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I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to contact my office with your suggestions and concerns, the Legislature is currently reviewing the Governor’s budget proposals and awaiting the results of the upcoming Revenue Estimating Conference. I encourage you all to remain involved and aware during this important process.
I have filed several bills in anticipation of the Legislative session. One of the Legislature’s top priorities remains recharging Florida’s economy and getting Floridians back to work. Keeping this in mind, I have filed HB 697 relating to the Entertainment Industry and Economic Development. This bill creates a film and digital media tax credit for Florida-only expenditures, such as hiring local residents and contracting with Florida-based companies. Credits cannot be claimed until tax returns for 2012 or later, ensuring not $1 of credits will be claimed or issued in the upcoming budget. This act will generate substantial revenue and create thousands of jobs while boosting ancillary businesses.
The Florida House of Representatives website, www.myfloridahouse.gov, is a useful tool to track and research filed legislation. Please do not hesitate to contact me at Steve.Precourt@myfloridahouse.gov with any questions on legislation or policy.
Pre Session Survey
Please take a few moments by clicking on the link below and filling out my pre-session survey. These questions will cover some of the major policy considerations that will be debated this spring, your thoughts and concerns are vital in making these important decisions. If you have any questions or concerns, please call my office or email me. A comment section is also available on the survey.
http://www.flhouse.us/Districts/D041/
Constituent Corner
I have found recently that when many of you contact my office, you are unsure of the areas in which we can help you. I have created this section of my newsletter to give you brief overviews of the different state agencies and the ways in which my office can assist you. I want to begin with one of the state’s busiest agencies, and one which we get the most calls about, the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
The Mission Statement of DCF is to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.
One of the main topics we get calls on is DCF’s ACCESS program which includes Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, and Medicaid. Here is some general information on these programs:
- Temporary Cash Assistance – Provides cash assistance to families with children under the age of 18 or under the age of 19 if full time secondary school students, which meet the technical, income, and asset requirements. The program helps families become self-supporting while allowing children to remain in their own homes
- Food Stamps – The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called Food Stamp Program) helps low-income individuals and families that meet the technical, income and asset requirements of the program to buy the food they need for good health
- Medicaid – The Medicaid Program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families that meet the technical, income and asset requirements of the program. The Agency for Health Care Administration administers Medicaid services, while the Department of Children and Families determines Medicaid eligibility
For more information on DCF’s many programs, please visit http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/ or call 1-866-762-2237.
