Thank you very
[38:51] much. Thank you. This Rogers.
[38:58] You're recognized. My name is
[39:00] Cynthia Rogers and I am a
[39:02] resident and registered voter
[39:02] here in beautiful city of
[39:06] Jacksonville, Florida. I am
[39:06] speaking today is a service.
[39:08] Both you and the community and
[39:10] my hope is to convince you
[39:11] that labels are for products
[39:16] and not people. And that
[39:16] things are seldom has a seen.
[39:20] Some sure. You well know. The
[39:21] number of people labeled sex
[39:21] offenders in Florida has grown
[39:25] dramatically. Because Florida
[39:26] has created scores of new
[39:29] sexual offenses.
[39:30] >> Many of which are not
[39:31] offenses other states or in
[39:35] other countries. In 1994, when
[39:36] the sex offender registry
[39:38] originated. Only people who
[39:39] raped and physically hurt.
[39:42] Others were on the registry.
[39:43] Now people are on the registry
[39:44] who were in their home trying
[39:45] to help their autistic son or
[39:46] daughter who had
[39:48] inappropriately touched
[39:50] someone and they delayed going
[39:52] to therapy. Now both the
[39:52] parent and child are on the
[39:57] registry for life in Florida.
[39:58] People could inadvertently or
[40:00] out of curiosity clicked on a
[40:00] sex advertisement online and
[40:04] didn't believe it. People who
[40:04] met someone and had consensual
[40:07] sex of padding only to find
[40:10] that he or she was a minor.
[40:12] People who are lonely and
[40:13] responded to a sting operation
[40:14] thinking they were
[40:14] communicating with someone who
[40:17] cared about them only to be
[40:21] arrested by a swat team. Who
[40:25] texted friends, sexy images,
[40:25] which are particularly a
[40:26] problem with middle and high
[40:27] school age children. I'm sure
[40:30] we can think back to times
[40:31] that we did things that MAY be
[40:34] considered inappropriate. Now.
[40:35] People who unknowingly
[40:37] committed a sexual offense.
[40:38] Which is often a sign of
[40:41] certain kinds of dementia.
[40:43] Currently there is no, it's
[40:44] just good living or nursing
[40:44] home care facilities in the
[40:45] state of Florida that will
[40:46] accept a person on the
[40:51] registry. Surprisingly, given
[40:53] the broad range of sexual
[40:53] offenses, recidivism of a sex
[40:57] offense. Is one percent.
[40:58] According to recent Florida
[40:59] Department of Corrections,
[41:02] Independent Data Analysis 2020
[41:05] through 2023. And supported by
[41:07] academic, evidence-based
[41:09] research. Many people that
[41:10] have been labeled as a sex
[41:11] offender didn't actually
[41:13] intend to break the law and
[41:15] sex was not the driving
[41:18] factor. The truth is registry.
[41:20] Squander law enforcement
[41:21] resources and create a
[41:25] distinctive report. Sex. Thank
[41:26] you for taking the time to
[41:29] hear me today. Thank you very
[41:30] much. Up we have Billy
[41:34] Bradford.
[41:35] >> Taylor Roberts, director of
[41:35] government and community
[41:38] Relations. Brandon Turner, if
[41:39] you can make your way to the
[41:52] podium, please. You can come
[41:55] forward. Thank you. Please
[41:56] identify yourself for the
[42:00] record. Please identify
[42:01] yourself. My name is Billy
[42:01] Bradford wanted to push
[42:05] something. My name is Billy
[42:06] Bradford. And I'll be speaking
[42:07] on long-term sentencing in the
[42:10] state of Florida.
[42:10] >> Florida prisons need relief
[42:13] and they need it. Now there's
[42:15] a bill drafting in the House
[42:16] with Representative Chad
[42:17] Johnson. And I'm happy to send
[42:19] you over to that off. For your
[42:21] review as it still needs a
[42:23] sponsor. This long-term
[42:24] sentencing act would provide
[42:25] incarcerated individuals
[42:28] serving long sentences and
[42:29] opportunity to be paroled
[42:29] after they've served a minimum
[42:31] of 10 years a fence which did
[42:34] not result in the death of an
[42:35] individual 4.20, for defense
[42:38] that did result death. This
[42:39] bill excludes sexual predators
[42:42] and individuals with death.
[42:43] The bill as a conservative
[42:44] approach to reducing our
[42:45] prison population without
[42:48] risking public safety. And
[42:49] there is plenty to support the
[42:53] bill, including these reports
[42:54] up Florida Commission Vendors
[42:57] Review annual report 2024
[43:01] found that in 2023 100% of
[43:02] parolees have successfully
[43:02] completed their parole
[43:04] supervision without revocation
[43:06] within the first 3 years of
[43:09] relief. The 25 year study. By
[43:12] the elder by elder crime
[43:13] patterns and current trends
[43:16] found that people who commit
[43:17] violent crimes, we actually be
[43:18] less likely to commit another
[43:22] serious than that. Recidivism
[43:25] rates decline dramatically as
[43:25] people. 8 of those convicted
[43:26] of violent crimes. Only 4%
[43:27] released between the ages of
[43:31] 45 54. Re a fan further one
[43:32] percent released at 55 or
[43:35] older were re incarcerated for
[43:36] new crimes within 3 years. And
[43:37] among people previously
[43:38] convicted of murder, these
[43:44] rates fell to one 0.5% 0.4%
[43:46] respectively. This was in
[43:46] study done by understanding
[43:50] violent crime recidivism. In
[43:52] Philadelphia, 174 people re
[43:54] sentenced and released after
[43:55] having been sentenced to life
[43:56] without parole for homicides
[43:58] committed as children after
[44:00] they had been in the community
[44:02] for an average of 21 month.
[44:05] Only 2, 1.1% I've been be
[44:07] convicted of any offense for
[44:09] others. We arrests were
[44:10] rearrested, but their cases
[44:15] were dismissed. In 188 people
[44:16] serving life without parole,
[44:19] mostly for murder or rape were
[44:20] released after serving 30 or
[44:22] more years because the court
[44:23] ruled that the jury
[44:24] instructions in their cases,
[44:28] I've been unconstitutional.
[44:29] That was found by a case study
[44:32] in reducing long-term prisons
[44:34] and saving taxpayers dollars.
[44:34] Thank you for your
[44:37] consideration and your time.
[44:38] Thank you very much. A stop as
[44:49] Brandon Turner. I have turn.
[44:50] Good morning. MADAM Chair and
[44:51] members of the delegation.
[44:52] Thank you for the opportunity
[44:53] to speak today.
[44:54] >> My name is Brandon Turner
[44:55] and I represent the National
[44:59] Association of Social Workers,
[44:59] Northeast unit. I'm here today
[45:00] to talk about a critical
[45:02] opportunity for Florida. One
[45:04] that affects our workforce,
[45:05] our communities and our
[45:06] ability to deliver essential
[45:06] mental health resources across
[45:10] the state. Last session, the
[45:11] House showed unanimous support
[45:12] for the social work in our
[45:14] state. Licensure compact.
[45:15] Well, unfortunately, it did
[45:17] not advance in the Senate.
[45:19] Florida's being left behind 30
[45:21] states have already joined
[45:22] this compact making Florida
[45:25] the only southeastern state
[45:27] bill excluded that's got
[45:28] weakens our ability to attract
[45:31] and retain qualified social
[45:32] workers at a time when the
[45:33] need for mental health has
[45:36] never been greater. The
[45:36] Florida Center for Behavioral
[45:39] Health Workforce housed at usf
[45:42] has projected that by 2035,
[45:43] Florida will have a shortage
[45:44] of 3 to 4,000 mice and social
[45:48] workers. The workforce is
[45:49] growing, but demand is growing
[45:53] faster. The compact is
[45:54] designed to expand access to
[45:57] care, ensuring continuity of
[45:59] services when clients our
[46:00] travel and creating a strong
[46:03] more connected workforce
[46:04] without the compact Florida
[46:06] risks falling behind already
[46:07] seeing seasoned professionals
[46:09] bypass our state, the length,
[46:10] the endorsement procedures and
[46:13] high fees. According to mental
[46:14] Health, America's 2025 ranking
[46:18] states. Florida ranks 34th
[46:19] overall and mental health
[46:20] well-being. But when it comes
[46:21] to access to care, Florida
[46:25] slipped from 30's 43rd the
[46:27] 44th placing it among the
[46:28] states with the least access
[46:28] to insurance and mental health
[46:32] services. That's why we're
[46:33] urging both chambers to pass
[46:37] House Bill 13 and Senate Bill,
[46:38] 74, the social work in our
[46:39] state licensure compact in the
[46:41] 2026 session. Doing so will
[46:43] strengthen Florida's
[46:46] workforce, attract top talent
[46:47] and sure that every community
[46:48] and all corners of the state
[46:49] have access to the care that
[46:52] they deserve. Thank you for
[46:53] your time. Your leadership and
[46:53] your commute. Your commitment
[46:54] to the people of Florida and
[46:58] Duval County. Thank you.
[47:01] >> Taylor am in the back. Are
[47:03] you Are you on the scheduled
[47:11] to speak? I MISS Roberts. You
[47:11] really followed by Brandon
[47:14] Turner. I think you just spoke
[47:19] Sarah Fee Bank. Rachel, great
[47:19] plea please make your way to
[47:24] the podium. You're recognized.
[47:25] >> Thank you, Chair Michael.
[47:26] Good morning to the DuVal
[47:28] delegation. My name is Taylor
[47:29] Mejia Roberts. I'm the
[47:30] director of government and
[47:31] community relations at Florida
[47:32] State College at Jacksonville.
[47:33] I'm here on behalf of our
[47:34] PRESIDENT. Doctor. John
[47:35] happened Donald and our board
[47:38] chair Rod Odom. They are
[47:39] actually just a few blocks
[47:39] over at our downtown campus
[47:40] right now having their monthly
[47:43] board of trustees meeting. So
[47:44] they do send their regards.
[47:45] But this morning, I'm able to
[47:48] share our priority projects on
[47:49] their behalf. First, I'd like
[47:50] to thank you all as a
[47:53] delegation for your support.
[47:54] Last session with your help
[47:56] Fscj was able to stick your
[47:57] 2 million in the state budget
[47:58] for a New Bern building at our
[48:02] fire Academy of the South.
[48:03] That project is under design
[48:04] right now and we look forward
[48:04] to inviting you to the ribbon
[48:06] cutting once it's finished.
[48:09] Looking forward to 2026. At
[48:12] the cj is priorities are
[48:13] focused solely on the
[48:14] workforce needs our community.
[48:16] So our number one priority
[48:16] project is going to be our
[48:19] Cecil training, insta, too.
[48:20] That will be a new building
[48:23] out at the Cecil Commerce area
[48:24] will be focused on expanding
[48:27] our career and technical
[48:27] education. So think welding
[48:28] hvac, electrical and
[48:31] manufacturing. Our second
[48:33] priority Project is the Clear
[48:35] Connection Center that will be
[48:37] located on our downtown
[48:38] campus. That will be open to
[48:38] our students. Our graduates,
[48:41] as well as the community as a
[48:43] whole and it will help them
[48:45] find job placements,
[48:46] internships prepare their
[48:49] resumes and get ready for
[48:50] interviews. It will also house
[48:53] a career closet boutique. Our
[48:54] students who come in buying
[48:55] clothing that they might need
[48:56] for a new job or for an
[49:00] interview. Last on the list is
[49:05] a a policy that the Council of
[49:06] presidents of the 28 college
[49:07] presidents throughout the
[49:08] state of Florida are
[49:09] supporting this and that would
[49:11] be increased funding for the
[49:16] College Program Fund at the cj
[49:17] has not raise our tuition in
[49:20] many, many years to keep our
[49:21] programs and classes
[49:22] affordable for our community
[49:23] as well program areas that we
[49:27] need to go into increased
[49:27] program funding is really what
[49:28] we're seeking at the state
[49:32] level for help for that. I
[49:33] will just say thank you for
[49:33] your continued support. And I
[49:34] look forward to seeing in
[49:43] Tallahassee in 2026. I'm
[49:44] sorry, Representative nuts and
[49:45] he has a question. If you
[49:46] could return.
[49:51] >> This Rogers to the podium.
[49:51] Taylor, quick question through
[49:52] the chair. When is the burning
[49:53] building going to be done?
[49:56] >> announced.
[49:58] >> Thank you, Chair Michael
[49:59] Representative Nixon. So it is
[50:01] in design right now. We're
[50:03] still working on finalizing a
[50:04] term sheet and getting that
[50:05] signed with the city of
[50:05] Jacksonville. They have 3 and
[50:06] a half million that's going
[50:08] into the project. But we
[50:12] anticipate at 12 to 16 months.
[50:19] Thank you so much. Thank you.
[50:20] You are aware of anything.
[50:25] Thank you. You're recognized.
[50:26] >> Today, want to put before
[50:27] you the fact that Florida law
[50:31] not allow the courts to
[50:32] consider dementia or cognitive
[50:33] diseases as there is no
[50:35] wording in statute. This
[50:35] thanks. The courts MAY
[50:38] consider dementia. Florida
[50:39] statute only states that
[50:40] insanity MAY be considered by
[50:45] the courts. A narrow cognitive
[50:47] diseases, not synonymous with
[50:49] insanity nero, cognitive
[50:49] diseases are degenerative and
[50:53] not curable. It was a time
[50:54] when someone could fake
[50:56] dementia, but that is no
[50:58] longer true with brain imaging
[50:58] and lab tests that show
[51:02] biomarkers. I know that
[51:03] Florida citizens do not want
[51:05] people with a narrow cognitive
[51:06] PCs such as Alzheimer's
[51:09] frontal temporal dementia,
[51:09] vascular, dementia,
[51:13] Parkinson's, and so on to have
[51:13] their medically documented
[51:15] dementia to be ignored by the
[51:19] courts. I emphasize the word
[51:20] medically documented. I was
[51:20] asked by a state legislator
[51:21] last year to bring a bill to
[51:25] him. It's just been done, but
[51:25] we need more help than just
[51:29] from one representative. I do
[51:30] realize the limitations placed
[51:31] on you with a number of bills
[51:34] that you can file. This bill
[51:35] is not asking for a get out of
[51:38] jail. Free card. Only that
[51:39] court's probation and
[51:40] registries and take the
[51:43] mention into consideration. It
[51:45] would then be up to the judge
[51:46] or prosecutor if the dementia
[51:49] can be considered. I have met
[51:51] with the ceo of North Florida
[51:52] Eldersource who has said they
[51:54] would back such a bill, one
[51:55] that would allow courts to
[51:57] consider to mention. The
[51:58] sponsors can ever be found for
[52:01] such a bill. I will be
[52:02] reaching out to other groups
[52:02] such as the Alzheimer's
[52:06] Association for Support Port.
[52:07] They are all huge proponents
[52:09] for those people with dementia
[52:10] and there will be no problem
[52:11] obtaining their support. If
[52:16] you live with someone has
[52:17] cognitive disease. You'll know
[52:18] that holding them to the same
[52:20] standards as up person without
[52:22] the disease is inhumane. Thank
[52:24] you. Thank you so much. Hard
[52:28] to MISS Gauge coming forward.
[52:29] If Gloria Eyes, Dean Linda,
[52:33] 11. Is here. Please make your
[52:35] way to the podium following
[52:36] great. We will have really
[52:37] low.
[52:41] >> Common Martinez. Come back.
[52:44] If you can make your way to
[52:45] the middle it's great, you're
[52:49] recognized.
[52:50] >> Morning delegation. My name
[52:51] is Rachel Grainge. I'm a
[52:52] community advocate from
[52:52] Jacksonville Beach and
[52:54] candidate for Congress and
[52:57] Florida's 5th district. Thank
[52:58] you so much for your service
[53:00] and for hearing from residents
[53:04] today like so many Duval
[53:05] families, my homeowners
[53:06] insurance Bill has skyrocketed
[53:09] in recent years. In FEBRUARY,
[53:10] the Tampa Bay Times reporter
[53:12] our published a series
[53:13] investigations based on a
[53:15] state commission report that
[53:16] almost no one outside the
[53:19] industry have seen that report
[53:21] show that while many Florida
[53:23] based insurance insurers
[53:24] reported hundreds of millions
[53:26] in losses, their affiliate
[53:28] companies made billions in
[53:30] profits. Those profits often
[53:31] came from management and
[53:32] reinsurance fees paid to
[53:35] sister firms owned by the same
[53:36] executives. Money flowing out
[53:37] of the regulated insurer and
[53:40] into private affiliate. When
[53:41] this came to light at the
[53:43] start of session, Speaker
[53:44] Perez promised Floridians that
[53:45] lawmakers would get answer it.
[53:47] Few hearings were held but by
[53:48] Sessions and many legislators
[53:51] still haven't seen the report.
[53:52] And when I called Perez at the
[53:53] end of session to follow up, I
[54:01] got no answer. And since 2022.
[54:01] The period covered in the
[54:03] report, more industry-backed
[54:04] bills passed, framed Israeli
[54:04] for insurers covering
[54:05] recovering from their losses.
[54:09] But if affiliates earning
[54:10] billions, homeowners deserve
[54:13] to know what. Know that before
[54:14] another dollar relief goes
[54:16] their way. I'm here in Duval
[54:17] families are differing roof
[54:18] repairs. Skipping medical
[54:20] report, medical care. They're
[54:21] selling their homes because
[54:23] they can't afford coverage.
[54:24] Well, today I'm asking this
[54:26] delegation to finish what
[54:28] speak bigger prize promised to
[54:28] start and report back to
[54:29] citizens on what was contained
[54:32] in that report. Number one
[54:33] require full public
[54:36] standardize reporting of all.
[54:38] Related party. An affiliate
[54:39] transactions, including
[54:40] reinsurance arrangements. So
[54:41] we can see where our premium
[54:43] dollars are actually going
[54:45] number to give the office of
[54:46] Reinsurance regulation, the
[54:48] power to dig into those
[54:49] affiliate payments and stop
[54:50] companies from adding profits.
[54:55] Number 3. Only allow rate
[54:56] hikes when companies can prove
[54:57] real claim losses, not paper
[54:58] losses created by shifting
[54:59] money between their own
[55:00] affiliates and if there's
[55:01] nothing to hide, that's great.
[55:04] We like to see that too.
[55:05] Number 4 strength and basic
[55:07] commute. Consumer protections
[55:09] require insurers to pay claims
[55:11] on time. Give homeowners a
[55:12] fair chance to appeal denials
[55:13] and stop dropping customers
[55:15] unless there's a real
[55:17] documented reason and 5 expand
[55:19] hardening and mitigated
[55:20] mitigation grants to cover
[55:22] middle income families, condos
[55:22] and townhomes. Thank you.
[55:28] Thank you. Up next, play You
[55:35] MAY approach the podium.
[55:36] >> Speak your name. My name is
[55:38] Beverly. Low. Thank you.
[55:42] You're recognized. As the
[55:43] Florida citizen. I want to see
[55:44] our legislators make decisions
[55:46] based on research.
[55:47] >> Not on emotions are MISS
[55:47] About those on the sex
[55:50] offender registry. There's
[55:51] abundant evidence showing a
[55:52] lowri offense rate for people
[55:54] with a past sex. There are
[55:57] multiple categories on the sex
[55:57] and a registry where the sex
[56:00] re offense rate is 3% or less.
[56:04] Mostly one person. I do not
[56:04] advocate for anyone who's
[56:05] committed a sex offense.
[56:07] They're about their sentence
[56:09] and continues to commit sex
[56:12] crimes. They belong in prison.
[56:13] I advocate for tens of
[56:16] thousands on the Florida sex
[56:16] offender registry who are now
[56:17] leading lives, law-abiding
[56:21] citizen. It is time to use
[56:22] validated risk assessments in
[56:24] removing people from the
[56:24] registry. You are not a threat
[56:27] to society. The registry is
[56:31] like continued incarceration.
[56:32] Money and manpower both be
[56:34] focused on high-risk
[56:36] individuals not squandered on
[56:36] those contributing to their
[56:40] families and their community.
[56:40] Florida is reactive rather
[56:44] than proactive. Should educate
[56:45] young people on what
[56:47] constitutes a sex crime. Each
[56:49] the consequences of committing
[56:50] a sex crime. Which research
[56:52] shows is the biggest current.
[56:55] Beach about sex thing. Things
[56:56] they learned to stay out of
[56:57] chat rooms with anyone
[57:01] claiming to be a minor. Sex
[57:02] offenses against minors are
[57:04] committed by someone. The
[57:05] child knows educate the
[57:06] parents and what they should
[57:08] and crime from happening.
[57:09] Prevention is the appropriate
[57:12] avenue to take education,
[57:14] knowledge of consequences and
[57:17] increased victim services.
[57:18] Don't perpetuate fear based
[57:18] policies that are not
[57:22] grounded. Our state needs to
[57:25] remove sex offender registry.
[57:26] Those individuals who are not
[57:28] a risk of sexually
[57:30] re-offending focus on the
[57:31] high-risk individuals and
[57:31] start a program pension
[57:35] through education. Thank you.
[57:37] This Martinez. Mayor, Pro
[57:42] Church. You're recognized.
[57:47] Good morning. My name is
[57:48] Carmen Martinez and I'm the
[57:49] secretary for the Republican
[57:50] Liberty Caucus.
[57:53] >> And I'm here to talk about
[57:53] several subjects. So I'll be
[57:56] brief an each. Property taxes.
[57:59] People came to this country
[58:01] initially throughout. Whole
[58:05] history of art, 250 year
[58:07] history because there was
[58:08] freedom. It was freedom of
[58:09] religion and there was
[58:15] freedom. Freedom to own
[58:15] property. It stated in the
[58:17] Constitution that we have the
[58:19] right to own property right
[58:23] now. We don't have that right.
[58:25] Rent our properties to the
[58:31] howdy to Duval County.
[58:34] Advocate of getting rid of
[58:38] these horrible taxes. I favor
[58:39] ride. Shame. Representative
[58:41] Ryan Chamberlain's plan or no
[58:46] taxes whatsoever. And I know
[58:48] that that's not on the
[58:50] amendment list. So anything
[58:51] closer to that is a good
[58:56] thing. Secondly, I want to.
[58:58] Point out that I bought my
[59:02] house and the taxes were $3800
[59:06] a year. They're up to $10,000
[59:07] and that is enough to make
[59:09] some people lose their houses.
[59:14] And that is not a good thing.
[59:16] Secondly, want to talk about
[59:18] election integrity. Here is
[59:19] some legislation that's being
[59:21] presented about only citizens
[59:24] support that there's also
[59:25] problems in Florida with chain
[59:26] of custody. Their sticks
[59:28] teams, counties in Florida
[59:30] where there is no chain of
[59:30] custody. We are not one of
[59:34] them. Thank goodness Leslie, I
[59:38] want to just mention that.
[59:39] Mail-in ballots have to be
[59:41] reined We cannot have the
[59:42] situation where you just mail
[59:45] in your ballot, you know, we
[59:47] don't really know who you are.
[59:49] It's a signature that maybe 20
[59:49] years old.
[59:52] >> To verify that person that
[59:55] is not working and it needs to
[59:56] be reined in 2 people who
[59:57] truly unable to get to the
[1:00:00] polls. Leslie, I want to talk
[1:00:03] about blood transfusions right
[1:00:09] now of blood is screened many
[1:00:10] things syphilis, it screened
[1:00:14] for hepatitis b, other things.
[1:00:16] We need screen it for Spike
[1:00:18] protein, which which is a
[1:00:19] toxin. Thank you very much.
[1:00:20] Thank you very much. This
[1:00:24] compact. Nissen has a
[1:00:28] question. MISS Martinez, if
[1:00:28] you could return to the
[1:00:34] podium.
[1:00:35] >> Hi, MISS Martinez through
[1:00:37] the chair my eyes. Jaime
[1:00:38] Martinez, thanks for coming
[1:00:41] out to speak. Were you here
[1:00:44] earlier when chief deputy
[1:00:46] supervisor of election stated
[1:00:47] the Duval County elections
[1:00:51] were safe and secure. We're
[1:00:52] pleased today. Yes, no, I was.
