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It’s probably the most dangerous thing you do every day.

Get in your car and drive. Today about 40 bicyclists finished a 400 mile ride to the state capitol to promote road safety. A mother told her story about losing her son to a drunk driver. Two FSU college students talked about the death of their friend who died on a trip from Tampa to Tallahassee.

Sarah Sweat / Q…prevent them. :12
FSU Student
“Pay attention to those around you. Pay attention to the conditions and pay attention to the road. You have to be ready for anything. Bad things happen to good people who are doing the right thing and all we can do is our best to prevent them,” said Sarah Sweat.

This is the third year for the event. It’s sponsored by the Dori Slosberg Foundation. Dori is the daughter of Representative Irv Slosberg. She died in a car wreck before he was elected.

Governor Rick Scott carried the torch for the Special Olympics today.

He was joined by a few hundred Florida law enforcement officers. This was the 30th year for the torch run which begins about a two miles from the state capitol. Scott says his budget will help disabled Floridians finds jobs.

“My budget has 36 million dollars to provide critical services to people who are on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities waiting list, which means that hundreds of families that need support will get it,” said Scott.

The Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games will be held May 17th in Lake Buena Vista.

The state senate is saying no to police drones.

A bill to ban police from using drones to spy on law abiding citizens passed the full senate today. The legislation would allow police to use drones after they’ve received a court order or in emergency situations. The bill’s sponsor Senator Joe Negron says the right to privacy needs to be protected.

“I believe that it achieves a delicate balance between freedom and security and I want to thank the law enforcement community for their suggestions,” said Negron.

The bill emerges as the federal government explores more police state policies like increased TSA checkpoints, internet censorship and radio frequency tracking through state and school issued IDs.

An attempt to keep medical patients from hurting themselves and others has new life. Until today legislation to give nurse practitioners the right to conduct involuntary mental health exams looked dead. As Whitney Ray tells us, a group of dedicated nurses brought the bill back to life.

An emergency news conference in the second half of session, standard operating procedure when a bill is in trouble.

Wednesday, nurse practitioners called reporters to the state capitol. A bill to give them more authority to stop potential suicides and homicides passed the house… but seemed dead in the Senate.

“In the Senate we need your advocacy,” said Representative Hazel Rogers.

This issue concerns the Baker Act. The law allows doctors, mental health experts and police to committee people deemed to be dangerous.

Stan Whittaker is nurse practitioner and works at a country clinic where doctors aren’t always available. One day Stan tried to help a man bent on suicide. He called the police.

“When the law enforcement arrived the person was asked the questions. The same questions I asked, but he told a different story,” said Whittaker.

The police couldn’t commit the man.

“And less than two hours later that person was found dead,” said Whittaker.

As nurses shared their stories… news from the Senate arrived.

“We just heard that Senator Sobel has put this bill on the agenda for one o’clock,” said Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda.

The crowd cheered. They’re plan worked. The Senate hears the bill Monday.

The fattest budget in Florida history passed the State Senate this afternoon with unanimous support. The 74 billion dollar spending plan includes a 25-hundred dollar pay raise for teachers and a three percent increase for state workers. Senate Budget Chief Joe Negron says state workers have gone too long without an increase.

“They haven’t had a raise in six years. We appreciate what they do everyday. All of us know how hard they work and so we are recognizing that with an across the board three percent pay increase,” said Negron.

The Senate’s plan has bipartisan support but in the House trouble is brewing. Most House Democrats are vowing to vote against the budget in their chamber, unless the Medicaid expansion is included.

“It’s time that the money comes back to us and it’s coming back to the most neediest Floridians. Those who are out there working hard every day and can’t afford any type of health coverage and we want to be there for them and it’s important enough for us to take a position on this budget,” said Thurston.

Some House Democrats plan to break ranks. They’ve spent years fighting for items in the budget like state workers raises and increased education spending.

