2001 - 2002
“Nursing
Shortage Solutions Act” – Modifies the repayment provisions of the
Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness and the Nursing Scholarship programs and
simplifies the eligibility provisions of the Nursing Scholarship Program.
Creates the Sunshine Workforce Solutions Grant Program, which provides funding
to school districts for the creation and implementation of nursing education
programs in middle schools and high schools. Extends the licensure by
endorsement option to nurses currently licensed in a territory of the U.S.
"Community Mental Health Services" - Expands community mental
health services by implementing programs that emphasize crisis services,
treatment, rehabilitation, support and case management.
"Growth
Management" (District School Boards and Local Governments) – Developed
the provision that will require local governments and school boards to enter
inter-local agreements addressing school facility citing, coordination, joint
use of facilities and communication on school capacity issues. If local
governments and school boards do not enter agreements they are subject to
penalties.
"Residential Group Care" – Provides for statewide expansion of targeted
case management and residential group care. It reduces financial risk by
requiring development of a long-term, shared earnings program for D.C.F. and
lead agencies. Other improvements: increased accountability for service
contracts and liability insurance for employees who transport clients in their
own cars.
“Florida
Health and Human Services Assess Act” - Establishes a framework for
phased implementation of improvements in the delivery of state-funded health and
human services, including the development of a statewide information referral
system using the 2-1-1
telephone number.
"Health
Care (Medicaid)" – This bill makes a number of changes pertaining to the
Medicaid program in the Agency for Health Care Administration. One of those
changes is the expansion of the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program to include
Elderly and Disabled individuals no longer with fixed incomes who are not on the
Medicaid Program.
“Health
Flex Plans” – Creates a pilot program to provide health care coverage,
referred to as health flex plans, for uninsured persons who have a family income
equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The Agency for
Health Care Administration and the Department of Insurance may approve health
flex plans in the three areas of the state having the highest number of
uninsured persons; Hillsborough County is one of those areas, and Indian River
County. The plans would be exempt from the requirements of the Insurance Code.
"Falsification of Records" - This bill prescribes penalties to workers of
state agencies for knowingly falsifying records of an individual in the care and
custody of a state agency. This bill was a result after the disappearance of
the little girl in Miami, Rilya Wilson, who was in the care of D.C.F.
“Sharpening the Pencil Act” – Combines existing financial reviews into
one and establishes a five-year cycle during which the financial practices of
all 67 districts will be reviewed. Requires that once a district has been
reviewed, a report be issued providing the district with an action plan on how
to conform with Best Financial Management Practices. Requires district school
boards to vote on whether to implement the action plan. Authorizes the State
Board of Education to give the district a “Seal of Best Financial Management”
when a district successfully implements the practices within two years.
“All-Products”
Health Insurers & HMO’s" - This bill is intended to
prohibit the utilization of “all products clause” provisions contained in some
insurance and HMO contracts, as a condition of continuation or renewal of a
current contract. Health care practitioners object to insurers and HMOs using
such clauses because these provisions require practitioners to participate in
all of the health plan’s current and future health plan products, as a condition
of participating in any of the health plan’s products.
"Substance Abuse and
Mental Health" - creates two service delivery strategies to allow the
Department of Children and Family Services (department) and the Agency for
Health Care Administration (agency) to contract with the same managing entity in
each of two geographic locations to design and develop a complementary system of
mental health and substance abuse (behavioral health) care for persons with
emotional, mental, or addictive disorders. One service delivery strategy permits
the department to contract with one of the two Medicaid prepaid mental health
plans. The second strategy requires the department and the agency to
competitively procure the management services of a single entity that will be
accountable for behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults
that are funded under the Medicaid program and under the department. It is the
goal of both strategies to improve quality of care, access to treatment,
continuity of care, and to contain costs.
"Foster Care" -
Broadens community-based lead agency authority to provide core services.
Requires the Department of Children and Family Services (department) to place
certain children 10 years of age or older in licensed residential childcare
following an assessment procedure. Allows the department to broaden the
services that can be privatized in the child welfare area. Adds to the
requirements for a lead agency the ability to maintain eligibility to receive
all federal child welfare funds, including Title IV-E and IV-A funds, currently
used by the department. Provides an alternative to competitively procuring a
lead agency for foster care and related services when the department is not
successful in recruiting an eligible lead community-based provider. Increases
comprehensive residential services in Districts 4, 11, 12, the Suncoast Region,
and a site that will serve multiple districts for children with extraordinary
needs such as serious behavioral problems or children without the option of
reunification with their family or adoption. Establishes a model comprehensive
residential services program in Dade and Manatee counties for a range of
services to children in foster care including residential group care and
home-based services.
"Schools (Adult
Entertainment Locations)" - This bill prohibits the location of adult
entertainment establishments within 2,500 feet of a public or private elementary
school, middle school, or secondary school unless the county or city approves
the location under proceedings specified in statute. |