[1:00:55] He got here about 10 15.
[1:00:56] >> did. Jerry Holland spoke
[1:00:57] here today. No, the chief
[1:01:02] through the chair, the deputy
[1:01:05] chief spoke and I asked him
[1:01:07] specifically around mail-in
[1:01:08] ballots. Were they safe and
[1:01:09] secure? And he stated, yes,
[1:01:11] they were all you?
[1:01:12] >> Yes, they are somewhat safe
[1:01:15] and secure, but they're not
[1:01:15] really.
[1:01:16] >> Because what you're
[1:01:17] comparing is the signature on
[1:01:21] a card that was. Signed. How
[1:01:23] many years ago? We don't know.
[1:01:25] And you're comparing that to a
[1:01:27] signature that just came in.
[1:01:28] And those are often very
[1:01:33] different. Thank you very
[1:01:37] much. All of behind Ms Curran
[1:01:41] Bike. We have Ron, in all.
[1:01:44] Jane Francis. Judy Shechtman.
[1:01:45] If you can make your way to
[1:01:50] the al. You are recognized as
[1:01:53] correct. Thank you. Yes, but
[1:01:54] he was coaching her mock. I
[1:01:57] live in Jacksonville each and
[1:01:58] I am lead organizer of
[1:02:01] reclaimed twice Florida. I'm
[1:02:01] here today to urge you to
[1:02:06] support. Hb 601, filed by
[1:02:08] Representative Kelly Skidmore
[1:02:11] and sb 2 for 2 filed by
[1:02:14] Senator Kristen Arrington.
[1:02:15] Both bills repeal the Florida
[1:02:18] Pregnancy Care Network.
[1:02:21] >> Now, today, that network
[1:02:22] funnels almost 30 million
[1:02:24] dollars of public funds into
[1:02:27] anti-abortion centers. The
[1:02:29] center's mislead patients.
[1:02:29] They delay care and they
[1:02:30] pressure people into
[1:02:33] decisions. Now the state does
[1:02:38] that it's looking to root out
[1:02:39] waste, fraud and abuse. Well,
[1:02:41] this program is literally all
[1:02:45] 3 the center's weast patients.
[1:02:47] Time to push people personally
[1:02:47] past the six-week abortion
[1:02:52] ban. They commit fraud with
[1:02:55] deceptive advertising and
[1:02:56] dangerous misinformation. And
[1:02:57] while everyday Floridians are
[1:03:00] struggling to pay their bills,
[1:03:03] the center's abuse taxpayer
[1:03:04] dollars to exploit people in
[1:03:06] their most vulnerable moments.
[1:03:08] And on top of all of that,
[1:03:10] there's no medical or safety
[1:03:12] standards. And I know not all
[1:03:13] of you MAY sit on the
[1:03:15] committee that would hear it
[1:03:16] either Bell, but you can urge
[1:03:20] your colleagues, the and
[1:03:22] perhaps maybe someone hears on
[1:03:24] the health professions and
[1:03:25] programs subcommittee and you
[1:03:26] actually have the power to
[1:03:30] give the bill a fair hearing.
[1:03:32] At the end of all this, my ask
[1:03:35] a simple plea support. Hb 6,
[1:03:39] 0, 0, 1, and sb 2 for 2. And
[1:03:40] please. And this this taxpayer
[1:03:42] funded Section. Thank you.
[1:03:49] Thank you. MR. All enough. You
[1:03:52] are recognized.
[1:03:53] >> My name is doctor on a
[1:04:01] one-off. Irving are click
[1:04:02] here. Since the 18, 71 is a
[1:04:06] licensed dentist. I will,
[1:04:06] though I'm not in private
[1:04:09] practice anymore. Right?
[1:04:10] Gillum involved as volunteer
[1:04:14] with. Muscles, Parker, but
[1:04:15] primarily with river gardens
[1:04:21] years, there are single. I
[1:04:22] want to extend the heartfelt
[1:04:24] thanks to those members of the
[1:04:28] House of Representatives who
[1:04:30] overwhelmingly supported hb 21
[1:04:31] that both are appealing
[1:04:35] station last year.
[1:04:36] Unfortunately in the Senate, I
[1:04:39] guess some help mixed up with
[1:04:41] some larger bill dealing with
[1:04:42] with girl issues said it never
[1:04:44] came to the fore. Hopefully
[1:04:47] this year that that won't
[1:04:53] happen milk. Access oral
[1:04:54] health care where Florida was
[1:04:58] among the worst in the nation.
[1:05:00] 65 of Florida's 67 counties
[1:05:01] have dental health,
[1:05:03] professional shortage, areas.
[1:05:04] Millions of Floridians don't
[1:05:07] receive dental care. In fact,
[1:05:09] Florida leads the nation for
[1:05:10] people using emergency
[1:05:12] departments. Preventable
[1:05:16] dental pain, infection. This
[1:05:18] is increased over 25% since
[1:05:22] 2021. Even more shocking
[1:05:22] hospital buildings have
[1:05:25] increased 77%, almost
[1:05:28] 1 billion dollars is spent
[1:05:30] here. Emergency departments of
[1:05:31] hospitals and the state of
[1:05:32] Florida dealing with
[1:05:35] preventable dental issues.
[1:05:36] This is all wasted money
[1:05:38] because the only thing that
[1:05:42] happens to the hospital,
[1:05:43] emergency department. They're
[1:05:44] given antibiotics, pain
[1:05:45] medications and the patients
[1:05:47] still need to find that will
[1:05:49] care for their problem. The
[1:05:50] next day on the way in here
[1:05:52] this morning, I was listening
[1:05:55] to the mayor was on the up the
[1:05:56] npr program in the morning as
[1:05:59] she was talking about how
[1:06:00] telemedicine has helped so
[1:06:03] much in terms of freeing up
[1:06:04] dollars from the emergency
[1:06:06] departments hospitals here.
[1:06:08] Unfortunately, intent to
[1:06:11] street Elop medicine doesn't
[1:06:11] park.
[1:06:12] >> You need to see somebody to
[1:06:16] get treatment, taken care of
[1:06:17] appear a key part of the
[1:06:19] solution to Florida's oral
[1:06:21] health crisis authorizing
[1:06:21] dental therapists.
[1:06:28] >> The practice.
[1:06:29] >> We have a question by
[1:06:32] representative like.
[1:06:32] Representative Black, you're
[1:06:36] recognized.
[1:06:36] >> Thank you, MADAM Chair, and
[1:06:38] thank you, doctor for coming
[1:06:41] out today. Just for clarity
[1:06:41] sake, is it your position
[1:06:44] today that you support the
[1:06:47] creation, dental therapists?
[1:06:48] As a standalone expansion of
[1:06:51] the scope of practice or do
[1:06:53] you mean for them to operate
[1:06:55] under the supervision of a
[1:06:57] licensed dentist? You're
[1:07:01] recognized. So the question
[1:07:08] represent like advocacy. It's
[1:07:09] not to have an independent
[1:07:16] individual. But practice. They
[1:07:19] will be working under the
[1:07:20] Protect us in the dentist's
[1:07:26] office. We'll be taking the
[1:07:29] same examinations as a 10 8
[1:07:32] that they would be limited and
[1:07:35] it's up to the dentist. If you
[1:07:36] want to hire somebody or not,
[1:07:39] but but direct supervision
[1:07:42] would be and that a license
[1:07:43] that says Thank you, doctor.
[1:07:45] That answers. My question.
[1:07:53] Thank you so much. As Francis.
[1:07:55] Please state your name for the
[1:07:56] record.
[1:07:56] >> Yes, I'm Jim Prentice
[1:07:58] representing Moms Demand
[1:07:59] Action of Greater Jacksonville
[1:08:03] and Jack speeches. After the
[1:08:04] Parkland massacre, the Marjory
[1:08:04] Stoneman Douglas Act was
[1:08:07] passed on a bipartisan basis.
[1:08:08] And the recent legislative
[1:08:10] sessions and again proposed
[1:08:13] for this upcoming session. The
[1:08:14] Florida House has tried to
[1:08:15] water down this life Saving
[1:08:18] Act. Are using the fact that
[1:08:20] an 18 year-old can join the
[1:08:22] military as justification for
[1:08:23] lowering the age to purchase
[1:08:26] firearms. Back to 18, although
[1:08:27] 18 to 20 year-olds commit gun
[1:08:28] homicide at 3 times the rate
[1:08:33] as older people. Also in the
[1:08:34] military, whether one is 18 or
[1:08:38] 21 or 4.45, there is not the
[1:08:39] kind of unfettered access to
[1:08:42] weapons that is being
[1:08:42] proposed. Weapons are locked.
[1:08:45] Ammunition is counted and most
[1:08:47] importantly, extensive
[1:08:48] training this given before
[1:08:49] anyone even thinks about
[1:08:51] firing the weapon. And this
[1:08:51] training continues throughout
[1:08:56] their career. If the military
[1:08:57] is being used as a rationale
[1:08:59] to change the law, there also
[1:09:01] should be a willingness to
[1:09:02] enact the military stringent
[1:09:05] firearm safety measures. The
[1:09:07] governor and others have said
[1:09:10] the sky won't fall as we adopt
[1:09:12] open carry one of your
[1:09:13] colleagues have said we don't
[1:09:13] want to be like California or
[1:09:17] New York. All these 2 states
[1:09:19] have many things that we MAY
[1:09:21] not like. We should be mbs of
[1:09:23] their gun death rate of
[1:09:24] Florida's gun death rate is
[1:09:27] 13.6 for 100,000. California's
[1:09:32] is 8.2 And New York's is 5.0
[1:09:33] The 5th lowest gun death rate
[1:09:35] in the country. Florida's gun
[1:09:37] death rate has increased from
[1:09:44] by 19% from 2014 to 2023,
[1:09:44] while our gun lot gun safety
[1:09:45] laws are being watered down or
[1:09:52] loosen. All future
[1:09:52] generations. When future
[1:09:53] generations walk through our
[1:09:54] cemeteries and see all the
[1:09:56] young lives lost a preventable
[1:09:58] gun violence, they're going to
[1:09:59] say these people did not love
[1:10:00] their children enough to do
[1:10:03] something. We are calling on
[1:10:06] you to do something. And at.
[1:10:07] Stop assault on the Marjory
[1:10:12] Stop Amanda Quest Act. Passed
[1:10:13] legislation to allow families
[1:10:15] petition for extreme risk
[1:10:16] protection orders a proven
[1:10:18] tool to help decrease gun
[1:10:23] suicide. Over 60% of deaths in
[1:10:26] Florida due to suicide.
[1:10:28] Franklin, the requirements for
[1:10:30] gun storage of firearms and
[1:10:33] homes and in vehicles. And
[1:10:34] finally consider if open carry
[1:10:37] is really necessary. Visible
[1:10:39] guns do not make anyone safer.
[1:10:41] They raise tension and small
[1:10:43] conflicts in 2 deadly
[1:10:45] encounters. Thank you. All
[1:10:50] second. Is Kenneth Green.
[1:10:54] Joshua Mize. Sharon d#
[1:10:54] #
[1:10:54] #
[1:10:54] #
[1:10:54] , if
[1:10:56] you can make your way. To the
[1:10:59] podium. When you are
[1:11:03] recognized. Thank you. Good
[1:11:04] morning. My name is Judy
[1:11:07] shackling. My address is on
[1:11:09] record. I'm here today to
[1:11:11] speak in support of
[1:11:12] reproductive rights and
[1:11:14] against the civil liabilities.
[1:11:14] Bill.
[1:11:16] >> As well as the parental
[1:11:19] rights bill. The last
[1:11:22] election. 57.2% of Florida
[1:11:23] voters voted in favor of
[1:11:27] abortion rights and despite a
[1:11:27] misinformation campaign to
[1:11:30] sign to defeat this amendment
[1:11:32] again, it had 57.2% of your
[1:11:35] constituents supporting it.
[1:11:39] Currently sb 164, the Civil
[1:11:40] liabilities bill would grant
[1:11:42] an embryo the same rights as a
[1:11:45] living person. This bill would
[1:11:45] strip health care decisions
[1:11:48] from pregnant patients who
[1:11:49] face the loss of emergency
[1:11:50] care or cancer treatments
[1:11:53] simply because they're
[1:11:54] pregnant lawyers, not doctors
[1:11:56] would be in charge of these
[1:11:58] decisions and not one of us
[1:11:59] would want a lawyer making our
[1:12:02] health care decisions. This
[1:12:04] bill would increase. Let the
[1:12:06] litigious climate that has
[1:12:07] already driven countless
[1:12:09] numbers of obgyn is from
[1:12:11] Florida. It also could lead to
[1:12:14] cessation of ivf. The
[1:12:15] investigation of pregnant
[1:12:17] people for miscarriages and
[1:12:18] opened the door for abusive
[1:12:20] partners to file lawsuits to
[1:12:23] punish their victims. I hope
[1:12:25] you vote against this bill. I
[1:12:28] would also like to speak
[1:12:31] Against sb 166, the so-called.
[1:12:35] Parents, all rights bill, this
[1:12:35] bill limits minors access to
[1:12:40] treatment for St Eyes, mental
[1:12:42] health, resources like suicide
[1:12:43] prevention, hotlines, birth
[1:12:46] control or even to take a
[1:12:48] health survey without parental
[1:12:50] permission as a retired school
[1:12:51] counselor, I worked with
[1:12:54] dozens of students who lived
[1:12:56] at annual Memorial Children's
[1:12:57] Home Society whose parents had
[1:12:58] lost parental rights or they
[1:13:01] were in limbo. They had no
[1:13:03] parents to help them in these
[1:13:04] decisions and they were also
[1:13:06] at greater risk for self-harm
[1:13:08] and depression because a
[1:13:10] parent is unable unwilling or
[1:13:11] unavailable to provide support
[1:13:13] for their children. Young
[1:13:14] people must not be placed at
[1:13:17] risk for self-harm north face
[1:13:19] deadly barriers to health care
[1:13:20] because of the lack of
[1:13:21] parental involvement. Thank
[1:13:24] you. Thank Nights we have kind
[1:13:33] of grain.
[1:13:33] >> You're recognized. Good
[1:13:35] morning. I'm is Kenneth Green
[1:13:36] and I am asking for your
[1:13:38] support on a piece of draft
[1:13:41] that just lights and that
[1:13:42] would provide expanded access
[1:13:47] to nursing home care. Chair.
[1:13:47] Hundreds of people Florida
[1:13:51] alone on the streets. We're in
[1:13:51] the woods. Some of the
[1:13:53] families some hospitals
[1:13:55] because they cannot access
[1:14:00] nursing home care. Why?
[1:14:01] Because they are on those
[1:14:05] Florida sex offender registry.
[1:14:07] Legislation I am asking you to
[1:14:07] support or allow people who
[1:14:12] are permanently incapacitated.
[1:14:12] Petition to be removed from
[1:14:14] the Florida sex offender
[1:14:16] registry so they can access
[1:14:20] nursing home care. This
[1:14:22] proposal, here's the same as
[1:14:26] George is best thing. Well.
[1:14:27] Currently nursing homes are
[1:14:28] forced to turn away.
[1:14:29] Registrants because they pose
[1:14:35] a threat. But because of art
[1:14:44] I'm sorry, there's not because
[1:14:45] I propose a threat because
[1:14:46] Florida's Hill nursing
[1:14:51] regulations. Our residents,
[1:14:52] registry restrictions and the
[1:14:53] stigma that follows
[1:14:53] registrants and the
[1:14:54] facilities. That care for
[1:14:57] them. Residents who are
[1:15:04] forbidden. Are bedridden.
[1:15:06] Vance, are terminally ill or
[1:15:09] denied nursing home care.
[1:15:10] Families care for loved ones
[1:15:11] at home without proper
[1:15:14] resources. Hospitals keep
[1:15:17] patients for months due to
[1:15:18] know Florida nursing home
[1:15:23] availability. This is not a
[1:15:24] small problem. Florida
[1:15:25] registry is basically you for
[1:15:28] life. Ansar registrants are
[1:15:31] rapidly becoming elderly.
[1:15:35] Almost 7,000 are 65. For older
[1:15:36] non hunter is sick are over
[1:15:41] the age of 80. This proposal
[1:15:43] to create Florida statute. 9,
[1:15:49] 4, 3.0, 0, 4, 3, 5, 5, allows
[1:15:50] sex offender resources focus
[1:15:53] on higher-risk individuals.
[1:15:54] Not people who are presently
[1:15:56] in the past that faded and
[1:15:58] nursing home care. Thank you
[1:16:05] very much. My swim followed by
[1:16:06] up next, we will have Sharon
[1:16:06] d#
[1:16:06] #
[1:16:07] #
[1:16:07] #
[1:16:12] . Carol Brady. And Tammy
[1:16:12] Brooks. Evans, if you can make
[1:16:15] your way to the al.
[1:16:16] >> MR. Wyatt Smoke might.
[1:16:20] Well, you're recognized.
[1:16:23] >> My name is Joshua The local
[1:16:25] ocean engineer here in Duval
[1:16:27] County or marine manufacturer
[1:16:28] about 45 million dollars worth
[1:16:29] of floating docks and marinas
[1:16:30] here locally and distribute
[1:16:32] them from Maine to Texas all
[1:16:35] throughout the Caribbean.
[1:16:37] Today. I'm primarily here to
[1:16:38] represent 2 organizations that
[1:16:39] I sit on the boards for
[1:16:40] currently the PRESIDENT Of
[1:16:42] marine industry of Florida, as
[1:16:43] well as sit on the board for
[1:16:44] the marine industry in North
[1:16:46] Florida. The marine industry,
[1:16:47] obviously for my profession,
[1:16:50] is near and dear to me. And
[1:16:51] there's a few things that will
[1:16:53] be coming forward to later
[1:16:53] this There's always bills
[1:16:56] regarding Marine safety Brean
[1:16:57] theft. I want to let you guys
[1:16:59] know that I'm here local in
[1:17:01] Duval County. I'll make myself
[1:17:02] available to come meet with
[1:17:04] union Chambers prior to
[1:17:06] legislative days. Our group
[1:17:07] will be in Tallahassee for
[1:17:08] legislative days. Most you're
[1:17:09] probably more familiar with
[1:17:12] our lobbyist. Busy Timmons. So
[1:17:13] she'll be taking us through
[1:17:14] those definitely some meetings
[1:17:17] with some of you guys. If
[1:17:18] there's you know, bills that
[1:17:19] come up, you know, please
[1:17:22] reach out. There's billions
[1:17:25] and billions and billions of
[1:17:26] of money spent whether being
[1:17:30] boat sales storage repairs.
[1:17:32] There's over 7,000 jobs in the
[1:17:33] state are 7,000 companies in
[1:17:34] the state of Florida that are
[1:17:36] all based around a marine
[1:17:37] industry. And I'm here just to
[1:17:38] make sure that anything that
[1:17:40] happens in Tallahassee. As for
[1:17:42] the positive of our industry
[1:17:45] and also. To protect our
[1:17:46] voters. One of the things I'd
[1:17:48] like to just and see if you
[1:17:49] are interested in it because
[1:17:52] if there's a positive feel
[1:17:53] from the delegation turn next
[1:17:55] to the school board. But there
[1:17:58] is approved education for
[1:17:59] outdoor recreation that's been
[1:18:00] approved by the state of
[1:18:01] Florida. And that's part of
[1:18:02] the handout I provided to you
[1:18:03] today. It would teach kids
[1:18:06] basic boating safety, outdoor
[1:18:10] recreation safety and
[1:18:10] unfortunately in a community
[1:18:11] that has been plagued with
[1:18:13] some boating tragedies. You
[1:18:13] know, I feel that it would be
[1:18:16] great if we could. It's some
[1:18:18] of the kids in our public
[1:18:18] school system to understand
[1:18:19] how to be safe when on and
[1:18:22] around the water, especially
[1:18:24] since we have so many inner
[1:18:27] coastal rivers, creeks, lakes,
[1:18:29] it's a real big push for me.
[1:18:30] I've got 2 kids in school
[1:18:33] system here. I'm very active
[1:18:34] in scouting. So they will be
[1:18:34] learning all of this at home.
[1:18:38] And that scouts. But I can't
[1:18:38] reach every kid and neither
[1:18:39] can my organization. So I feel
[1:18:40] if we can bring some of this
[1:18:43] into the schools, it will just
[1:18:45] hopefully get it's more
[1:18:46] interested in our a recent
[1:18:48] transplant from South Florida
[1:18:50] came up about a year and a
[1:18:51] half ago. All right. Thank you
[1:18:54] for your time. Thank you very
[1:18:54] much.
[1:18:55] >> I like to recognize
[1:18:57] Representative Kim Daniels. Is
[1:19:00] now in attendance. Sharon
[1:19:00] d#
[1:19:00] #
[1:19:00] #
[1:19:00] #
[1:19:09] . Pros the podium. You're
[1:19:21] recognized.
[1:19:26] >> Thank When you mention I'm
[1:19:29] a current executive director
[1:19:35] and the senator I think here.
[1:19:37] But, you know, and I've spent
[1:19:38] We provide inspection
[1:19:42] services. People out of.
[1:19:46] Nursing home. And isolation.
[1:19:48] And we provide. The
[1:19:49] transitions of the thinking
[1:19:53] went. From plan there. We also
[1:19:56] approved by. Mountains.
[1:19:58] Tolerance. Of free medical
[1:20:02] equipment. Alright, community.
[1:20:05] We also support 5 counting. We
[1:20:08] are also cross villain. That
[1:20:10] means we serve any disability.
[1:20:13] Regardless of when it might We
[1:20:18] would ask your continued The
[1:20:20] finance from company. And the
[1:20:24] work that we We also provide
[1:20:28] sense. Only this Sunday, but
[1:20:32] first round in We empower
[1:20:34] people Des Moines. Get off the
[1:20:38] benefit. Given job. Work full
[1:20:44] time. I personally. 2 jobs.
[1:20:46] And just knowing. It doesn't
[1:20:50] stop. And does not stop us.
[1:20:52] Providing the services and
[1:20:55] then me then what that stop
[1:21:00] us. It's a lack of funding. So
[1:21:02] I would ask that you continue.
[1:21:04] Important. The centers for you
[1:21:05] and putting up and pay. State
[1:21:09] of Florida.
[1:21:11] >> Thank you very much for
[1:21:26] coming speaking this morning.
[1:21:42] Please state your name for the
[1:21:45] record.
[1:21:46] >> Thank you. MADAM Chair,
[1:21:47] members of the delegation. My
[1:21:50] name is Carol Brady. I'm a
[1:21:51] member of the leadership team
[1:21:52] of the beaches, activist
[1:21:56] movement. As part of our get
[1:21:57] out the vote efforts. I have
[1:21:59] an opportunity during
[1:22:00] elections and knock on a lot
[1:22:02] of doors. Most of those doors
[1:22:05] along to people don't always
[1:22:08] vote. They're low propensity
[1:22:12] voters. The people who answer
[1:22:16] are generally polite and most
[1:22:18] agree that after hearing my
[1:22:19] pitch, that voting is
[1:22:22] important. They offer lots of
[1:22:24] reasons and excuses as to why
[1:22:28] they stay home. They're too
[1:22:29] busy. They don't know enough
[1:22:31] about the candidate. They're
[1:22:34] not interested in politics.
[1:22:37] During the last election. Amid
[1:22:39] all the excuses I heard one
[1:22:41] comment really struck me. A
[1:22:45] gentleman told me he didn't
[1:22:46] boat because the deck was
[1:22:51] stacked. That's a terrible
[1:22:51] assessment. And a comment to
[1:22:54] here in our democracy, a
[1:22:56] democracy that has a
[1:22:59] foundation suffrage and fair
[1:23:01] election. Democracy Hoosick
[1:23:03] fef depends on people.
[1:23:06] People's willingness to show
[1:23:06] up and exercise their right to
[1:23:10] vote. In the upcoming session.
