State Senator Debbie Mayfield – Mayfield Minutes 12/17/2023

Dec 17 2023

State Senator Debbie Mayfield – Mayfield Minutes 12/17/2023

Good Morning!

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the annual proclamation recognizing December 16th as the “Battle of the Bulge Day in Florida.” The Battle of the Bulge was fought between December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. Yesterday was the 79th anniversary of the last major German offensive on the Western front during World War II. The battle resulted in an Allied victory and with Germany surrendering in May 1945. More than 600,000 American troops participated in the winter battle which resulted in 81,000 American causalities including the death of more than 19,000 Americans, of which many were Floridians.

Florida played a critical role in World War II as the federal government relied on our State’s residents and resources. Historians have stated over 250,000 Floridians volunteered or were drafted into the military for World War II. New military bases were established or expanded as non-Floridians migrated to the state by the tens of thousands. Many soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and nurses who trained or served in Florida later returned to the state as visitors or as new residents driving the state’s economic rebound. This in-migration was reflected in a 46.1% increase in Florida’s population from the 1940s to the 1950s.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. 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!

Statewide Update

Governor DeSantis “State of the State” Scheduled on Opening Day of the 2024 Florida Legislative Session

Governor DeSantis will deliver his 6th “State of the State” address to members of the Florida Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m.

The address will be live streamed at www.thefloridachannel.org.

AG Moody, “Protect Your Children from Online Predators”

Last week, Attorney General Ashley Moody reminded parents to protect children online by monitoring a child’s activities on mobile phones and implementing parental control measures.

AG Moody said 95% of teenagers have a smartphone and 43% of children ages 8 to 12 also have a smartphone, and that online predators and traffickers use mobile apps and social media to target children. AG Moody is offering online safety tips for parents to protect children from digital drug dealers, sexual predators and human traffickers.

“I’m urging parents to pay attention to what children are doing on their phones,” said AG Moody. “There are many apps out there, and while some may be helpful, it is important to know there are dangers lurking in cyberspace…please, be aware of what your children are looking at online and who they are talking to, and use parental controls to keep them safe,” she added.

Other essential tips for online safety:

Open Communication: Encourage your children to share concerning encounters.
Set Boundaries: Set clear guidelines on what your children can view and share.
Use Parental Controls: Enable parental controls on devices and apps to manage and restrict content and screen time.
Regularly Monitor and Stay Updated: Routinely review your child’s mobile activity and be aware of new apps with vanishing features where messages disappear after being read.

To view AG Moody’s tips on setting parental controls on a variety of devices, click here. For additional preventive measures, visit Florida’s Online Safety Toolkit.

Florida Ranked #1 for 2nd Year by Lightcast for Attracting and Developing a Skilled Workforce

Last week, Lightcast, a global leader in labor data analytics, released their 2023 Talent Attraction Scorecard, ranking Florida as the #1 state attracting and developing workforce talent. Ranking criteria includes job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness, and migration data.

“It is no surprise that Lightcast has named Florida the number one state for talent attraction for two consecutive years,” said Governor DeSantis. “Florida’s record investments in workforce education, including expanding apprenticeships and on the job training programs in high demand professions, have elevated business and industry through strong workforce development.”

Florida earned high rankings in multiple categories including:

#2 for migration
#2 for competitive effect
#4 for skilled job growth
#5 for overall job growth

Additionally, Florida ranked #14 for education attainment, which is a significant leap forward for Florida and demonstrates the State’s commitment to aligning workforce education programs with employers’ needs.

Florida continues to outpace New York and California, which are losing hundreds of thousands of residents in search of better jobs, lower crime, lower taxes, and a higher quality of life.

For more information on Florida’s Lightcast Talent Scorecard rankings, click here.

Senate Update

Senate Committee on Health Policy

Last week, the Senate Committee on Health Policy passed the Live Healthy legislative package which aims to address critical healthcare areas of concern including: workforce shortages, advanced innovation and technology, access to vital services, and enhanced quality of care.

Senate Bill 7016, part of the Live Healthy package, was presented by Senator Colleen Burton. In addition to the legislative goals above, the bill includes free and charitable clinics to reach those in need of early diagnosis and better health management. SB 7016 also removes burdensome regulations on healthcare certifications, provides increased access to preventative health screenings, increases the number of residency slots available at Florida medical schools and hospitals, and enhances educational opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals.

Senate Bill 7018, also part of the Live Healthy package, was presented by Senator Gayle Harrell and aims to reduce the strain on the workforce and healthcare system with technological innovations to deliver Floridians increased efficiency, improved patient outcomes, and expanded access to care.

