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Advocacy
The Senate and the House have released their proposed budgets for 2021/2022. The full Appropriations Committee will received these budgets next week where they will be ammended.
2021 FCOA Priorities
FCOA supports increases to support the General Revenue funded home and community-based programs: Home Care for the Elderly (HCE); Community Care for the Elderly (CCE); Alzheimer's Disease Initiative and Projects (ADI) and Local Service Programs (LSP). These programs allow older adults to age in place with dignity and minimal supports. They defer/delay admittance to skilled nursing and reduce the growth of Medicaid spending. Older adults who are eligible, are often one large medical bill away from Medicaid eligibility. The network of care providers in these programs augment the state dollars with donations and volunteer support to serve families for a cost to Florida of about 10% of that of skilled nursing care. Waiting lists for these programs are available below.
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 increases 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 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 The Older Americans Act (OAA), originally enacted in 1965, supports a range of home and community-based services, such as meals-on-wheels and other nutrition programs, in-home services, transportation, legal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 Act was reauthorized in 2020 for 3 years and will be up again for reauthorization in 2022. This latest version has a number of updates that address the changing needs of elders and how services are provided to them.
FCOA supports SB1344. SB 1344 expands the jurisdiction of the Office of Statewide Prosecution (the OSP) within the Florida Office of the Attorney General (the OAG) to include specified authority over crimes against elderly persons and disabled adults as outlined in Chapter 825, F.S. The bill also provides additional methods of proving abuse and exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult by criminalizing the intentional isolation of vulnerable adults from family members for a length of time which could reasonably lead to physical or psychological injury to the elderly person, or with the intent to effect, conceal, or disguise criminal activity involving the elderly person or disabled adult or their property. The bill criminalizes the previously uncharged conduct of an exploiter who changes the terms of the will or trust of a vulnerable adult in order to benefit the exploiter or a co-conspirator. The bill forfeits inheritances under a will, through a trust, through joint tenancy or contractual arrangements for a person convicted of abuse, neglect, exploitation or aggravated manslaughter. In the absence of a conviction, the bill effects disinheritance if a court finds, by the greater weight of the evidence, that an individual caused or contributed to the death of the decedent. The bill also expands who may file an injunction for protection for exploitation of a vulnerable adult and extends the time of a temporary injunction to up to 45 days. The OAG anticipates that the bill will have a positive fiscal impact on state government by consolidating the investigation and prosecution of multi-circuit criminal activity related to crimes of elder abuse and exploitation, alleviating some of the burden on local law enforcement and prosecution.
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.
2021 Advocacy Initiative Brochure (2-25-21)
2021 Appropriations Legislative Guide (2-12-21)
2020 Advocacy Initiative Brochure
The Florida Council on Aging appreciates the hard work of all of our partners and advocates for their tireless work in advocating for an increase in funding for home and community based services programs during the 2020-2021 budget year. PinPoint Results helped FCOA develop a strategy to inform and educate decision makers and was a key part of our success.
FCOA would like to extend sincere our appreciation to the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis for recognizing the value and importance of these programs; the Florida Department of Elder Affairs for their oversight and advocacy; the Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging for their administration and advocacy; the local service providers who serve as 'the direct care link' in communities; and all of the family caregivers who are supporting loved ones.
The budget conference increases for 2020-2021 are:
Community Care for the Elderly: $4,219,444 increase
Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: $2,839,911 increase
Home Care for the Elderly: $600,000 increase
Local Service Program: Recurring base budget
Department of Elder Affairs - Wait List/Priority List for Services
| December 2019 | January 2020 | February 2020 | March 2020 |
| April 2020 | May 2020 | June 2020 | July 2020 |
| August 2020 | September 2020 | October 2020 | November 2020 |
| December 2020 | January 2021 | February 2021 | March 2021 |
Advocacy Initiative History
FCOA has been advocating on behalf of Home and Community Based Programs since 2007. Take a look at our progress!
2019 Legislative Guide - Appropriations
2019 Legislators With Planning and Service Area and Voter Info
Substantive Legislation FCOA is Tracking
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
2019 - Senator Aaron Bean and Representative MaryLynn Magar
2020 - No award given
2018 Legislative Session Report
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
Past FCOA Advocacy Brochures
