Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Checking school workers would become simpler

Today is Day 4 of the 60-day session of the Florida Legislature.

By Times staff writer, Associated Press
Published March 10, 2006

Critics of the Jessica Lunsford Act declared a major breakthrough Wednesday when a House committee advanced a bill streamlining background checks required of contract workers at schools.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Charles Dean, R-Inverness, would still require employers to conduct fingerprint checks of workers who are in direct contact with students - a costly, time-consuming process. But others could be checked against a national sex offender registry and by drivers' licenses. The licenses of sex offenders or predators would be marked with the statute they violated.

The current law is a "logistical nightmare," said Richard Watson, a lobbyist for Associated Builders and Contractors. "This is a good way to address the problem."

Law enforcement and school officials also endorsed the idea.

State Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, who also has introduced legislation addressing Lunsford Act problems, said she needs to review Dean's proposal.

-ALEX LEARY

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Thursday renewed a long-running effort to repeal a law that prevents gas stations from charging less than their cost for fuel, arguing that it could save consumers millions of dollars.

They say the Motor Fuel Marketing Practices Act keeps the price of gas artificially high, and if the price control were repealed some larger retailers would drop their prices below cost for competitive reasons. They could make up the cost in other business.

Smaller gas retailers oppose the idea and say the big ones are pushing the measure to put them out of business.

"We're not trying to hurt anyone; we believe we're asking for competition," said Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, one of the sponsors of Senate Bill 2072, which would repeal the marketing law passed in 1985.

A similar measure, House Bill 909, is filed in the House. Gov. Jeb Bush also backs the repeal.

The Senate committee that writes the health care budget will try to boost the required number of nurses' assistants in nursing homes this year, something patients' advocates have sought for years but the homes say will cost them millions of dollars.

Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee, said the panel would try to increase the minimum number of hours that certified nursing assistants must spend each day with each patient to 2.9, up from the 2.6 currently required.

The help is badly needed, said Cloreta Morgan of Miami, a CNA who has worked in nursing homes for more than 30 years. "It's the job that never ends."

But nursing home owners and operators say the new requirement would be a huge hardship if it comes without a major increase in state money. Most nursing homes depend on state money through the Medicaid system to pay for patient care.

"We have always supported the 2.9 (hours per day) in the context of adequate funding," said Tony Marshall, a lobbyist for the Florida Health Care Association. But if homes are required to boost their staffing without getting more money, it would "create an immediate $40-million deficit for nursing homes."

It's still early in the budget process, and Saunders' committee hasn't finalized what it would spend on nursing homes.

It's also not clear if the House will go along with the increase, which wasn't recommended by Gov. Jeb Bush.

DEATH PENALTY VOTES: The House Justice Council chairman wants to reject a Florida Supreme Court suggestion that the state consider requiring unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences. Rep. Bruce Kyle, R-Fort Myers, has introduced a resolution saying such a requirement would let a single juror "override the reasoned judgment of all other jurors." The high court in October urged lawmakers to consider unanimous jury recommendations, or at least unanimous votes to decide which aggravating factors support a death sentence.

FARM VANS: The Senate gave preliminary approval to Senate Bill 258, requiring that large vans used to take migrant farm workers to fields be equipped with seat belts for each worker. Growers' organizations, who typically own the vans, support the measure.

SAVE OUR HOMES: The Senate discussed legislation to change the law limiting year-to-year increases in a home's assessed value under the same owner. Under SB 264, sponsored by Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, adding an owner to the title would not remove the protection. An amendment that would only provide the protection when "family members" are added was defeated. The bill could be voted on next week.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Last modified March 10, 2006, 01:57:36]