[1:23:13] You are s the stack. The deck
[1:23:18] again. Absent updated
[1:23:20] population information from
[1:23:23] the fences, the sold
[1:23:25] justification mid-decade
[1:23:25] redistricting is to gain
[1:23:29] partisan advantage. Florida's
[1:23:31] current congressional map
[1:23:34] thanks to the governor are
[1:23:36] already distorted, offering
[1:23:38] virtually no competitive
[1:23:40] district and watering down the
[1:23:44] representation of minority. I
[1:23:48] urge you to oppose any effort
[1:23:49] undertake mid decade.
[1:23:51] Redistricting in the upcoming
[1:23:54] session. It is unprecedented.
[1:23:56] It violates the state
[1:23:58] constitution. It goes against
[1:23:59] the intent and the spirit of
[1:24:03] the Fair District amendments
[1:24:03] which were overwhelmingly
[1:24:05] supported by Florida voters.
[1:24:08] And according to a recent
[1:24:10] poll, it is opposed by the
[1:24:11] majority of voters in Florida.
[1:24:15] My request is simple. Don't
[1:24:17] the deck. Thank you. Thank
[1:24:22] you. Following.
[1:24:23] >> All I'm as Brooke Evans
[1:24:26] will be Jessica Rised. Yes,
[1:24:29] the stats, dr stats. Katie
[1:24:32] Coleman, you're recognize. The
[1:24:33] morning delegation. My name is
[1:24:36] Tammy Books. Evans and I'm a
[1:24:37] National Board. Certified
[1:24:37] teacher have been certified
[1:24:39] for over 20 years.
[1:24:40] >> And I serve as the
[1:24:41] PRESIDENT Of Duval Teachers,
[1:24:45] United. I represent teachers,
[1:24:45] classroom teachers, ese
[1:24:47] teachers, site coaches,
[1:24:48] speech-language pathologist by
[1:24:50] colleges and many, many
[1:24:53] others. I also represent care
[1:24:55] professionals who support our
[1:24:56] Ese students and our general
[1:24:58] education population. I
[1:24:59] represent. Are you apd, which
[1:25:01] include our clerical truancy
[1:25:05] officers and security. Ladies
[1:25:06] and gentlemen, we and what we
[1:25:08] value. We fund the things that
[1:25:12] we value. We are asking that
[1:25:13] you consider increasing the
[1:25:15] fefp by $1000 per student
[1:25:18] allow us to maintain classroom
[1:25:20] teachers and to also try to
[1:25:22] recruit teachers to fill
[1:25:22] positions. It opened here in
[1:25:26] Duval County. As of last week,
[1:25:27] we had 363 teacher positions
[1:25:30] that were open. 98 of those
[1:25:33] positions are ese position.
[1:25:34] Under 66 paraprofessionals who
[1:25:36] support the classrooms. And 56
[1:25:38] clerical position. When you
[1:25:41] say 363 openings, that means
[1:25:45] we have 363 subs and classes
[1:25:45] teaching and working with our
[1:25:47] student. Those students
[1:25:48] deserve to have a certified
[1:25:50] teacher. We need more money
[1:25:53] into our county to be
[1:25:54] competitive, to recruit the
[1:25:55] best and the brightest to come
[1:25:56] to our district and to get
[1:25:57] them to stay in our district
[1:26:01] and fill those classrooms.
[1:26:02] Teachers who are not working
[1:26:03] under 10 year contract have a
[1:26:06] year year contract. Those
[1:26:07] teachers deserve to have some
[1:26:09] stability in their work. They
[1:26:11] deserve to have multiple your
[1:26:11] contract. And we're asking
[1:26:14] that you consider that changed
[1:26:15] with things the way they are
[1:26:16] now, when you're dealing with
[1:26:18] new teacher. They literally
[1:26:19] are worried if they will have
[1:26:20] a job. I mean, the next school
[1:26:22] year. You want people to be
[1:26:23] dedicated to the work they
[1:26:25] need to feel secure in the
[1:26:26] position. We're asking you to
[1:26:27] consider having multiple year
[1:26:31] contracts for our educate.
[1:26:32] They're professionals deserve
[1:26:36] to make a living wage.
[1:26:38] Absolutely sure. Many of our
[1:26:39] care professionals modify for
[1:26:41] snap. They don't make enough
[1:26:43] money, Taher, take care of
[1:26:44] their family. What they were
[1:26:48] multiple jobs. D 2 office
[1:26:48] professional development
[1:26:50] development for them on
[1:26:51] Saturdays. But we can't get
[1:26:52] them to come because we have
[1:26:54] another job. So they can't
[1:26:55] even come in get assistance in
[1:26:57] doing the best they can. But
[1:26:58] the students that need them
[1:26:59] the most because they need to
[1:27:02] have a second job. We need
[1:27:12] more money to pay them better.
[1:27:12] Please state your name for the
[1:27:14] record. And you are
[1:27:18] recognized. Thank you. MADAM
[1:27:18] Chair, members of the
[1:27:20] delegation. My name is Jessica
[1:27:22] Reese and I am also National
[1:27:23] Board certified teacher, a
[1:27:25] certified back in 2005.
[1:27:26] >> I'm also the vice PRESIDENT
[1:27:30] Of Duval Teachers. United. You
[1:27:33] just heard who we represent
[1:27:34] its over 8,000 teachers,
[1:27:35] paraprofessionals and clerical
[1:27:36] staff here that work for Duval
[1:27:39] County, Public Schools.
[1:27:40] Michael, along with that of
[1:27:41] all of my colleagues is to
[1:27:42] ensure that our students are
[1:27:43] well prepared for their
[1:27:46] future. Whether advance to the
[1:27:46] next grade level, pursue
[1:27:51] higher education. Interview,
[1:27:52] occasional traits or join the
[1:27:53] workforce. We work together to
[1:27:53] meet this goal. The
[1:27:54] possibilities for students are
[1:27:57] endless. No matter where we
[1:27:58] work or what our roles are. We
[1:27:59] care about the future of our
[1:28:01] children. We can all agree
[1:28:03] that that more work lies
[1:28:06] ahead. Teacher and staff
[1:28:06] shortages persist. You just
[1:28:07] heard the numbers are Duval
[1:28:11] County. And that those numbers
[1:28:12] are pretty on par for around
[1:28:15] the state. We want to look at
[1:28:16] all of the other districts
[1:28:17] around the state to see what
[1:28:20] are their vacancy. Teacher and
[1:28:22] staff shortages persist.
[1:28:23] Florida's average teacher pay
[1:28:25] ranks 50th in the nation. Many
[1:28:26] educators are working multiple
[1:28:30] jobs. Just to make ends meet
[1:28:31] and enrollment in college
[1:28:32] teacher preparation programs.
[1:28:36] Continue to decline. People
[1:28:37] are not wanting to go into
[1:28:38] education based on what they
[1:28:40] see going on. Additionally,
[1:28:43] the statutes growing the
[1:28:45] statutes governing public
[1:28:46] education continue to grow as
[1:28:47] do the burdens that the
[1:28:49] teacher and the students face.
[1:28:51] It's crucial that we carefully
[1:28:52] examine solutions to these
[1:28:52] issues, to maintain the
[1:28:54] strength and prosperity of
[1:28:55] public schools and the
[1:28:58] students we serve as you
[1:28:59] consider education policy
[1:29:00] during the session, we would
[1:29:01] like to offer several
[1:29:02] recommendations to address the
[1:29:03] challenges facing our
[1:29:04] classrooms and on our
[1:29:06] campuses. You've heard this
[1:29:08] before about this is a piece
[1:29:09] that is very important. We
[1:29:10] need to assign every student
[1:29:12] in Florida, a student id
[1:29:16] number, they can be regardless
[1:29:16] of where go to public school,
[1:29:17] private school home school
[1:29:20] charter school.
[1:29:20] >> This way, we can ensure
[1:29:21] that students are accurately
[1:29:23] counted in the state funds.
[1:29:25] Genuinely follow the student.
[1:29:29] No matter where they go. It
[1:29:31] will help prevent issues like
[1:29:33] experience during the 24 25
[1:29:34] school year where there were
[1:29:35] nearly 22,000 students who
[1:29:40] were double counted. Resulting
[1:29:41] in public schools, missing out
[1:29:41] on vital funding for their
[1:29:42] students when they're
[1:29:46] educating. And also retains
[1:29:47] identify strategies to retain
[1:29:49] our educators. Thank you for
[1:29:50] your time. Thank you very
[1:29:58] much. Dr Stats. You're
[1:30:02] recognize. Thank you.
[1:30:03] >> Goodmorning delegation. My
[1:30:03] name is Doctor Nancy Staats.
[1:30:06] My addresses on file on them
[1:30:07] board certified medical doctor
[1:30:07] with decades of clinical
[1:30:10] experience. I thank you for
[1:30:11] your time and attention. I've
[1:30:15] provided you with 7 pages of
[1:30:16] documents including references
[1:30:17] and photos of vaccine
[1:30:20] preventable diseases.
[1:30:22] >> On SEPTEMBER 3rd of this
[1:30:24] year, our surgeon general
[1:30:25] announced a proposal to
[1:30:25] eliminate all mandatory
[1:30:28] vaccines. And I'm quoting now,
[1:30:30] all of them every last one of
[1:30:32] them is wrong and drips with
[1:30:36] disdain and slavery, unquote.
[1:30:39] To state the totally obvious
[1:30:40] this is very radical thinking
[1:30:41] and it's completely
[1:30:46] unscientific. We if such a
[1:30:49] purr fo such a proposal in the
[1:30:50] entire medical community is
[1:30:52] already rightly alarmed. In
[1:30:52] fact, most of our community is
[1:30:55] rightly alarmed. To give you a
[1:30:57] little national context
[1:30:59] earlier this year, rfk Junior
[1:31:01] fired every single member of
[1:31:02] the advisory Committee on
[1:31:04] Immunization Practices. A sip
[1:31:06] replacing them with
[1:31:07] supporters. Many of us feared
[1:31:11] the worst. But guess what?
[1:31:11] They met in SEPTEMBER and
[1:31:14] recommended only 2 minor
[1:31:15] changes upholding every other
[1:31:15] mandatory vaccine
[1:31:19] recommendation. This proposal
[1:31:19] by our surgeon General rules,
[1:31:22] Florida. Way back, taking us
[1:31:23] way beyond current national
[1:31:25] standards. We would be a
[1:31:27] testing ground for radical
[1:31:28] anti-vax policies. But we do
[1:31:29] need to do the test. We know
[1:31:32] what's going to happen if it's
[1:31:33] not mandated, the rates will
[1:31:35] plummet. The insurers won't
[1:31:37] cover it and it will be
[1:31:37] unaffordable for most families
[1:31:40] who want to get the vaccine.
[1:31:42] Very soon. Our communities
[1:31:43] will have disease outbreaks
[1:31:44] and those with the weakest
[1:31:45] immune systems that is
[1:31:46] children under the age of one
[1:31:52] will suffer most. I'm asking
[1:31:53] this delegation, please follow
[1:31:54] the ace of national
[1:31:55] recommendation. Please listen
[1:31:56] to the Florida Medical
[1:31:57] Association and 78 other
[1:31:59] highly respected medical
[1:32:02] groups. Do not eliminate any
[1:32:03] mandated vaccine. These have
[1:32:06] been regulated, including
[1:32:08] those by the doh. They've been
[1:32:10] mandated because the disease
[1:32:11] causes significant illness and
[1:32:14] even death. I actually believe
[1:32:15] Doctor Ladapo should be
[1:32:18] removed from office. But
[1:32:19] absent that, I would ask you
[1:32:22] to please, please resist
[1:32:24] removing vaccines. This
[1:32:26] proposal must be stopped
[1:32:26] before it's too late before we
[1:32:28] are burying our babies who
[1:32:31] have died from completely
[1:32:32] preventable illnesses. Be
[1:32:32] happy to entertain any
[1:32:35] questions if you have them.
[1:32:38] Thank you very much. I ask.
[1:32:39] >> Everyone going forward to
[1:32:42] please hold your applause so
[1:32:43] that we can get through every
[1:32:44] a gender be. Speaker is heard.
[1:32:47] Thank you very much.
[1:32:53] >> After Katie bombing policy
[1:32:53] manager for Surfrider
[1:32:55] Foundation. We will have
[1:32:57] Jacqueline still Nancy Cobb is
[1:33:00] Sarah Strong Meyer. If you can
[1:33:02] make your way to the you're
[1:33:06] recognize Ms 2. Mean, thank
[1:33:08] you. Good morning. Good
[1:33:08] morning. Thanks for the
[1:33:10] opportunity to speak today.
[1:33:12] I'm Katie Baumann, Duval
[1:33:13] resident, also Florida policy
[1:33:14] manager.
[1:33:17] >> Or the Surfrider Foundation
[1:33:18] Surfrider is a nonprofit
[1:33:21] dedicated to protecting and
[1:33:22] enjoying the ocean waves and
[1:33:22] beaches or all people through
[1:33:25] a grassroots network. If 12
[1:33:26] volunteer lead chapters in the
[1:33:29] state, including the first
[1:33:29] Coast chapter here in Duval
[1:33:30] County with many members
[1:33:33] living here. I'd like to
[1:33:34] highlight a few of our top
[1:33:36] priorities going into the 2020
[1:33:39] succession, coastal
[1:33:40] resilience, water, quality and
[1:33:42] marine debris in plastic
[1:33:44] pollution, all of which
[1:33:44] directly impacts livelihoods
[1:33:46] and communities here in Duval.
[1:33:49] On the resilience front. We
[1:33:51] hope the Legislature will
[1:33:52] prioritize legislation for
[1:33:53] nature based solutions or
[1:33:56] protecting our coast. These
[1:33:58] solutions include wetlands
[1:34:00] protections, living shorelines
[1:34:01] and where appropriate mangrove
[1:34:04] restoration and replanting.
[1:34:06] All of these are dynamic
[1:34:07] resilience. Options that
[1:34:08] service offers from flooding
[1:34:11] and sea level rise while also
[1:34:11] providing significant
[1:34:15] ecological benefits. We need
[1:34:15] to strengthen our state laws
[1:34:18] to encourage these methods and
[1:34:19] to provide more regulatory
[1:34:22] clarity and incentives and
[1:34:23] funding for those pursuing
[1:34:25] these methods for resilience.
[1:34:28] We also urge the legislature
[1:34:30] to repeal section 18. And 28
[1:34:33] from last year's sb 180. The
[1:34:36] sections of the law as applied
[1:34:37] prohibit local government
[1:34:38] planning. That is more
[1:34:41] restrictive or burdensome.
[1:34:43] This law has paralyzed local
[1:34:44] government land use and
[1:34:45] development planning actions
[1:34:47] across the state and these
[1:34:49] consequences have extended are
[1:34:50] beyond post disaster recovery
[1:34:54] measures. On the water quality
[1:34:56] front, beachgoers, tourists
[1:34:57] and local communities are
[1:35:01] still vulnerable to getting
[1:35:01] sick because there are
[1:35:03] inconsistencies and how our
[1:35:04] beach and coastal water is
[1:35:06] tested and how the public is
[1:35:07] notified. We ask that you
[1:35:09] support legislation and
[1:35:10] funding for water quality
[1:35:10] monitoring in the upcoming
[1:35:14] session. And finally,
[1:35:15] regarding the growing and
[1:35:16] expensive problem of plastic
[1:35:18] pollution and marine debris
[1:35:20] and our waterways, ocean and
[1:35:22] beaches. We have long
[1:35:25] advocated practical measures
[1:35:27] to reduce waste management and
[1:35:27] plastic pollution crises
[1:35:30] across the state. It's bad for
[1:35:31] our health, bad for our
[1:35:32] tourism economies and bad for
[1:35:35] our environment. Thank you
[1:35:35] very much. And we look forward
[1:35:36] to working with your offices.
[1:35:41] >> Thank you all.
[1:35:42] >> Please state your name for
[1:35:47] the record. You're recognized.
[1:35:49] Thank you.
[1:35:51] >> That morning delegate and
[1:35:53] my name is Jacqueline Steel.
[1:35:54] And I service in North Florida
[1:35:56] field manager for equal
[1:35:59] ground, a black boating rights
[1:36:01] organization committed to
[1:36:02] protecting our democracy,
[1:36:04] increasing civic I'm honored
[1:36:05] to be here today in Duval
[1:36:07] County, the place Rich in
[1:36:08] history, culture and
[1:36:09] resilience. Jacksonville has
[1:36:13] long been a hub of progress
[1:36:14] and possibility where the
[1:36:16] voices of people from every
[1:36:17] neighborhood, the Northside
[1:36:18] Swim and Iran from the east
[1:36:20] side to the beaches come
[1:36:22] together to shape Florida
[1:36:25] story. That is actually why
[1:36:26] we're here ensure that every
[1:36:29] voice continues out democracy
[1:36:30] only works when voters choose
[1:36:33] their elected officials. Not
[1:36:33] one district lines are drawn
[1:36:36] to favor political protect
[1:36:39] incumbents. Let me be clear.
[1:36:39] Not asking for racial
[1:36:42] CHAIRMAN. What we're asking
[1:36:47] for fairness. Maps that follow
[1:36:49] the law reflect Florida's fair
[1:36:50] District amendment and give
[1:36:52] voters the power to choose
[1:36:54] their leaders. Floridians
[1:36:55] passed these amendments
[1:36:56] because we demand fairness and
[1:36:58] ability and transparency, not
[1:37:01] partisan manipulation. Right
[1:37:03] now, Florida's congressional
[1:37:05] map stands at 20 Republicans.
[1:37:07] 8 Democrats, that imbalance
[1:37:08] raises real questions about
[1:37:09] whether the process truly
[1:37:09] reflects the will of the
[1:37:13] people. When district lines
[1:37:14] are drawn fairly based on
[1:37:16] equal populations, activists
[1:37:18] and keeping communities
[1:37:19] together. Every Floridian,
[1:37:20] including those here in Duval
[1:37:21] County, have a genuine voice
[1:37:25] shaping our future. We also
[1:37:26] strongly oppose any attempt to
[1:37:29] redo the census before 2030.
[1:37:31] What we need is the complete
[1:37:31] and accurate count when that
[1:37:35] time arrives, not anything or
[1:37:36] and while redistricting is
[1:37:37] essential to democracy, that
[1:37:40] the only issue voters care
[1:37:41] about families across Duval
[1:37:42] County. Part here this
[1:37:45] morning. Concerned about
[1:37:47] rising property insurance cost
[1:37:49] the need for affordable
[1:37:50] housing, access to health
[1:37:52] care, quality education,
[1:37:54] livable wage jobs, protecting
[1:37:55] our children's health and
[1:37:59] safety. We also urge you to
[1:37:59] make yourself available
[1:38:00] session and delegation
[1:38:02] meetings. True leadership
[1:38:05] requires listening year round
[1:38:07] when elected officials engaged
[1:38:08] consistently it builds trust
[1:38:08] and trust that the foundation
[1:38:11] boxing. Finally, we ask you to
[1:38:13] use the people's money wisely
[1:38:14] and that have a repeat of last
[1:38:17] session. Thank you so much.
[1:38:22] Thank you. Up next, is Nancy
[1:38:25] Kopp.
[1:38:26] >> Followed by Sari, Sara
[1:38:31] Straw. Mike or willingly.
[1:38:33] You're recognized.
[1:38:37] >> I am Cobb and I'm much
[1:38:38] Jacksonville's lifelong
[1:38:44] resident. I am. I graduated
[1:38:45] from high school from public
[1:38:46] high school back when Elvis
[1:38:48] was still alive. And I
[1:38:49] graduated from Unf back when
[1:38:51] they graduate on the green.
[1:38:51] That's all I'm going to tell
[1:38:53] you about how old I am. I've
[1:38:54] been here a long time and I am
[1:38:56] the proud parent of an amazing
[1:38:58] young man with Down syndrome.
[1:39:02] And that's why I'm here. Don
[1:39:03] is 45 years old and he is a
[1:39:06] true success story. A lot of
[1:39:07] what goes on in the community.
[1:39:08] You have to go. Oh, why did
[1:39:11] that happen? You can be proud
[1:39:11] that Don is a successful young
[1:39:16] man and it is greatly in part.
[1:39:18] The agency for Persons with
[1:39:19] disabilities as the apd.
[1:39:23] There's a lot of letters here.
[1:39:24] He is in a program called
[1:39:25] Consumer-directed Care, which
[1:39:28] is cdc. Plus, which is part of
[1:39:30] the Med waiver. I budget
[1:39:31] program and I said all that to
[1:39:36] say that. Of movement to
[1:39:38] perhaps do away with that
[1:39:40] program to move manage here
[1:39:41] program. And I'm here to ask
[1:39:45] you not to do that. At least
[1:39:46] not for people that are
[1:39:49] successfully on that program.
[1:39:50] It wouldn't be fair of. I
[1:39:51] didn't tell you a little bit
[1:39:52] about John success and tell
[1:39:56] you a little bit about why. We
[1:39:57] received job training,
[1:40:01] coaching. Transportation. He
[1:40:05] also gets therapy for bt's
[1:40:08] have therapy for Klein, Mental
[1:40:10] Health, Counseling in home
[1:40:12] support. I could go on lots
[1:40:13] and lots of services and
[1:40:15] they're all through cdc. Plus.
[1:40:19] Cause he got all that support,
[1:40:20] Don live as a valued
[1:40:21] contributing member of this
[1:40:23] community. He lives in his own
[1:40:24] home with this dog. Maggie,
[1:40:26] that's what he did on. If you
[1:40:27] don't want a group home, he
[1:40:29] wanted to be on his own and he
[1:40:30] lives successfully a hot the
[1:40:32] fishes. He swims today. He's
[1:40:32] not here because he's playing
[1:40:35] pickleball. He goes to church.
[1:40:37] He travels with his family and
[1:40:39] friends. He loves music. He
[1:40:40] plays the piano. He's learning
[1:40:42] to play the cello and violin.
[1:40:45] He's a diehard Elvis fan. And
[1:40:47] he attends oldest festivals.
[1:40:49] Every option, every
[1:40:50] opportunity gets he chairs for
[1:40:54] the Jags in the Seminoles.
[1:40:55] He's worked and volunteered in
[1:40:56] the community for many years.
[1:40:58] He recently retired after 17
[1:41:00] years of working and the same
[1:41:03] here in Jacksonville. I could
[1:41:06] go on and on. Thank you for
[1:41:07] your time and thank you for
[1:41:08] supporting this valuable
[1:41:10] program. Thank you. Thank you,
[1:41:13] Sara Meyer.
[1:41:15] >> Not available. Okay.
[1:41:16] Following MISTER Willie Lee
[1:41:19] will be like a dry Elliott.
[1:41:22] >> Janina Perez. Followed by
[1:41:26] Judy. Happen. You know? MR.
[1:41:30] Lee, you are recognized.
[1:41:31] >> Good morning. My name is
[1:41:32] Daryl Parents are asked that I
[1:41:35] speak in this lot or her. Yes,
[1:41:40] spot. My name is Daryl Cameron
[1:41:48] Ferrets. Father. I came here.
[1:41:49] At least those of you voted to
[1:41:53] end Florida's law last year.
[1:41:54] Particular Senator Yarborough
[1:41:56] for your support place. Do
[1:41:57] not.
[1:41:58] >> Please do not direct
[1:42:01] comments or any I'm sorry what
[1:42:04] police do not direct any
[1:42:07] comments or or isn't okay.
[1:42:07] Thank thank you for those who
[1:42:14] did it was not.
[1:42:16] >> The fact that 93% of
[1:42:16] Florida lawmakers agreed to
[1:42:18] and Florida's free kill law
[1:42:19] demonstrates that our
[1:42:22] government can work together.
[1:42:23] When Governor DeSantis vetoed
[1:42:24] the bill this summer, I
[1:42:26] started and free kill. Now the
[1:42:29] purpose of which MR. Educate
[1:42:30] the millions of people in the
[1:42:32] state of Florida but have no
[1:42:35] idea entering a Florida
[1:42:36] medical facility, they have no
[1:42:41] rights. And the whole those
[1:42:46] politicians. Do not. Vote to
[1:42:49] end this law. Accountable. The
[1:42:52] campaign is working. The
[1:42:54] billboard we are running on.
