State Senator Debbie Mayfield – Mayfield Minute 06/26/2022

Jun 27 2022

State Senator Debbie Mayfield – Mayfield Minute 06/26/2022

Good Morning

This week was the first official week of summer. During the 2022 Legislative Session, our state passed legislation to provide both short and long-term tax relief to Floridians and their families. The six tax holidays starting in summer of 2022 are:

Freedom Week: July 1, 2022 to July 7, 2022
ENERGY STAR Appliances: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Children’s Diapers: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Baby and Toddler Clothing: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Home Hardening: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024
Back to School: July 25, 2022 to August 7, 2022

For the full list of items exempt under each tax holiday, click here.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 17. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff and I are here to serve you!

Legislative Update

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Record-Breaking Alzheimer’s Funding and Innovative Florida Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence

On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted record funding for Alzheimer’s and related dementias and signed Senate Bill 806, to establish the Ramping up Education of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia for You (READY) Act. Additionally, the Governor announced that the final pillar of the five-part Dementia Action Plan, created in 2019, has been fulfilled with the establishment of the Florida Alzheimer’s Center for Excellence. The Freedom First Budget signed this month by the Governor included record funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, marking a nearly 60% increase in funding since the Governor took office in 2019.

Governor DeSantis went on to say “Supporting Floridians suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia is an important part of supporting our seniors. We are working to make sure that any Floridian suffering from this terrible disease can access resources while also supporting innovative technologies that will open up doors for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in the future.”

In Addition, Governor DeSantis Signed the Following Legislation This Week:

SB 144 – Identification Cards
CS/SB 254 – Religious Institutions
SB 288 – Electronic Dissemination of Commercial Recordings and Audiovisual Works
CS/SB 1190 – Two-Way Radio Communication Enhancement Systems
CS/CS/SB 1798 – Sexually Related Offenses
CS/HB 105 – Regulation of Smoking by Counties and Municipalities
HB 535 – Barefoot Bay Recreation District, Brevard County
CS/CS/CS/HB 965 – Environmental Management
CS/CS/HB 1057 – Evidence of Vendor Financial Stability
HB 1119 – Grandparent Visitation Rights
HB 1161 – Manatee County
CS/CS/CS/HB 1349 – Guardianship Data Transparency
HB 1469 -Transportation Facility Designations
CS/CS/HB 1563 – Homestead Property Tax Exemptions for Classroom Teachers, Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Child Welfare Professionals, and Servicemembers
CS/HB 7055 – Cybersecurity
CS/HB 7057 – Public Records and Public Meetings
CS/SB 196 – Florida Housing Finance Corporation
CS/CS/SB 596 – Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels
CS/SB 606 – Boating Safety
CS/SB 1764 – Municipal Solid Waste-to-Energy Program
HB 357 – Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers
CS/HB 397 – Court Fiscal Administration
CS/CS/CS/HB 967 – Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification
CS/HB 1475 – Cleanup of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

To read more about these bills, click here.

Statewide Update

Florida’s 2022 Summer Literacy Institute Celebrates Educators and Champions Reading Instruction in K-12 Schools

On Tuesday, Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. and the Florida Department of Education kicked off the Summer Literacy Institute, a three-day professional learning event that celebrates educators and supports districts and schools with effectively implementing literacy instruction. The Institute is organized to provide professional development for literacy leadership teams at the early childhood, school, and district levels.

The goals of the Summer Literacy Institute include increasing educator knowledge of Florida’s B.E.S.T. (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) English Language Arts Standards, sharing evidence-based best practices, and providing access to associated literacy resources, including those that promote at-home reading and family engagement.

Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. expressed his gratitude for the Institute’s dedication, “We know that literacy scores as early as third grade can predict a student’s future success or failure. Nearly ninety percent of students who failed to earn a high school diploma were struggling readers in third grade. The fact that this week’s Institute is at full capacity during educators’ summer vacation is a testament to our commitment to have every single child in school reading on grade level. Thank you to our incredible teachers and administrators whose hard work and passion help make Florida the Education State.”

For more information about the Summer Literacy Institute and the 2022 event, click here.

Constituent of the Week

Our constituent of the week is inspiring Brevard community member and Founder/CEO of New Life Mission, Stacia Glavas. New Life Mission works to permanently break the generational cycle of homelessness for women with children. Under Mrs. Glavas’ leadership, New Life Mission is improving lives in a safe setting by providing housing, access to health care, transportation, education, nutrition, job training, and life skills education.

Mrs. Glavas began her career on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide handling international trade policy, agriculture, and women’s issues. She received a Bachelors degree in Organizational Administration from Oklahoma State University in 1985, a Masters in Business Administration from George Washington University in 1988, and a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2009.

