Representative Salzman’s Accomplishments
2023 Florida House Legislative Session Summary
Quick Summary of 2023
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● The budget included $38,755,905 in appropriations funding sponsored by Representative Salzman, pending Governor’s signature on the budget. ● 7 Policy bills passed through the House and the Senate. ● 41 bills co-sponsored were passed
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● Worked on many topics of policy concern, including: o Healthcare Priorities o Protecting Human Trafficking Victims o Veteran Affairs ● Met with a multitude of organizations and agencies including: o Department of Economic Opportunity o Department of Health o Department of Elder Affairs o Department of Education |
HD1 Bills Passed
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● HB 487 Department of Financial Services
● HB 485 Veteran Recognition
● HB 633 K-12 Education
● HB1189 Monuments
● HB1557 Human Trafficking
● HB7067 Elections (Prime Co-Sponsor)
● HB 299 Education and Training for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Forms of Dementia (Prime Co-Sponsor)
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● Revises eligibility and conditions for certain organizations and persons to be exempt from requirements of insurance code, life insurance policies, and bail bond agency licenses.
● Creates the Division of Long-term care within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, revises qualifications of employment of county and city veteran service officers, and designates the week of Veterans Day as “Veterans Week”.
● Authorizes students of military personnel to have access to enrollment in certain schools and programs. The bill also removes certain school district funding that is dependent on class size.
● Establishes a Florida Space Exploration Monument. Design plans were authorized by a selection committee and approved by the Governor and the Legislature.
● Requires inspection of safe houses by DCF to certify and monitor the care and housing provided by trained staff. The bill also requires specified signage to be placed on the premises of facilities maintained by licensed treatment centers.
● Provides and revises provisions relating to voter registration records, vote-by-mail ballots and voter guides. The bill allows for the execution of criminal penalties and fines when necessary.
● Requires DEA to offer education about Alzheimer’s disease & related forms of dementia to the general public and requires healthcare employees to complete specific training.
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HD1 Appropriations Passed
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● $628,500
● $1,297,000
● $10,000,000 ● $250,000
● $500,000 ● $500,000
● $10,000,000
● $477,000
● $491,614
● $832,364
● $500,000 ● $850,000 ● $305,585 ● $975,000 ● $15,500 ● $500,000 ● $1,000,000 |
● Town of Century Well Replacement ● Town of Century Freedom Road Bridge Replacement ● University of West Florida Critical Infrastructure – Satellite Utilities Plant ● Challenge Enterprises of North Florida ● Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers – Security Infrastructure
● Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence
● Stabilization Unit and Men’s Substance Abuse treatment facility
● Nonie’s Place Children’s Therapy Center – Escambia
● Alzheimer’s Association Brain Bus ● Florida Epilepsy Service Programs ● Health and Hope Clinic – Mental Health Wing ● Take Stock in College ● General Revenue Non-Recurring Funding for the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology ● Institute for Human and Machine Cognition – HVAC Replacement ● Escambia Search and Rescue Response Equipment ● Livestock Barn Restoration and Replacement ● Escambia County Fire Regional Training Facility |
Publications Adopted
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● HR 8029 – Autism Awareness Month
● HR 8051 – National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
● HR 8033 – Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Awareness Month
● HR 8047 – VATER Syndrome Awareness Month
● HR 8083 – Muscogee Indians of the Florida Heritage Week
● HR 8067 – Wolf-Hirschhorn/4p- Syndrome Awareness Day |
● Designates April 2023 as “Autism Awareness Month” in Florida
● Designates October 15, 2023 as “National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day” in Florida
● Designates September 2023 as “Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Awareness Month” in Florida
● Designates February 2023 as “VATER Syndrome Awareness Month” in Florida
● Designates November 1-7, 2023 as “Muscogee Indians of Florida Heritage Week”
● Designates April 16, 2023 as Wolf-Hirschhorn/4p- Syndrome Awareness Day
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2022 in Review
- Dozens of Requests for assistance
-6 Dept. of Children & Families -2 Dept. of Insurance Regulation
-7 Dept of Economic Opportunity -3 Dept. of Transportation
-1 Dept. of Revenue -1 Bureau of Real Estate Services
-3 Public Service Commission -1 FL Dept. of Law Enforcement
-1 Office of Executive Clemency – Dozens connected with local agencies and/or officials
-1 Request led to the Tax Collector developing the “Facility Bound ID Card Portable System”
o 2 Remote Constituent Service Days
- June event at Molino Community Center
November at Texas Road House
What we did in District 1 during the 2023 Session
As we began this year’s Legislative season in the committee weeks and 60-day Session, our office continued offering Constituent Services to District 1. An example of our constituent work is helping a small business owner expedite his inspections and getting his doors opened for business along with serving our great community. We have continued our great relationship with our tax collector, Scott Lunsford, and with his assistance we have helped a new Florida resident cut through red tape and obtain his new Florida Driver’s License.
We hosted quarterly Food Distribution events where we distributed over 30,000 pounds of fresh food each event along with giving away backpacks with school supplies before the school year started, giving away Walmart gas cards, LED light bulbs, and even Thanksgiving meals to over 300 families.
