THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Kathleen Passidomo Paul Renner
President of the Senate Speaker of the House of
Representatives
May 01, 2023
The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
President of the Senate
The Honorable Paul Renner
Speaker, House of Representatives
Dear Madam President and Mr. Speaker:
Your Conference Committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on SB 2502, same
being:
An act relating to Implementing the 2023-2024 General Appropriations Act.
having met, and after full and free conference, do recommend to their respective houses as
follows:
1. That the House of Representatives recede from its Amendment 600923.
2. That the Senate and House of Representatives adopt the Conference Committee
Amendment attached hereto, and by reference made a part of this report.
The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
The Honorable Paul Renner
May 01, 2023
Page 2
Senator Doug Broxson, Chair Senator Ben Albritton, At Large
Senator Bryan Avila Senator Dennis Baxley, At Large
Senator Lori Berman Senator Lauren Book, At Large
Senator Jim Boyd Senator Jennifer Bradley
Senator Jason Brodeur Senator Danny Burgess
Senator Colleen Burton Senator Alexis Calatayud
Senator Jay Collins Senator Tracie Davis
Senator Nick DiCeglie Senator Ileana Garcia
Senator Erin Grall Senator Joe Gruters
Senator Gayle Harrell Senator Ed Hooper
Senator Travis Hutson, At Large Senator Blaise Ingoglia
Senator Shevrin D. Jones Senator Jonathan Martin
Senator Debbie Mayfield, At Large Senator Rosalind Osgood
Senator Keith Perry, At Large Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo
Senator Tina Scott Polsky Senator Bobby Powell
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson, At Large
Senator Corey Simon Senator Linda Stewart
Senator Geraldine F. Thompson Senator Victor M. Torres Jr.
SB 2502
The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
The Honorable Paul Renner
May 01, 2023
Page 3
Senator Jay Trumbull Senator Tom A. Wright
Senator Clay Yarborough
Conferees on the part of the Senate
SB 2502
The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
The Honorable Paul Renner
May 01, 2023
Page 4
Representative Thomas J. Leek, Chair Representative Shane G. Abbott
Representative Thad Altman, At Large Representative Daniel Antonio Alvarez
Representative Carolina Amesty Representative Adam Anderson
Representative Robert Alexander Andrade, At Large Representative Bruce Hadley Antone
Representative Kristen Aston Arrington Representative Jessica Baker
Representative Douglas Michael Bankson Representative Robin Bartleman
Representative Fabián Basabe Representative Melony M. Bell
Representative Mike Beltran Representative Christopher Benjamin, At Large
Representative Kimberly Berfield Representative Dean Black
Representative Adam Botana, At Large Representative Robert A. Brackett
Representative LaVon Bracy Davis Representative Robert Charles Brannan III, At Large
Representative Demi Busatta Cabrera, At Large Representative Daryl Campbell
Representative Jennifer Canady Representative Michael A. Caruso
Representative Hillary Cassel Representative Kevin D. Chambliss, At Large
Representative Linda Chaney Representative Charles Wesley Clemons, Sr., At
Large
Representative Lindsay Cross Representative Dan Daley, At Large
Representative Kimberly Daniels Representative Fentrice Driskell, At Large
Representative Jervonte Edmonds Representative Anna V. Eskamani
Representative Tiffany Esposito Representative Tom Fabricio
SB 2502
The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
The Honorable Paul Renner
May 01, 2023
Page 5
Representative Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin Representative Randy Fine, At Large
Representative Gallop Franklin II Representative Ashley Viola Gantt
Representative Alina Garcia Representative Sam Garrison, At Large
Representative Karen Gonzalez Pittman Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman
Representative Michael Gottlieb, At Large Representative Michael Grant, At Large
Representative Tommy Gregory, At Large Representative Philip Wayne Griffitts, Jr.
Representative Jennifer Harris Representative Dianne Hart
Representative Fred Hawkins Representative Jeff Holcomb
Representative Christine Hunschofsky, At Large Representative Berny Jacques
Representative Chip LaMarca Representative Vicki L. Lopez
Representative Randall Scott Maggard Representative Patt Maney
Representative Ralph E. Massullo, MD, At Large Representative Stan McClain, At Large
Representative Lawrence McClure, At Large Representative Lauren Melo
Representative Kiyan Michael Representative James Vernon Mooney, Jr.