[1:42:55] I-95. Welcome to the Freak
[1:42:58] Hill state of Florida. Has
[1:42:58] been featured. Orlando
[1:43:03] Sentinel. Florida politics.
[1:43:07] Various podcast. 9 different
[1:43:08] tv station markets in the
[1:43:10] state of Florida and on the
[1:43:11] first Coast news here. Right
[1:43:15] here in Jacksonville. It's
[1:43:16] been trending on National
[1:43:18] International Social Media's.
[1:43:21] Just one podcast on Reddit
[1:43:26] received to 56 7,000 views.
[1:43:26] Donations I've come in from as
[1:43:28] far away as Texas. North
[1:43:33] Carolina. And advocates have
[1:43:35] signed up support our cause.
[1:43:37] And this next, let's with
[1:43:38] legislative session. Thousands
[1:43:39] them all over the state of
[1:43:41] Florida. We are building an
[1:43:44] army. The way to end this
[1:43:49] campaign. Quickly and easily.
[1:43:49] MR. Override Governor
[1:43:55] Desantis's veto. Florida loses
[1:44:01] credibility. As this goes on.
[1:44:03] Thank you. Very liberty and
[1:44:06] justice for all. That's what
[1:44:08] we said when we spoke here.
[1:44:11] Thank you very much, sir.
[1:44:19] >> next, we have a key it. I'm
[1:44:19] actually believe least. I
[1:44:22] think maybe we got out of. I'm
[1:44:28] sorry, you're recognized. I'll
[1:44:30] start by giving a little bit
[1:44:32] of why I think this program is
[1:44:35] important. If some background
[1:44:36] on myself, I am a native of
[1:44:37] Jacksonville graduate high
[1:44:42] school. Grew up as a serial
[1:44:44] athlete. And I assume I only
[1:44:45] way to get to college West
[1:44:47] Atlantic scholarship. That
[1:44:51] ended up being true. Dusty
[1:44:52] Rhodes over Unf gave him the
[1:44:53] opportunity to play baseball
[1:44:56] for him. And the wind comes
[1:44:58] into this story. When I got to
[1:45:03] unf. Grades were good. And I
[1:45:03] had the opportunity to major
[1:45:07] in electrical engineering.
[1:45:07] Will electrical engineering is
[1:45:10] not built for athlete. Core
[1:45:11] classes are right in the
[1:45:14] middle of practice. And dusty
[1:45:16] Rhodes coach Rose made a
[1:45:18] decision allow me to major
[1:45:20] graduate electrical
[1:45:21] engineering, even though he's
[1:45:22] starting center fielder and
[1:45:24] leadoff batter would be
[1:45:25] serially late to practice
[1:45:26] every Tuesday and Thursday.
[1:45:29] That one decision. Totally
[1:45:35] change the rest of my life. I
[1:45:36] have had the opportunity to
[1:45:37] have a great career and
[1:45:38] technology traveling the
[1:45:39] world. Most recently worked
[1:45:40] with a group of researchers
[1:45:43] out of by. Doing immersive
[1:45:49] technology. I a body aches.
[1:45:50] Last semester, a friend of
[1:45:53] mine from famu asked I will
[1:45:55] come Lida cohort of 10
[1:45:58] students at training. The
[1:46:02] technology moving so fast.
[1:46:03] That curricula curriculum
[1:46:04] approved by the time it gets
[1:46:06] approved. You know, outdated.
[1:46:10] I agree. And no good deed
[1:46:13] goes. And and so PRESIDENT
[1:46:17] Trump released I challenge. I
[1:46:17] was asked to lead a group of
[1:46:21] high school students later.
[1:46:22] Has to lead a group of
[1:46:23] students out of Jackson and
[1:46:24] then just a guy in lead, a
[1:46:25] group of students out of. Re
[1:46:31] ball. And so. I was talking to
[1:46:32] John. He said, hey, you gotta
[1:46:33] can lead a group of students
[1:46:36] at a Pensacola. And I'm just
[1:46:37] like you know, it just says
[1:46:38] that is way too much. And he
[1:46:43] said, hey, you just come. I
[1:46:43] can get you get in front of
[1:46:44] the right people explain what
[1:46:45] you're doing. Maybe they can
[1:46:47] help expand what you get. As
[1:46:52] you know, this is important.
[1:46:52] Is going to change the world.
[1:46:53] Amazon just, you know, the
[1:46:54] layoffs and all the hype
[1:46:57] around it. I'm going to do
[1:46:58] this for students. The only
[1:47:00] question is, is it going to 8
[1:47:01] going to be 8800 or better.
[1:47:04] 1000. Thank you for your time.
[1:47:07] Thank you very much. They
[1:47:11] stopped this became trail.
[1:47:12] Please state your name for the
[1:47:16] record. Good morning. Chair
[1:47:17] members of the delegation. My
[1:47:20] name is lucky
[1:47:21] >> And on the program,
[1:47:21] director of the National
[1:47:24] Center for Security Education.
[1:47:26] Now build on what my colleague
[1:47:28] resented about the efforts
[1:47:30] that we are doing currently to
[1:47:32] advanced ai missions in
[1:47:33] Florida. And throughout this.
[1:47:35] I want to request your support
[1:47:37] annex ending education and
[1:47:40] workforce readiness programs
[1:47:40] across Florida's public
[1:47:43] schools and colleges before
[1:47:45] you today in your binders are
[1:47:47] materials outlining what MR.
[1:47:48] Lee mentioned in both our ai
[1:47:51] an industry internship program
[1:47:53] and I Presidential Challenge
[1:47:54] Initiative, these 2 programs
[1:47:58] are designed to bring hands on
[1:47:59] real world ai learning
[1:48:00] experience to students across
[1:48:01] the state ranging from high
[1:48:04] school to college. We have
[1:48:05] successfully completed our
[1:48:07] first internship this past
[1:48:09] semester with Florida, a m's
[1:48:11] University Cyber Policy
[1:48:13] Institute. Also students from
[1:48:15] fsu, the University of North
[1:48:16] Florida, Clemson about The
[1:48:20] state, Texas, a m Texarkana
[1:48:21] and we worked with a company
[1:48:24] here in Jacksonville, cause
[1:48:25] csi companies to produce a
[1:48:26] solution built completely with
[1:48:28] ai. This organization is
[1:48:30] nationally and internationally
[1:48:32] recognized during the
[1:48:33] internship. Students gain
[1:48:34] practical experience applying
[1:48:37] ai to workforce challenges and
[1:48:38] saw firsthand how these
[1:48:39] technologies drive innovation
[1:48:41] across industries.
[1:48:41] >> What we discovered was
[1:48:45] eye-opening and kind of
[1:48:46] disturbing even among juniors
[1:48:48] and seniors at the collegiate
[1:48:50] level, many of them lack
[1:48:52] familiarity not only with
[1:48:53] building these ai tools, but
[1:48:55] also being able to use them
[1:48:56] effectively. These tools are
[1:48:59] now essential in every field.
[1:49:00] And according to the Florida
[1:49:01] Chamber Foundation, Florida
[1:49:07] Workforce 2030, report. 77% of
[1:49:08] businesses anticipate the
[1:49:09] artificial intelligence and
[1:49:11] other emerging technologies
[1:49:12] will disrupt and completely
[1:49:13] change their operations. That
[1:49:16] means the our students at the
[1:49:18] high school and collegiate
[1:49:20] level need to begin to get
[1:49:21] prepared. Now, not later in
[1:49:24] order to remain competitive.
[1:49:25] We're actively working with
[1:49:26] Fremont High School and Andrew
[1:49:27] Jackson High School here in
[1:49:30] Jacksonville to integrate ai
[1:49:31] and education into their
[1:49:32] classrooms through the I
[1:49:33] challenge initiated by Donald
[1:49:37] Trump. We recognize, though,
[1:49:39] that this education must
[1:49:42] continue beyond this
[1:49:42] challenge, although it's not
[1:49:43] something that has been stated
[1:49:45] statewide. We do believe that
[1:49:47] students should have access to
[1:49:49] it. We're asking for your
[1:49:50] support of legislation and
[1:49:52] funding and the upcoming
[1:49:53] session to support those
[1:49:53] things operationally and
[1:49:57] technologically.
[1:49:58] >> Representative Daniels has
[1:50:04] a question. Thank you very
[1:50:04] >> can you?
[1:50:05] >> Give the name of you have
[1:50:09] an appropriation and you give
[1:50:11] the name that's on. Actual
[1:50:11] appropriation is the
[1:50:12] organization's name on. There
[1:50:13] was something preparation
[1:50:16] you're recognized.
[1:50:16] >> The ai in industry
[1:50:19] experiencia learning program.
[1:50:21] And the name on the is the
[1:50:21] National Center for Security
[1:50:27] at Education. Thank you very
[1:50:34] much. The stop is Perez
[1:50:38] followed by JUNE And Brooke
[1:50:40] Please make your way to force
[1:50:44] the al you're recognized.
[1:50:46] Hello, good afternoon. My name
[1:50:47] is mean up. It I'm the Florida
[1:50:48] director at Moms Rising a
[1:50:52] national online on the ground.
[1:50:53] >> Organization with a network
[1:50:53] of thousands of families
[1:50:54] across the state, including
[1:50:55] here in Jacksonville. I'm also
[1:50:55] a mom here in Jacksonville,
[1:50:59] Florida. And in the last 3
[1:51:00] years, I've talked to moms
[1:51:01] here in Jacksonville and
[1:51:03] across the state. And it's
[1:51:04] clear that Florida is a state
[1:51:05] where families are not just
[1:51:05] are going to thrive, but to
[1:51:09] survive. And one of things
[1:51:10] that we've been hearing about
[1:51:11] is the inability to access
[1:51:11] high quality, affordable
[1:51:13] childcare. In our
[1:51:14] conversations with our network
[1:51:16] across the state, we
[1:51:17] consistently hear it as the
[1:51:18] top issues impacting families
[1:51:23] in our state. In fact, recent
[1:51:25] data shows that 13% of
[1:51:26] children born age 5 in
[1:51:27] Florida, lived in families
[1:51:29] where some wanted to quit
[1:51:29] changed or refuse a job
[1:51:32] because of Child care and the
[1:51:36] cost of childcare Rose 5.5% in
[1:51:38] Florida between 2024 2025. So
[1:51:38] we're talking recent recent
[1:51:41] numbers. Florida families are
[1:51:44] being hit even harder because
[1:51:46] families and child care
[1:51:46] providers are dealing with
[1:51:47] some of the highest inflation
[1:51:50] in the country. The highest
[1:51:50] housing costs that are
[1:51:51] squeezing our families to
[1:51:53] limit. But instead of
[1:51:55] increasing investment in early
[1:51:57] learning, they decreased by
[1:51:59] nearly 6% this year. And as
[1:52:00] more families became eligible,
[1:52:03] worsening, waiting, waiting
[1:52:04] list and voluntary Pre-k
[1:52:06] funding stayed flat
[1:52:06] threatening program quality
[1:52:10] and access. Sure I don't tell
[1:52:11] anyone here when funding
[1:52:13] states flight essentially a
[1:52:15] cut to the program as costs
[1:52:17] are increasing with inflation.
[1:52:22] But families are asking. Is
[1:52:24] that we make investments to
[1:52:24] stabilize childcare program to
[1:52:25] make it possible for them to
[1:52:26] pay their early educators and
[1:52:30] families providing wages. And
[1:52:31] to have reasonable benefits
[1:52:32] for the vitally important work
[1:52:33] that they do as parents. We
[1:52:34] want those caring for children
[1:52:34] to be able to care for their
[1:52:37] own families. And moms and
[1:52:38] families in Florida are urging
[1:52:39] you to increase school
[1:52:40] readiness funding to eliminate
[1:52:42] waiting list and support
[1:52:43] working families to raise Vpk
[1:52:44] base student allocation to
[1:52:46] attract or retain high-quality
[1:52:48] early childhood educators and
[1:52:49] to make high quality
[1:52:50] affordable childcare statewide
[1:52:52] priority for families and
[1:52:54] providers. We urge you to take
[1:52:55] action the session to ensure
[1:52:55] families and children of all
[1:52:59] can thrive. Not just survive.
[1:53:03] Thank you very much. If chit.
[1:53:05] I'm sorry, redness and has a
[1:53:05] question you're recognized.
[1:53:09] Thank you. MADAM Chair, Hyams
[1:53:09] Perez.
[1:53:11] >> Do you know roughly about
[1:53:14] the average cost of early
[1:53:15] childhood education for a
[1:53:19] family per year? You're
[1:53:19] recognized?
[1:53:20] >> Absolutely. It depends on
[1:53:21] the age of the child, if and
[1:53:21] how many children you have,
[1:53:25] right? And so the average cost
[1:53:26] for infant care exceeds
[1:53:27] college tuition rates in
[1:53:30] Florida. And so when you
[1:53:31] compound that with families
[1:53:33] who have children in variety
[1:53:36] of ages, it becomes thousands
[1:53:36] of dollars. We get reports
[1:53:38] families that it exceeds their
[1:53:39] mortgage costs, their rent
[1:53:39] costs and all their household
[1:53:44] costs. And that is regardless
[1:53:46] of family size. Of course, it
[1:53:47] gets harder if and if there
[1:53:48] are multiple children, the
[1:53:48] household using child care and
[1:53:52] that includes after care. We
[1:53:52] go straight into public school
[1:53:55] years as well. Thank you very
[1:54:03] much. If JUNE in Brook
[1:54:03] >> can make their way to the
[1:54:04] podium. Please identify
[1:54:05] yourself for the records.
[1:54:08] Please. My name is JUNE
[1:54:09] Babineau. My records on my
[1:54:12] addresses on file. And I want
[1:54:13] to welcome the delegation.
[1:54:14] Thank you for your service and
[1:54:16] asked that today. You also
[1:54:19] consider. Doing whatever you
[1:54:22] can to help all Floridians to
[1:54:25] have health insurance.
[1:54:26] Realizing that the Affordable
[1:54:28] Care Act is federally
[1:54:29] regulated under the current
[1:54:34] administration without. Health
[1:54:36] insurance from the aca with
[1:54:37] tax credit, many families
[1:54:40] would not be able to afford
[1:54:41] health insurance and fall
[1:54:44] into. Poverty due to health
[1:54:47] costs alone. I have real
[1:54:48] concerns for children in
[1:54:51] particular. And the they are
[1:54:52] the innocent victims who have
[1:54:56] no voice. And I don't stand
[1:54:57] alone. The number of children
[1:55:01] under the Affordable Care Act
[1:55:01] marketplace is 9% of the total
[1:55:05] market place. Total enrollment
[1:55:05] in Florida has been increasing
[1:55:11] since then. As of 2024, the
[1:55:11] percentage of Florida children
[1:55:13] living below that federal
[1:55:16] poverty level in Florida was
[1:55:20] 17%. Consider that there are
[1:55:24] another 38% of children living
[1:55:26] in households that our asset
[1:55:28] limited income constrained
[1:55:29] employed, which is the
[1:55:33] acronym, alice. The alice
[1:55:37] Threshold. Families spend more
[1:55:38] than 30% of their income
[1:55:40] housing on housing,
[1:55:42] highlighting the affordable
[1:55:47] care, the housing crisis. If
[1:55:48] they if currently the
[1:55:49] Affordable Care Act insurance
[1:55:52] with tax credits goes away, we
[1:55:55] have a health crisis. Add
[1:55:57] health costs without insurance
[1:55:58] and you have more. Florida
[1:56:03] families living in poverty. In
[1:56:07] 2024. 55 1% of families. We're
[1:56:11] under the Alice threshold. And
[1:56:11] and including the poverty
[1:56:17] level. If or when the aca with
[1:56:19] the tax credit goes away. Just
[1:56:22] a few of the state level
[1:56:23] actions that our Senate and
[1:56:26] our representatives. Could
[1:56:29] consider one would be Medicaid
[1:56:33] expansion, expand Medicaid to
[1:56:34] cover nearly 800,000 uninsured
[1:56:40] Floridians. You MAY committed
[1:56:40] or Asian. You MAY finish your
[1:56:43] sentence.
[1:56:47] >> Consider state subsidies.
[1:56:48] Programs and offer states
[1:56:50] Pacific marketplace. For
[1:56:52] health insurance. And I just
[1:56:56] wanted to say the effects on
[1:56:56] children, if we don't take
[1:56:58] care of this extremely
[1:57:04] detrimental. And they are our
[1:57:04] greatest natural resource to
[1:57:06] we must do something. Thank
[1:57:10] you. Thank you very much.
[1:57:11] Sprint. Babineau followed by
[1:57:16] Denise Rose, followed by Mike
[1:57:16] Ludwick. If you can make your
[1:57:23] way towards the middle aisle.
[1:57:24] Good morning recognized. Know
[1:57:25] my address and information is
[1:57:27] on record.
[1:57:27] >> I came talk to you about
[1:57:32] simple. A simple issue. And
[1:57:33] year that's about public
[1:57:36] safety and economy. And
[1:57:37] something that most people do
[1:57:38] not know exist. It's
[1:57:41] underrated of part of the of
[1:57:43] virtually every government and
[1:57:44] that's called civil
[1:57:46] engineering. And the way civil
[1:57:50] engineering works. Between the
[1:57:53] stop like to stop by. If
[1:57:54] someone travels at the speed
[1:57:56] limit or slightly below, you
[1:57:59] always a green light. That's
[1:58:02] economy that safety. None of
[1:58:06] the road rage issues hop but
[1:58:06] the ignorance of civil
[1:58:08] engineering and how and age
[1:58:13] the speed flow. 2 economy and
[1:58:17] to safety is pretty much. And
[1:58:20] I'm suggesting that the
[1:58:24] government take that issue are
[1:58:26] live freighter, educate the
[1:58:29] public to to save them money
[1:58:32] to save them. Safety and to
[1:58:33] provide much more efficiency
[1:58:36] on the road surface. It would
[1:58:37] be very simple to reach out to
[1:58:40] the different media. And have
[1:58:45] them regular advisement to
[1:58:48] safety Anaconda MAY and
[1:58:50] following the traffic light.
[1:58:51] Speed limits. It's a limit.
[1:58:54] It's not a goal. It's not
[1:58:56] something to overcome. Not
[1:58:59] something to surpass. Because
[1:59:02] everyone we travel safely. And
[1:59:06] economically that speed limit.
[1:59:12] Problems, reduce Just imagine.
[1:59:14] But if you are on the road,
[1:59:14] you didn't see people cutting
[1:59:17] in zooming and then guess
[1:59:17] what, all the time you reach
[1:59:19] the next stop light. There's a
[1:59:24] whole crowd waiting. We could
[1:59:26] we could have illuminated
[1:59:28] easily but educate the public.
[1:59:35] And use the media to help.
[1:59:37] Thank you for your time. Thank
[1:59:42] you very much.
[1:59:43] >> Up is Denise Rose. You MAY
[1:59:49] approach the podium, please.
[1:59:54] You're recognized.
[1:59:56] >> Good evening. Members of
[1:59:57] the delegation.
[2:00:00] >> My name is Denise wrote and
[2:00:01] I Llevan man from Duval County
[2:00:02] sentenced to life without a
[2:00:06] role. And they have been
[2:00:09] imprisoned since the 90.
[2:00:11] >> I stand before you with a
[2:00:12] simple plea. Bring back hope
[2:00:14] to Florida's justice system.
[2:00:18] I'm asking you support the
[2:00:20] Florida care long-term
[2:00:21] sentence at a law that would
[2:00:23] give deserve in men and women
[2:00:26] a chance, not a guarantee, but
[2:00:30] a chance to be seen or who
[2:00:31] they become. Not just for what
[2:00:35] they once did, according to
[2:00:36] the Florida Department of
[2:00:39] Corrections, 2019 report, the
[2:00:41] recidivism rate for murder and
[2:00:44] manslaughter is only 12.3% The
[2:00:47] lowest of all the fan says.
[2:00:49] And among people aged 50 and
[2:00:52] older recidivism rate is the
[2:00:55] lowest ranging from 19.4 and
[2:00:57] decrease. And as they reach 60
[2:01:02] years and older. These numbers
[2:01:04] prove what so many families
[2:01:05] chaplains and correctional
[2:01:08] staff already know people can
[2:01:12] and do change. These aren't
[2:01:13] the same people. They were
[2:01:19] decades ago. I'm maturity,
[2:01:19] remorse and rehabilitation
[2:01:22] have changed. Now. But today
[2:01:24] many of them are serving life
[2:01:26] without parole. What we call
[2:01:29] death by incarceration. It's
[2:01:31] like being trapped in a glass
[2:01:32] casket. You can see the world
[2:01:35] moving on without you. The
[2:01:36] world can see you, but your
[2:01:40] frozen in time. Them that and
[2:01:41] a place meant to correct not
[2:01:44] to bury. Every day men and
[2:01:47] women behind those walls are
[2:01:49] degrees mentoring. Younger
[2:01:49] PRESIDENT Of and find him
[2:01:53] pain. They faced their past
[2:01:56] and embrace accountability.
[2:01:57] But no matter how much they
[2:02:00] change our system fails them.
[2:02:01] You want Napa be worthy of
[2:02:06] another The long-term sentence
[2:02:09] is about mercy, not leniency.
[2:02:12] It says that a person has
[2:02:15] truly changed 2 years of
[2:02:18] introspection, education and
[2:02:19] rehabilitation. We should at
[2:02:22] least look again, because
[2:02:23] justice without hope is not
[2:02:26] justice at Thank much. Thank
[2:02:28] you very much. Please hold
[2:02:34] your pal's. Following MISTER.
[2:02:37] >> My cloud would we have rob
[2:02:37] law?
[2:02:37] >> With space, Florida
[2:02:41] PRESIDENT, he's the ceo. Kelli
[2:02:43] Cooper, Adrian Burk. If all
[2:02:44] can make your way towards the
[2:02:47] al. Please state your name for
[2:02:47] the records. You are
[2:02:51] recognized.
[2:02:54] >> Good afternoon. My name is
[2:02:54] Mike Ludwick. A proud member
[2:02:55] of the Northside Coalition of
[2:02:58] Jacksonville. We show up and
[2:03:01] speak out against all forms
[2:03:01] social racial economic
[2:03:02] injustice with a focused on
[2:03:06] the northwest tax bill. Our
[2:03:07] PRESIDENT Kelly Fraser not be
[2:03:09] here today and asked me to
[2:03:14] share these words with you. We
[2:03:16] urge you to reject any
[2:03:16] redistricting plans that
[2:03:17] undermine their
[2:03:21] representation. Do not further
[2:03:22] dilute the voices of black
[2:03:25] voters and erase decades of
[2:03:27] hard-won progress, democracy
[2:03:29] demands transparency and
[2:03:30] equity, not political
[2:03:33] manipulation. Second, we asked
[2:03:34] you to reversed expansion of
[2:03:38] the schools of Hope program.
[2:03:40] This program diverts critical
[2:03:41] funding from our public
[2:03:42] schools and hands it to
[2:03:43] private operators with little
[2:03:46] accountability. Our children
[2:03:48] deserve fully resourced.
[2:03:50] Classrooms and not a 2 tiered
[2:03:51] system that leaves vulnerable
[2:03:57] students behind. We asked you
[2:03:58] to reform the punitive
[2:03:59] restrictions on third-party
[2:04:00] voter registration groups like
[2:04:02] the North Side. These rules
[2:04:04] don't protect voters. They
[2:04:07] suppress them. Let's remove
[2:04:10] unnecessary barriers from that
[2:04:13] civic engagement is a right. A
[2:04:18] risk. We need clarity, income
[2:04:20] passion and how we treat
[2:04:22] returning citizens, formerly
[2:04:23] incarcerated the current
[2:04:24] system for restoring voting
[2:04:27] rights is confusing, costly
[2:04:29] and unjust. Let's build a
[2:04:31] process that honors redemption
[2:04:34] and encourages participation.