We also give back to various non-profits in our community on a regular basis as requests come in. Some of those include Boy Scouts of America, Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, breast cancer organizations, and local PTA’s.
We look forward to continuing our service to the community through our Constituent Services events and by providing direct contact with our office.
Our next Constituent Services event will be held on November 3rd from 1pm to 3pm at the Pensacola fairgrounds located at 6655 Mobile Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32526
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● Dozens of requests for assistance ○ 1 Dept. of Agriculture ○ 1 Public Service Commission ○ 2 Dept. of Health ○ 3 Dept. of Children and Families ○ 1 Dept. of Economic Opportunity ○ 2 Office of Executive Clemency ○ 1 Dept. of Financial Services ○ 1 Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles ○ 4 Dept. of Transportation ○ 1 FL Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs ○ Other areas of assistance included working with our local School District and County Commission ● Constituent Service Event planned for November 3rd at the Pensacola fairgrounds. |
Representative Salzman also created a Mental Health Task Force last year which consisted of local area leaders and state leaders who are stakeholders in the mental health sector. This task force has brought together a fundamental group of organizations who have committed to making a meaningful impact on access to mental health care in the panhandle.
Some wins include:
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· Data sharing between agencies and facilities · Created a roadmap of mental health care in the community · Century Correctional Institution transition · Launched a graphic media campaign to improve awareness and to address the stigma surrounding mental health · Business leader workshops on mental health in the workplace · Medicaid policy changes through AHCA improving access to therapies for children with Autism · FDLE seminar about behavioral management training discussing how principles may be adapted to case management and wrap around care · Expansion of mental health services at Health & Hope Clinic for the uninsured population · EMS establishment of a puppy room to aid personnel in stress management · Mobile response teams working with the homeless population to bring a continuum of care · Co-responder unit comprised of behavioral health personnel & law enforcement to respond to certain calls · CORE program expansion into Escambia County to address the opioid crisis in our community · Shelter bed dashboard · Share Your Heart, a faith-based partnership with DCF, expanded into Escambia County to assist families in need · Central Receiving Unit in development to address the volume of Baker Act patients in local ER facilities · 10 bed addiction recovery units offering specialized detox care to ensure a smooth continuum of care · The taskforce commissioned an in-depth study to develop a Strategic Plan for Mental Health in our area in preparation for addressing our areas’ needs to the State. |
Representative Salzman’s Accomplishments
2021-2022 Florida House Legislative Session Summary
Key Accomplishments
- Brought home ~$20M in appropriations funding, tax money returned to our community.
- Passed CS/HB 663- Cottage Food Operations, loosening Regulations on Small Business.
- Passed CS/838 HB/557 – Fire Investigator Cancer Treatment Benefits which expands certain cancer treatment coverage to these First Responders.
- Passed CS/HB 1583 – which imposes TERM LIMITS on ECUA, revises qualification requirements for their Executive Director, and provides requirements to fill board vacancies.
- HB 1189 – Firefighters Relief & Pension Fund of the City of Pensacola & Escambia County (Prime Co) – Removes reductions to a retirees spousal benefits & the prohibition of remarriage for the window or widower, and provides pensionable overtime hours and basic life support.
- Passed 62 co-sponsored bills
- Passed Hazardous Walking Conditions Study
- Passed monumental 2021 Gaming Compact
- Processed over a hundred constituent cases
- Hosted or Co-Hosted 6 Town halls & Public Forums
- Over $30,000 donated to local non-profits from leftover campaign funds.
- Solidified new funding partnerships within the district (outside of legislation)
CS/HB 663 – Cottage Food Operations
- Increases annual gross sales limitation for exempting cottage food operations from certain food/building permitting requirements.
- HB 259 (CoSponsor)- Safety of Religious Institutions – Authorizes in specific instances certified individuals to carry firearms into religious institutions.
- HB 5 (CoSponsor) – Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality. Revises policies for abortion and prohibits abortions after 15 weeks following gestation.
- HB 31 – Firefighter Inquiries and Investigation to provide certain rights to Firefighters during informal inquiry.
- Adopted 7 Publications, including the creation of Veterans Week in Florida.
- Recovered over $100,000 for constituents
- Created a Mental Health Task Force to assist with connecting organizations, measuring the state of mental illness in the Panhandle, along with creating & executing action plans for results.
- Hosted 4 Food Distributions in District
- Visited numerous local churches and Neighborhood watch meetings
- Attends monthly County Commission and City Hall meetings to bridge access.
- Passed a balanced budget of 2021 $101.5 billion
- Saved $6 billion into state Reserves, rainy day fund
- Provides $169 million in tax relief for Floridians
- Dedicated $625 million to Environmental efforts
- $28 million state dollars to Florida’s military presence and their families & military research/development
- $37.5 million in state agency funding for Cybersecurity
HB 229 – Hazardous Walking Conditions for K-12 Students
As a result of Rep. Salzman’s legislation a study will be conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). It’s been ordered by the Speaker’s Office to determine what conditions are considered safe for students walking, including busy roadways, overpasses, and bridges.