SB 7018 establishes a Health Care Innovation Council to convene experts on the delivery of healthcare, provides funding for the council in the form of low-interest loans to support innovative healthcare technologies. Rural hospitals and nonprofits will receive priority funding.

Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy

The Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy passed a legislative package aimed at cutting burdensome red tape and providing more flexibility to neighborhood public schools. There are three critical pieces of legislation within the package including: reaffirming Florida’s commitment to support teachers, empower parents, and level the playing field in K-12 education.

Senate Bill 7000, presented by Senator Alexis Calatayud, removes burdens on local school districts regarding teacher training certification and salaries and empowers schools to recruit and retain the very best teachers.

Senate Bill 7002, presented by Senator Travis Hutson, provides school districts expanded flexibility over administrative processes, facilities management, and financial requirements. This legislation allows administrators and staff to focus on improving the educational environments for students and teachers.

Senate Bill 7004, presented by Senator Corey Simon, eliminates outdated instructional, assessment, and retention standards and provides school districts with enhanced autonomy to best serve their community. Further, the legislation allows parents to determine whether school or district decisions are in the best interest of their child, and simplifies graduation requirements for a high school diploma.

Constituent of the Week

Councilmember Helen Voltz

Our Constituent of the Week is Helen Voltz. Ms. Voltz is taking a break from retirement after being appointed last week to the vacant West Melbourne City Council seat. Well- known throughout Brevard County for her decades of public service and a long career as a registered nurse, Ms. Voltz was selected to the council over four other candidates. She will assume her new role effective immediately and completion of the term, she intends to run for the seat in November 2024.

Ms. Voltz views public service as a calling. She served as a member of the Palm Bay City Council from 1990 to 1993. She later served on the Brevard County Commission from 1996 to 2000 in District 5 and from 2004 to 2008 in District 3. Throughout her political career, Ms. Voltz also traveled to Washington, DC to meet with federal agency leaders to obtain support for issues important to the Space Coast.

She recently stated, “I thoroughly enjoyed all my time being an elected official, and just always being able to help people. I have the experience…I just love the fact that you can have an impact on so many people’s lives.”

Politics is just part of Ms. Voltz’s positive impact throughout Brevard County. She also served as a registered nurse at Holmes Regional Medical Center, Trico Home Health Care, and at Circles of Care before retiring from the healthcare field.

Continuing education has also been a personal priority for Ms. Voltz. Between 1982 and 2002, she earned an MBA in Finance from Webster University, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Barry University, and two degrees from EFSC (formerly BCC) in Nursing (1992) and Business Administration (1982).

Ms. Voltz has resided in West Melbourne for over 21 years.

District 19 appreciates her return to civic duty as she continues her career of service with a message of “just doing what is best for the community, best for the city, and always taking into account what residents have to say.”

District Highlights

Brevard County and Indian River County Schools Achieve Top Grades from the FL Dept. of Education Annual School Evaluation

The Florida Department of Education recently released school grades taking into account test scores and graduation rates in determining school district performance during the 2022-2023 school year. In calculating school grades, the State also considers learning gains over the course of the year.

The grades were taken as a baseline and instead of end-of-year testing, students are assessed at multiple points throughout the year. Florida is the first state to use a progress monitoring testing system.

Brevard Public Schools maintained a “B” rating in the Florida Department of Education’s new grading system.

Indian River County was recognized with an “A” rating and Superintendent David Moore added that the school district improved by nine percentage points over last year.

Brevard Public Schools (BPS) JROTC Cadets Excel at State Competition

JROTC students from across the state competed in the Florida JROTC Raider Championships on December 2nd. The competition highlights the athletic talent of aspiring cadets and tests their physical abilities, endurance, teamwork, and resilience.

Some of the required activities include:

3-mile team run
Carrying 35-pound kettlebells for 25 meters (approximately 82.1 feet)
Construction of a rope bridge
Execution of a 1-mile cross-country obstacle course including an 8-foot wall

BPS teams dominated the field of 54 schools with four securing top five finishes:

Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High: 1st Place (Male) and 1st Place (Female)
Merritt Island High: 3rd Place (Co-Ed)
Viera High: 5th Place (Female)

In recognition of these accomplishments, BPS Superintendent Dr. Rendell said, “I was so impressed with the effort that all of our teams put forth at the state championship. The competition is physically demanding, and the teams must work together to complete each event. No individual events – all team events. I am extremely proud of them.”