[2:04:37] And finally, we must expand
[2:04:39] Medicaid. Florida has left
[2:04:41] hundreds of thousands of
[2:04:42] people uninsured while federal
[2:04:45] dollars that on the table, not
[2:04:48] just a policy failure, the
[2:04:49] moral one we can and must you
[2:04:53] better. We ask you to lead
[2:04:55] with courage, reject policies
[2:04:58] that Biden and diminish and
[2:05:00] invest in the people that make
[2:05:00] Jacksonville strong
[2:05:02] communities are watching and
[2:05:03] history will remember were
[2:05:06] used. And thank you, MR. Le
[2:05:15] Pick. Up next. It's Rob Lowe.
[2:05:19] You're recognized. Thank you,
[2:05:20] MADAM Chair, and thank you for
[2:05:22] the delegation for the time
[2:05:24] today. I am Rob Law space,
[2:05:25] Florida.
[2:05:26] >> And it's a great
[2:05:27] opportunity for me today just
[2:05:29] to share a little bit space
[2:05:29] activities here in the state
[2:05:30] and what we're looking forward
[2:05:31] to and the coming legislative
[2:05:36] session. As we look across the
[2:05:38] last year, we've seen anywhere
[2:05:39] between 2 and 20% growth and
[2:05:40] aerospace activities depending
[2:05:42] on the sector specifically
[2:05:45] related to those different
[2:05:46] activities. And nowhere is
[2:05:47] that more evidence than here
[2:05:49] in northeast Florida and Duval
[2:05:51] County. Couple quick examples.
[2:05:52] Just to give you some further
[2:05:54] insight. And we recently
[2:05:58] closed out a project with be a
[2:05:58] Marine systems. First ship
[2:05:59] lift activity, a 250 million
[2:06:02] dollar investment by here in
[2:06:04] Duval County. It's a great
[2:06:05] project and it's something
[2:06:06] that was long time coming. And
[2:06:07] we were very fortunate for us
[2:06:09] to be partners in that project
[2:06:11] and close that out this last
[2:06:12] year as well as work with
[2:06:15] Cecil. They support on their
[2:06:17] utility quarter development
[2:06:18] and that kind of investment is
[2:06:22] key. When we look at some of
[2:06:23] the up aerospace companies
[2:06:26] that are interested in places
[2:06:26] like Cecil things that are on
[2:06:30] the cutting edge like a auto
[2:06:31] yes, of course. Longstanding
[2:06:34] partners like Boeing Aviation.
[2:06:35] And, you know, when you look
[2:06:35] across Duval County, which
[2:06:39] you'll see also, it's just the
[2:06:39] vibrancy of the space
[2:06:42] technology community as well,
[2:06:43] anchored largely by red wire
[2:06:44] technologies here in
[2:06:45] Jacksonville and up and coming
[2:06:48] new startups like Starcatcher.
[2:06:50] We just recently demonstrated
[2:06:53] a world world record setting
[2:06:54] transmission over one kilowatt
[2:06:58] of solar energy and the test
[2:06:59] to demonstrate their new
[2:07:01] technologies. So it's an
[2:07:03] exciting time to be part of
[2:07:04] the aerospace industry and
[2:07:05] support the aerospace industry
[2:07:05] growth across the state.
[2:07:08] Course, here, Duval County. We
[2:07:09] have several initiatives that
[2:07:10] will be going forward through
[2:07:11] legislative session. That will
[2:07:15] help us further accelerate be
[2:07:16] more efficient, effective in
[2:07:16] supporting industry as we go
[2:07:18] forward. And with that, I look
[2:07:19] forward to working with all of
[2:07:20] throughout the legislative
[2:07:20] session and welcome any
[2:07:34] questions. Thank you, MR. We
[2:07:35] have Kelli Cooper up nays
[2:07:38] following by Adrian Burk.
[2:07:39] >> And Charlie if you can make
[2:07:42] your way towards the ow.
[2:07:43] You're recognized. Please
[2:07:44] state your name for the
[2:07:48] record. My name is Kelly. Good
[2:07:51] afternoon person my name like
[2:07:56] or I'm grateful to live in a
[2:07:59] and order state yet we must
[2:08:01] fund the best of correction.
[2:08:07] Our justice. Secretary Dixon
[2:08:08] has not only hostile start.
[2:08:11] It's but also public safety.
[2:08:13] Today he's managing 10,000
[2:08:14] more inmates and 2021. At the
[2:08:20] same. We have a staffing.
[2:08:21] We're 70% of officers with
[2:08:24] less than 3 years. I can't.
[2:08:25] Probation thing. Excuse me.
[2:08:29] Can you hold? Can move closer
[2:08:30] to the Mike? Please are all
[2:08:31] public closer towards
[2:08:34] >> So we can hear Is that
[2:08:37] better? Yes, thank you.
[2:08:40] >> So half on probation or in
[2:08:41] training, 19 year-old are
[2:08:45] supervising 150 inmates. Those
[2:08:47] with 5 years experience over c
[2:08:50] 1500 to 2000 lives, jobs once
[2:08:51] requiring 12 to 15 years.
[2:08:55] Experience the result assaults
[2:08:58] on officers up. 49% inmate on
[2:09:02] inmate up 50%. For now it
[2:09:03] feels turnover Dickstein
[2:09:05] panhandle prisons are near
[2:09:08] Alabama, which pay $35 an
[2:09:11] hour. While Florida's pay. 22.
[2:09:12] Additionally, those
[2:09:12] incarcerated have too much
[2:09:14] time on their hands. And I
[2:09:16] don't mind is the devil's
[2:09:18] playground and a proven
[2:09:18] trigger for assaults on
[2:09:22] officers. Another inmate. One
[2:09:23] superintendent in other did
[2:09:27] that but praying. Good playing
[2:09:27] good food and good medical
[2:09:29] make a good PRESIDENT. We're
[2:09:32] failing on most accounts. For
[2:09:34] long-term ERs like my son
[2:09:37] starting a 40 year sentence.
[2:09:39] Options are scarce. He's
[2:09:41] locked out of most programs
[2:09:42] and jobs. But for 21 hours a
[2:09:47] day of nothing, education,
[2:09:48] recreation work, all got it by
[2:09:51] chronic under staffing. We say
[2:09:52] we're tough on crime, but
[2:09:52] we've become a state or a
[2:09:54] nursing home for the elderly
[2:09:56] and a warehouse for the
[2:09:57] mentally ill. That's not
[2:09:58] corrections. That abdication
[2:10:02] case in point 573 people
[2:10:04] locked up 20 plus years for an
[2:10:06] armed robbery costing
[2:10:06] taxpayers over 20 million
[2:10:09] dollars a year. Are they still
[2:10:09] dangerous? But they've been
[2:10:13] punished enough. Meanwhile, in
[2:10:14] 24 the Florida Commission on
[2:10:17] Offender review released with
[2:10:20] 0% are bit of Let's trust the
[2:10:23] experts. They've life
[2:10:26] sentences for those. We truly
[2:10:28] fear rehabilitate. The rest
[2:10:29] with real programs will work
[2:10:30] in real It's us. Thank you
[2:10:45] very much. Up is Adrian Burk.
[2:10:46] Charlie Croix followed by
[2:10:48] Denise Gott and Ryan Chandler.
[2:10:49] >> Please identify yourself
[2:10:52] for the record. Please.
[2:10:52] >> Hi there. Good afternoon.
[2:10:56] My name is Charlie Cry. My
[2:10:56] pronouns are they them? And I
[2:10:57] live here and the beautifully
[2:11:00] diverse to fall. I'm here
[2:11:02] today with equality. Florida
[2:11:03] are statewide lgbtq civil
[2:11:04] rights organization to urge
[2:11:05] you to represent all your
[2:11:07] constituents. The session.
[2:11:09] Stop attacks on dei and the
[2:11:11] States war on Freedom and
[2:11:12] prioritize the health of our
[2:11:15] communities. Trans people,
[2:11:17] immigrants, people of color
[2:11:18] and other marginalized
[2:11:19] communities are not your
[2:11:23] enemies. We're your neighbors.
[2:11:23] Diversity, equity, and
[2:11:26] inclusion are bad words.
[2:11:28] They've been twisted and
[2:11:29] weaponized by extremists to
[2:11:30] rob hardworking Americans of
[2:11:34] equal access opportunities.
[2:11:34] Yesterday was a Veterans Day
[2:11:35] and tomorrow starts
[2:11:36] transgender awareness week.
[2:11:38] I'd like to bring your
[2:11:38] attention to all the brave
[2:11:39] trance military service
[2:11:40] members currently banned from
[2:11:42] serving as legal challenges. I
[2:11:46] thank them for their service.
[2:11:46] There is no freedom in
[2:11:47] government dictating what we
[2:11:50] can read and who we can be.
[2:11:51] Real freedom. Let's educators
[2:11:53] teach actual history allows
[2:11:53] parents to make the best
[2:11:56] decisions for their children
[2:11:57] and allows doctors educated
[2:12:00] experts provide care. Last
[2:12:01] year over 6 million Floridians
[2:12:04] voted to restore reproductive
[2:12:05] rights. That's 2 million more
[2:12:06] votes than DeSantis received
[2:12:08] to become governor in 2018. By
[2:12:09] the way, and sent a resounding
[2:12:11] message in opposition of
[2:12:12] government interference with
[2:12:14] health care decisions, respect
[2:12:18] the will of the people. Even
[2:12:19] lives, reducing health care
[2:12:20] costs and building healthier
[2:12:21] communities. Our values shared
[2:12:24] across party lines. Federal
[2:12:26] cuts have put lives at risk by
[2:12:28] creating critical gaps and hiv
[2:12:30] testing treatment, prevention
[2:12:32] and support the state must
[2:12:32] take action to fill these
[2:12:36] gaps. Putting funding now
[2:12:37] would undo decades of progress
[2:12:38] and endanger thousands of
[2:12:45] Floridians. We all deserve a
[2:12:45] healthier, safer and more
[2:12:46] equitable. Florida, where
[2:12:47] every family is treated with
[2:12:49] dignity and respect. This
[2:12:52] session. Remember these
[2:12:53] critical issues and rep
[2:12:53] NOVEMBER will remember who
[2:13:01] stood with us? Thank you. They
[2:13:02] Denise Gott, if you could
[2:13:03] identify yourself for the
[2:13:05] records, please.
[2:13:06] >> Good afternoon. I'm Denise
[2:13:10] Scott. First off, let me say I
[2:13:12] want to thank Representative
[2:13:14] Angie Nixon for her tireless
[2:13:16] leadership commitment, not the
[2:13:17] right to addressing her. I'm
[2:13:21] making a statement. I like
[2:13:22] thank her for her leadership
[2:13:24] and what she does for this
[2:13:26] city. She's always on the
[2:13:28] front line and we appreciate
[2:13:29] her as see that my
[2:13:30] representatives showed up
[2:13:30] late. She that she's a no show
[2:13:34] for the people. Was this
[2:13:35] Republican legislator always
[2:13:37] call order. Please, please
[2:13:37] make sure that you're stop my
[2:13:41] time. Please. Please make sure
[2:13:42] that your responses. Are
[2:13:48] respectful. My response is I
[2:13:53] respectful this much both. And
[2:13:54] this is this Republican
[2:13:55] legislation always diluting
[2:13:57] black representation with
[2:13:59] Germany. Why aren't you
[2:13:59] defending what's right and
[2:14:01] represent the people its like
[2:14:03] some of you are You only
[2:14:07] defend what benefit you.
[2:14:09] Credit racing black history.
[2:14:10] Stop allowing this governor
[2:14:10] that teach that black folks
[2:14:13] benefited from slavery, teach
[2:14:14] the truth. Slavery happen and
[2:14:17] it was bad. Slavery is white
[2:14:19] history and how my ancestors
[2:14:21] divide. It's black history.
[2:14:25] Pope Leo says it best. It's to
[2:14:27] be called woke in a world that
[2:14:28] sleeps through suffering is no
[2:14:30] in Seoul. And I'm glad to be
[2:14:33] woke. You have inconveniences
[2:14:36] entire state with you agree to
[2:14:37] the new allegiance to a
[2:14:37] tyrant. And I'm not talking
[2:14:38] about the PRESIDENT. I'm
[2:14:40] talking about this. Governor,
[2:14:41] as I told the city Council and
[2:14:44] the school board. If you think
[2:14:45] Charlie Kirk's race, if you
[2:14:48] don't see Charlie coach racism
[2:14:50] is because you don't see you
[2:14:51] on haven't statues in on
[2:14:53] colleges and universities. 4
[2:14:57] races community drop out. It's
[2:14:59] no different than they allowed
[2:15:00] a community Confederate
[2:15:04] monuments to be elected. We
[2:15:05] the people are sick and tired
[2:15:07] of your continued racism and
[2:15:08] white superiority. You all
[2:15:10] took oath to uphold the
[2:15:11] Constitution to represent the
[2:15:14] people. When we start doing
[2:15:15] that, you have always you have
[2:15:17] already. We cannot public
[2:15:18] school system when you thought
[2:15:20] it was wise to do this voucher
[2:15:22] program for the wealthy. So
[2:15:26] now you think it's wise to a
[2:15:28] for-profit? I just thank you
[2:15:29] very for trade. Put let's say
[2:15:30] you got choose and pick and
[2:15:31] children. They very much
[2:15:38] you're out of order. You're up
[2:15:39] next. Please identify
[2:15:44] yourself. Good afternoon.
[2:15:46] Thank you for the opportunity
[2:15:47] speak with you today. My name
[2:15:48] is Ryan Chandler. I'm the
[2:15:50] chair of the Association of
[2:15:51] qualified organizations.
[2:15:52] >> We provide waiver support,
[2:15:53] coordination services to
[2:15:54] individuals with developmental
[2:15:57] disabilities. I wanted to
[2:15:58] thank you for your support of
[2:16:00] the apd. I budget waiver and
[2:16:00] waiver support coordination
[2:16:04] last session. I'm here today
[2:16:04] because the future of the I
[2:16:06] budget waiver, which has
[2:16:07] supported this vulnerable
[2:16:07] population in Florida for more
[2:16:11] than 30 years is at risk.
[2:16:12] There are proposals to move
[2:16:12] the waiver program to a
[2:16:15] managed care system on paper.
[2:16:15] Managed care MAY sound
[2:16:17] efficient and they work for
[2:16:19] some individuals with less
[2:16:19] complex needs. But our
[2:16:22] population has diverse needs.
[2:16:25] Be fit into managed care box.
[2:16:27] The devastating effects of
[2:16:28] managed care for this
[2:16:29] population with regard to
[2:16:32] dental and applied behavior.
[2:16:33] Analysis services is currently
[2:16:34] being experienced and should
[2:16:34] not be the only option for
[2:16:36] this population. Staley
[2:16:39] services that they rely on to
[2:16:39] safely function in the
[2:16:43] community and at home as
[2:16:43] waiver support coordinators.
[2:16:44] We don't just connect people
[2:16:46] with the services. We know our
[2:16:47] consumers personally for years
[2:16:50] and sometimes decades, we
[2:16:50] guide families through the
[2:16:52] Medicaid re determination
[2:16:55] process. Ssi, ssdi, snap and
[2:16:55] other vital third-party
[2:16:59] benefits. We connect them to
[2:17:01] community resources. We're a
[2:17:01] consistent point of contact
[2:17:06] and a complicated system. We
[2:17:07] have incentive to delay,
[2:17:09] delay, deny or reduced
[2:17:11] services referred to as chief
[2:17:12] saving savings rebate and the
[2:17:12] managed care model, which is
[2:17:13] currently 7 and a half
[2:17:17] percent. We are paid the same
[2:17:19] regardless of the services the
[2:17:19] individual receive. So we have
[2:17:20] no bias in advocating for the
[2:17:21] bessent for the best interests
[2:17:24] of the clients we serve.
[2:17:26] Another important
[2:17:27] consideration is the cdc plus
[2:17:28] program the self-directed
[2:17:30] option within the waiver.
[2:17:31] Currently there is no true
[2:17:33] equivalent under managed care.
[2:17:34] The proposed alternative
[2:17:36] offers fewer services and far
[2:17:38] less flexibility. Stripping
[2:17:39] families of the control they
[2:17:40] rely on to Taylor supports,
[2:17:41] especially in more rural
[2:17:43] areas. Where there MAY be a
[2:17:47] shortage of providers. Florida
[2:17:48] has an effective waiver
[2:17:49] program, requires adequate
[2:17:51] funding, support and
[2:17:52] responsible management not
[2:17:53] dismantling. We request that
[2:17:55] you protect the I budget
[2:17:57] waiver and the cdc plus
[2:17:57] program so that it is boys and
[2:18:01] available option. For this
[2:18:02] very vulnerable to diverse and
[2:18:04] complex population. Thank you.
[2:18:07] Thank you very much. Up next,
[2:18:12] we have joy Burgess, Samantha
[2:18:12] Series, a sunburn him. I would
[2:18:15] like to remind everyone.
[2:18:16] >> We will maintain order and
[2:18:20] decorum. If not, I will strike
[2:18:20] they gavel in. You will be
[2:18:30] escorted out.
[2:18:36] >> As Burgess knows Smith.
[2:18:40] This Burgess is not here. You
[2:18:41] Aires. Please identify
[2:18:43] yourself for the record.
[2:18:45] Samantha Series, I'm a
[2:18:47] concerned Duval resident and I
[2:18:48] request to repeal sections 18
[2:18:50] 28 a Senate bill. 180.
[2:18:50] >> We need to preserve
[2:18:54] Florida's ecosystems wildlife
[2:18:55] and public lands. We already
[2:18:56] have a Florida Fish and
[2:18:57] Wildlife Conservation
[2:18:59] Commission whose primary
[2:19:00] interests are in land
[2:19:01] development, real estate and
[2:19:02] private profit. I implore you
[2:19:05] to protect Florida. We need to
[2:19:05] take responsibility for our
[2:19:09] environment. Sb 180, freezes
[2:19:10] community planning across
[2:19:11] Florida for 3 years. It bans
[2:19:16] any local. And a new local
[2:19:16] regulations that could be seen
[2:19:18] as more restrictive or
[2:19:20] burdensome. Then what existed
[2:19:23] before AUGUST first 2024. We
[2:19:26] cannot protect Florida with
[2:19:27] these sections of sb 180 in
[2:19:30] place. These restrictions make
[2:19:31] it harder to reduce flooding,
[2:19:33] protect water, quality or
[2:19:35] manage over development. The
[2:19:36] overdevelopment of Florida is
[2:19:38] putting us all at risk.
[2:19:39] Recently, Lake Okeechobee,
[2:19:43] which is our largest fresh
[2:19:43] water lake, was found to be
[2:19:44] the most polluted in the
[2:19:48] country. Florida cannot be a
[2:19:52] concrete slab. And here in
[2:19:53] Jacksonville, 90% of our
[2:19:54] drinking water comes from the
[2:19:58] Florida aquifer. Again, please
[2:19:59] repeal sections. 18 28 of
[2:20:01] Senate Bill. 180. Thank you.
[2:20:05] Thank you very much. MAY
[2:20:06] approach the podium. Please
[2:20:06] state your name for the
[2:20:10] record.
[2:20:15] >> ms Mason Burnham. I'm a mom
[2:20:15] community advocate and a 4th
[2:20:17] generation Jackson billion. I
[2:20:20] love the city. I love the
[2:20:22] state, but I'm shocked and
[2:20:23] saddened by what's happened to
[2:20:26] our state under Governor
[2:20:27] DeSantis, Florida has always
[2:20:27] prided itself on our live and
[2:20:30] let live attitude. We weren't
[2:20:31] perfect by any means. But we
[2:20:33] were definitely making
[2:20:35] progress. Sadly now our state
[2:20:36] government seems to be focused
[2:20:40] on cruel culture wars,
[2:20:41] ignoring advice from experts
[2:20:41] refusing to really listen to
[2:20:44] or meet with constituents and
[2:20:47] pushing for legislation that
[2:20:48] benefits donors and
[2:20:49] corporations at the expense of
[2:20:50] everyday Floridians and to the
[2:20:54] detriment of Florida's future.
[2:20:54] There are numerous examples
[2:20:57] that we've heard about just
[2:20:57] today, attacks on the
[2:20:58] environment, attacks on local
[2:20:59] sovereignty, attacks on voting
[2:21:01] rights and dei on health care,
[2:21:03] public education. But
[2:21:05] specifically today, I want to
[2:21:08] call out sb 164, sponsored by
[2:21:09] Senator Grall and hb 289,
[2:21:11] sponsored by Representative
[2:21:13] Greco, the abusers bill of
[2:21:15] rights, women's reproductive
[2:21:17] health care is already at
[2:21:18] risk. Thanks to the draconian
[2:21:20] six-week abortion ban in
[2:21:21] Florida. We've already we
[2:21:22] already suffer from a shortage
[2:21:23] shortage of obgyn and in the
[2:21:27] state. This awful bill
[2:21:29] threatens mothers, emergency
[2:21:32] care cancer treatments and in
[2:21:34] vitro fertilization, at least
[2:21:35] one in 4 pregnancies end in
[2:21:37] miscarriage. And now our
[2:21:38] elected leaders want to punish
[2:21:41] women dealing with the
[2:21:42] pregnancy loss with
[2:21:44] investigations and lawsuits.
[2:21:46] It's unconscionable. We've all
[2:21:48] seen how these awful laws have
[2:21:49] used in other states,
[2:21:52] especially by domestic
[2:21:53] abusers. So please don't
[2:21:54] mention the carve outs because
[2:21:57] we all know that government
[2:21:58] officials and lawyers should
[2:21:59] not be involved in our
[2:22:02] reproductive health care.
[2:22:03] Florida risks losing female
[2:22:03] college students who don't
[2:22:04] want to risk their health by
[2:22:07] going to college here. Our
[2:22:07] state's toxic policies
[2:22:09] regarding women's reproductive
[2:22:10] health care will harm our
[2:22:12] ability to attract and retain
[2:22:13] young professionals who do not
[2:22:16] wish to risk investigations
[2:22:17] and lawsuits, lawsuits. Should
[2:22:18] they have a miscarriage?
[2:22:20] Lastly, I hope this
[2:22:21] delegation. Well, listen to
[2:22:22] the majority of Florida
[2:22:23] voters. The call for common
[2:22:26] sense gun laws. The humane
[2:22:26] treatment of hardworking
[2:22:27] migrants who are critical to
[2:22:30] our state's economy and an end
[2:22:31] to the persecution of the
[2:22:35] lgbtq community. Our governor.
[2:22:37] And even on this delegation
[2:22:38] talk about their Christian
[2:22:40] faith. But what would Jesus
[2:22:42] do? He would stand up for
[2:22:44] women for children, the poor
[2:22:46] and marginalized. So please
[2:22:47] stand up everyone in Duval
[2:22:48] County during the upcoming
[2:22:50] legislative session. Thank you
[2:22:52] very much. Up next, we have.
[2:22:53] >> That's my column.
[2:22:57] Christian. Who if I've
[2:22:59] mispronounced that I apologize
[2:23:03] followed by Wells Todd. If you
[2:23:03] can make your way to the
[2:23:04] podium, please state your name
[2:23:06] for the record. My name is
[2:23:12] Beth McAllen.
[2:23:14] >> I'd like to thank you all
[2:23:15] can recognize hearing us out.
[2:23:16] My son lives in Duval County.
[2:23:17] He started on the agency for
[2:23:20] Persons with Disabilities
[2:23:21] program. When he was 7. He is
[2:23:23] now 34 years old. We've spent
[2:23:26] all this time helping him to
[2:23:27] become more and more
[2:23:29] independent, which we have
[2:23:29] accomplished tremendous gains
[2:23:33] with him. He also has been
[2:23:37] able to live now on his own,
[2:23:38] which is an instrumental thing
[2:23:38] that was told he would never
[2:23:39] be able to do when he was
[2:23:43] diagnosed at age 3. Without
[2:23:45] this program and forced into a
[2:23:46] managed care system as he was
[2:23:48] when he was younger. Would
[2:23:51] dismantle his entire life.
[2:23:52] That we have built. I'm
[2:23:53] getting older. I'm not going
[2:23:53] to be here forever. He's
[2:23:56] probably going to outlive me.