Mrs. Glavas started New Life Mission after witnessing firsthand the impact of homelessness. While Stacia and her husband Pete Glavas were walking one day, they saw a young mother experiencing an asthma attack while her young daughter was beside her. Pete and Stacia were prompted to help this mother and child back to their apartment so she could get her breathing treatment. Upon entry, they noticed the unfathomable conditions Julia and her daughter were living in. After this encounter, Stacia was inspired to befriend, guide, and support Julia as she learned to live a healthy, self-sufficient life. Stacia fostered a loving friendship with Julia; they are still friends to this day. This experience fueled Stacia’s passion for breaking the cycle of homelessness in families permanently.

With a tremendous amount of community support, “Brevard Rescue Mission”, now New Life Mission, was officially founded in 2008. The first campus, “Casa Carol,” opened in 2009 with three retrofitted apartments. Since 2009, nine apartments have been repaired, furnished, and house formerly homeless families. New Life Mission was able to purchase the “Casa Carol” campus in 2012, and after a hugely successful Capital Building Campaign, the mortgage was paid off in the summer of 2014. In 2018, New Life Mission purchased a five-unit apartment complex debt-free. The new campus, “Joy’s Place,” was purchased just two blocks away from “Casa Carol”. The campus was named after Fred Sutton’s eldest daughter. “Joy’s Place” permits New Life Mission to assist five homeless mothers with up to twelve children additionally.

In 2019, New Life Mission purchased the Life Transformation Center. Located just south of the intersection of US1 and Eau Gallie Blvd, the new location not only serves eight additional families, but also extends services to non-resident families – with the goal to help prevent them from becoming homeless. New Life Mission hopes to expand its services to over 100 families within the next few years.

Thank you, Mrs. Glavas, for the service you have provided the Brevard County community. District 17 thanks you for your work and wishes you the best in your well-earned retirement.

District Highlights

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Satellite Beach Attorney to the Office of Compensation Claims

On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Jill Jacobs, of Satellite Beach, to serve as a Judge of Compensation Claims. Jacobs has served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Palm Beach since 2015. Previously, she worked in private practice for over 25 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and her law degree from the University of Miami. Jacobs fills one of the vacancies in the Orlando office.

Congratulations to Jill Jacobs on her appointment!

Three Space Explorers Inducted into Astronaut Hall of Fame at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

The Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction served as the backdrop for the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 11th at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Former astronauts Chris Ferguson, David Leestma, and Sandra Magnus were inducted into the class of 2022. This year’s induction brings the total number of AHOF members to 105.

Kennedy Space Center’s Director, Janet Petro, went on to say, “Next month, Kennedy will celebrate its 60th anniversary, and with it, the six decades of innovation and exploration, and the off-world work that has improved life here on our planet. Today, we honor three people who have had a part in building that legacy through their contributions to human spaceflight.” During the ceremony, each of the inductees received an official medal and were inducted as members of the 21st class of astronauts.

Congratulations to the inductees for their vast accomplishments!

Indian River County Chamber Celebrates 100th Anniversary

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce celebrated a century of supporting positive economic growth at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. During the event, the Chamber President, Dori Stone, highlighted the chamber’s history, beginning with its founding in 1915 as the Board of Trade. Early initiatives by the chamber included the creation of the Mosquito Control District, the development of State Road 60, the Vero Beach Airport, and the Hospital District.

Chamber President Stone went on to say, “During the ’40s and ’50s, the chamber saw the construction of the first hospital, the Dodgers coming to town, bringing major economic impact to our businesses, and Piper Aircraft relocating to Vero Beach. During the ’60s and ’70s, the Miracle Mile corridor was developed, along with the 17th Street Bridge and I-95/State Road 60 interchange.”

Later, the IRC Chamber supported the construction of the Vero Beach Museum of Art, was identified as the county’s tourism agency, established the Economic Council, and opened its 21st Street location. IRCCC Board Chair Michael Kissner had announced that the Alma Lee Loy Community Service Award was being presented in absentia to Ross Cotherman, the Chamber’s Vice Chairman. The award was named after the late Alma Lee Loy, who was the first woman elected to serve as its board chair.

Congratulations to the Indian River County Chamber on 100 years of community support!

For more information about the chamber, click here.

Upcoming Events

Dean Mead and Space Coast EDC to Host Legislative Update

On June 29th from 7:45 to 9:00 a.m. at the Hotel Melby Landing Rooftop, the Space Coast Economic Development Commission will be hosting its Annual Legislative Update featuring a panel comprised of the Brevard Legislative Delegation. The panelists will include Senator Debbie Mayfield, Senator Tom Wright, Representative Tyler Sirois, and Representative Thad Altman.

During the event, community members will have the opportunity to hear about the accomplishments made during the 2022 Legislative Session. The event is free for those who register.

To register for the event, click here.

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