Passed Appropriations
- $2,500,000 for the Bluff’s Transportation Project to help bring higher paying jobs and allow a future for Escambia County residents.
- $5,000,000 for Bluffs / South Extension
- $2,335,000 for UWF HVAC Replacement
- $1,050,000 for UWF Critical Fire Alarm System Replacement
- $1,000,000 to be allocated for the Take Stock in College program (Total)
- 1,301,892 for the City of Century Water Meters project
- $468,453 for the Century Well & Water Plant Rehab
- $468,453 to help fund the much needed Well and Water Plant Rehabilitation project in Century to bring clean water to the city for drinking.
- 245,000 for mental health services in Flanger for a Drop-In center.
Other Appropriations
- University of West Florida – Hurricane Sally Damage Mitigation and Repairs- (funded through main budget)
- Century Water Meter Replacement Project (funded by state grants)
- Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site Preservation and Operations (will re-file)
- Escambia County Underserved Workforce Initiative (will re-file)
Publications
- HR 8063 – Wolf-Hirschhorn/4p- Syndrome Awareness Day
- Designates April 16, 2021 as Wolf-Hirschhorn/4p- Syndrome Awareness Day
- HR 8065 – Veterans Week
- Designates week of November 7-13, 2021 and November 6-12th, 2022 as “Veterans Week” in Florida
- HR 8067 – Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Awareness Month
- Designates September 2021 as “Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Awareness Month” in Florida
- HR 8079 – Adams-Onis Treaty
- Honors 200th anniversary of the proclamation of Adams-Onis Treaty ceding Florida to the U.S., and designates February 22, 2021 as “Florida Treaty Day”
- HR 8081 – 200th Anniversary of St. Johns County
- Recognizes July 21, 2021 as 200th anniversary of St. Johns County
- HB 8053 – Designates April 2022 Autism Awareness Month in Florida
- HB 8047 – VATER Syndrome Awareness Month. Designates February 2022 as “VATER Syndrome Awareness Month” in Florida.
- Recognizes July 21, 2021 as 200th anniversary of St. Johns Counties.
Additional Sponsored Legislative Bills
- HB 627 – Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia-Related Disorders Education (Requires DOH & Dept. of Elderly Affairs & Alzheimer’s Association to create information about Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disorders to certain health care providers*)
- HB 407 – Pediatric Cardiac Care (Revises requirements for pediatric cardiac advisory panel and panel changes, meeting frequency, sovereign immunity, and giving new duties to secretary*)
- HB 759 – Regulation of Donor Human Milk Banks (Requires DOH to establish minimum standards on regulating donor human milk banks*)
- HB 799 – Criminal Sentencing (Addresses alternative sanctions program, creates new provisions including for violations of community sanctions and criminal traffic offenses*)
- HB 975 – Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Escambia County (Revises board member requirements and membership, and creates administrative guidelines on various aspects of Authority.
- HB 1571 – Workforce Retention (Addresses employers relocating out of state and establish guidelines regarding individuals relocating*)
Passed Co-Sponsored Legislation
- HB 241 – Parents Bill of Rights – Outlines parental rights for a minors child’s education and expands the involvement of the parent in their child’s school & health.
- CS/CS/HB 3 – Home Book Delivery for Elementary Students (Provides credits against specific taxes/adjusts tax credit requirements)
- HB 5 – Civic Education Curriculum (Revises social studies high school graduation credit requirement for civic education)
- CS/HB 157 – First Aid Training in Public Schools (Revises grade levels that school districts are encouraged to provide certain first aid training)
- CS/CS/HB 173 – Individual Education Plan Requirements for Students with Disabilities (Changes provisions for IEPs and their requirements to include postsecondary education and career opportunities for students with disabilities)
- HB 217 – Conservation Area Designations (Designates Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area (CRECA) as Kristin Jacobs CRECA)
- CS/CS/HB 259 – Safety of Religious Institutions (Authorizes in specific instances certified individuals to carry firearms into religious institutions
- CS/HB 363 – Privileged Communications Made to Crime Stoppers Organizations (Regulates privileged communication and information, provides immunity in certain instances)
- CS/CS/CS/HB – Purple Star Campuses (Establishes Purple Star Campus program, pertaining to military-connected children)
- HB 435 – Veterans Employment and Training (Directs Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., to serve for the state in the SkillBridge program)
- CS/CS/HB 673 – DNA Evidence Collected in Sexual Offense Investigations (Requires FDLE to create statewide database for tracking sexual offense evidence kits)
- CS/CS/CS/HB 805 – Volunteer Ambulance Services (Authorizes certain volunteer entities to use red lights on privately owned vehicles for specific instances)
- CS/HB 845 – Higher Education (Prohibits use of state funds to pay for memberships in associations for specific instances)
- HB 871 – Sovereign Immunity for Child Protection Teams (Revises certain terms as they apply to personal liability immunity for Child Protection Teams
- CS/CS/HB 1189 – Victims of Sexual Offenses