Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, filed a proposal Jan. 8, 2021, to establish an Office of Resiliency.
TALLAHASSEE - Sen. Ray Rodrigues says the bill is about making sure workers have the final say about money they have earned. Critics say it is about “union busting.”
But a Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that could lead to a battle during the upcoming legislative session about unions that represent teachers, firefighters, law-enforcement officers and other public employees.
The bill (SB 78), sponsored by Rodrigues, an Estero Republican who chairs the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, would affect the process of deducting union dues from employee paychecks.
Survey shows most law enforcement officers hesitant to get vaccine January 11, 2021 at 10:45 PM EST - Updated January 11 at 11:20 PM
Law enforcement officers are considered to be some of the most at-risk to be exposed to COVID-19, but records show law enforcement officers and staff in our area are not rushing to get the vaccine.
The Florida Sheriffs Association asked law enforcement agencies to survey their employees to see how many would be interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, gauging how many doses they should prepare to provide.
Currently, only law enforcement officers who are older than 65-year-old are eligible for the vaccine. Survey results show many do not want the vaccine or want to wait at least six months to a year.
The DOH plan identifies people in corrections and detention facilities as a critical population for vaccination but provides no written guidance other than to say that the state health department will coordinate with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) in vaccine planning efforts.
The DOH did not respond to questions from
New Times about when corrections staff or incarcerated people would be vaccinated.
Florida s draft vaccination plan does not include state corrections staff or incarcerated people in any of the rollout phases.
A recent study found that prison inmates are five times more likely to be infected by COVID and three times more likely to die of the virus compared to the rest of the U.S. population. To date, more than 17,000 Florida inmates have tested positive for COVID, and nearly 200 have died, according to state figures.
Coronavirus killed more Florida officers in 2020 than anything else
The virus replaced gunfire, crashes and assaults as the leading cause of death of law enforcement officers. At least 18 died of complications from COVID-19.
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A Jacksonville Sheriff s Office honor guard members stand at attention next to the casket of Lt. Chris Cunningham during his Aug. 15 funeral at Paxon Revival Center Church. The 48-year-old died of complications from the coronavirus on Aug. 5. [ DEDE SMITH | Dede Smith ]
Updated Dec. 31, 2020
In 2020, two Florida law enforcement officers were killed by gunfire. One died in a motorcycle crash. Another died after being injured while running after a suspect.
Since the first COVID-19 shots arrived in Florida on Dec. 14, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has traveled throughout the state to tout his approach to doling out highly anticipated doses of the Pfizer Inc. and Moderna vaccines.