2019 Legislative Wrap-Up
Florida’s legislative session is complete for 2019. By this time, you have heard about some of the big issues that passed such as smokable medical marijuana, felon voting rights restoration, disallowing sanctuary cities, arming teachers in classrooms, and texting while driving. Some other bills of general interest that passed include clearing the way for complete autonomous operation of vehicles without a human driver present and setting up a task force to explore the use of blockchain technology in state operations. All very interesting and we start again in just a few short months with committee meetings and the start of the 2020 legislative session on January 14, 2020. Read more.
FSLA’s Policy Statement
To the extent allowed by law and consistent with its 501(c) 6 tax-exempt purposes, the role of FSLA in government relations, public policy, and advocacy is to:
- Communicate the association’s position to elected or appointed officials and their staffs in the legislative, judicial and / or executive branches of government at a local, state, or national level;
- Keep members aware of information related to public policy initiatives; and
- Assist policymakers and their staff by providing working knowledge, sharing expertise and serving as a valuable resource to provide accurate and timely information.
FSLA’s ACCOMPLISHMENTS
We strive to create a regulatory environment that maximizes flexibility and allows senior living providers to offer a variety of quality care options and choices to consumers. Regulations should recognize and promote operational excellence in communities throughout the state. We represent our members’ interests at the local, state and federal levels.
- In 2018, FSLA was successful in working with the regulatory agency, the Agency for Health Care Administration, in passing legislation that gives the state more tools to crack down on unlicensed assisted living facilities, reduces regulatory burdens on assisted living providers and reduces litigation impacts from residents’ rights.
- FSLA successfully negotiated reasonable revisions to the proposed emergency generator rule (removed references to resident rights, reduced the amount of fuel storage, reduced the square footage required to be cooled, expanded the implementation date, and inserted a waiver process to go beyond the stated implementation date if necessary).
- In March 2018, FSLA was successful in negotiating the removal of Constitutional Proposal 88 which would have removed the cap on punitive damages and effectively eliminated the use of arbitration agreements in assisted living communities.
- In Fall 2017, FSLA successfully challenged an emergency rule requiring the installation of generators by Nov. 15, 2017.
- In Summer 2017, FSLA filed a challenge to burdensome and costly assisted living operating rules that ultimately resulted in the rules being withdrawn.
- In 2016, we passed state legislation to update a decades’ old fire and life safety code in statute, allowing communities to choose to use newer codes.
- In 2015 and 2016, FSLA worked to update regulations to ensure state agencies do not impose burdensome costs on providers or exceed their jurisdiction when interpreting new laws.
- In 2015, FSLA passed state legislation that brought significant reforms to assisted living communities, including more services for unlicensed staff to assist with self-administration of medications and the ability for nurses in LNS communities to practice to their full scope, among other improvements.
- In 2014, FSLA increased state funding for Medicaid Assistive Care Services by $5 million.
- In 2013 and 2014, FSLA prevented passage of major legislation that would have hit the profession with costly registration fees and fines.
Looking for information about Florida’s regulatory structure for senior living communities? Click here.