Florida Legislative Session: Week 4

It's been a busy week for Florida's state policy efforts!

Action Needed

• Help protect funding for Tobacco Free Florida! Register for a Constitution Revision Commission hearing near you: act.yourethecure.org/crc_hearings. Encourage volunteers to register, too. Hearings will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Melbourne, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and St. Petersburg.  

Campaign Updates

State Campaigns 

STEMI Registry

We have been exploring alternative methods of ensuring the passage of the American Heart Association's STEMI language.

POLICY BACKGROUND: Because of high mortality rates associated with STEMI, which is frequently referred to as the widow-maker, we are urging Florida legislators to direct the Florida Department of Health to create a statewide, centralized registry to collect data on people who have symptoms associated with a STEMI heart attack. If passed, the STEMI registry is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2018.

BILL STATUS: 

• HB 1313 – Rep. Lawrence McClure. Referred to Health Innovations Subcommittee; Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee; and Health and Human Services Committee.
• SB 1032 – Sen Dennis Baxley. Referred to Health Policy Committee; Appropriations Committee on Health & Human Services; and Appropriations Committee.

Tobacco 21

It appears House Bill 1029 will not be heard in its first committee assignment on January 30, and we have run into a road block. Despite the road block, the Tobacco 21 legislation added House co-sponsors this week, including Representative Clay Yarborough, and a promise to co-sponsor from two other members whose names have not yet showed up on the co-sponsor list.

POLICY BACKGROUND: The policy would raise the legal minimum sale age of tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21.

BILL STATUS:

• HB 1029 – Reps. Lori Berman, Bill Hager (and others). Referred to Careers & Competition Subcommittee; Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee; Commerce Committee. 
• SB 1288 – Sen. David Simmons (and others). Referred to Regulated Industries Committee; Commerce & Tourism Committee; Rules Committee.

Constitution Revision Commission Proposal 94

Over the next several weeks, the Constitution Revision Commission will host five public hearings across the state. This is our opportunity to ask commissioners to vote no on Proposal 94 that could redirect funding away from Tobacco Free Florida to cancer research; it is sponsored by Commissioner Jeanette Nunez, who also serves as Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Florida House. 

The American Heart Association and other health organizations oppose Proposal 94 because tobacco prevention is essential to eliminating heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses. 

All staff are asked to attend a hearing near them, as well as recruit volunteers to attend and, if possible, testify. A list of the various dates and locations of the CRC public hearings can be found below. While staff and volunteers are welcome to attend the public hearing between 1 - 7PM, we will notify registrants of a targeted time to arrive about a week before the hearing to maximize our impact. Register for a hearing at act.yourethecure.org/crc_hearings.

Tuesday, February 06, 2018
1:00-7:00 PM EST
Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314

Monday, February 19, 2018
1:00-7:00 PM EST
Eastern Florida State College
Maxwell C. King Center
3865 North Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32935

Tuesday, February 20, 2018
1:00-7:00 PM EST
University of North Florida
Herbert University Center
12000 Alumni Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224

Tuesday, February 27, 2018
1:00-7:00 PM CST
University of West Florida
Conference Center & Ballroom
11000 University Parkway, Building 22
Pensacola, FL 32514

Tuesday, March 13, 2018
1:00-7:00 PM EST
University of South Florida - St. Petersburg
University Student Center
200 6th Ave S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Plus, there is one date still to be determined in Southwest Florida.