Representative Tobin Rogers Overdorf Representative Bobby Payne, At Large
Representative Daniel Perez, At Large Representative Rachel Lora Saunders Plakon
Representative Susan Plasencia Representative Juan Carlos Porras
Representative Michele K. Rayner-Goolsby Representative Alex Rizo
Representative Felicia Simone Robinson, At Large Representative Bob Rommel, At Large
SB 2502
The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
The Honorable Paul Renner
May 01, 2023
Page 6
Representative Michelle Salzman Representative Jason Shoaf, At Large
Representative David Silvers, At Large Representative Tyler I. Sirois
Representative Kelly Skidmore, At Large Representative David Smith
Representative John Snyder, At Large Representative Paula A. Stark
Representative Kevin M. Steele Representative Allison Tant
Representative John Paul Temple Representative Josie Tomkow, At Large
Representative Dana Trabulsy Representative Chase Tramont
Representative Keith L. Truenow Representative Kaylee Tuck
Representative Susan L. Valdés, At Large Representative Katherine Waldron
Representative Patricia H. Williams, At Large Representative Marie Paule Woodson, At Large
Representative Taylor Michael Yarkosky Representative Bradford Troy Yeager
Managers on the part of the House of Representatives
SB 2502
SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ACTION Page 7
May 01, 2023
The Conference Committee Amendment for SB 2502, relating to implementing the Fiscal Year
2023-2024 General Appropriations Act, provides the following substantive modifications for the
2023-2024 fiscal year:
Section 1 provides legislative intent that the implementing and administering provisions of this
act apply to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
Section 2 incorporates the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) work papers by reference
for the purpose of displaying the calculations used by the Legislature.
Section 3 amends s. 1009.895, F.S., to modify the Open Door Grant Program.
Section 4 provides that the amendments to s. 1008.895, F.S., expire July 1, 2024, and the text of
that section reverts to that in existence on June 30, 2023.
Section 5 amends s. 1002.68(4)(a)(f), (5) and (6)(e), F.S., to extend the timelines for the
development and implementation of methodology relating to performance metrics for voluntary
prekindergarten providers and removes the provisions that would disqualify a voluntary
prekindergarten provider based on a failure to meet minimum program assessment composite
scores.
Section 6 provides that the amendments to s. 1009.895(4)(a)(f), (5) and (6)(e), F.S., expire
July 1, 2024, and the text of those sections reverts to that in existence on June 30, 2023.
Section 7 authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to submit a budget
amendment to realign funding between the AHCA and the Department of Health (DOH) for the
Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Program for the implementation of the Statewide Medicaid
Managed Care program, to reflect actual enrollment changes due to the transition from fee-for-
service into the capitated CMS Network.
Section 8 authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to realign funding priorities
within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address any projected surpluses and
deficits.
Section 9 authorizes the AHCA and the DOH to each submit a budget amendment to realign
funding within the Florida KidCare program appropriation categories, or to increase budget
authority in the Children’s Medical Services Network category, to address projected surpluses
and deficits within the program or to maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget
amendment must be submitted by each agency in the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
Section 10 amends s. 381.986(17), F.S., to provide that the DOH is not required to prepare a
statement of estimated regulatory costs when adopting rules relating to medical marijuana testing
laboratories, and any such rules adopted prior to July 1, 2024, are exempt from the legislative
ratification provision of ss. 120.54(3)(b) and 120.541, F.S. Medical marijuana treatment centers
are authorized to use a laboratory that has not been certified by the department until rules relating
to medical marijuana testing laboratories are adopted by the department, but no later than July 1,
2024.
Section 11 amends s. 14(1) of ch. 2017-232, L.O.F., to provide limited emergency rulemaking
authority to the DOH and applicable boards to adopt emergency rules to implement the Medical
SB 2502
SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ACTION (continued) Page 8
Use of Marijuana Act (2017). The department and applicable boards are not required to prepare a
statement of estimated regulatory costs when promulgating rules to replace emergency rules, and
any such rules are exempt from the legislative ratification provision of ss. 120.54(3)(b) and
120.541, F.S., until July 1, 2024.
Section 12 provides that the amendments to s. 14(1) of ch. 2017-232, L.O.F., expire on July 1,
2024, and the text of that provision reverts back to that in existence on June 30, 2019.
Section 13 authorizes the AHCA to submit budget amendments to implement the federally
approved Directed Payment Program for hospitals statewide, the Indirect Medical Education
Program, and a nursing workforce expansion and education program.
Section 14 authorizes the AHCA to submit budget amendments to implement the federally
approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service supplemental payments for cancer
hospitals that meet certain federal criteria and provides an extension for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
Letters of Agreement.
Section 15 authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment, including specified
information, to implement the Low Income Pool Program.
Section 16 authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment to implement fee-for-service
supplemental payments and a directed payment program for physicians and subordinate licensed
health care practitioners employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental school
or a public hospital and provides an extension for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Letters of Agreement.
