[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6327021,"mediaKeyId","2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012","parentId",2323453,"title","Proposal would align ALJ appointments with judges of compensation claims; committee forwards staff material after debate","audioSeconds",209,"startMs",3171000,"endMs",3380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012&start=3171&end=3380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012/thumbnail_3171000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327021/Florida/Proposal-would-align-ALJ-appointments-with-judges-of-compensation-claims-committee-forwards-staff-material-after-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327021-c1b20c7dfbd8dcc1196f6aa9256e6216/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179341&Signature=LrlPRjbLD22XluHMr-49miwGUxZNlkW2ayzw4XlczfJIrziIQOYEhmA0Q1rbpqGHQeKXovZiyJDcZzBxslPc0FqLrzcjJpTi6JYKskS1gSYTdILfUZVkJdm3SOX3ytmtMkVXT2VpUkaOASFUpUDKKiP9Ia8MYW43GnCkFjUAKSJ1hFxNwwKiTfTGnL7iPoQ7IUgAeemGlt5q3LG61YWewOxdCpV6FaOXm9~HtcNO78yuCK8~hplRC7moD-5fW3e7mEGhuRhlUKQID0LCVe~M~4iF2JhSv4B5onOJ~bz2EKp-oozKpcmIkdagG54wNIkcfDKaAEqNj7W06JHyX9mthg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","Ken Plann and interim DOAH Director Darren Schwartz described competing views on a staff proposal to change appointment and retention procedures for administrative law judges (ALJs).

Plann summarized staff concerns and the proposed amendment, which would make the appointment, evaluation and retention process for DOAH judges similar to the process used for judges of compensation claims, including a nomination list and gubernatorial appointment model. “Given the scope of work and responsibility that resides with administrative law judges it would seem appropriate that their appointment and evaluation coincide with that of the judges compensation claims,” Plann said in his briefing.

Darren Schwartz, interim director and chief judge at the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), told the committee he understands concerns about accountability but warned that the two appointment systems cover different functions. “The workers' comp judges do nothing but workers' comp claims…On the other hand, the ALJs under chapter 120…primarily hear cases involving state agencies and propose agency action,” Schwartz said. He argued that placing appointment power with cabinet officers whose agencies sometimes appear as litigants could create conflicts of interest and that there may be other ways to improve ALJ accountability.

Committee members asked about timeliness of ALJ orders and whether evidence rules should be consistent. Schwartz said he favors timely orders and internal guidance on case processing, and he welcomed further conversations about improving accountability. The committee later adopted a motion to forward the staff material to the Senate President and the House Speaker; roll call recorded affirmative votes from Senator Bernard, Senator Gates, Senator Yarbrough, Representative Connerly, Representative Johnson, Representative Kendall, Representative Kendrick, Representative Weinberger and Representative Overdorf and a recorded no vote from Senator Smith; the motion carried.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Administrative Procedures Committee 02/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff presented a proposed amendment to Section 120.65 to align appointment and retention of administrative law judges with judges of compensation claims. The committee heard concerns from DOA leadership about conflicts of interest and procedural differences, then voted to forward the material to legislative leaders.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature FL, Florida","taxId",78546,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6327026,"Staff propose time limits for emergency rules and new ratification notice process; committee votes to forward proposals",232,2933000,3165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012&start=2933&end=3165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012/thumbnail_2933000.jpg","/articles/6327026/Florida/Staff-propose-time-limits-for-emergency-rules-and-new-ratification-notice-process-committee-votes-to-forward-proposals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327026-197c4ae0de8f4a79a2a4d957567bd288/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179341&Signature=A6H0vIOCMHqt54F2dixThIJxMoTASi9Og9uPucPEvNhDha2Lb1hZtGMHQfrVCPrTjplInU63MMLQoNdu8~zvXtX0fzraJSYtvRnmSRY6ixWKC3k9O83ZXxDF6HwvD48wisXMv5WbgTXyh~GTuQbuCBTwt6JXQFJAc0YS0n4anK2TvkWhqWOg-Gkx3Ssc2LPox1lCWWFlekXIlvjVEijWFaIHj7oqw5XL6t1O61Xqj1hIDnj1gC~1PoIDVBv8ltlPb6J5p7ParTleiqfKCgR39JtPfIarudj9As4ZjJb1oWr5u~TL-Bc-waSqrz0-J7T-WnjUAkOP9BxSzxvum~GKqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ken Plann, staff coordinator to the committee, briefed members on staff‑drafted amendments to Chapter 120 aimed at clarifying the emergency‑rule ratification process and creating an internal pathway to initiate ratification.

