State Democrats Release Plans for 2018 Hurricane Legislation
October 10th, 2017 by Jake Stofan
A month after Hurricane Irma, Democratic State Lawmakers unveiled their plans for Legislation to fix systematic failures during and after the storm made landfall.
Some of the proposals include sweeping nursing home regulations, making it illegal for employers to fire staff who fail to show up for work during a mandatory evacuation and blocking state building funds from Charter Schools that aren’t qualified to act as hurricane shelters.
The bills have a long way to go, but Democrats say they’re hopeful for bi-partisan support on most of their proposals.
“We’re glad that the speaker has convened a select committee on Hurricane response and preparedness and it is our hope that this committee operates in a good faith and bipartisan manor as we improve Florida’s readiness for future storms,” said Representative Bobby DuBose.
Other proposals introduced include automatically waiving tolls during evacuations, mandatory generators for walk in clinics and allowing municipalities to contract with outside businesses for debris removal. Democrats also called for a Federal investigation into the Hollywood Hills Nursing Home, where 14 elderly residents died after power was lost at the facility.
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