Pressure for state lawmakers to accept federal money to expand Medicaid is mounting. Young adults who are too old for Medicaid and too poor to buy their own coverage are in Tallahassee asking for help. As Whitney Ray tells us, they’re caught in the coverage gap.

It’s a tale of two Medicaids. Donya Marshall’s daughter Chloe has DiGeorge Syndrome. She and her husband both work. Both have insurance, but they still can’t pay Chloe’s medical bills. So Medicaid does.

“Without Medicaid in our lives we would not have been able to take her to so many appointments so many times a week,” said Donya.

Then there’s Geosel Robles. Geo has Muscular Dystrophy. He works. He goes to college. He recently celebrated a bitter birthday.

“On his 18th birthday he got a birthday cake, but he lost his insurance,” said Dr. Britt Stroud with Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Until last year Medicaid paid for Geo’s treatment. Now, without health insurance he can’t afford to visit the doctor.

Geo: You’re feeling bad because you don’t know what’s going on.
Reporter: So you live with that uncertainty every day?
Geo: Everyday man, but I’m not going to let it keep me down. I have goals.

Tuesday at the state capitol doctors told stories about young adults caught in the gap. They’re covered by Medicaid until they’re 18, then they’re on their own.

“When we transition the children in to adult services we have a similar situations like Geosel has explained to you,” said Dr. Daniel Plasencia.

The doctors and patients form the Florida Remedy Coalition. They’re asking state lawmakers to expand Medicaid and close the coverage gap. And with just a few weeks left in session the pressure’s mounting on lawmakers to accept the cash. The Senate has devises a plan to take the money. Now all eyes are on the House.

Geo hopes the House comes through but he’s pushing forward regardless. While MD tears down his body, Geo’s focused on sharpening his mind. He wants to be a lawyer.

The Senate plan would allow private insurers to take the Medicaid money to extent coverage. Florida’s House Speaker now says he’s open to alternative plans but still worries about what will happen when the federal money runs dry.

Several bills to reduce the number of abortions in Florida are gaining momentum this legislative session. Today supporters of Planned Parenthood held a rally on the capitol steps, but as Whitney Ray tells us, instead of railing against the pro-life legislation, the group focused on the Medicaid expansion.

Planned Parenthood workers and supporters held signs on the steps of the historic capitol Monday.

The focus of the rally; the Medicaid expansion made optional through the Affordable Care Act.

“My colleges need to act now, not next session, to expand access to health insurance to more Florida women and their families,” said State Senator Eleanor Sobel.

While the rally focused mostly on the Medicaid expansion; inside the state capitol legislation to reduce the number of abortions in Florida was moving.

Of the half dozen bills filed. One would outlaw abortions based on the race or sex of the fetus. Another makes killing a fetus while committing a criminal act against the mother a separate crime.

The bill garnering the most attention deals with botched abortions. Last month lawmakers asked poignant questions of a Planned Parenthood lobbyist about what to do if the fetus is still alive after the procedure.

At the rally, CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida Lillian Tamayo said their physicians are prepared to handle the situation.

“If confronted with a situation like that, our physicians would provide the appropriate care for both the infant and the woman,” said Tamayo.

After the rally an amended version of the bill passed a committee, with Planned Parenthood’s support. Another bill would allow rape victims who decided to keep their child to take their attacker to court to eliminate the rapist’s parental rights.

Money from a foreclosure settlement with the nation’s largest banks may not be used to help people who’ve lost their homes. This session state lawmakers are deciding how to use 400 million dollars of the settlement money. State Senator Darren Soto says about half the money lawmakers are planning to distribute won’t help the victims of the foreclosure crisis.

“It’s going primarily to general affordable housing programs, domestic violence issue and other things which are worthy goals, but these aren’t the folks who were affected by foreclosure,” said Soto.

Soto is asking budget chiefs in the House and the Senate to take a second look at how the money is being allocated in their spending plans.

