2020 State Legislative Priorities and Agenda
USF- St. Petersburg:
- Academic and Research Program Funding: STEM, Nursing, Engineering, College of Marine Science
- Higher Education Access Program Funding Increases: PATHe and FUSE
Arts and Museum Funding:
- HB 9155- Carter G. Woodson Museum ($1,000,000)
- Division of Cultural Affairs Grant
Tampa Bay Innovation Center Incubator:
- HB 3213- $2M request for construction
Transportation:
- HB 2483- TBARTA operations and 41-mile Regional Rapid Transit Project
Affordable Housing:
- SB 306/HB 381-Protect State Housing Trust Fund and Local Government Trust Fund from being swept into other funds
Behavioral Health Funding:
Increase funding for behavioral and mental health programs including:
- HB 2219 – Davis-Bradley Community Involvement Center ($300,000)
- HB 2251 – Integrated Care and Coordination for Youth ($825,000)
- HB 2287 – Community Health Centers of Pinellas ($500,000)
- HB 2651 – Central Florida Behavioral Health Network’s Pinellas County Marchman Act Project ($1,549,025)
- HB 2653 – Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services – Crisis Stabilization Units ($750,000)
Additional Agenda Items:
Business Rent Tax:
- Support further reduction of the Business Rent Tax
Communications Service Tax (CST):
- Support reduction of the Communications Service Tax
Diversity and Inclusion:
- Support the Florida Competitive Workforce Act which provides that sexual orientation and gender identity are impermissible grounds for discrimination
Education:
- Support maximizing early learning investments through pay-for-performance, increased accountability and workforce development in early education
- Support the alignment of VPK assessments to developmental standards
Enterprise Florida:
- Support fully funding Enterprise Florida to help attract businesses to the state
Film Industry:
- Support the reinstatement of tax credits to encourage filming in Florida as a economic development tool
Urban Agriculture Amendment:
- Support allowing not-for-profit gardening in dense urban land areas
Visit Florida:
- Support fully funding Visit Florida to keep our tourism economy strong
Appropriations:
- Restore the $500,000 Workload Adjustment for a total of $1,916,000 for the Non-Custodial Parent Employment Program (NCPEP) to increase employment opportunities