[2:23:57] So we have made preparations
[2:23:57] and prepared for his life
[2:24:03] with.
[2:24:06] >> stop the time we could or
[2:24:09] like other Can you move it
[2:24:14] closer to you? Please. That
[2:24:15] Yes, we calling it a start.
[2:24:18] Time to thinking. Thank you.
[2:24:19] So if he was to be forced into
[2:24:21] a box that does not fit him.
[2:24:22] >> Is managed care. Did not
[2:24:25] when he was younger. What
[2:24:25] would happen to him then we
[2:24:27] will be looking
[2:24:28] institutionalization again is
[2:24:31] managed care will not meet his
[2:24:32] needs. You will lose other
[2:24:33] benefits by being forced into
[2:24:34] a managed care system. Also
[2:24:36] because once we join image
[2:24:38] here, you know, our qualifies
[2:24:39] for these other resources that
[2:24:42] he has available to him. There
[2:24:43] are a lot of decisions to make
[2:24:45] whenever you're deciding what
[2:24:48] kind of system the offered are
[2:24:49] individuals because they are
[2:24:51] so complex. And that leads
[2:24:55] into dental. When the waiver
[2:24:56] was providing dental services.
[2:24:57] My son was able to get his
[2:25:00] dental cleanings twice a year.
[2:25:01] Now we're getting them once a
[2:25:02] year. We have to travel to
[2:25:03] Stuart, Florida, maybe
[2:25:07] Daytona, maybe Gainesville
[2:25:09] people who local dentist will
[2:25:11] not cannot provide sedation in
[2:25:12] their office and they won not
[2:25:12] provided under the Medicaid
[2:25:17] system. Even with the magic
[2:25:18] without sedation. There's no
[2:25:19] Dennis. They're taking the
[2:25:20] current. The current policies
[2:25:23] that are being offered
[2:25:24] people's teeth are no Larry
[2:25:27] being cared for. Managed care
[2:25:30] has off not offered a better
[2:25:30] system for our individuals. We
[2:25:31] have gone backwards with the
[2:25:35] system. We've seen that with
[2:25:36] the pca for children. They
[2:25:37] lost their quite a while ago.
[2:25:40] Behavioral. And tall. What
[2:25:44] else is next? I'm vigils.
[2:25:45] Don't fit into a box. We can't
[2:25:48] put them into that box and I
[2:25:50] would appreciate you whenever
[2:25:51] you considered bills and
[2:25:51] they're being out there.
[2:25:52] Whether you're on the
[2:25:55] committee or not, you still
[2:25:55] have to vote for them. So I
[2:25:57] would ask you to really
[2:25:58] consider the lives of our
[2:25:59] individuals. Thank you very,
[2:26:04] very much. High.
[2:26:07] Representative Daniels has a
[2:26:08] question.
[2:26:08] >> If you can return back to
[2:26:12] the podium is Gallup McCallum.
[2:26:16] You have comment.
[2:26:17] Representative Daniels has a
[2:26:17] comment. Thank thank you very
[2:26:20] much. MADAM Chair. I'm making
[2:26:21] a comment because I came late
[2:26:25] get ready leave early.
[2:26:26] >> I usually don't address
[2:26:27] situations when people
[2:26:33] uninformed. But I have 82
[2:26:36] year-old on it. Mother, their
[2:26:36] heat went out. They live in
[2:26:40] Sherwood. And so before I came
[2:26:41] here, I went to put some
[2:26:42] temporary. He together for
[2:26:43] them. And now the electricity
[2:26:47] just cut that out. So if you
[2:26:48] will, excuse me. And and they
[2:26:49] and they are black and they
[2:26:51] are part of black community.
[2:26:54] Seniors and they come first.
[2:26:56] So I just would like to just
[2:26:57] say that I'm I would like to
[2:26:58] excuse myself. I just got a
[2:27:00] call from my mother and I
[2:27:04] think sometimes we need to.
[2:27:05] Find out what's really going
[2:27:06] on before we attacked people
[2:27:08] that are going through stuff.
[2:27:10] Because I need your prayers. I
[2:27:14] was I was. It's a blessing to
[2:27:15] me to even make it here is
[2:27:18] very hard. But I believe now.
[2:27:19] Because I understand that even
[2:27:21] when you make a tempo, don't
[2:27:22] care. Goblins, everyone to
[2:27:25] Thank you. Thank you very
[2:27:38] much.
[2:27:39] >> You're recognized, please
[2:27:39] state your name for the
[2:27:43] record. Thank you, MADAM Chair
[2:27:45] and delegation. My name is
[2:27:46] Christian Gonzalez. Think also
[2:27:46] North Florida regional
[2:27:49] director for Florida rising.
[2:27:50] >> Florida Rising is an
[2:27:51] independent political
[2:27:52] organization that builds power
[2:27:53] around and working class
[2:27:56] communities across state of
[2:27:58] Florida. We see to organize,
[2:27:58] mobilize an act to be
[2:28:01] communities to shape their
[2:28:04] future during the 2025
[2:28:05] legislative session will be
[2:28:05] called on our elected
[2:28:06] representatives to act in the
[2:28:07] best interest of their
[2:28:08] constituents. Now corporations
[2:28:10] by supporting policies that
[2:28:11] put people over profit and
[2:28:11] that advance racial and
[2:28:14] economic. That's this. Our
[2:28:15] legislative agenda is shaped
[2:28:18] by over the 1000 dues-paying
[2:28:20] members here in the state of
[2:28:22] Florida and across 6, 7
[2:28:24] different counties this year,
[2:28:24] our priorities that our
[2:28:25] members are demanding for
[2:28:27] their legislation. Art follows
[2:28:28] one to expand democracy and
[2:28:30] protect fundamental right.
[2:28:32] Voting rights. Comprehensive
[2:28:34] bill reverse attacks democracy
[2:28:36] and restrict about access.
[2:28:37] That is the Herrity Herrity
[2:28:39] more Voting Rights Act.
[2:28:40] Second, we're working. We
[2:28:42] encourage our our legislators
[2:28:43] to work of climate justice and
[2:28:46] hold investor owned utilities
[2:28:47] accountable by supporting put
[2:28:50] bills that guaranteed energy
[2:28:50] utility services. Theory to
[2:28:52] live our lives and that they
[2:28:55] are public owns like j now
[2:28:56] leverage by the millionaires
[2:28:58] that are price gouging after
[2:29:03] natural disasters specifically
[2:29:05] will be done. And our goal for
[2:29:06] you support a public
[2:29:07] transparency of the public
[2:29:07] Service commission bills have
[2:29:11] coming into upcoming session.
[2:29:12] 3rd, one our legislation,
[2:29:15] legislators to allow all
[2:29:16] immigrant families live
[2:29:16] without fear. They pass the
[2:29:19] legislation make for a more
[2:29:20] welcoming state for all
[2:29:21] people, especially our
[2:29:22] immigrant communities but
[2:29:23] economic Prosperity and
[2:29:25] Immigration Act. And finally,
[2:29:26] to ensure that our local
[2:29:27] public schools in committee
[2:29:29] radically funded by abandoning
[2:29:31] the attempts avoid property
[2:29:33] taxes. Again, encourage
[2:29:34] delegation here to remain
[2:29:36] steadfast in your tech gritty.
[2:29:37] You wouldn't want to be kings
[2:29:37] are threatening to move every
[2:29:40] person thinks for himself.
[2:29:41] Thank you time we look forward
[2:29:41] to young here from few more of
[2:29:43] our Florida rising members
[2:29:44] later in today's agenda. Thank
[2:29:51] you. Up as well as Todd.
[2:29:51] >> Followed by. Yes, me now
[2:29:56] White. Be pain. If you can
[2:30:00] make your way towards the al.
[2:30:00] You are recognized, could you
[2:30:03] identify yourself for the
[2:30:03] record? Please?
[2:30:04] >> My name is well as
[2:30:04] Tottenham. A member of take
[2:30:08] them down here in
[2:30:09] Jacksonville, Florida, to
[2:30:09] speak and to oppose House
[2:30:12] Bill. 125, House Bill, 113,
[2:30:15] and Senate Bill 174, these 3
[2:30:16] bills opposed to on a Charlie
[2:30:20] Kirk. Perks job was to
[2:30:21] reinforce racist stereotypes
[2:30:23] on campus colleges, college
[2:30:27] campuses and high schools. His
[2:30:28] job was to mock empathy and
[2:30:28] lift up. The notion that
[2:30:31] cruelty matters the most. His
[2:30:33] job was to convince white
[2:30:37] youth that living under
[2:30:37] economic system that exploits
[2:30:39] them is better fighting for
[2:30:40] one that provides the needs of
[2:30:43] the people. By now. We all
[2:30:46] know the defensive miserable
[2:30:47] things. Kirk said on his
[2:30:50] podcast and that colleges, he
[2:30:51] did nothing to improve the
[2:30:52] condition of humanity honoring
[2:30:57] Kirk. Will be the continuation
[2:30:59] of the belief in the false
[2:31:01] ideology of white supremacy w
[2:31:04] e b Dubois coined the phrase
[2:31:06] the Psychological wager,
[2:31:08] whiteness. The Boyce was
[2:31:08] referring to the Non monetary
[2:31:12] benefits. Like the sense of
[2:31:14] social status and superiority
[2:31:17] that white individuals receive
[2:31:18] by being part of the dominant
[2:31:24] racial group. It is this
[2:31:27] belief that for fuels attacks
[2:31:29] on the African-American
[2:31:30] community from Albany, New
[2:31:33] York to Jacksonville, Florida.
[2:31:34] These bills need to be voted
[2:31:44] down. Up next is yasmina.
[2:31:46] >> Followed by Debbie Pain.
[2:31:50] And then held the night camps.
[2:31:53] Stuart, isn't com. You are
[2:31:55] recognized. Please identify
[2:31:55] yourself. Hi. Good afternoon.
[2:31:59] Yasmeen a White.
[2:32:00] >> Early childhood education
[2:32:00] is the Chu Foundation of any k
[2:32:04] to 12 education. When we fail
[2:32:05] to invest in our youngest
[2:32:06] learners, we set the stage for
[2:32:07] an equity long before they
[2:32:11] even enter into the classroom.
[2:32:12] Ask you today to find it in
[2:32:14] your hearts and in your
[2:32:14] legislative priorities to
[2:32:18] introduce and support strong,
[2:32:19] compassionate policy that
[2:32:20] uplifts one of our most
[2:32:20] vulnerable populations.
[2:32:24] Florida's children. Families
[2:32:24] across the state are
[2:32:25] struggling to afford child
[2:32:29] care. The 3rd, the 3 hours
[2:32:29] school readiness, the pouch
[2:32:31] are simply isn't enough.
[2:32:34] Parents need real help.
[2:32:36] Equally many communities still
[2:32:38] lack access. The high-quality
[2:32:40] early learning centers,
[2:32:41] especially in neighborhoods
[2:32:42] where opportunity is already
[2:32:45] limited by zip code. At the
[2:32:48] same time, our k 12 system
[2:32:48] continues to be gutted.
[2:32:50] Shipping away, meaningful
[2:32:52] public choice for families
[2:32:55] like mine. It's unfair and
[2:32:56] frankly, preposterous to
[2:32:56] continue pushing legislation
[2:33:00] like schools of hope that
[2:33:01] dismantles neighborhood
[2:33:01] schools instead of
[2:33:05] strengthening them. I want to
[2:33:05] make sure you all understand I
[2:33:07] am a proponent of school
[2:33:09] choice but not when it
[2:33:10] undermines and under finds
[2:33:13] another institution. Right
[2:33:14] now, Florida's approach to
[2:33:16] education has become as the
[2:33:20] old saying goes penny wise
[2:33:21] pound foolish. We have since
[2:33:24] today by underfunding public
[2:33:27] education only to pay dearly
[2:33:28] tomorrow and loss of potential
[2:33:29] and workforce shortages
[2:33:30] shortages and the well-being
[2:33:34] of our children. Please
[2:33:35] prioritize paying teachers a
[2:33:37] living wage funding. All
[2:33:38] schools equitably and
[2:33:39] preserving the integrity and
[2:33:42] school choice of families who
[2:33:42] choose public education in
[2:33:45] this state. Thank you,
[2:33:46] Representative Nixon for
[2:33:48] always being a child care
[2:33:49] champion. I look forward to
[2:33:53] commending the same for others
[2:33:53] as early childhood education
[2:33:56] is a bipartisan issue. As a
[2:34:00] mother of 2 young children,
[2:34:00] please find our child's
[2:34:01] education from cradle to
[2:34:06] graduation. Equally. Debbie
[2:34:12] pain. Is not here. Alana Camp
[2:34:19] Stewart. Not here.
[2:34:22] >> Suzanne Con. Followed by
[2:34:26] Nancy Marie Settle. And next
[2:34:29] to you are recognized to
[2:34:29] speak.
[2:34:30] >> My name is Susan Kohn. Good
[2:34:31] afternoon. Members of the
[2:34:32] devolved allegation as a new
[2:34:35] resident of Jacksonville,
[2:34:37] member of Invisible Jax
[2:34:38] Riverside and a concerned
[2:34:40] public health professional.
[2:34:41] I'm here to encourage you to
[2:34:42] advance several bills that
[2:34:42] will improve access to and
[2:34:46] quality of health care.
[2:34:47] Specifically care received by
[2:34:47] Florida residents enrolled in
[2:34:49] managed care plan. Including
[2:34:50] health maintenance
[2:34:54] organization. Despite the
[2:34:56] crisis of affordability, so
[2:35:00] many Floridians face and the
[2:35:01] premium increases in surprise
[2:35:02] bills. There are many things
[2:35:05] that we can do. We have all
[2:35:06] seen the headlines documenting
[2:35:11] how managed care plans. Rules
[2:35:12] for prior authorization result
[2:35:12] in the denial medically
[2:35:16] necessary care. Even the
[2:35:17] health care professionals
[2:35:18] among us cannot follow all the
[2:35:18] coverage. Details in our
[2:35:23] benefit document. House Bill.
[2:35:24] 137. Will ensure that young
[2:35:25] female residents in Florida
[2:35:28] ages 25 to 40 receive
[2:35:29] medically necessary
[2:35:31] supplemental screening for
[2:35:31] b#
[2:35:31] #
[2:35:31] #
[2:35:31] #
[2:35:31] #
[2:35:32] cancer following the
[2:35:33] latest American College of
[2:35:37] Radiology guideline. Senate
[2:35:38] Bill. 114 addresses the crisis
[2:35:41] and continuity of care that
[2:35:41] occurs when sick patients
[2:35:46] including pregnant women,
[2:35:46] become the collateral damage
[2:35:47] in managed care and provide or
[2:35:49] negotiation. By requiring
[2:35:52] health plans and providers to
[2:35:54] provide up to 6 months of
[2:35:55] ongoing treatment. Patients
[2:35:57] will be able to continue care,
[2:36:00] but finding a new doctor. For
[2:36:01] pregnant women. They will not
[2:36:03] lose access to their be in the
[2:36:07] middle of a pregnancy. These
[2:36:08] are common sense regulations
[2:36:09] that will enable Floridians to
[2:36:12] receive the care they need and
[2:36:13] for which they and the state
[2:36:14] are paying health insurance
[2:36:15] plans to provide. I urge you
[2:36:27] to support them. The state,
[2:36:29] your name for the record. My
[2:36:31] name is Nancy Maurice at all.
[2:36:37] >> I am a U.S. Long citizens
[2:36:38] Jacksonville, Florida, and I'm
[2:36:38] and the leadership came up and
[2:36:42] a visible Jax.
[2:36:43] >> Riverside, I'm here today
[2:36:45] to ask you to support Senate
[2:36:50] Bill one 12, which is limiting
[2:36:50] every district in 2, 2, years
[2:36:55] after our next census we're
[2:36:57] about to enter. But the most
[2:36:58] dangerous season they call in
[2:36:58] Florida the legislative
[2:37:02] season. And I'm scared last
[2:37:05] year. You the gop super
[2:37:06] minority majority attract
[2:37:07] attacked free speech, voting
[2:37:10] rights, reproductive freedom
[2:37:13] grants. I want to introduce
[2:37:18] myself as a proud. Anti
[2:37:20] fascists as my father was in
[2:37:21] World War 2. But then I looked
[2:37:24] at like this. Oh, my gosh, I'm
[2:37:25] we have
[2:37:26] >> Administration of the
[2:37:27] federal level that same route
[2:37:28] this that people who are anti
[2:37:30] fascist or terrace members,
[2:37:34] you need to get on your party
[2:37:36] and tell him to stop attacking
[2:37:41] citizens that are not bash us.
[2:37:41] I don't understand. A little
[2:37:42] person with a little voice.
[2:37:45] You guys are elected and it's
[2:37:45] scary to me that you're not
[2:37:49] standing up for that. I 63% of
[2:37:53] Floridians voted in 20 and not
[2:37:54] to redistrict are
[2:37:55] gerrymandered and that's in
[2:37:57] the Constitution. I speeding
[2:37:59] by some of you guys saying
[2:38:01] teachers to take oaths. Will
[2:38:03] you took an oath to protect
[2:38:05] U.S. Federal constitution and
[2:38:08] the state constitution. 22
[2:38:12] state Constitution. Passed by
[2:38:14] 63% of Floridian says no
[2:38:19] redistricting. And mid set men
[2:38:21] decade. So why aren't you
[2:38:21] standing up saying no, put a
[2:38:25] stop to this? I know, you
[2:38:29] know, my dad. I said he was
[2:38:30] anti fact is he was also a
[2:38:30] Republican. We disagreed on a
[2:38:32] lot of things, but I think he
[2:38:36] would stand up to the abuse of
[2:38:37] power and the corruption. That
[2:38:39] is how did that happen our
[2:38:40] government? Now I have to ask
[2:38:40] you, why aren't you doing
[2:38:45] that? It was a speaker that
[2:38:47] made a really good argument.
[2:38:48] Jacqueline Steal a gap about
[2:38:49] redistricting. I agree with
[2:38:52] everything she says.
[2:38:52] >> I'm trying to convince you
[2:38:54] to look in your heart and do
[2:38:55] the right thing for the United
[2:38:56] States of America. I know
[2:38:58] you're a patriotic people. Why
[2:39:00] are you letting this happen?
[2:39:06] >> Thank you very much. Up
[2:39:08] next, Onyx. Do word Robert
[2:39:13] Beecham. DR. Christine called
[2:39:18] Followed by Lindsey. Rot. If
[2:39:19] you can make your way to the
[2:39:28] podium. You can come forward.
[2:39:29] Please state your name for the
[2:39:34] record. Please. Can you hear
[2:39:35] me? Yes, ma'am. But ok,
[2:39:40] Barbara you're recognized.
[2:39:42] Thank you. Thank you for
[2:39:43] allowing parents such as
[2:39:44] myself to speak. My husband
[2:39:49] and I are 30 year Jacksonville
[2:39:51] area. Residents. We have 3
[2:39:54] sons with developmental
[2:39:54] disabilities, specifically
[2:39:58] autism spectrum disorder.
[2:39:58] >> And one who has a genetic
[2:40:00] disorder.
[2:40:04] >> To err on the medway for a
[2:40:05] fee for service. The I budget
[2:40:05] program and one is on the
[2:40:09] waitlist. They too are. 25 one
[2:40:16] is 35. Our sons are not
[2:40:17] medically complex, but they
[2:40:18] need community companions,
[2:40:24] behavioral therapy. Community
[2:40:24] volunteerism supported
[2:40:29] employment. And community
[2:40:30] socialization and language
[2:40:33] therapy. They are not to be
[2:40:36] magically catered to on the
[2:40:39] home front, but rather
[2:40:40] experience their requirements
[2:40:42] of public interaction. There
[2:40:48] are no we'll work. Employer
[2:40:49] incentives to hire them except
[2:40:52] some tax write offs through
[2:40:59] location rehabilitation. The
[2:40:59] services described the Med
[2:41:04] waiver fee for service. That
[2:41:06] support coordinator assists my
[2:41:07] husband the signing the
[2:41:08] correct hours for the needed
[2:41:12] services. The support
[2:41:13] coordinators instrumental in
[2:41:14] keeping us up to date. I'm all
[2:41:19] changes. And legislated
[2:41:21] decisions. There is nothing
[2:41:23] like this in any health care
[2:41:26] program. We can pass the
[2:41:28] savings of a middle
[2:41:30] organization directly to the
[2:41:34] providers utilizing our budget
[2:41:35] only and therefore allowing
[2:41:36] them to earn a competitive
[2:41:41] wage. I going from cdc to
[2:41:45] manage care. This could be
[2:41:49] increase of as much as 25%,
[2:41:50] which could reduce the number
[2:41:53] of out hours allocated to my
[2:41:57] As parents. We have been
[2:41:59] waiting to see the efficiency
[2:42:02] reports on the pilot managed
[2:42:05] care program. But as of today,
[2:42:05] I don't believe fcc has
[2:42:11] produced an e. Why would
[2:42:11] legislators allocate more
[2:42:12] money towards this before
[2:42:14] examining the return? We all
[2:42:18] deserve to have choices.
[2:42:20] Managed care or apd Fee for
[2:42:21] service. Thank you very much.
[2:42:27] Thank you. To Christine
[2:42:33] Comfort. You can make your way
[2:42:42] to the podium. Please. You are
[2:42:45] recognized. Thank you. And
[2:42:48] good afternoon. My name is
[2:42:49] Lindsay and I am one of the
[2:42:51] many faces of Alzheimer's
[2:42:51] disease.
[2:42:54] >> This is my second year at
[2:42:55] this meeting and as a
[2:42:56] caregiver to both of my
[2:42:59] parents, the last decade. I
[2:42:59] want to thank you for the
[2:43:02] opportunity to speak today.
[2:43:04] Many in this room have been
[2:43:05] touched by the harsh realities
[2:43:07] of Alzheimer's and dementia.
[2:43:09] Over half a million Floridians
[2:43:11] are living with Alzheimer's
[2:43:14] disease over 17,000 alone in
[2:43:15] Duval County. That's over 12%
[2:43:18] of our 65 and up population.
[2:43:21] Ut all is commitment. Florida
[2:43:22] has been a leader and dementia
[2:43:25] care and support with our
[2:43:25] aging population. We must
[2:43:29] maintain this momentum. I'm
[2:43:30] proud to advocate along
[2:43:33] Alzheimer's Association. And
[2:43:34] with your support, we remain
[2:43:37] optimistic as we propose our
[2:43:41] 2026 priorities. Raising
[2:43:43] awareness on what to look for
[2:43:44] and when to seek medical
[2:43:48] advice. It's essential. We are
[2:43:50] advocating for 1.5 million
[2:43:53] dollars to find a
[2:43:53] comprehensive statewide. The
[2:43:55] public health awareness
[2:43:57] campaign. It's time to break
[2:43:57] the stigma surrounding
[2:44:01] Alzheimer's disease. We now
[2:44:02] have fda approved blood test
[2:44:04] to aid in diagnosis and
[2:44:05] treatments that can slow
[2:44:08] progression. Yet Florida
[2:44:09] remains one of the few states
[2:44:10] that have not invested in a
[2:44:12] public awareness campaign. Now
[2:44:16] is the time to act. We ask for
[2:44:17] continued support of the
[2:44:19] Alzheimer's, bring bus the
[2:44:20] mobile outreach program
[2:44:23] travels throughout the state
[2:44:25] providing information on brain
[2:44:26] health, warning signs and
[2:44:29] resources for caregivers. We
[2:44:31] have consistently been able to
[2:44:33] reach all 67 counties in
[2:44:34] Florida. Thanks for that
[2:44:38] funding. And lastly, we must
[2:44:40] do more for our Florida
[2:44:42] caregivers. We have over
[2:44:43] 870,000 caregivers in the
[2:44:47] state of Florida over 66% of
[2:44:50] them are managing their own
[2:44:52] chronic conditions. Dementia,
[2:44:52] care, navigation and respite
[2:44:55] services are critical programs
[2:44:56] that help caregivers get
[2:44:58] desperately needed support on
[2:45:00] this dark journey. These
[2:45:04] services also help allow
[2:45:05] individuals living with
[2:45:06] Alzheimer's to remain in their
[2:45:09] own communities. We are asking
[2:45:11] the Florida legislature to
[2:45:12] codify the Florida Alzheimer's
[2:45:13] Center of Excellence the face
[2:45:17] program. Thank you very much.