Legislation to speed up executions in Florida is now speeding through the process. The bill would reduce the number of years inmates spend on death row by speeding up appeals and letting the governor and legislature review judges. As Whitney Ray tells us, there are more than 400 people currently on death row. Many will spend more than 20 years waiting to die.

Sentenced to die. Florida’s death row inmates spend an average of 13 years behind bars before they’re executed. Of the 406 inmates on death row, 155 have been there longer than 20 years.

“It should not take decades to deliver due process in these cases,” said Representative Matt Gaetz.

Legislation to speed up executions is now speeding through the Florida Legislature. The bill would streamline the appeals process and force judges to make quicker decisions.

“When there is an appeal of a post conviction motion the Supreme Court ought to be able to rule on that within 180 days. Now we sometimes have years pass before we get rulings,” said Gaetz.

The house and senate versions of the death row reform bill passed committees this week. Democrats say the reforms need further vetting.

“This product I think Ray Charles could see that it is defective right now. That it is not complete right now. Yeah Ray Charles,” said House Democrat Darryl Rouson.

“I love Ray Charles but if Ray Charles were to classify my product that I brought before the committee today as defective I would hope that he would be able to identify one defective piece of the product, not just merely classify it as defective,” said Rouson.

The legislation would also set up an oversight system for judges who don’t rule quickly in death cases. The judges would have to answer to the House Speaker, Senate President and the Governor.

Earlier this year a House Committee heard a bill that would have outlaw capital punishment in Florida. It was quickly voted down.

A bill to ban internet cafes is headed to the governor’s desk and it could be signed as early as next week banning the sweepstakes games immediately. As Whitney Ray tells us, the bill passed the full senate this afternoon over objections about unintended consequences of the legislation.

Just three weeks after investigators shutdown 51 internet cafes, state lawmakers passed a bill to outlaw all the sweepstakes businesses.

Caught in the controversy is Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll, who did consulting work for the alleged charity running the closed cafes.

“We saw millions and millions of dollars being embezzled by this stuff and we saw even the fall of the Lt. Governor as a result of this,” said Senator Darren Soto.

Lawmakers acted fast. Just two days after bust a bill to shut down the remaining one thousand cafes passed its first committee. Thursday afternoon it made its final appearance in the Florida Senate.

“Events obviously brought us to where we are today,” said Senator John Thrasher.

And as the debate raged on, question arose about the unintended consequences of the ban. Opponents are concerned about children’s games, adult arcades and even vending machines.

“Internet cafés are not senior amusement centers,” said Senator Maria Sachs.

Most of the opposition came from South Florida Democrats. They worry the ban is too broad and it will shut down adult arcades frequented by seniors.

“I’ve had numerous seniors coming into my office crying to me about changing our lifestyle. This, to me, should not be included in the bill,” said Senator Joseph Abruzzo.

The majority couldn’t be swayed. Now the bill is headed to the governor’s desk.

Internet cafes will be illegal the moment Governor Rick Scott signs the bill. Lawmakers say they already are outlawed; the legislation simply clarifies existing law. The bills’ sponsor says the ban won’t impact children’s arcades or adult arcades that are currently following the rules.

If someone in Florida steals your social security number or banking information right now it’s only a crime if prosecutors can prove intent to use the information. As Whitney Ray tells us, police in Florida are being forced to let fraudsters go because intent can be hard to prove.

A strange item to bring to school; a bag full of debit cards and different IDs.

“A six year old came to school during show-and-tell with a Ziploc baggie full of 52 debit cards and 52 different names,” said Captain Robert Ura with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Thursday Ura told lawmakers the parents of the kid weren’t breaking the law.

“We were not able to charge the parents because as the law stands now the mere possession of 52 debt cards is not illegal. We have to show intent.”

The captain was testifying in support of a bill to criminalize the possession of other people’s IDs, banking numbers and tax information without consent.

If the bill becomes law a person caught with the personal information of up to four people could be charged with a misdemeanor. If they have five or more IDs, then they could be charged with a felony.

