Bill > H5003

This bill implements the 2013-2014 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which is the state's budget, by incorporating various calculations and provisions into existing law. It includes specific details on how funds for the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), which funds public schools, will be calculated and disbursed, and how funds for instructional materials will be handled. The bill also addresses the Accelerated Connectivity Highway initiative, which aims to improve internet access in schools, and outlines requirements for a study on Onsite Sewage Nitrogen Reduction Strategies. Furthermore, it incorporates calculations for Medicaid programs, including the Low-Income Pool and Disproportionate Share Hospital Reimbursement Programs, and allows the Department of Corrections (DOC) to request additional positions if the inmate population exceeds projections. The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is directed to adhere to specific reimbursement limits for healthcare services, and the Department of Management Services (DMS) is instructed to use tenant brokers for lease agreements. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) is authorized to renew certain contracts, and the distribution of funds from the Florida Forever Trust Fund, which is used for land acquisition and conservation, is detailed. The bill also mandates competitive bidding for certain projects, allows for transfers of funds by the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG), and authorizes the issuance of new debt. Finally, it sets limits on travel expenses for state employees and establishes co-payment amounts for the state employees' prescription drug program. Many of these provisions are temporary and expire on July 1, 2014.