In this video, State Senator Bobby Powell, Jr. provides you with an update of Week 1 of the 2021 Florida Legislative Session.
THIS WEEK MARKED THE OPENING OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DURING OPENING SESSION GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS GAVE HIS ADDRESS AND REITERATED HIS STANCE THAT EVERY BUSINESS HAS A RIGHT TO OPERATE.
WEDNESDAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER 21-47 WHICH GRANTED PERMISSION TO COVID-19 ADMINISTRATORS TO NOW BE ABLE TO VACCINATE THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: LONG TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS AND STAFF; PERSONS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER; HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL WITH DIRECT PATIENT CONTACT; K-12 SCHOOL EMPLOYEES 50 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER; SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS 50 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER; AND FIREFIGHTERS 50 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER;
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY WE CELEBRATED PALM BEACH COUNTY DAY WITH SOME OF OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS INCLUDING MYSELF, SENATOR POLSKY, SENATOR BERMAN AND SENATOR HARRELL.
IN ADDITION, THE CONTROVERSIAL HB-1 BILL – KNOWN AS THE ANTI-PROTEST BILL, MADE IT THROUGH ITS 2ND HOUSE COMMITTEE STOP WITH A 10-5 VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. IN THE SENATE IT’S SB484 AND IT HASN’T BEEN HEARD YET.
ON THE SENATE SIDE, THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL SB72, IS PROPOSING TO CREATE CIVIL LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST COVID-19 RELATED CLAIMS, BUT EXCLUDES HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FROM THE LIABILITY PROTECTIONS CREATED IN THE BILL. THE BILL WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMERCE & TOURISM COMMITTEE AND WAS NARROWLY PASSED WITH A 7-4 PARTY LINE VOTE. DUE TO THIS BILL’S RELEVANCY TO THE COVID-ERA WE ARE IN, THIS IS ONE WE WILL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.
THIS WEEK I PRESENTED, SB848, TO THE COMMERCE & TOURISM COMMITTEE. THIS BILL AMENDS THE 2019 LEGISLATION FOR HOW ONLINE NOTARIES WITNESS DOCUMENTS VIA AUDIO-VIDEO TECHNOLOGY. THE BILL AMENDS THE ORIGINAL VERSION TO CLARIFY THE PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE SUPERVISION OF THE WITNESSING OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS AND TO CONFORM LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL 2019 BILL. SB848 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND ITS NEXT COMMITTEE STOP IS THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
LASTLY, SB48 WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND WAS PASSED FAVORABLY. THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS KNOWN AS THE “VOUCHER’ BILL DUE TO ITS PROPOSED LEGISLATION RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR K-12 STUDENTS. THIS IS A HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT IS CAUSING MUCH DEBATE DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONS SUCH AS INCREASING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MONEY AND INCREASING THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT. THE BILL HAS MADE IT THROUGH ITS 3 COMMITTEE STOPS AND WILL NOW BE HEARD ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR A FINAL VOTE.
THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF THE POWELL PRESS! THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND KEEPING INFORMED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. PLEASE LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, SHARE AND COMMENT ON THIS VIDEO AND ALL OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO STAY INFORMED ON DISTRICT 30 AND OUR GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA. REMEMBER, A LIFE OF SERVICE IS A LIFE THAT COUNTS! SEE YOU LATER!
