TALLAHASSEE -- Florida schools would have to post the "In God We Trust" motto and students would spend a week reciting part of the Declaration of Independence under bills approved Monday by the House.
There was little debate on the motto measure, (HB 915), which directs superintendents to display the four words no smaller than 11 inches by 14 inches in a prominent location in the school. Opponents argue it injects religion in public schools.
But a second bill (HB 885) that requires students to recite the first 55 words of the Declaration of Independence every day during "Freedom Week" in late September drew bitter fire from minority members.
Rep. Rafael Arza, R-Hialeah, asked if the declaration might be recited in Spanish.
"If they have teachers that don't know how to speak English, I guess they could," answered sponsor Rep. Jerry Melvin, R-Fort Walton Beach, to boos in the House.
Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee and a member of the Black Caucus, asked if the bill isn't disruptive to the school day.
"You of all people ought to want to see our young students learn about our founding principles," Melvin shot back.
Rep. Anne Gannon, D-Delray Beach, noted that "since women and girls aren't mentioned in this, does that mean we have to say it?"
"Representative Gannon, I don't think you or I have the right to rewrite historical documents in this nation, and if you've got a problem with that, you've got more than just a problem with that," Melvin retorted, his finger jabbing the air.
The House vote was 100 for the bill, 12 against.
Elder care choices
In an experimental program that could shape the future of long-term care in Florida, the House unanimously approved a bill that would let some seniors -- not the government-contracted counselors -- choose their own long-term care.
The "Consumer-Directed Care Act" creates a pilot voucher program that would allow certain Medicaid-eligible seniors and disabled adults to choose home-health care, housecleaning services and other daily living assistance using state dollars.
Consumers could retain "care managers," hire the services themselves or pay family members for offering assistance. Right now, consumers who qualify for Medicaid must rely on state-contracted case managers to make those decisions.
"More choices, more control and better outcomes for your seniors," bill sponsor Rep. Carole Green, a Fort Myers Republican and chair of the House Elder and Long-Term Care Committee, said while her colleagues applauded passage of the bill.
The measure faces passage by the Senate, a signature from Gov. Jeb Bush and approval by the federal government, which must sign off on the changes within Florida's Medicaid program.
Similar pilot programs are under way in Collier, Lee and 17 other counties.
The bill, HB 703, also gives the Agency for Health Care Administration $6 million to make it easier for nursing homes to obtain liability insurance, which is often difficult to find or too expensive to buy.
HIV tests
Inmates would be forced to undergo HIV tests 60 days before they are released from prison according to a bill approved 97-9 by the House.
The tests are now optional for inmates and 13,000 have been tested since 2000. A legislative analysis of the bill states that as of December 2001, 2,602 inmates have tested positive for the virus and 768 of them have full-blown AIDS.
Infected inmates would receive a 30-day supply of medication from the Department of Corrections. Sponsors of the legislation say they hope it will establish a network of support for inmates when they go home.
Farm labor
Farm labor contractors would be prohibited from deducting the cost of tools, transportation and equipment expenses from workers' wages under HB 565. Offenders would face a second-degree misdemeanor and a $1,000 fine.
The measure, unanimously approved by the House, would apply to some 3,800 farm labor contractors in Florida.
Rape crisis centers
Private conversations between victims of sexual abuse and trained volunteers at rape crisis centers would remain confidential under HB 1163 unanimously approved by the House.
The law keeps confidential any discussions between victims and rape crisis center counselors when it comes to evidence used in trials. The law would extend that to volunteers who have 30 hours of training and meet other eligibility requirements.
Sponsors of the bipartisan bill include Republican Reps. Jerry Melvin of Fort Walton Beach and Bruce Kyle of Fort Myers.
Abortion clinics
House Republicans pushed through a bill that would force abortion clinics to file state reports after every procedure they perform.
The bill (HB 1223) approved 71-44 enraged pro-choice advocates who said the additional policing sought by Republicans would never pass muster applied to another industry, such as restaurants.
"The hypocrisy is more than I can stand," said Rep. Anne Gannon, a Delray Beach Democrat and former lobbyist for Planned Parenthood of Florida. "If it was any other business in this state, you all would be whining and railing against this."
The bill directs the Agency for Health Care Administration to develop new reporting rules for clinics, which now file monthly reports about the procedures they perform. The clinics would have to file those reports after every procedure.
The bill also orders the agency to identify and distinguish those clinics that perform abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy and those that do so in the second trimester.
"All we are asking for is a simple report," said Rep. Sandra Murman, who chairs a House committee that decides on state spending for health and social services.
Supporters said the reports would make sure women receive proper healthcare, reducing the incidents of botched procedures.
"Why would anyone have a problem with protecting women?" asked Rep. Bev Kilmer, a Quincy Republican, adding lawmakers should "worry about people's safety and women's health."
Sponsors of the bill include Republican Reps. Randy Ball of Titusville, Mike Haridopolos of Melbourne, Jerry Maygarden of Pensacola and Jerry Melvin of Fort Walton Beach.
Health insurance
Health insurance cards will now carry helpful claims information under a Sen. Bill Posey's bill, approved by the House and sent to Gov. Jeb Bush for his signature Monday.
Posey's bill, SB 1412, passed by the Senate, was picked up by the House and approved 117-0. Posey, R-Rockledge, had identified the bill as one of his key bills this session.
It requires health maintenance organizations to provide prescription benefit cards that include the name of the claim processor, electronic claims processing information, a help-desk telephone number, and other information pharmacists would need to bill the HMO.
Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, was a co-sponsor.