02-05-2025
Florida Senate criticizes House for axing Rouson Mental Health Center
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WLFA) — End of session means tensions are high, especially on the Senate floor this week when lawmakers rallied behind State Senator Darryl Rouson (D- St. Petersburg) after the House removed a mental health research center that was supposed to be named after him.
In less than a year, a commission for mental health and substance abuse took a deep dive into mental health systems in Florida. From that research, Senate Bill 1620 was created. The bill passed every committee in the Senate, with all lawmakers on board.
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'The commission forwarded 30 recommendations to the speaker, the president and the governor. In discussions with stakeholders, I took 10 of those recommendations and put them in the form of a bill, which is the substance of 1620,' Rouson said.
An amendment was recently added to the senate bill that would add in a research center at University of South Florida and name it after Senator Rouson. But the House stripped the center, which created tensions within the Senate chamber.
'I was truly touched that every single member present in the chamber, 37 to 0 signed on to co-sponsor the amendment. The establishment of this center means a great deal. To those who believe in advancing mental health care with evidence-based compassion,' Rouson said.
According to lawmakers, if the Senate rejected the House's changes and returned the original bill as amended, the entire bill would be in jeopardy. Rouson urged his fellow collogues to agree, emphasizing that their efforts shouldn't go to waste.
'Unfortunately, the House didn't see it our way and for me, it is more important that the work continue, that the work of the commission be honored,' Rouson said.
Rouson has been an advocate for addiction recovery based on his personal experience.
Republicans and Democrats in the Senate spoke out one by one in support of the research center and its name.
'This was such a good amendment, naming it after such a great man. It is a travesty that the other chamber didn't allow this to go through,' said State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R- Spring Hill).
'We should turn this around and we should tell them to get their heads straight,' said State Senator Jay Collins (R-Hillsborough).
'You're one of my best friends here in this body and what you've done is absolutely amazing and I'm just really glad that in in a year and a half, we're going to have another speaker who will hopefully support the naming of the program after you,' said State Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).
In response to the senators' remarks, House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami), shared the following statement with 8 On Your Side.
'I have enormous respect for Senator Rouson. I admire his public service, and I would be happy to collaborate with the Senate to honor him. But the action of the Senate today to name a center after Senator Rouson as a means of emotionally blackmailing the House into doing what they want- is unconscionable. The comments of 'or else' were a threat to the Florida House and beneath the dignity of the Florida Senate. The Senate created a backdoor appropriations project. They did so unilaterally, fully aware that the House did not wish to include additional items in the bill beyond the Commission's recommendations. The House version of SB 1620 by Representative Christine Hunchofsky, was filed to enact the recommendations of the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders. The center in question was not in the Commission report nor was it in the House bill. The Senators were rightfully outraged, but they should direct their outrage at their own chamber who made this move in an attempt to push a backdoor project and used the good Senator's legacy to do so.'
House members said there seems to have been a technical challenge with the senate bill and believe both chambers will work this out and honor Senator Rouson and his legacy.
'I'm confident that they'll be able to work something out as Senator Rousan is an institution. He has served in the legislature for nearly 20 years, and when you look at his personal journey, how he overcame substance abuse to go on to become a state senator, it really is quite amazing,' said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (R-Tampa).
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