Vero Beach’s Jake Owen Returns Home for his Foundation’s Flamingo Jam

The sold-out Flamingo Jam concert established by Vero Beach’s own Jake Owen to benefit the Jake Owen Foundation (JOF) took place last week with celebrities including Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Daves Highway, Gary Roland, and the Landsharks Band.

The JOF was established in 2010 to initially offer financial support on a national level for children battling cancer and catastrophic disease through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. The JOF charity has grown immensely and continues to also provide assistance to various youth organizations in Vero Beach and throughout Indian River County. Over $4 million has been raised since the JOF’s inception.

“There is just so much about this place that is so nostalgic and I love it every time I come back,” Jake Owen said. “I’m going to live here forever again one day.”

The weekend also included the first-ever Flamingo Comedy Jam with Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots, the Flamingo Songwriter Splash, and the Flamingo Fishing Classic.

To learn more about the Jake Owen Foundation and how you can get involved, click here.

NASA Selects Three Local Companies Ground Support Equipment Fabrication Contracts at KSC

NASA has selected three Brevard County companies for multiple award contracts to fabricate ground support equipment at Kennedy Space Center:

Engraver Metal Fabricators Inc., Merritt Island
J.P. Donovan Construction Inc., Rockledge
Precision Fabricating and Cleaning Co. Inc., Cocoa

The work will support Artemis with their mission to the moon. The contractors will provide management, labor, facilities, materials, equipment, and other incidental support to fabricate, mark, package, deliver, clean, assemble, and test ground support equipment, ground systems and other hardware.

Work will be performed at the contractors’ facilities with delivery of most end items to NASA KSC. The aggregate contract value is $100 million.

Congratulations to the leadership and employees of the local companies selected for these prestigious contracts.

Upcoming Events

Brevard County Seeking Resident Participation in “Speak Up Brevard” Program

Brevard County officials are seeking resident input on how local government can be more efficient. The “Speak Up Brevard” program provides an opportunity for residents to make recommendations through Sunday, December 31st.

“It’s always a good idea to reach out for ideas,” County Commission Chair Jason Steele said. “We want to do the best we can to make Brevard a better place to live.”

While all suggestions are welcome, the County specifically mentions the topics of conserving energy, saving costs, eliminating duplication, generating revenue, increasing productivity, and preventing waste.

The County Manager will have 45 days to evaluate and comment on the recommendation, which will then be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for review. The Board must take a final vote to either approve, reject, or revise and accept the recommendation within 120 days. The sponsor of the recommendation will be given at least a week’s notice prior to it being heard/voted on by the Board.

Suggestions can be submitted online here. Some browsers may require copying and pasting this link https://sites.brevardcounty.us/SpeakUpBrevard/ directly in your browser.

You can also submit your response by:

Visiting www.brevardfl.gov and selecting “Provide Feedback” under the e-Government tab.
Signing up to speak during the public comment period of County Commission meetings or contacting your commissioner directly.
Submitting a written form or letter to the the Brevard County Manager’s Office at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building C, Viera.

Local Holiday Events for All Ages

Starflake’s Holiday Voyage a big-screen projected show, is taking place at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Space Commerce Way) through, Saturday, December 30th. Participants will embark on a journey with Starflake as she travels through the stars, Earth, and beyond.

The Visitor Complex is also showcasing a 50- foot Christmas tree with over 61,000 lights in addition to other holiday themed activities and displays. Admission is $75 for adults or $65 for kids ages 3 to 11. For more information, please visit kennedyspacecenter.com

Cirque Musica brings an all new holiday show to the King Center (3865 North Wickham Road) in Melbourne, on Thursday, December 21st at 7:30 p.m. Organizers say the show blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal favorites.

Ticket prices begin at $39.50. Visit kingcenter.com or call 321-242-2219 for more information.

The Festival of Lights at McKee Botanical Garden (350 US 1) in Vero Beach will be open for holiday festivities beginning at 6:00 p.m. nightly through December 30th. The event includes thousands of LED lights, holiday displays, festive decorations, intermittent snow flurries, a large-scale model train display, outdoor holiday movies, organ music, local entertainment, and holiday treats.

Admission to the Festival of Lights is $15 for general admission; $13 for seniors 65 years and older and teenagers 13 to 17 years; $10 for children 2 to 12 years; and free to McKee members and children under age two.

Off-site parking is available at 146 Vista Royal Boulevard and complimentary shuttles will be available.

For more information, call 772-794-0601 or click here.

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