A new $1.1-billion state agency to serve the developmentally disabled will be created under a bill sent to Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday.
The Senate voted 39-0 to create the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a day after the House voted unanimously for the bill (HB 1823). Supporters say the agency will provide greater attention for 30,000 developmentally disabled people served by the state.
Mentally retarded and other developmentally disabled people are now being served by the Department of Children and Families. Bush proposed the idea to carve out a new agency four weeks ago, with support from advocates for the disabled.
DCF's developmentally disabled program has run millions of dollars over budget in recent years and has had a growing waiting list despite budget increases.
Plan for lagging sixth-graders advances
Legislation designed to improve Florida's 477 middle schools cleared the Senate on Thursday and went to the House, where a similar bill awaits a vote.
The Senate bill (CS-SB 354), which passed 38-0, provides for individual success plans for every sixth-grader who scored below grade-level reading on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in fifth grade.
More than 81,000 fifth-graders last year - about 42 percent of all FCAT takers - scored below reading grade-level.
Schools in which fewer than 75 percent of students in grades 6 through 8 read at grade level would have to implement a "rigorous reading requirement."
State would track controlled-drug use
Florida health officials would create a statewide database of everyone who gets a prescription of certain controlled substances under a measure ready for a full House vote today.
The measure is aimed at saving lives and fighting fraud and is backed by Gov. Jeb Bush. Supporters of the bill (CS HB 397) say abuse of addictive prescription drugs is becoming a deadly epidemic.
Lawmakers also cite a need to slow the growing costs of government health care programs beset by fraud, particularly prescription drug fraud.
Bill sponsor Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said measures would be taken to prevent misuse of the database, which would only be accessible to law enforcement officials and doctors.
The database would only keep track of people who get prescriptions for certain controlled substances, including narcotics like pain relievers oxycodone or Percocet, or the antianxiety drug Xanax. Children under 16 would not be included in the database.
- For information about legislation, call 1-800-342-1827 or 1-850-488-4371 toll-free during business hours.