The bill makes exceptions for employers, parents and anyone else who has a right to have the information.

“This gives law enforcement the tools that they desperately need to stop identity theft in Florida,” said the bill’s sponsor, Representative Larry Ahern.

Ahern filed the legislation after a police chief showed him thousands of IDs discovered on shady characters.

“Beyond surprised, shocked, when he told me and showed me things, pictures of all the IDs they had found on people either during a traffic stop or drug bust,” said Ahern.

The bill quickly passed a House committee Thursday morning. An hour later a senate committee OKed the bill. The bill took off in the Senate after the sponsor watched a news report about the problems facing police dealing with ID thieves. As of today it’s passed a committee in both chambers and is on a fast track to reach the floor before the end of session.

Governor Rick Scott grabbed a spoon and helped dish out a Paella lunch for thousands of people at the state capitol today.

For the last 28 years, Miami Dade County businesses have funded the lunchtime event to draw attention to the culture of Miami Dade. The Paella was the brainchild of Chef Bijan, who runs Bijan’s on the Miami River.

 “There’s almost a thousand pound of chicken and seafood in it. Plus another 300 pound of rice, and then you got like twenty ounces of saffron” says Bijan.

 Cooking began early this morning. Visitors were also treated to a zippy cup of cafe cubano.     

A Bradenton couple, arrested last month for growing marijuana for medical reasons has learned the charges were dropped.

The arrest came the same day a poll showed overwhelming support for legalizing medical marijuana. In a memo, prosecutors say they were assured Cathy Jordan has  Lou Gherigs disease and that marijuana is the only thing that relieves her symptoms, so she and husband Bob qualify for what is called a medical necessity in Florida. Bob Jordan says the couple has been vindicated.

“We were doing this for sixteen years and you know now finally it went through the legal system and they’re saying that we’re right all along. I’ve been saying that there is no pharmaceutical can do what the plant does.”

The couple said they planned on applying for a permit to grow marijuana. A provision of the medical necessity law says “the evil sought to be avoided was more heinous than the  unlawful act perpetrated to avoid it”.

The charter school movement in Florida is growing. Today at the state capital 12-hundred charter school parents, students and teachers marched to the state capital. As Whitney Ray tells us, they want to make sure the movement keeps growing.

School Choice Day began three blocks from the state capitol. With a unified front, 12-hundred charter school students and advocates marched up hill chanting all the way. They traveled from all across the state to attend the rally.

The students marched past the Florida Department of Education and on to the capitol to ask lawmaker for more money for charter schools. What they found at the capitol, were state law and policymakers singing their praises.

“In may ways I don’t’ see this as school choice day, I see this as school children day, school families day,” said Florid Commissioner of Education Tony Bennett.

Governor Rick Scott is an advocate for charter school expansion. Scott says the competition brought by the more than 500 charters in the state is improving education.

“We know that competition and choice make things better and the more choice we have the better our education system is going to be,” said Scott.

Charter schools receive state money to education students just like traditional public schools, but they don’t get tax dollars for construction. This year that could change.

“We need equitable funding. We need parents to have a seat at the table through parent empowerment,” said Wendy Howard, Director of FACE.

The crowd also supports the parent trigger bill. The controversial legislation would make it easier for traditional public schools to become charter schools.

Jugglers, a stilt walker and the Florida State University Band were all part of FSU Day at the State Capitol today. The eleventh annual event is designed to showcase all that is good at the University, and to highlight its needs. President Eric Barron says he wants legislation to give the school tuition flexibility, and he says the University is in dire need of maintenance funds since their funding source is drying up.

 “The funds for doing maintenance and building have completely dried up. And It’s based on a tax on landlines. Landlines are declining so we’ve got this very important physical plant that’s going to decay if we don’t have ways in which we can keep it up.”

 Under the pre-eminence bill being sought by FSU, the school could charge more tuition for some high demand degrees and use the money to distinguish itself in certain fields. The legislation passed last year but was vetoed by the Governor.