TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Home voted Monday to revive a strong emergency spending fund managed by the governor after a tense debate over government authority, catastrophe preparedness, and thousands and thousands of {dollars} spent on a migrant detention website within the Everglades.
Lawmakers authorized the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund/Government Workplace of the Governor, or SB 7040, in an 82–25 vote, sending the measure to Gov. Ron DeSantis after it already cleared the Senate.
The invoice reestablishes the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund throughout the Government Workplace of the Governor, enabling the state to deploy funds throughout pure disasters and different emergencies rapidly.
Supporters mentioned the fund is vital in a state often hit by hurricanes and flooding.
Rep. Philip Wayne Griffiths Jr., the Home sponsor, mentioned the measure balances speedy response with accountability. The invoice requires approval from the state’s emergency administration director earlier than funds are used and directs any federal reimbursements again into the state’s normal income.
“When Florida faces a hurricane, flood, or man-made emergency, the governor wants instant entry to funding to behave rapidly and defend lives,” Griffiths mentioned in the course of the debate.
The talk over the laws didn’t embrace any particular greenback quantity for the fund. Lawmakers centered on recreating and structuring the emergency account, outlining when it may be used and the restrictions that apply.
Any precise funding tied to the account would come by way of a separate appropriations or implementing invoice, not the coverage measure debated on the ground Monday.
Democrats argued the fund has already been used far past catastrophe response.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, referred to as it a “governor’s slush fund,” pointing to state spending on a controversial migrant detention website within the Everglades.
“We’ve seen thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of {dollars} of public cash spent with out correct oversight,” Eskamani mentioned, arguing the Legislature ought to retain tighter management over giant emergency expenditures.
Eskamani proposed an modification that may have allowed the fund to run out in February, forcing main emergency spending to return to lawmakers for approval by way of the traditional price range course of or particular legislative classes.
“It restores the stability,” she mentioned. “This physique ought to be deciding how giant quantities of cash are spent.”
A number of Democrats echoed issues that the Legislature was giving up its constitutional authority over state spending.
However supporters warned that eliminating the fund may sluggish Florida’s response to disasters by requiring lawmakers to reconvene earlier than cash might be launched.
Rep. Kimberly Daniels, a Democrat who spoke in favor of the invoice, mentioned she opposed misuse of emergency funds however fearful eradicating the account solely may go away the state unprepared throughout a disaster.
“If an emergency occurs, I need to ensure we are able to transfer rapidly,” Daniels mentioned.
Eskamani’s modification failed on a voice vote, and the Home in the end authorized the invoice with Republican assist.
With the measure’s passage, the emergency fund will stay out there for pure, synthetic, and technological emergencies. Nonetheless, the talk over how it’s used is more likely to proceed in future legislative classes.
