Originally published on March 16, 2021 4:29 pm
Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley’s plan to revamp the state’s bright futures scholarship program is moving again after a significant re-write of the bill. The proposal ties funding to academic programs the state determines lead to jobs, but instead of completely cutting off funding to students who don’t choose majors from a state approved list the bill reduces the scholarships. Yet, even with the modifications, the bill is still drawing opposition.
The original version of Baxley’s bill required students to choose majors from a state-approved list or risk losing out on funding for their junior and senior years. The bill was temporarily postponed before its first hearing last week amid opposition from student-led groups. Speaking to reporters a few days Later, Senate President Wilton Simpson said revisions were in the works but that the goal of the bill remained the same.
Florida first responders – including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians – could get a $1,000 bonus thanks to a $10 billion windfall the state will get in federal COVID relief funds, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.
DeSantis plans to send COVID relief money to 1st responders
BOBBY CAINA CALVAN, Associated Press
March 16, 2021
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1of3FILE - In this March 5, 2021 file photo, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to the media as he visited the drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site at On Top of the World in Ocala, Fla., Repealing statewide mask mandates and criticizing the Biden administration’s unemployment-based formula for distributing billions in federal aid has put Republican governors and their approach to handling the coronavirus pandemic back in the spotlight. (Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner via AP)Alan Youngblood/APShow MoreShow Less
2of3Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State speech in the House of Representatives chamber on the first day of the 2021 Legislative Session in Tallahassee, Fla. Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat via AP)Tori Lynn Schneider/APShow MoreShow Less
Gov. DeSantis plans to give first responders $1K bonuses
Florida governor offers blueprint for stimulus spending
Jim Turner, News Service of Florida reporter
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Capitol News Service reporter Mike Vasilinda contributed to this report.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis pitched plans Tuesday to use nearly half of the money coming to Florida from a federal stimulus package to bulk up infrastructure, bolster efforts to fight rising sea levels, fix the troubled unemployment system and provide first responders with $1,000 bonuses for their work during the past year.
DeSantis on Tuesday outlined $4.1 billion in spending he’s proposed to House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson for the current and next fiscal years. Money also would go toward issues such as boosting state tourism marketing efforts and bringing in new recruits to the Florida National Guard.