Latest news with #HouseBill59
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Program expands affordable access to swim lessons across Central Texas
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As temperatures rise, more people spend time at the pool or cool off at Central Texas' many lakes. However, with more people in the water comes a greater need for water safety to help prevent a potential drowning. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, 103 children in Texas were drowning victims last year. The state agency said so far this year, 15 children have drowned in Texas. 'Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for kids under the age of five and toddlers are especially at risk,' the DFPS website said. In Central Texas, there's a program making swim lessons more accessible for families regardless of their income. This month, pool cleaning and maintenance company Pool Scouts, is donating a percentage of its services to Hope Floats Foundation. 'During Water Safety Month, our locations donate $1 from each service to Hope Floats,' said Pool Scouts of Texas Hill Country Co-owner Hillary Burris. Hope Floats then helps pay for swim lessons for children from low-income families. Those classes are held at the British Swim School. There are locations in Austin, San Marcos, Kyle, New Braunfels and Buda. 'Hope Floats provides 90% scholarships to kids' families who are on the free or reduced lunch program. If they're eligible for that, they're eligible to get a 90% scholarship that's good for three months of swim lessons,' said British Swim School Austin Owner Brian Borchardt. Borchardt said this is their first year with the partnership. So far, they've helped 10 families by dropping their cost from $146 to $14.60 a month. 'Formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88%,' Burris said. 'I think the contributions from both of our organizations, British Swim School and Pool Scouts, has a huge direct impact on our local families having access to these formal swimming lessons.' Borchardt said this will be offered year round for families. They just have to apply for the scholarship through Hope Floats. 'We think the off-season is the time to make sure you know how to swim so you could be safe during the summer,' Borchardt said. For the month of June, Borchardt said they're going to raise money for the foundation as well. When it comes to water safety, he said it is also important for parents to stay vigilant by the pools, even if they think their child can swim. He recommended designating a 'water watcher'' to stay off their phones and keep an eye on people in the pool. Nearly two years ago a new water safety measure went into effect across Texas, which aims to minimize drowning of children under 12. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: State leaders provide details on bill to minimize children from drowning ahead of spring break House Bill 59 requires child care organizations get written notice from parents stating whether their child can swim or not. If they can't, the organization must provide a flotation device. The bill was signed into law in June 2023, and became effective on September 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
DeSantis should sign bill to fix wrongful conviction law and compensate victims
Editorials DeSantis should sign bill to fix wrongful conviction law and compensate victims | Opinion Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee on March 4, 2025. mocner@ After years of trying, the Florida Legislature successfully passed a bill to make it easier for those who are wrongfully imprisoned to receive compensation. Senate Bill 130 and its companion House Bill 59 were passed unanimously by both the House and Senate. Now the bill awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis' signature to become law. The bill is a much-needed fix for wrongful compensation legislation that was passed in 2008. The Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act allows people who are wrongfully convicted to receive compensation of $50,000 for every year behind bars. But a 'clean hands' requirement in that law says exonerees with more than one nonviolent felony on their previous record must seek legislative action in order to be eligible for compensation. SB 130 eliminates that provision. Florida is the only state with this sort of clean hands provision. The state makes a distinction between individuals wrongfully convicted: those with clean records and those without. The former receives compensation while the latter must jump through hoops to receive the compensation they deserve. That is neither fair nor just. A past criminal record shouldn't stop you from qualifying for compensation if you were wrongfully incarcerated for something else. If the state mistakenly took your liberty, the least it can do is give you some money as compensation. The bill that passed the Legislature this year also extends the window to file for compensation from 90 days to two years. The extension of time is needed. The 90-day window — which starts on the day a person's conviction is vacated — could easily run out if the person doesn't have a lawyer or if there's delay in officially dropping the charges once the conviction is vacated. So even if someone was wrongfully convicted, they could lose the chance to apply for compensation. The executive director for the Innocence Project of Florida, Seth Miller, explained that 'the bill extends that statute of limitations from 90 days to two years, which gives people substantial time to petition for compensation. And that two years runs not from when their conviction is vacated, but rather when the case is fully resolved.' For individuals who have spent years behind bars for a crime they didn't commit, this change offers a pathway to justice. Broward County resident Sidney Holmes had his conviction overturned after serving 34 years for armed robbery. Under the clean hands rule, Holmes wasn't entitled to automatic compensation, because he had two prior armed robbery convictions. He was only able to receive compensation under what's known as a claims bill, which must be approved by the Legislature and can take years. As the current law stands, it is failing the people, such as Holmes, who were wrongly sent to prison. DeSantis has an opportunity to fix that issue. Since 1989, 91 people have been exonerated in Florida, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, but only five individuals have received compensation since the current law was enacted. Florida's efforts to amend the law in the past have stalled because of changes in legislative leadership. 'Every time we got close, the leadership would turn over,' Miller said. 'All the work you've done over the course of two or four years to educate the people in the Legislature about why this is important — you would kind of have to start over.' While monetary compensation cannot give back years lost or birthdays missed, the state has a moral obligation to do what it can to make up for a mistaken incarceration. Money isn't enough, but it's a start. By signing the bill into law, DeSantis will signal the importance of government accountability. For Holmes and other Floridians who have faced an uphill battle to receive compensation for the years they lost due to wrongful convictions, the amendment makes it easier to get what they should be entitled to. It's an overdue correction to an existing law. DeSantis must not delay in signing the bill. Click here to send the letter. BEHIND THE STORY MORE What's an editorial? Editorials are opinion pieces that reflect the views of the Miami Herald Editorial Board, a group of opinion journalists that operates separately from the Miami Herald newsroom. Miami Herald Editorial Board members are: opinion editor Amy Driscoll and editorial writers Luisa Yanez and Isadora Rangel. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right. What's the difference between an op-ed and a column? Op-Eds, short for 'opposite the editorial page,' are opinion pieces written by contributors who are not affiliated with our Editorial Board. Columns are recurring opinion pieces that represent the views of staff columnists that regularly appear on the op-ed page. How does the Miami Herald Editorial Board decide what to write about? The Editorial Board, made up of experienced opinion journalists, primarily addresses local and state issues that affect South Florida residents. Each board member has an area of focus, such as education, COVID or local government policy. Board members meet daily and bring up an array of topics for discussion. Once a topic is fully discussed, board members will further report the issue, interviewing stakeholders and others involved and affected, so that the board can present the most informed opinion possible. We strive to provide our community with thought leadership that advocates for policies and priorities that strengthen our communities. Our editorials promote social justice, fairness in economic, educational and social opportunities and an end to systemic racism and inequality. The Editorial Board is separate from the reporters and editors of the Miami Herald newsroom. How can I contribute to the Miami Herald Opinion section? The Editorial Board accepts op-ed submissions of 650-700 words from community members who want to argue a specific viewpoint or idea that is relevant to our area. You can email an op-ed submission to oped@ We also accept 150-word letters to the editor from readers who want to offer their points of view on current issues. For more information on how to submit a letter, go here.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Brad Little signs bill to let Idaho doctors refuse care if it violates beliefs
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (center) walks with the delegation of legislators, including House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, (left) and Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, (right) selected to escort him to the House chamber to give his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025 at the Statehouse in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill that prevents health care professionals and entities from being forced to participate in nonemergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, co-sponsored House Bill 59, dubbed the Medical Ethics Defense Act. The bill takes effect immediately, through an emergency clause. Little signed the bill into law Wednesday, according to the governor's office legislation tracker. The Idaho Legislature widely passed the bill on party-line votes, with opposition from all 15 Democratic lawmakers and support from all 86 Republican lawmakers who were present for votes on the bill. (There are 90 Idaho Republican lawmakers.) 'Health care providers shall have the right of conscience and, pursuant to this right, shall not be required to participate in or pay for a medical procedure, treatment, or service that violates such health care provider's conscience,' the bill states. Bjerke has said the bill was patterned after a law passed in 2024, through Senate Bill 1352, which allowed counselors and therapists to refuse counseling clients in support of goals, outcomes or behaviors that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. 'This proposed legislation is intended to protect conscience rights of health care professionals and health care entities. It protects them from being forced to participate in non-emergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious moral or ethical beliefs,' Bjerke told the Idaho Senate. Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, who opposed the bill, said the bill fundamentally confuses the relationship between personal conscience and professional duty. Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Idaho's director Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman asked Little to veto the bill, saying 'it gives health care workers a license to discriminate.' The bill 'will undermine medical standards, put patients' lives at risk, and create legal chaos for Idaho's entire health care system,' DelliCarpini-Tolman said in a written statement. 'No one should be denied care because of someone else's personal beliefs. Health care must be driven by medical expertise, not ideology.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Idaho Senate says health workers shouldn't have to violate religious beliefs to provide care
Idaho state Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, (right) listens to proceedings during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) The Idaho Senate voted along party lines Monday to pass a bill that prevents health care professionals and entities from being forced to participate in nonemergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, co-sponsored House Bill 59, which they named the Medical Ethics Defense Act. The bill states, in part: 'Health care providers shall have the right of conscience and, pursuant to this right, shall not be required to participate in or pay for a medical procedure, treatment, or service that violates such health care provider's conscience.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bjerke said the bill was patterned after a law passed during the 2024 legislative session, Senate Bill 1352, which states that counselors and therapists are not required to counsel clients in support of goals, outcomes or behaviors that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. Bjerke told senators Monday his new bill would apply many of the same principles from last year's counselors bill and apply it to health care professionals. 'This proposed legislation is intended to protect conscience rights of health care professionals and health care entities. It protects them from being forced to participate in non-emergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious moral or ethical beliefs,' Bjerke said. On the other hand, Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, said the bill fundamentally confuses the relationship between personal conscience and professional duty. 'This bill, in its current form, I believe, would transform Idaho's health care system from one based on patient needs to one based more on provider preferences,' Taylor said. 'It would allow any health care provider, any worker, any ambulance operator, hospital employee or health care payer, the ability to deny anyone medical care based on claiming an objection due to their conscience.' CONTACT US If passed into law, Taylor worried the bill would allow ambulance drivers to object to transporting a patient if the patient did something to offend them, or a hospital staffer could refuse to admit a pregnant woman suffering a miscarriage if the staffer opposed abortion, or a pharmacist could refuse to prescribe vaccines or antidepressants if it violated their personal beliefs. In the end, the Senate voted 28-6 to pass the bill. All Senate Republicans voted in favor of it, while all six Senate Democrats voted against it. The Idaho House of Representatives already voted 58-11 to pass the bill Feb. 11, but since then the Idaho Senate amended the bill. House Bill 59 now heads back to the Idaho House for House members to consider whether to agree with the Senate amendment. If the Idaho House agrees with the amendment, the bill would be sent to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration. If the bill reaches Little's desk, he could sign it into law, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. If the bill is passed into law, it would take effect immediately upon being signed into law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