Section 17 authorizes the AHCA to submit a budget amendment requesting budget authority for
public emergency medical transportation services.
Section 18 allows the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to submit a budget
amendment to realign funding within DCF based on the implementation of the Guardianship
Assistance Program, including between guardianship assistance payments, foster care Level 1
board payments, and relative and nonrelative caregiver payments for current caseload.
Section 19 authorizes the DCF, DOH and AHCA to submit budget amendments to increase
budget authority as necessary to meet caseload requirements for Refugee Programs administered
by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. Requires the DCF to submit quarterly reports on
caseload and expenditures.
Section 20 authorizes the DCF to submit budget amendments to increase budget authority to
support the following federal grants: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Grant Program, the
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, the American Rescue Plan Grant, the State Opioid
Response Grant, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, and the Mental
Health Block Grant.
Section 21 authorizes the DOH to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for
the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Child Care
Food Program if additional federal revenues become available.
SB 2502
SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ACTION (continued) Page 9
Section 22 authorizes the DOH to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for
the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues become
available.
Section 23 authorizes the DOH to submit a budget amendment to increase budget authority for
DOH if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19 become available.
Section 24 reenacts and amends s. 21 of ch. 2021-37, L.O.F., to require the AHCA to replace the
current Florida Medicaid Management Information System and provides requirements of the
system. This section also establishes the executive steering committee (ESC) membership, duties
and the process for the ESC meetings and decisions. Provides requirements for deliverables-
based fixed price contracts.
Section 25 requires the AHCA, in consultation with the DOH, Agency for Persons with
Disabilities (APD), DCF, and the Department of Corrections (DOC), to competitively procure a
contract with a vendor to negotiate prices for prescriptions drugs, including insulin and
epinephrine, for all participating agencies. The contract must require that the vendor be
compensated on a contingency basis paid from a portion of the savings achieved through the
negotiation and purchase of prescription drugs.
Section 26 authorizes the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) to submit budget
amendments to transfer funding from salaries and benefits to contractual services in order to
support additional staff augmentation at the Developmental Disability Centers.
Section 27 amends s. 409.915(1), F.S., to provide that the term “state Medicaid expenditures”
does not include funds specially assessed by any local governmental entity and used as the
nonfederal share for the hospital Directed Payment Program after July 1, 2021.
Section 28 amends s. 216.262(4), F.S., to allow the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG) to
request additional positions and appropriations from unallocated general revenue during Fiscal
Year 2023-2024 for the Department of Corrections (DOC) if the actual inmate population of the
DOC exceeds certain Criminal Justice Estimating Conference forecasts. Subject to Legislative
Budget Commission (LBC) review and approval, the additional positions and appropriations may
be used for essential staff, fixed capital improvements, and other resources to provide
classification, security, food services, health services, and other variable expenses within the
institutions to accommodate the estimated increase in the inmate population.
Section 29 amends s. 215.18(2), F.S., to provide the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court the
authority to request a trust fund loan.
Section 30 requires the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to review county juvenile detention
payments to ensure that counties are fulfilling their financial responsibilities. If the department
determines that a county has not met its obligations, Department of Revenue must deduct the
amount owed to the DJJ from shared revenue funds provided to the county under s. 218.23, F.S.
Section 31 reenacts ss. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), and (5)-(7), F.S., to continue to require written
certification of conflict by the public defender or regional conflict counsel before a court may
appoint private conflict counsel.
SB 2502
SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ACTION (continued) Page 10
Section 32 provides that the amendments to s. 27.40(1),(2)(a),(3)(a),(5)-(7), F.S., expire July 1,
2024, and the text of that section reverts to that in existence on June 30, 2019.
Section 33 amends s. 27.5304(6) and (13), F.S., to create a rebuttable presumption of correctness
for objections to billings made by the Justice Administrative Commission and provides
requirements for payments to private counsel. This section reenacts s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11),
and (12)(a)-(e), F.S., to increase caps for compensation of court appointed counsel in criminal
cases.
Section 34 provides that the amendments to s. 27.5304(1), (3), (6), (7), (11), and (12)(a)-(e),
F.S., expire July 1, 2024, and the text of that section reverts to that in existence on June 30, 2019.
Section 35 requires the Department of Management Services (DMS) and state agencies to utilize
a tenant broker to renegotiate private lease agreements that expire between July 1, 2024, and
June 30, 2026, and are in excess of 2,000 square feet, and to submit a report by November 1,
2023.
Section 36 provides that, notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), F.S., which authorizes transfers of up
to five percent of approved budget between categories, agencies may not transfer funds from a
data center appropriation category to a category other than a data center appropriation category.
Section 37 authorizes the Executive Office of the Governor (EOG) to transfer funds in the
appropriation