Just over a year since the Parkland school massacre, a comprehensive response on how to best prevent a future tragedy remains a work in progress, at least in the Florida Legislature. Before a key committee today (Thursday) the question boiled down to this: Would parents be comfortable with placing their children’s safety in the hands of an armed teacher with eight hours of active shooter training? Although some insisted the answer to that question would most likely be “No!”, lawmakers kept moving in that direction as we hear from Blaise Gainey.
State lawmakers appear heading toward abolishing the state’s Constitution Revision Commission. This after the latest incarnation of the group was roundly criticized for being overtly political. Lynn Hatter reports the effort has generated a rare point of bipartisanship between lawmakers and advocacy groups who don’t normally agree on anything.
Florida lawmakers say they’re making mental healthcare a priority, especially in the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting last year. Part of that effort includes early detection of mental health issues and providing support through peer specialists. Regan McCarthy has more.
Florida children on the autism spectrum who are also on Medicaid may find themselves waiting longer for – or even being denied – the special services they depend on. We get that story from Health News Florida’s Daylina Miller.
Longtime lobbyist and familiar face in the Capitol Barbara DeVane has seemingly seen it all during the decades she’s spent in the Process. But until this week, DeVane says she had never been asked to leave a committee meeting. Ryan Dailey recently spoke with DeVane about an exchange with a legislator that led to her being asked to leave.