|
Act creating the
“Point-of-Purchase Messaging About Alcohol and Pregnancy”
This proposed bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Bennett and Rep. Ed
Homan and is an act relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages; creating s.
562.063, F.S.; requiring certain health warning signs to be displayed in
specific ways on the premises of alcoholic beverage vendors and
manufacturers. The estimated annual cost to the state as a result of Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome Disorder including the costs to the juvenile justice system
and the costs related to special education is $432,045,575. The signs would
warn of the danger of drinking alcoholic beverages while pregnant and have
been found effective in other states in raising awareness, especially in the
college population. There is no fiscal impact.
Continued Funding of the Family Emergency
Treatment Center and Compass Center
This priority requests the reinstatement of funding for the Family
Emergency Treatment Center (FETC) and the Compass Center. Both of these
programs were funded from non-recurring funds and then were defunded this
past year. The FETC provided 1,481 individuals with immediate behavioral
healthcare during Fiscal Year 2008-09. During that same period, the Compass
Center provided residential treatment to 75 adolescents with substance abuse
problems and co-occurring mental health issues.
Mothers & Infants Program
The Mothers & Infants Program has been funded from non-recurring funds.
We are requesting continuation of funding for the Mothers & Infants Program
from recurring funds. Since this residential program began in 1995, 232
babies have been born healthy and substance free. This program treats
pregnant, substance abusing women early enough in their pregnancy to ensure
that they are clean and sober prior to giving birth and that the babies are
delivered substance free, which reduces the need for expensive neo-natal
intensive care, developmental services and medical assistance for babies
exposed in-utero to alcohol or drugs. Ninety percent of the women are
referred to the program by the judicial system as an alternative to
incarceration for crimes related to their substance abuse.
Prevention and Diversionary Programs for Delinquent Youth
Prevention dollars allocated to Sarasota County have diminished over the
past two years and none were allocated this year by the Department of
Juvenile Justice. Sarasota County High School students have the highest
prevalence of alcohol use in the State of Florida at 66.1% and delinquency
referrals have increased annually. The 2006-2007 Sarasota juvenile arrest
record indicates that there were 1,334 youth arrested. Developing
diversionary and prevention programs would provide at-risk youth programs to
divert them from the Juvenile Justice System and save the community and the
state future prison costs. The Community Alliance is requesting that
Prevention and Diversionary dollars be reallocated to Sarasota County.
Refund Anticipation Loans
This priority requests that the Legislature protect consumers who
utilize Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) by instituting complaint processes,
outlining duties to consumers, providing for private rights of action,
criminalizing fraudulent activity, and requiring posting of fee schedules
and disclosures. The annual percentage rates on RALs vary from 50% to 1300%.
Title IV-E Foster Care Waiver
Continue the current policy which allows Florida flexibility in its use
of federal child safety and permanency funds and to maintain the funding
level needed to do so. The Title IV-E Foster Care waiver has allowed
Community-Based Care lead agencies to invest more dollars to divert children
from care, and is greatly responsible for the reduction in the number of
children in foster care in Circuit 12 and throughout Florida.
Utilization of Community Based Care Unspent Funds
The Community Alliance is requesting continuation of the budget policy
which allows Community Based Care (CBC) lead agencies to carry forward
unspent funds to the next fiscal year. The Department of Children and
Families (DCF) set up this mechanism and the Legislature approved the
language for a period of three years in 2006 (HB 5011) and scheduled to
sunset June 30, 2009. In 2009, the Legislature passed similar language in
the implementing bill (SB 2602) to allow for one additional year.
For further information on each priority, click on the link below:
|
