Advocacy

Governor Rick Scott has signed the Securing Florida’s Future budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. Click HERE and HERE for the transmittal letter and details on the budget. To view the veto list, click HERE.

The Securing Florida's Future budget includes more than $2 million in new funding to serve frail individuals on the Alzheimer's Disease Initiative waiting list and those at greatest risk for nursing home placement on the Community Care for the Elderly and Home Care for the Elderly waiting lists.  This funding will enroll approximately 340 individuals. 

The Securing Florida's Future budget also includes an additional $3.3 million to serve hot meals to Florida's most vulnerable seniors in congregate and homes settings.

Here are some highlights:

Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) - $500,000 increase (recurring)

Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) - $800,000 increase (recurring) 

Alzheimer's Projects (ADI) - $750,000 increase (recurring) 

Replacement of the CIRTS System - $1,294,373

PACE Expansion - $14,326,990

FCOA Advocacy Brochure for the 2018 Legislative Session

     Department of Elder Affairs - Waitlist Reports for Services

House and Senate FINAL Conference Report FY 2017-18

2018 FCOA Priorities

FCOA supports the LIHEAP/EHEAP Programs and the use of the lawful Federal allocation formula (can increase funding to Florida by 54%).  Florida's Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) helps low-income households, with at least one person age 60 and older, when the households are experiencing a home energy emergency and are unable to pay their bill. Households can receive this type financial assistance a maximum of twice a year – once during the heating season (October - March) and again during the cooling season (April - September). Eligibility for this program is determined by a local community agency designated by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

FCOA supports a continuation of the current year $1.3 million for Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to continue their eligibility and enrollment assistance provided to seniors and adults with disabilities seeking assistance under the Statewide Medicaid Managed Long Term Care Program.

FCOA supports PACE programming and associated funding.  The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) targets individuals who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid nursing home placement and provides them with a comprehensive array of home and community-based services at a cost less than nursing home care. Individuals who choose to enroll in PACE have both their medical and long-term care needs managed through a single provider. Learn more.

FCOA supports the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (Federal).  The Older Americans Act (OAA), originally enacted in 1965, supports a range of home and community-based services, such as meals-on-wheels and other nutrition programs, in-home services, transportation, legal services, elder abuse prevention and caregivers support.

The FCOA Advocacy Committee is watching and researching many issues that may impact Florida's older adult population.  If you have an issue or legislation you would like FCOA to support, you can email it to FCOA using the form below.

Who is My State Legislator? 

To ascertain your legislators, look at your voter registration card, which shows the numbers of your House and Senate voting districts. Alternatively, you may find this information through the web site of your County Supervisor of Elections, which can be accessed through the following link: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/contact-us/contact-elected-officials.shtml

How to Track the Progress of a Bill 
To track the progress of a bill, go to Online Sunshine at: http://www.leg.state.fl.us.  Click on the link to the Senate. At the top of the page, enter the bill number and click on “Go”. This will bring up a summary of the bill and the current actions taken on it. From this page you can also access the full version of the bill.

__________________________________________________________________________________

How to Contact Your Elected Officials

Learn how to get in touch with your federal, state, and local elected leaders.  HERE

FCOA Advocacy Award Winners

1995 -  Rep. Lars Hafner
1996 -  Rep. Mary Brennan
1997 - Sen. Bill Bankhead & Rep.Carl Littlefield
1998 -  No award given
1999 - Sen. Ron Silver
2000 - Sen. Jack Latvala, Rep. Durell Peaden, & Rep. Nancy Argenziano
2001 - Sen. John McKay
2002 - Speaker Johnnie B. Byrd
2003 - Rep. Carole Green
2004 - Sen. Ken Pruitt & Rep. Sandra Murman
2005 - Speaker Allan Bense
2006 - Representative Eleanor Sobel & Senator Burt Saunders
2007 - Senator Jeffrey Atwater, Senator Durell Peaden and Senator Nan Rich
2008 - Representative Elaine Schwartz and Juan Zapata
2009 - Speaker Larry Cretul, Senator Nan Rich & Representative Tom Anderson
2010 - Senator Durell Peadon, Representative Denise Grimsley and Senator Don Gaetz
2011 - Senator Mike Fasano and Representative Matt Hudson
2012 - Senator Nan Rich, Senator Ronda Storms and Representative Doug Holder
2013 -  Speaker Will Weatherford, Senator Aaron Bean, Senator Joe Negron and Representative Hudson
2014 -  President Don Gaetz, Senator Denise Grimsley and Representative Kathleen Passidomo
2015 & 2016 - No award given
2017 - Representative Erin Grall

2018 – Representative Byron Donalds

Past Advocacy Brochures

FCOA Advocacy Brochure - 2017

FCOA Advocacy Brochure - 2016

FCOA Advocacy Brochure - 2015

FCOA Advocacy Brochure - 2014

FCOA Advocacy Brochure - 2013