Special Session for Florida Legislature

After four days in Special Session, the Florida Legislature adjourned, Sine Die, this afternoon after passing legislation regarding Hurricane Relief, Universal Pre-K, Florida KidCare, and Juvenile Detention.

Hurricane relief was the subject of many bills this week - nearly $500 million was appropriated for those hit hardest by the named storms Charlie, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. Floridians who paid property tax on homestead property that was deemed partially or completely uninhabitable are eligible to receive up to a $1,500 rebate on those taxes from the state by applying to their local Property Appraiser by March 1, 2005. The Legislature also approved a measure to reimburse those homeowners who paid more than one deductible as a result of damage caused by two or more named storms. The bill provides for a reimbursement of up to $10,000 for the second deductible and up to $20,000 for those facing three or four deductibles. Another provision in the bill stipulates language for annual hurricane deductibles rather than those per peril.

The requirement for a Universal Pre-K program passed as a constitutional amendment in 2002 and is slated to be running by the fall of 2005. While the legislature passed a bill in regular session earlier this year, the bill was vetoed by Governor Jeb Bush who didn’t think the legislation went far enough for Florida’s children. The bill passed today will provide 540 hours of instruction during the school year and provides for two adults for any classroom with more than 10 students.

Much needed beach renourishment appropriations were made to help those areas hit hardest by the pounding waves during the busy storm season. Over $68 million was provided to help local governments repair those areas.

Falling under hurricane relief, bills passed regarding agriculture losses, canker eradication, health and human services, juvenile detention centers, and relief for displaced workers as a result of the storms.

Posted by Donald Urschalitz P.A. at December 17, 2004 01:38 PM