[2:45:21] Thank you very much. Members
[2:45:23] that concludes our speakers
[2:45:24] listed on the agenda and to
[2:45:25] tell you, do we have any?
[2:45:26] >> That are requesting to
[2:45:39] speak. We have Chris. Kiernan.
[2:45:39] You can make your way towards
[2:45:47] the podium. Sara Malm. I
[2:45:48] apologize for mispronouncing
[2:45:53] your name. Roseberry. Rosemary
[2:45:56] McCoy. You can make your way
[2:46:01] towards the We have a little
[2:46:02] bit. We have more time zone.
[2:46:05] You're recognized for it. I'm
[2:46:09] Chris Herndon.
[2:46:10] >> I think that y'all need to
[2:46:13] be the beacon of light for the
[2:46:13] people, all the people
[2:46:17] redistricting, our future for
[2:46:19] proper education. And it harms
[2:46:21] us more than it helps us
[2:46:22] educators that are not needed
[2:46:24] for of the elementary school
[2:46:25] teacher of the year here in
[2:46:26] Duval County are simply
[2:46:28] amazing. Some of the educators
[2:46:29] here in dcps have multiple
[2:46:31] masters degrees and
[2:46:31] doctorates. We need to pay
[2:46:34] them what they deserve. There
[2:46:34] is no reason that we are one
[2:46:35] of the lowest in the nation
[2:46:37] when it comes to teacher
[2:46:39] salaries. Our valuable
[2:46:40] teachers are fleeing Florida
[2:46:43] to find higher wages. Parents
[2:46:44] shouldn't be forced to live
[2:46:45] day to day paycheck to
[2:46:46] paycheck in fight or flight,
[2:46:47] not knowing where their next
[2:46:50] meal will come from. On top of
[2:46:51] that, the amount of families
[2:46:52] that are paying after care for
[2:46:56] Vpk is wild. We are drowning.
[2:46:58] Some families are paying up to
[2:47:00] $400 a week. More or more
[2:47:01] after Kara wrap-around care
[2:47:05] for Vpk which should be free.
[2:47:05] That is approximately $1400
[2:47:07] extra a month per child. I am
[2:47:11] dealing with this personally.
[2:47:12] Our public school programs are
[2:47:16] compromised and need direct
[2:47:17] intervention. We are pulling
[2:47:18] and trusting you. We will
[2:47:18] verify your work. We will
[2:47:22] continue to show up. Constant,
[2:47:24] divisive redistricting causes
[2:47:25] chaos, confusion and
[2:47:26] ultimately furthers voter
[2:47:29] suppression. There is very
[2:47:30] little difference between
[2:47:31] redistricting, redlining which
[2:47:32] has been deemed
[2:47:33] unconstitutional. Is just
[2:47:35] delivered in a different
[2:47:38] manner. Don't get me started
[2:47:39] on Florida health care for all
[2:47:41] middle-aged people such as
[2:47:42] myself cannot afford insurance
[2:47:46] ourselves that we have it for
[2:47:47] our children. Land grant
[2:47:48] programs myself for health
[2:47:49] care due to lack of affordable
[2:47:52] access to health care,
[2:47:53] creating solutions to problems
[2:47:54] that don't exist is not what
[2:47:55] Jacksonville needs nor what
[2:47:57] Florida needs attempting to
[2:47:59] put Confederate monuments
[2:48:01] backup rather than ensuring
[2:48:02] affordable housing expansion
[2:48:03] of the pk allowing women to
[2:48:06] have body autonomy encouraging
[2:48:08] in vaccinations, creating
[2:48:09] access to health care,
[2:48:11] protecting our election
[2:48:12] systems. Need continue to go
[2:48:13] your wasting taxpayer times
[2:48:16] with unnecessary per clause.
[2:48:17] >> Her to write bills,
[2:48:18] sidewalk bills keeping
[2:48:19] historical monument up bills
[2:48:20] rather than actually helping
[2:48:23] us. We need to be objective
[2:48:24] when creating laws in in
[2:48:26] guidelines, the ultimate
[2:48:28] justice is intentionality to
[2:48:29] leadership does not lead by
[2:48:30] fear mongering leading through
[2:48:31] servant leadership is what you
[2:48:34] should be doing. As I say, to
[2:48:35] all elected officials, you're
[2:48:37] in a position of power. And
[2:48:37] with that comes specific
[2:48:38] obligation. Thank you. Thank
[2:48:42] you.
[2:48:43] >> Please state your name for
[2:48:44] the record and you're
[2:48:48] recognized. My name is mood. I
[2:48:50] was proudly born and raised
[2:48:52] Duval County. Florida writes
[2:48:53] Institutional manager.
[2:48:54] >> And I want to talk a little
[2:48:57] bit today about the city we
[2:48:58] call. Jacksonville is a
[2:49:00] beautiful city. One that holds
[2:49:01] immense cultural legacy. Much
[2:49:02] about thanks to this work will
[2:49:02] black community that calls or
[2:49:06] city home? And with all the
[2:49:07] beautiful that our city has to
[2:49:09] offer it, also no struggle and
[2:49:11] strife. Jackson was named the
[2:49:13] eviction capital of the state
[2:49:14] and partners. All of the
[2:49:17] preemption of local laws that
[2:49:17] regulate relationships between
[2:49:20] landlord and tenant to the
[2:49:20] state level. This isn't just a
[2:49:21] cyst. It sets his stick. When
[2:49:24] we say that Jacksonville's,
[2:49:25] they fiction capital of the
[2:49:27] state. That means 14,000
[2:49:31] residents and Duval County
[2:49:31] residents and families were
[2:49:32] made homeless in the last year
[2:49:35] because of eviction filings
[2:49:36] we're also a city that is home
[2:49:36] to countless immigrant
[2:49:38] communities. I myself meant
[2:49:41] birth rates that is and 42
[2:49:41] parents were now naturalized
[2:49:45] citizens. And the fact that
[2:49:47] many who target our loved
[2:49:48] one's conveniently forget is
[2:49:49] that many of our families like
[2:49:50] I just stated are of mixed
[2:49:53] status with families holding
[2:49:54] anything from citizenship to
[2:49:55] refugees that with family
[2:49:56] members holding anything from
[2:50:00] citizenship to refugee status.
[2:50:01] That means 20 loved ones
[2:50:01] instead of passing policies
[2:50:05] that communities regardless of
[2:50:05] immigration status here
[2:50:08] showing that your priority,
[2:50:09] its harm and violence instead
[2:50:10] of serving the people you
[2:50:12] claim to represent. Jackson
[2:50:13] was a city that knows the
[2:50:15] desire of corporate greed to
[2:50:16] take control of our utilities
[2:50:18] and maximize profit or
[2:50:19] expense. But thankfully, those
[2:50:21] attempts to sell jta has
[2:50:23] spilled. But while that is
[2:50:24] true, inner city, the majority
[2:50:25] of Floridians are customers of
[2:50:28] Florida power and light, which
[2:50:29] is currently in front of the
[2:50:30] Public Service Commission to
[2:50:31] requests the largest rate hike
[2:50:33] in history. Even while
[2:50:34] families across the state are
[2:50:36] struggling with cost of living
[2:50:36] and a government shutdown
[2:50:40] impacting wages and benefits.
[2:50:41] Come to you today to ask some
[2:50:41] basic things instead of
[2:50:44] focusing on culture wars,
[2:50:45] focus on the economic issues
[2:50:46] that are going to help the
[2:50:46] cost of living for all
[2:50:48] residents in Florida. That
[2:50:52] includes focusing on.
[2:50:52] Requiring the public service
[2:50:56] commission to be reformed and
[2:50:57] told investor owned utilities
[2:50:57] accountable. So they're not
[2:50:59] putting our prophet that
[2:51:01] they're not putting power and
[2:51:07] profit over people passing the
[2:51:07] House Bill. 315, in Senate
[2:51:08] Bill 328, which is the
[2:51:10] economic Prosperity and
[2:51:11] Immigration Act which would
[2:51:12] impact the lives of all
[2:51:14] Floridians regardless
[2:51:16] immigration status and finally
[2:51:17] support voting rights by
[2:51:18] enacting the Harry t and
[2:51:20] Harriet v Moore Voting Rights
[2:51:21] Act, Dixon voting rights for
[2:51:22] all Floridians. Thank you for
[2:51:29] thank you. The state, your
[2:51:32] name for the record. Rosemary
[2:51:33] McCoy following Rosemary will
[2:51:34] have Carrie Bates. Kathleen
[2:51:36] Marie.
[2:51:38] >> Katie Bonnen. If you can
[2:51:40] make your way to the podium,
[2:51:46] please. You're recognized.
[2:51:46] >> Good afternoon. My name is
[2:51:51] Rosemary McCoy. And I am a
[2:51:52] mother. Community leader MAY
[2:51:52] be trying to sit isn't. A
[2:51:55] disabled veteran. The found
[2:51:56] o'Hara take my freedom
[2:51:58] fighters and stand before you
[2:52:01] and I represent. Equal
[2:52:03] grounds, but hasn't. All
[2:52:04] right. I want freedom fighters
[2:52:08] and black voters matter and
[2:52:10] community and the population
[2:52:13] today. I'm asking you to turn
[2:52:17] the page. Documents. When I
[2:52:18] say darkness, speaking of the
[2:52:21] history of Florida. Voter
[2:52:24] suppression. Now. We can go
[2:52:26] back. You can be certain your
[2:52:32] own. Easy. The 18 55 inflate
[2:52:35] people. Not. All civil right?
[2:52:39] And I forgot to say. I am the
[2:52:43] sentiment. I think late. Only
[2:52:46] white mail. It all property.
[2:52:49] Vote. And some of these levels
[2:52:57] trying to take us. 18, 40
[2:52:58] 1920, well, white and white
[2:53:05] woman. What exclude it? 1920,
[2:53:10] co p mascara. On Election Day.
[2:53:11] People work merit just because
[2:53:16] he was trying to vote Jim Crow
[2:53:18] laws. 1970, 1990, filled a
[2:53:24] need the Spann and Trent 2000.
[2:53:25] Well, they put they purged of
[2:53:27] old. They did these people
[2:53:31] work that it was a lot. 2018.
[2:53:33] We go amendment for the 55% of
[2:53:37] the people vote it. 19 to
[2:53:40] voting vie for the turn of
[2:53:45] Citizens. 2019 sb 76 my Voting
[2:53:49] Amendment 4 2021 sb 90 5 into
[2:53:50] law restrict voting by mail
[2:53:51] that we moving backwards
[2:53:54] instead of forward present
[2:53:55] today, gerrymandering, then
[2:53:59] now we have. Why is why is the
[2:54:04] Florida voting right at meta?
[2:54:06] The pale, the press and laws
[2:54:09] like sb 90 expand voting by
[2:54:10] mail the same day registration
[2:54:13] required. Prevent, prepare it.
[2:54:14] Counties with history of
[2:54:17] suppression issue, a language
[2:54:20] access of English-speaking bow
[2:54:22] them asking you today to
[2:54:22] support the Florida right.
[2:54:24] Thank you. Thank you.
[2:54:28] Approached the podium. Please
[2:54:29] identify yourself for the
[2:54:31] records and you are
[2:54:32] recognized. Good afternoon. My
[2:54:34] name is Carrie Bates and the
[2:54:35] ceo of the Art Jacksonville
[2:54:36] and also I serve as the board
[2:54:37] chair for.
[2:54:39] >> The arca Florida that
[2:54:41] represents over 55
[2:54:41] organizations across the state
[2:54:42] that support individuals with
[2:54:44] intellectual developmental
[2:54:45] differences. Thank you for
[2:54:48] your time and attention to the
[2:54:49] very end. They well, if you
[2:54:50] can stop the time for one
[2:54:50] moment, excuse me, can you
[2:54:51] move to make up a little bit?
[2:54:55] >> Let's see if. If we can get
[2:54:55] it working. Go ahead. You're
[2:54:59] recognized.
[2:55:00] >> I want to highlight to
[2:55:02] local projects support they
[2:55:04] are Jacksonville, specifically
[2:55:06] individuals with intellectual
[2:55:06] developmental differences in
[2:55:07] the Northeast, Florida area.
[2:55:10] First, our workforce.
[2:55:11] Innovation program which
[2:55:12] prepares individuals with
[2:55:12] intellectual developmental
[2:55:13] differences for in-demand
[2:55:15] careers in our area. This
[2:55:16] program has been growing over
[2:55:18] the last years and we feel
[2:55:20] like we really found great
[2:55:21] community partners and
[2:55:22] organizations that are seeking
[2:55:22] employees. And we've been able
[2:55:26] to prepare individuals to both
[2:55:27] meet workforce shortages and
[2:55:29] help the individuals with idd
[2:55:30] achieve their lifelong goals
[2:55:30] of just contributing to their
[2:55:34] community. Secondly, our it
[2:55:35] the family support navigation
[2:55:36] pilot. This is a program
[2:55:39] that's unique to this part of
[2:55:40] Florida. Jackson the only
[2:55:41] organization in Florida
[2:55:42] currently offering a program
[2:55:43] like this. If you have
[2:55:44] families that come to see that
[2:55:44] are really struggling with
[2:55:48] enrollment onto the apd wait
[2:55:49] list or getting Social
[2:55:50] Security or any other benefits
[2:55:50] that someone with a
[2:55:52] significant disability might
[2:55:53] have. This program helps
[2:55:54] connect families all those
[2:55:56] resources and really navigate
[2:55:57] really an extremely
[2:55:58] complicated process. But it
[2:56:01] goes beyond that and helped
[2:56:02] individuals really plan for
[2:56:03] life after their caregiver
[2:56:04] passes, which is critical for
[2:56:08] the whole system term
[2:56:08] statewide. I want to express
[2:56:09] our support for both
[2:56:11] continuing to move people off
[2:56:12] the apd Pre and want Roman are
[2:56:13] wait lists and also advancing
[2:56:16] it to managed care program
[2:56:18] with safeguards to ensure that
[2:56:19] rates are reduced and services
[2:56:19] remain available for
[2:56:23] individuals. Providers across
[2:56:24] Florida are facing
[2:56:24] unprecedented challenges in
[2:56:28] the I d d space right now. Our
[2:56:29] Jacksonville just received a
[2:56:29] 29% increase on our health
[2:56:33] insurance, which will. Equate
[2:56:34] to about $200,000 of expenses
[2:56:37] that we we're not anticipating
[2:56:38] without rate changes. These
[2:56:39] are essentially unfunded.
[2:56:42] Increases that we have to
[2:56:42] manage more than two-thirds of
[2:56:46] providers across Florida. As
[2:56:48] stated in a survey recently
[2:56:48] that they are running deficits
[2:56:50] and that's only increasing
[2:56:52] families gaining eligibility
[2:56:53] really does little if there's
[2:56:54] not providers to provide
[2:56:55] services. Thank you for
[2:56:56] supporting the it community in
[2:56:58] Florida and for strengthening
[2:56:58] services. The families rely
[2:57:06] on. Thank you very much. Kind
[2:57:10] checked in. I care. Thank you.
[2:57:12] MISS Murray. You are
[2:57:14] recognized. Thank you.
[2:57:14] Congratulations, Chair Michael
[2:57:16] and good afternoon. Duval
[2:57:18] delegation, Kathleen Murray,
[2:57:19] State education director for
[2:57:21] Citizens Defending Freedom
[2:57:22] there to speak in support of
[2:57:25] the following legislation.
[2:57:26] First sb 164. Which
[2:57:28] strengthens Florida's wrongful
[2:57:30] death act by recognizing the
[2:57:33] last of an unborn child has a
[2:57:35] compensatory tragedy. Families
[2:57:35] facing such heartbreak deserve
[2:57:37] the same access to justice as
[2:57:39] any other grieving parents.
[2:57:41] This bill closes an outdated
[2:57:41] gap in our law, reflecting
[2:57:46] both fairness and compassion
[2:57:47] because every life lost to due
[2:57:47] to negligence deserves
[2:57:51] accountability. Second cdf
[2:57:53] strongly support harmful to
[2:57:54] minors legislation which
[2:57:55] closes the Mueller test the
[2:57:59] bill and sure is that obscene
[2:57:59] materials cannot be
[2:58:02] distributed in our schools.
[2:58:02] It's a common sense measure
[2:58:05] that protects children
[2:58:06] supports parents and upholds
[2:58:08] community standards throughout
[2:58:10] Florida. In addition, cdf also
[2:58:12] supports the following
[2:58:13] legislation sb 4.26 to keep
[2:58:17] government spaces neutral. It
[2:58:18] blocks political or
[2:58:18] ideological flags while
[2:58:21] preserving national state and
[2:58:22] historic symbols. Also while
[2:58:25] protecting public spaces for
[2:58:26] everyone sb 430, which
[2:58:29] reinforces public trust in our
[2:58:30] education system and ensures
[2:58:31] that those guiding our
[2:58:33] children are committed to the
[2:58:34] highest standards of
[2:58:35] professional, independent and
[2:58:37] non-partisan service. Cdf
[2:58:39] supports sb 408, because it
[2:58:41] holds vaccine manufacturers
[2:58:44] accountable for misleading
[2:58:45] advertising gets harmed
[2:58:47] individuals a pathway to
[2:58:47] justice and strengthens
[2:58:49] consumer protections in
[2:58:51] Florida. Additionally cdf
[2:58:54] strongly supports sb 166. This
[2:58:56] bill has the opt in for
[2:58:57] student surveys and expands
[2:58:58] parental rights in the area of
[2:59:00] medical freedom for their
[2:59:02] child. This also allows
[2:59:04] parental consent for use of
[2:59:05] biofeedback devices which
[2:59:07] closely tied to a I finally
[2:59:11] citizens defending Freedom
[2:59:12] strongly supports legislation
[2:59:13] to display the 10 Commandments
[2:59:14] and declaration of
[2:59:17] Independence. And every
[2:59:19] Florida classroom recognizing
[2:59:19] the educational and historical
[2:59:23] value of these documents. Cdf,
[2:59:25] thanks you for your service
[2:59:26] and thanks you in advance for
[2:59:30] support of this legislation.
[2:59:33] Thank you very much. Up, Nate
[2:59:34] says and I don't believe her
[2:59:34] bonnet. I'm sorry if I'm
[2:59:39] mispronouncing inning, not
[2:59:43] Come for Please state your
[2:59:47] name for the record. Good
[2:59:47] afternoon. My name is Katie
[2:59:48] Bennett. I'm here with the
[2:59:51] Alliance for Safety and
[2:59:52] Justice. Okay. Following Ms
[2:59:58] Bone. Is. MARCH Dame. What he
[3:00:02] said, Bryan. And Pam Wilson,
[3:00:03] if you can make your way
[3:00:04] towards the thank you. You're
[3:00:07] recognized to speak. Thank
[3:00:10] you. And good afternoon. Duval
[3:00:10] delegation and
[3:00:11] congratulations, Chair
[3:00:14] Michael, as I stated before.
[3:00:15] My name is Katie do that. I'm
[3:00:16] the Florida State director for
[3:00:16] the Alliance for Safety and
[3:00:21] Justice are j. We are the
[3:00:23] advocacy arm for crime
[3:00:24] Survivors for Safety and
[3:00:25] Justice or css chain
[3:00:26] representing 14,000 victims of
[3:00:28] crime here in Florida.
[3:00:32] >> And 250,000 nationwide.
[3:00:33] Thank you to the chair for
[3:00:35] leadership and sponsorship of
[3:00:36] Curtis's law that passed in
[3:00:37] 2023 and the support of this
[3:00:41] delegation as well. Very
[3:00:43] important law for our survivor
[3:00:45] network. This legislation
[3:00:46] insured families who have lost
[3:00:48] a child to violence, receive
[3:00:50] timely information and updates
[3:00:51] from law enforcement deeply
[3:00:52] meaningful step for survivors
[3:00:53] and their loved ones across
[3:00:56] Florida. We're also grateful
[3:00:57] for the leadership and support
[3:00:58] of this delegation for Senator
[3:01:01] Burgess is locked in 2023, a
[3:01:04] record ceiling Bill sb 376.
[3:01:05] This creates a path for
[3:01:07] Floridians to rebuild their
[3:01:10] lives and contribute safely to
[3:01:11] their communities. We plan to
[3:01:13] build on that success this
[3:01:15] year with legislation
[3:01:16] expanding petition based
[3:01:16] records going and look forward
[3:01:17] to hopefully having you all
[3:01:22] support. I also want to
[3:01:23] recognize post Veterans Day
[3:01:24] right, Pat Maney and Senator
[3:01:24] Gaetz this bill that are
[3:01:28] survivors will be supporting
[3:01:31] this year. Sb 50 or hp one.
[3:01:32] 99, what you all remember made
[3:01:33] it all the way to the House
[3:01:37] floor last year. This expands
[3:01:39] the use of a veterans
[3:01:40] treatment courts that which
[3:01:40] we've certainly seen success
[3:01:41] and builds upon that success
[3:01:46] here. Finally will be working
[3:01:48] to expand trauma. Recovery
[3:01:49] centers are tr sees. This is
[3:01:51] that these are hospital
[3:01:53] community-based programs that
[3:01:54] pride provide wrap-around
[3:01:56] services like mental health
[3:01:58] care case management and
[3:01:59] victim support helping people
[3:02:00] recover after violence while
[3:02:03] reducing repeat harm. Our
[3:02:04] appropriations requests this
[3:02:07] year is for tossing memorial.
[3:02:08] But we hope for that to be an
[3:02:09] example and to have one in
[3:02:10] every community, which is what
[3:02:11] our survivors especially when
[3:02:15] here in Duval County. I also
[3:02:16] want to acknowledge and thank
[3:02:18] Michel Combes and Maureen from
[3:02:19] the Christian Coalition that
[3:02:21] are here today in support of
[3:02:21] chance. If it's chase work and
[3:02:23] will be with us throughout
[3:02:24] this next session at the
[3:02:29] Capitol. We'll follow up with
[3:02:31] each of your stops as our
[3:02:31] bills are And of course,
[3:02:32] hopefully make their way
[3:02:35] through respective committees.
[3:02:37] Of course, if you ever need a
[3:02:39] victims perspective we're here
[3:02:40] for you. Thank you so much for
[3:02:41] your time into rest of your
[3:02:46] afternoon. Thank you. You can
[3:02:50] make your way to the podium.
[3:02:51] Please state your name for the
[3:02:57] record.
[3:02:58] >> good afternoon. Nation
[3:03:01] members, my name Don
[3:03:03] Education. Justice organizer
[3:03:03] with Florida to power. You'll
[3:03:06] see today that my shirt says.
[3:03:06] But for students reject cuts,
[3:03:07] education. And it's that
[3:03:10] simple. That mask. I want to
[3:03:11] put our current education
[3:03:12] funding crisis into
[3:03:14] perspective this time. Last
[3:03:15] year, our school board faced a
[3:03:17] 100 million dollar budget
[3:03:18] shortfall. The close schools
[3:03:19] cut buses, cut staff and still
[3:03:21] MAY not be enough. We are
[3:03:23] currently facing federal
[3:03:26] budget well, where Duval alone
[3:03:27] has 25 million dollars worth
[3:03:28] of education funding cuts on
[3:03:31] the line for special education
[3:03:32] title, one low-income schools
[3:03:33] and educational after-school
[3:03:35] programs like Head Start.
[3:03:36] State officials consistently
[3:03:37] remind us that education is
[3:03:38] the responsibility of the
[3:03:39] state, not the federal
[3:03:41] government, but this past
[3:03:42] session. But our state had the
[3:03:44] opportunity to exercise that
[3:03:45] right and pass a universal
[3:03:48] free school meals. Bill. Our
[3:03:49] Legislature killed in its
[3:03:50] first committee because it was
[3:03:52] not a priority. 2 months
[3:03:54] later, hundreds of Florida
[3:03:56] schools lost their federal
[3:03:57] free school meals grant,
[3:04:01] including 37 in Duval County.
