Budget Conforming Bills:
Documentary Stamp Tax Distributions SB 2512, by Appropriations, PASSED. The legislation is Chapter No. 2021-39, effective July 1, 2021. This legislation revises the distribution of Documentary Stamp Taxes (Doc Stamps) revenues heretofore dedicated to “Affordable Housing.” These state and local housing trust funds are now recurring revenue and are based on new percentages established in the legislation. For 2021-2022, affordable housing will re- ceive $209.2 million. AARP opposed the revised distribution of the affordable housing monies, but support- ed creation of a statutory prohibition on sweeping Affordable Housing Trust Funds into general revenue. Health Care SB 2518, by Appropriations, PASSED. The legislation is Chapter No. 2021-41, effective July 1, 2021. This legislation continues Medicaid state-option benefits for chiropractic, hearing, optometric, podiatric, and visual services. It requires nursing homes to submit comprehensive financial reports each fiscal year, eliminates the nursing home Medicaid reimbursement rate freeze, eliminates the “Over the Counter Drug Benefit” for adults, and makes statutorily permanent the Retroactive Medicaid Eligibility period for non- pregnant adults back to the first day of the month in which application is made. Finally, this legislation authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration to review applications and to contract with organizations to provide Program for All Inclusive Care (PACE) to persons who would otherwise be eligible for nursing home care. More than 2000 residents in need of assistance stand to receive PACE services under this bill in the following counties: Santa Rosa, Escambia, Okaloosa, Miami Dade, Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, Broward, Orange, Osceola, Lake Sumter, Seminole, Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Alachua and Putnam.
2021 Legislative Advocacy Headlines
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