Advances:  Week of December 30, 2018

By NSF Staff

TALLAHASSEE --- The new year will bring a higher minimum wage in Florida and lower workers’ compensation insurance rates.

Minimum-wage workers will start earning $8.46 an hour Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018 --- and more than a dollar above the $7.25 federal minimum wage. Florida’s minimum wage ticks up each year because of a 2004 constitutional amendment that ties the rate to inflation.

But Florida voters could get a chance in 2020 to even more dramatically raise the minimum wage. Orlando attorney John Morgan, who spearheaded efforts to pass a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana, leads a political committee that could put a minimum-wage measure on the 2020 ballot.

The proposal calls for increasing the minimum wage to $10 an hour on Sept. 30, 2021 and increasing it by $1 an hour each year until it is $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. The Morgan-led committee, known as Florida For a Fair Wage, would need to submit hundreds of thousands of valid petition signatures to get the measure on the 2020 ballot.

While minimum-wage employees will get a raise Tuesday, businesses across the state will begin to see lower workers’ compensation insurance rates. Regulators have approved an overall 13.8 percent decrease in workers’ compensation rates for 2019.

Despite the decrease --- and a 9.5 average rate reduction in 2018 --- lawmakers could look at making changes in the workers’ compensation system during the legislative session that starts in March. Business and insurance groups contend that two Florida Supreme Court rulings could lead to rate hikes in the future.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2018

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed on New Year’s Eve.

HURRICANE MICHAEL RELIEF DEADLINES: Monday is the deadline for residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Michael to apply for two assistance programs. The deadlines are for the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, which is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, which is administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity in conjunction with the Florida SBDC Network. Residents in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington counties may apply for the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program. Businesses in in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties may apply for the bridge-loan program.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019

STATE OFFICES CLOSED: State offices will be closed on New Year’s Day.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES: Minimum-wage workers in Florida will get a little more in their paychecks in 2019. The state’s minimum wage will be $8.46 an hour as of Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The minimum wage for tipped employees will be at least $5.44 an hour, up from $5.23 an hour in 2018. Florida voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment establishing a state minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage. The state minimum wage goes up because it is tied to inflation. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

WORKERS’ COMP RATE CUTS TAKE EFFECT: Florida businesses will start getting a break on their workers’ compensation insurance bills Tuesday. The state Office of Insurance Regulation in November approved an overall 13.8 percent decrease in workers’ compensation insurance rates for 2019. The cut follows a 9.5 percent rate decrease that took effect in 2018. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, which makes rate proposals for the insurance industry, said the decrease for 2019 is in line with trends in other states. It pointed to issues such as a long-term decline in the frequency of claims.

NEW LAWS HIT BOOKS: A handful of new laws that passed during the 2018 legislative session will take effect Tuesday. Among them is a measure (HB 1011) that requires homeowners’ insurance policies to make clear that they do not cover flood damage. Another new law (HB 85) would allow the Department of State to join an organization made up of state elections officials. The organization could help states share information to maintain voter-registration systems. Lawmakers sent 195 bills to Scott from the session that ended in March. The governor vetoed two, while signing the rest. Most bills took effect July 1, Oct. 1 or upon Scott’s signature.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019

TERMS OF PSC MEMBERS BEGIN: Julie Brown and Gary Clark, who were reappointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Public Service Commission, will begin new four-year terms Wednesday.  Brown, a Tampa attorney, has served on the five-member commission since 2011 and was also reappointed by Scott in 2014. Clark, of Chipley, was appointed to the utility-regulatory commission in September 2017 to complete the term of Jimmy Patronis, who was named by Scott to serve as Florida chief financial officer. Clark previously was a deputy secretary at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

SCHOOL SAFETY PANEL APPROVES REPORT: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission will hold a conference call to vote on an initial report of findings and recommendations that will be submitted to the governor and legislative leaders. The state commission was created after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 people. The report is expected to deal with numerous issues, such as the possibility of arming teachers, failures in law-enforcement communication systems and ways to bolster the security of school buildings. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. Call-in number: 1-877-309-2073. Code: 474495413)

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The state Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 101 Rhyne Building, 2740 Centerview Dr., Tallahassee.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019

NEW CONGRESS BEGINS: The 116th Congress will convene in Washington, D.C., with Democrats controlling the U.S. House and Republicans maintaining control of the U.S. Senate. New members of Congress from Florida are Republican Michael Waltz in Congressional District 6; Republican Ross Spano in Congressional District 15; Republican Greg Steube in Congressional District 17; Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Congressional District 26: and Democrat Donna Shalala in Congressional District 27. Gov. Rick Scott also will be a newcomer to the U.S. Senate but will not take the oath until finishing his gubernatorial term Jan. 8.

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its regular weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

MEDICAID PAYMENTS FOR VETERANS AT ISSUE: The Florida Department of Children and Families will hold a workshop to discuss SSI-related Medicaid payments for veterans. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Florida Department of Children and Families, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Building 3, Tallahassee.)

NASSAU COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Nassau County legislative delegation, made up of Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, will meet as it prepares for the 2019 session. (Thursday, 4 p.m., Nassau County Commission chamber, James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019

APPEALS COURT INTERVIEWS SLATED: The 2nd District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission will interview applicants to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marva Crenshaw. The commission will recommend candidates to the governor, who will make an appointment to the appellate court, which hears cases from a region that includes Lakeland, Tampa and Fort Myers. Applicants slated to be interviewed are Michael F. Andrews, Diana K. Bock, Chris Donovan, Geoffrey Gentile, Jerry Gewirtz, Christine Greider, Stacy L. Haverfield, Jon A. Jouben, Suzanne Labrit, Laurel M. Lee, Troy M. Lovell, Michael P. McDaniel, Latasha Scott, Andrea Teves Smith, Matthew Alex Smith, John K. Stargel, Steven Scott Stephens and Mark R. Wolfe. (Friday, 8 a.m., Holland & Knight, 100 North Tampa St., Suite 4100, Tampa.)

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HOLDS CALL: The Florida Transportation Commission is expected to discuss a search process for a new secretary of the Department of Transportation. Former Secretary Mike Dew stepped down to serve as an adviser to Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ transition team. (Friday, 10 a.m., 605 Suwannee St., Tallahassee. Call-in number: 850-414-4973. PIN: 223188)

GREYHOUND DRUG TESTING AT ISSUE: The state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering will hold a hearing about a rule dealing with the collection of samples from racing greyhounds for drug testing. The division has faced legal challenges in recent years because of the procedures it has used in testing dogs. (Friday, 1 p.m., Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 2601 Blairstone Road, Building C, Tallahassee.)