Florida's Latest News

Education leaders spotlight ‘Learn Local’ initiative, early education, and student absenteeism ahead of session.

With the 2024 legislative session quickly approaching, the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and the Florida Philanthropic Network on Monday hosted a webinar focusing on upcoming educational reforms and highlighting key legislative initiatives.

Led by Sen. Alexis Calatayud, initial discussions centered around the “Learn Local” initiative, which seeks to streamline various aspects of the educational system, including assessments and instructional protocols.

“Our objective is to foster a more adaptable and innovative educational environment, all while maintaining a steadfast focus on student safety and academic performance,” Calatayud noted. The legislative package, part of a broader move to shift educational decision-making to local authorities, encompasses SPB 7000, 7002, and 7004.

The bills collectively focus on deregulating aspects of public school operations, enhancing autonomy in teacher certification, personnel management, and financial administration, as well as granting greater flexibility in student progression and instructional methodologies.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida will resume gambling payments to the state.

Amid a celebrity-fueled launch of new casino games this week, the Seminole Tribe intends to resume making payments to the state as part of a 30-year deal that included giving the tribe control over sports betting.

Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International, told The News Service that the tribe expects to pay the state at least $650 million over the next year as part of the 2021 deal, known as a compact.

“The compact is now back in full force, and the tribe is abiding with the full terms of the compact,” Allen, speaking from Tampa, said. “It’s certainly our intention to comply with the compact in our relationship with the state. Obviously, we’re just launching all this stuff today.”

Allen did not specify when the tribe would begin making payments or how much the first payment would be, saying they would be made pursuant to the terms of the compact.

Senate Republican files autonomous practice measure seeks to retain Florida nurse anesthetists.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia filed legislation on Friday that, if adopted, would expand the scope of autonomous practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Florida by removing established protocol regulations, ultimately lowering healthcare costs.

The measure, if passed, would eliminate the current requirement for a written supervision agreement with a physician or dentist for APRNs, as well as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Under current Florida law, CRNAs must have written supervisory protocols, meaning that to practice, they need a formal agreement with a supervisor that often involves a financial component where CRNAs pay a percentage of their collections to the supervising physician.

Ingoglia’s bill would also grant CRNAs the authority to order pre-anesthetic medication beyond the constraints of the supervision protocol. An inquiry for comment from Sen. Ingoglia was not immediately responded to.

Proponents of the bill note that many of the physicians or dentists who sign these supervisory protocols do not have specialized training in anesthesia. Thus, the supervision does not contribute to enhanced patient care or safety in anesthesia administration and largely serves as a statutory formality rather than a clinically significant supervisory relationship.

Brightline is moving forward with Orlando-to-Tampa plans despite no federal funding.

Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman, R-Tampa, has submitted a $50 million proposal to the Florida Legislature for the next legislative session that would go toward rail improvements in the I-4 corridor. Passenger rail service in Florida wasn’t included Friday as the White House announced awarding $8.2 billion for a series of major rail projects.

But Christine Kefauver, senior vice president of corporate development for the Brightline rail service, told a state House panel last week that the company is “making tremendous strides” toward an Orlando-to-Tampa route after completing a project connecting Miami and Orlando.

“It is complex to get to Tampa, but we're up to the challenge,” Kefauver told members of the House Transportation and Modals Subcommittee.

What is known as the Sunshine Corridor Partnership seeks to connect the SunRail commuter-rail service in Central Florida to Brightline at Orlando International Airport, while linking the Orange County Convention Center, south International Drive and the Disney Springs areas.