[3:04:01] Florida. Families are
[3:04:03] currently 448.6 million
[3:04:03] dollars.
[3:04:06] >> And school meal debt. Do
[3:04:07] you guys know what it's like
[3:04:10] to be in a landslide and pick
[3:04:12] out chicken sandwich. Your
[3:04:16] apple and her talk with milk.
[3:04:16] Just got to check out and have
[3:04:17] the lunch lady replace that
[3:04:19] with the single cold cheese
[3:04:23] sandwich because your $5. But
[3:04:24] you don't even know if your
[3:04:24] parents could even provide
[3:04:29] that night. Because I do. And
[3:04:31] if you've never experienced, I
[3:04:31] couldn't sure that your
[3:04:35] constituents out. For any
[3:04:36] other initiative, our state
[3:04:37] can miraculously find hundreds
[3:04:40] of millions of dollars. Good
[3:04:41] for education. All we get is
[3:04:42] more money to go into the
[3:04:43] hands of private and charter
[3:04:46] school foundation's. If your
[3:04:48] job up there in Tallahassee
[3:04:49] this year is not to do the
[3:04:53] bare minimum feeding hungry
[3:04:53] poor children. You are
[3:04:55] directly telling us when it
[3:04:59] comes education. Camera, but
[3:05:00] more about profit for wealthy,
[3:05:01] private and charter school
[3:05:03] owners and literally feeding
[3:05:05] our future and our schools.
[3:05:08] I'm sorry this that hits very
[3:05:10] close to home. I really,
[3:05:12] really and trying to urge you
[3:05:14] guys. And that's not that's
[3:05:15] legislative session. Cut the
[3:05:16] culture war. We don't care
[3:05:18] about Charlie Kirk statues. We
[3:05:20] want food for children,
[3:05:23] literally that fit. Thank
[3:05:25] Thank you very much.
[3:05:31] >> Please do
[3:05:34] >> This Brian. Thank My name
[3:05:38] is Manchester. Bryant. Last
[3:05:41] Monday, our life was
[3:05:41] shattered.
[3:05:43] >> When our 26 year-old
[3:05:44] daughter Kara, was tragically
[3:05:46] killed by gun violence. She
[3:05:48] was simply sitting on her
[3:05:50] couch, enjoying a normal day.
[3:05:52] When a stray bullet. Came
[3:05:53] through her window and took
[3:06:00] her life. Carroll was bright,
[3:06:00] ambitious and on the cost us
[3:06:01] really like realizing her
[3:06:04] dreams. She had recently
[3:06:07] earned her paralegal degree.
[3:06:07] And was already interviewing
[3:06:11] for jobs. Excited to start a
[3:06:12] career where she could
[3:06:15] advocate for people. But above
[3:06:19] all, she was fiercely out. She
[3:06:19] was preparing to get married
[3:06:22] to her girlfriend, Hannah. Can
[3:06:24] I have already picked out her
[3:06:24] ring and was just waiting
[3:06:25] until she had enough money to
[3:06:30] buy it. Instead. Hannah found
[3:06:35] my daughter. On the ground.
[3:06:42] Her love. Gone in a second.
[3:06:42] I'm asking this delegation to
[3:06:48] act. To do something real and
[3:06:48] meaningful.
[3:06:51] >> To end gun violence, it is.
[3:06:58] It is long past time. Well,
[3:07:01] families like mine are
[3:07:02] grieving. We cannot afford to
[3:07:05] see public money and energy.
[3:07:08] We stayed on naming schools
[3:07:09] and roads after men who
[3:07:10] believe that some gun deaths
[3:07:13] where necessary. To maintain
[3:07:18] gun rights. You have the power
[3:07:21] to enact the necessary gun
[3:07:22] reform yet you are choosing
[3:07:26] not to. Support comprehensive
[3:07:27] legislation that actually
[3:07:29] saved by This requires a focus
[3:07:32] on gun reform and measures
[3:07:33] that directly addressed
[3:07:36] lethality and availability of
[3:07:40] weapons in our community. We
[3:07:41] need to implement universal
[3:07:43] background checks and ban
[3:07:45] assault weapons and high
[3:07:46] capacity magazines designed
[3:07:53] only for mass shootings. House
[3:07:54] Bill 155. With all of the
[3:07:56] problems that it faces. Is a
[3:08:00] start. It's a very small
[3:08:01] start. And there's so much
[3:08:04] more that can be done. But
[3:08:05] with its funding for mental
[3:08:06] health and violence prevention
[3:08:12] programs. It can make change.
[3:08:13] We need real comprehensive gun
[3:08:14] reform that values life over
[3:08:18] ideology. My life. We'll never
[3:08:20] are be the same. My heart is
[3:08:24] gone. All because of senseless
[3:08:29] gun violence. I want to say
[3:08:31] before you leave the podium.
[3:08:35] >> I'm sorry. For the last of
[3:08:36] your child. I too, have gone
[3:08:37] through that. And I understand
[3:08:41] the pain. And thank you for
[3:08:42] having us trip to come here
[3:08:47] today. GOD bless you.
[3:08:50] >> Wilson. Followed by Didi
[3:08:56] Walker. Casey Creed. We have a
[3:09:00] hard time reading the writing.
[3:09:00] So I apologize if that's not
[3:09:01] correct. You are recognized,
[3:09:02] ma'am. Would you state your
[3:09:04] name for the record? Yes, good
[3:09:04] afternoon. My name is Pam
[3:09:07] Wilson. And I'm here.
[3:09:08] >> To give some comments
[3:09:12] focused on property tax. We
[3:09:13] consistently hear from our
[3:09:14] communities that one of the
[3:09:16] biggest concerns and housing
[3:09:18] costs recently, state
[3:09:19] officials have been floating
[3:09:22] the idea of reducing or ending
[3:09:24] property taxes to help with
[3:09:26] housing costs. This is
[3:09:27] uninformed non solution to a
[3:09:32] much bigger problem. A blanket
[3:09:34] change in property taxes would
[3:09:36] not be an equitable form of
[3:09:37] housing relief. This will
[3:09:39] heavily impact low income
[3:09:41] homeowners. While renters MAY
[3:09:43] see a lower rent if their
[3:09:45] landlord pays less property
[3:09:46] tax, that cannot be guaranteed
[3:09:51] and probably wouldn't happen.
[3:09:52] Property tax pays for local
[3:09:55] services that all people in
[3:09:57] community enjoy firefighters,
[3:09:58] public hospitals, museums,
[3:09:59] parks, and most notably
[3:10:03] schools. Florida property
[3:10:05] taxes already lower and 27
[3:10:07] other states. The 24 of those
[3:10:10] states have income tax to help
[3:10:14] pay for those local needs.
[3:10:15] Only one county in Florida has
[3:10:16] actually audited their
[3:10:21] homestead properties. And 2024
[3:10:22] Sarasota County checked their
[3:10:25] home said records or rental
[3:10:26] properties out of state
[3:10:29] individuals claiming a Florida
[3:10:30] homestead and homeowners stead
[3:10:34] and multiple counties. The
[3:10:35] audit found 76 million dollars
[3:10:40] taxable value. Pursuing the
[3:10:41] individual abusing the
[3:10:42] homestead exemption would be a
[3:10:44] more profitable and fair way
[3:10:47] to increase increase revenue.
[3:10:48] It would also make sure that
[3:10:49] homeowners are paying their
[3:10:53] fair share. Our legislators
[3:10:56] should look into the wealthy
[3:10:56] accountable, not punish
[3:10:57] middle-class homeowners and
[3:10:58] local communities. Thank you
[3:10:59] for your time. Thank you very
[3:11:09] much. Please state your name
[3:11:13] for the record. My name is
[3:11:14] Wicker. Some file. You're
[3:11:19] recognized. Here's a member
[3:11:20] with Florida. Rising focused
[3:11:21] on the climate and the Public
[3:11:24] Service Commission. We're
[3:11:25] fighting for a clean, safe and
[3:11:27] healthy planet and the people
[3:11:31] on it. We fight for energy
[3:11:31] democracy, where private
[3:11:32] utilities can increase rates
[3:11:33] without supporting data
[3:11:36] oversight. Florida's Public
[3:11:37] Service Commission supervises
[3:11:38] the private utility companies
[3:11:39] who offer essential services
[3:11:41] such as electric, natural gas,
[3:11:42] telephone, water and
[3:11:46] wastewater. We can all agree.
[3:11:46] Chilly services are necessary
[3:11:50] for health hygiene safety.
[3:11:51] Unfortunately, investor owned
[3:11:52] monopolies can exploit
[3:11:53] residents reliance on these
[3:11:54] utilities and Prof scout or
[3:11:57] cut corners. The public
[3:11:58] service commission is supposed
[3:11:59] to protect the consumers and
[3:12:03] keep those providers in check.
[3:12:03] Utility rate increases are
[3:12:04] often proved supporting dead
[3:12:06] or oversight, allowing the
[3:12:08] that's to our utilities
[3:12:09] monopolies to amass profits
[3:12:10] for that. Any increase
[3:12:15] benefits to the consumers?
[3:12:16] Many households have long Hill
[3:12:16] concerns that utility
[3:12:17] companies received approval
[3:12:19] for an unnecessary rate
[3:12:19] increases. These rate
[3:12:21] increases then place a burden
[3:12:25] on our household bills.
[3:12:27] Utility companies have
[3:12:28] historically requested rate
[3:12:28] hikes after a disaster such as
[3:12:30] the hurricane. Approval of
[3:12:31] these rate hikes allowed the
[3:12:34] investment collect larger
[3:12:35] profits and then charging more
[3:12:36] to people who are recovering
[3:12:39] from the disaster. Public
[3:12:40] Service commission proceedings
[3:12:41] are opaque and often invisible
[3:12:44] to the people they impact. It
[3:12:45] was a bill last session and
[3:12:46] that will be one this year
[3:12:48] that would increase
[3:12:48] transparency. Thank you for
[3:12:49] your consideration. Thank you
[3:12:56] very much. Casey Not sure if
[3:12:56] I'm pronouncing your last
[3:12:57] name. Your followed by Mike
[3:13:03] Todd.
[3:13:03] >> Kasey Creed, ok, followed
[3:13:04] by Mike Todd Coleman,
[3:13:10] Shepherd. And Gayle you can
[3:13:10] make your way to the all
[3:13:14] you're recognize Ms Good
[3:13:14] afternoon. Legislators. My
[3:13:16] name is casting the dummy. You
[3:13:17] can get organizer with Florida
[3:13:18] power.
[3:13:19] >> More importantly, I'm a
[3:13:20] member of this community
[3:13:21] deeply cares about her
[3:13:23] students. They're the future
[3:13:23] of this community and every
[3:13:24] decision you make should
[3:13:27] reflect that. School should be
[3:13:29] a place where young people
[3:13:31] feel safe, supported and
[3:13:31] inspired. Excuse me, let me
[3:13:32] stop you for a minute. Kidney
[3:13:34] pull the mic a little closer.
[3:13:39] >> Thank you. Go ahead.
[3:13:40] They're the future of this
[3:13:40] community in every decision
[3:13:42] you make should reflect that
[3:13:43] school should be a place where
[3:13:44] young people feel safe,
[3:13:46] supported and inspired to
[3:13:48] grow. That is only possible
[3:13:48] when students have what they
[3:13:51] need to focus on learning. One
[3:13:52] of not one of the most
[3:13:56] fundamental needs is food
[3:13:57] because education will cut
[3:13:58] free and reduced lunch. And
[3:13:58] for me, I was fortunate enough
[3:13:59] to have free and reduced
[3:14:01] lunch. They're my time in
[3:14:03] public school. But I still
[3:14:04] have family members still
[3:14:05] going through the school
[3:14:05] system. I would hate to see my
[3:14:07] family struggle due to these
[3:14:09] cuts. So today I'm asking you
[3:14:09] to remember what truly
[3:14:14] matters. Our students. Let's
[3:14:15] focus on things that matter
[3:14:19] and that like. Feeding our
[3:14:19] children and making sure they
[3:14:22] don't go hungry and not
[3:14:23] implementing turning Point usa
[3:14:24] chapters in our schools so
[3:14:26] people can harass our
[3:14:27] children. Let's put them first
[3:14:30] in every policy. Every budget
[3:14:31] and every decision. If we say
[3:14:33] children are our future. This
[3:14:35] time we start acting like it
[3:14:37] by protecting them and not
[3:14:39] politicizing them. Let's show
[3:14:40] them that their leaders, their
[3:14:41] community and their state
[3:14:43] believe that they are worth
[3:14:44] fighting for our students not
[3:14:52] Thank Thank you very much.
[3:14:53] Please state your name for the
[3:14:56] record.
[3:14:57] >> Good afternoon. My name is
[3:15:01] Mike Todd. You're recognized.
[3:15:03] I am here on behalf of our
[3:15:03] dues paying membership,
[3:15:07] Florida, rising. Under Trump's
[3:15:08] second term. One of his
[3:15:10] priorities has been harmful.
[3:15:11] Federal immigration practices
[3:15:13] that criminalize and separate
[3:15:14] immigrant families to
[3:15:14] accomplish this. We've seen a
[3:15:17] ton of pressure to have cities
[3:15:18] and municipalities signed 2.87
[3:15:21] g Agreement outlining the
[3:15:24] collaboration between local
[3:15:24] law enforcement and federal
[3:15:25] immigration and Customs
[3:15:26] Enforcement. We're now seeing
[3:15:29] local law enforcement
[3:15:30] contributing to the
[3:15:31] criminalization of immigrants
[3:15:36] merely for existing. With many
[3:15:38] mass deportation gangs
[3:15:39] resorting to profiling entire
[3:15:41] communities in the process.
[3:15:44] This prosecution, persecution
[3:15:45] of immigrants is an attempt to
[3:15:46] portray immigrants as a public
[3:15:50] enemy when our federal or
[3:15:53] sorry our foreign policy was
[3:15:56] to go over to their countries,
[3:15:57] intervene and ruin their
[3:15:57] democracies. And then they
[3:15:58] come here and you're upset.
[3:16:02] Pretty sad. There will be a
[3:16:06] bill to address many of these
[3:16:06] issues, the economic
[3:16:07] Prosperity and Immigration
[3:16:10] Act. It will make Florida more
[3:16:11] prosperous and welcoming state
[3:16:14] for all people, especially
[3:16:15] immigrant communities and it
[3:16:16] would get rid of the
[3:16:17] requirement for hospitals to
[3:16:19] collect patient immigration
[3:16:20] status data and provide
[3:16:23] protection. From
[3:16:25] discrimination based on
[3:16:26] immigration status in the
[3:16:28] Florida Civil Rights Act in
[3:16:31] 1992. It would also reinstate
[3:16:31] in-state tuition for
[3:16:34] undocumented folks and expand
[3:16:34] that coverage to graduate
[3:16:38] students. Our elected
[3:16:39] officials should be outraged
[3:16:41] that Senate law enforcement.
[3:16:45] That state law enforcement and
[3:16:46] federal immigration agents are
[3:16:48] wearing masks and not
[3:16:49] identifying themselves. This
[3:16:50] bill would push back on that
[3:16:55] as well. 35 All right. All say
[3:17:00] on. No. Charlie Kirk. Fund,
[3:17:03] your kids lunches. No
[3:17:06] redistricting. And I do want
[3:17:09] to say that. It is an
[3:17:12] embarrassment to be the
[3:17:13] wealthiest country in the
[3:17:14] world and not be able to just
[3:17:18] the dark kids lunches. That's
[3:17:21] embarrassment. Thank you to
[3:17:24] everybody who spoke. Thank you
[3:17:36] very much. State. Your name,
[3:17:36] please.
[3:17:38] >> Good afternoon. My name is
[3:17:38] Coleman Shepard. I am here on
[3:17:39] behalf of feeding Northeast
[3:17:43] Florida. I want to start by
[3:17:43] talking about the Farmers
[3:17:48] Feeding Florida program. It is
[3:17:50] a program that allows us to
[3:17:51] rescue food that would
[3:17:53] otherwise be plowed under or
[3:17:55] thrown away or wasted from
[3:17:55] Florida farmers and distribute
[3:17:59] that across our our network of
[3:18:00] nonprofits.
[3:18:05] >> food pantries. So the the
[3:18:06] Feeding Florida Association of
[3:18:07] Foodbanks were 9 food banks
[3:18:08] will cover every county in
[3:18:12] Florida. We were able to save
[3:18:13] 4.6 million pounds across the
[3:18:14] states and distributed into 61
[3:18:18] of 67 Florida counties. And
[3:18:18] the 12 County region that we
[3:18:21] serve here in northeast
[3:18:22] Florida. We were able to
[3:18:23] distribute hundreds of
[3:18:24] thousands of pounds and
[3:18:25] support thousands of
[3:18:27] households with health here,
[3:18:31] fresh Florida grown products.
[3:18:32] Like many nonprofits and
[3:18:33] organizations right now we're
[3:18:36] facing a very acute need and a
[3:18:37] lot of people are missing
[3:18:39] their their benefits and their
[3:18:40] pay checks and to have the
[3:18:41] support of a program that
[3:18:42] allows us to use produce and
[3:18:46] Florida produce products to to
[3:18:47] support those federal workers.
[3:18:50] Those people missing benefits.
[3:18:51] It means a lot that being said
[3:18:52] there are shelves empty on
[3:18:54] food pantries right now. And
[3:18:58] and it is vital that we get
[3:19:01] support to get food out into
[3:19:02] the community as people face
[3:19:08] the sharp need. The recovery
[3:19:09] from this moment is going to
[3:19:11] be a long road and it will not
[3:19:14] end just because the media
[3:19:17] stops reporting on it. So we
[3:19:18] appreciate any support for the
[3:19:20] Farmers Feeding Florida
[3:19:22] program because it does
[3:19:23] provide us with that fresh
[3:19:25] healthy, nutritious food to
[3:19:26] support these families as
[3:19:27] they're going through a very
[3:19:28] rough time. So thank you for
[3:19:29] coming and listening to us
[3:19:31] today. And thank you for
[3:19:34] allowing me speak.
[3:19:36] >> Thank you very much for our
[3:19:39] final. I'm sorry. Remnants.
[3:19:40] You're recognized for
[3:19:44] question. Thank you, MADAM
[3:19:45] Chair. Hi. Can you tell about
[3:19:47] roughly year and Duval County?
[3:19:50] How many families are going
[3:19:50] without food right now? Do you
[3:19:53] have those numbers? You're
[3:19:54] recognize.
[3:19:55] >> Without food, specifically,
[3:19:57] I'm not sure we're as it
[3:19:58] relates to threw the chair as
[3:20:01] it relates to this map. Do you
[3:20:03] know recognize there's roughly
[3:20:04] 150,000.
[3:20:04] >> Folks on snap in Duval
[3:20:11] County. You have a follow-up.
[3:20:12] >> Thank you very much. Final
[3:20:12] 3 speakers are Suzanne
[3:20:18] Pickett. Nelson, France. Gail
[3:20:18] Chisholm, I have your request
[3:20:22] for me at believe you say on
[3:20:23] your that you do not wish to
[3:20:23] speak. If you all can make
[3:20:27] your way to the podium. We
[3:20:31] have no more speakers members.
[3:20:32] That speakers list it on the
[3:20:37] agenda. Members. Are there any
[3:20:40] announcements? Representative
[3:20:44] Hinson you're recognized.
[3:20:46] Thank you. MADAM Speaker don't
[3:20:48] necessarily have an
[3:20:48] announcement, but I guess the
[3:20:50] county is this is my last
[3:20:52] delegation meeting.
[3:20:54] >> And I just want to say that
[3:20:54] he's been an honor and a
[3:20:57] privilege to serve you all as
[3:20:59] a state representative here in
[3:21:02] Duval County. I want to thank
[3:21:06] The general public for coming.
[3:21:09] And voicing your concerns and
[3:21:09] your issues. And I want to
[3:21:11] remind you all that your voice
[3:21:15] is your power and then it. At
[3:21:16] the end of the day, despite
[3:21:17] what is coming out of
[3:21:18] Tallahassee, we work for you
[3:21:21] all. And so it is very
[3:21:23] important for you all to make
[3:21:26] sure that you hold us
[3:21:27] accountable. Demand the
[3:21:30] meetings, demand the town
[3:21:31] halls. And, you know, it is
[3:21:36] also important to know,
[3:21:37] organize people. We'll push
[3:21:39] back against organize money
[3:21:42] any day and you need to make
[3:21:44] sure that again that you're
[3:21:45] holding us accountable because
[3:21:47] we did take an oath to help
[3:21:49] improve the quality of life
[3:21:52] for you all. And if we are not
[3:21:52] acting accordingly, then you
[3:21:56] need to let us know, right? So
[3:21:58] I would urge you all to
[3:22:03] continue to work together
[3:22:05] collectively demand that all.
[3:22:06] Floridians have the
[3:22:08] opportunity to live healthy,
[3:22:11] prosperous and safe and no
[3:22:14] longer just survive but
[3:22:16] thrive. Again, I just I'm just
[3:22:16] I've been so honored to
[3:22:19] represent you all. And I look
[3:22:20] forward to continuing to be on
[3:22:20] the front lines with you all.
[3:22:24] Thank you. Thank you.
[3:22:27] Representative missing. I do
[3:22:29] have one other car that was
[3:22:32] just handed to me. Gloria, I'd
[3:22:32] >> If you're here, if you can
[3:22:33] make your way towards the
[3:22:36] podium. That is our final
[3:22:41] speaker. You're recognized.
[3:22:42] >> And I apologize for missing
[3:22:46] bunch. Earlier in a way in.
[3:22:47] Missed apprehend the time of
[3:22:52] the meeting I want to speak
[3:22:54] about redistricting. First and
[3:22:59] co-location. If. I suppose
[3:23:03] everyone here remembers that
[3:23:05] the redistricting, after the
[3:23:09] census, the legislature, but
[3:23:10] they had gone as far as
[3:23:15] permissible. And the governor.
[3:23:17] Bush even more he tearing me
[3:23:22] and her. Our legislative maps
[3:23:27] do represent voters. To
[3:23:29] consider making them even
[3:23:33] representative. Would be a
[3:23:35] answer to the people of
[3:23:38] Florida. The people. I'm also
[3:23:39] up worker is see the people
[3:23:42] come out and vote. They
[3:23:46] deserve a chance to have their
[3:23:47] votes counted fairly in their
[3:23:53] district. There's no. Be sent
[3:23:54] to redistrict even further at
[3:23:58] this point. Let's wait for the
[3:24:00] senses. See what it tells us.
[3:24:03] And then hopefully doing their
[3:24:10] job in the next decade. As for
[3:24:11] colocation, the legislature
[3:24:11] will have a chance to walk
[3:24:15] that back. It is a recipe for
[3:24:18] chaos. Our schools. It is an
[3:24:21] invitation or for-profit
[3:24:25] corporations. To use the space
[3:24:26] and the facilities that the
[3:24:30] public is paid for, but their
[3:24:34] profit making operations. And
[3:24:36] to further undermine our
[3:24:39] public schools and our
[3:24:41] children's education. So I
[3:24:42] hope that the legislature will
[3:24:45] realize that a mistake has
[3:24:45] been made and corrected in
[3:24:48] this session. Thank you. Thank
[3:24:52] you very much. Italian
[3:24:53] speakers. Is that ok? Very
[3:24:57] good. Members. That concludes
[3:24:58] the speaker's listed on agenda
[3:25:00] in the additional speakers
[3:25:00] members. Are there any
[3:25:07] announcements?
[3:25:08] >> But thank you But I also
[3:25:10] like to thank the staff and
[3:25:12] the jso for being here today.
[3:25:15] Members that concludes our
[3:25:16] agenda, seeing no further
[3:25:17] business Representative Baker
[3:25:18] moves that we rise. Without
[3:25:33] objection. We are