Plann said current law allows emergency rules awaiting ratification to be renewed every 90 days with no statutory limit and no timeline for the Legislature to act. Staff proposed amending Section 120.534 to set a one‑year timeframe for legislative ratification and to have the emergency rule expire at the end of the legislative session if no action is taken. Plann also explained an amendment to Section 120.541 that would require agencies requesting ratification to notify JAPC in addition to the Senate president and House speaker so JAPC can notify the substantive committees and schedule consideration.

Chair Overdorf asked for a motion to forward the staff materials to legislative leaders. Representative Connolly moved, Senator Gates seconded, and the committee took a roll call vote. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Representative Connolly (mover recorded via motion), Senator Bernard, Senator Gates, Senator Smith, Senator Yarbrough, Representative Connerly, Representative Johnson, Representative Kendall, Representative Kindredge and Representative Weinberger; the chair announced the motion carried and the materials will be forwarded to the Senate President and House Speaker.","JAPC staff proposed amending Section 120.534 to limit emergency rule renewals to one year pending legislative ratification and to require notice to JAPC to start ratification procedures. The committee voted to forward the staff proposals to the Senate President and House Speaker.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6327031,"Department of Children & Families finalizes human‑trafficking signage rule and files adult safe‑home certification rule",273,2412000,2685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012&start=2412&end=2685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012/thumbnail_2412000.jpg","/articles/6327031/Florida/Department-of-Children-Families-finalizes-humantrafficking-signage-rule-and-files-adult-safehome-certification-rule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327031-7b94d1466f036a0bddb3af7736c4bedc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179341&Signature=Q0d-d9GINJ66m2s01y7miqprEkzoMHl5Dmk5W5RLiczMhbHnOnxDg0HzrMKCHsZMeU5v2wj4Mr0vjivrckFy~PVj7DAo4aeUWhOj794mVG5AFKsYemkOo4wvs5-v66zHqKFrv3frk7H1ca25csDDXSOWDwQjW4eQW31BgUIn0-L4v6~lfPPoJJnpM4-7QxxtOQBi5wFOxMp2bkS7vBeoPyRPwtg~KHp7R49CX3e6Apj584mYG7DwdIfeR1rJOFOUF8GiKucFH3ZEv8kmTBgcDNAHG5QIAmJURQKf9WESYozwBrNp5qF4DEXqpVPPUrAEk5CSQF0DAf7sq~KkGJG5tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sam Kearse, deputy chief of staff at the Florida Department of Children and Families, told the committee the department has implemented statutory requirements from 2023 legislation addressing exploitation and human trafficking.

Kearse said the department finalized Chapter 65C‑46 in August 2024 to specify content for signage that warns residents about human trafficking and encourages reporting; the signs were subsequently created and distributed to safe homes and relevant residential treatment facilities. The department published a notice of proposed rule for the corresponding residential treatment chapter 65E‑9 and is in the 21‑day waiting period prior to finalization. Kearse told the committee the proposed rulemaking received substantial provider feedback and the agency worked with providers before moving the proposed rule forward.

On adult safe homes, Kearse said the 2023 law created the nation’s first certification process for providers that house and treat survivors of human trafficking. The department worked with the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking and a services and resource committee; it held workshops and sought survivor and provider input in 2024. Kearse said the Department submitted its notice of final rule for the new Chapter 65K (certification for adult safe homes) and expected the notice to be filed with the Department of State following the statutory review period. He said neither rule requires a cost‑benefit analysis review committee (CERC) or legislative ratification.","The Department of Children and Families said it finalized signage content for residential treatment and children's safe homes and has submitted a notice of final rule for a new adult safe‑home certification process created by 2023 legislation.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6327036,"Department of Health says sickle cell registry built, files notice to adopt rules and forms",285,1877000,2162000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012&start=1877&end=2162","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012/thumbnail_1877000.jpg","/articles/6327036/Florida/Department-of-Health-says-sickle-cell-registry-built-files-notice-to-adopt-rules-and-forms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327036-5d9d2847c39f9ad10dd4d6705195fe75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179341&Signature=JlUGIQasJLKkMMhu4V3cJBgeAdT1zkL5SwZ9n31SsBYc9sdO-kCTxB-yNUDhWYqkZtxJ-r35h3Rs-G3~4-nwHXVcTNH8bEhP1y1md39mcuMCSZrp1lLWGddpjtcsnyAHoNGkNIvFdfrC6RcLdvXykaeUSBM-XbOVT~-k5DjmWCSJ9HSknw0rMn0yiEDfa9~9d1NAN35QbhV9nh4V1ryqoJfBVaTqaiepHrOEvUqZOKpwcpXLgoVviYzW1~h4MjqXggdLRv1X1a-EmXNISBZQweVnkoYfG2i5UC2P0mG82rDOc8-mq5~A3OGhJBiLaikZJ2gUtpDo-wRpq3m16QWumQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ali Bradley, interim general counsel at the Florida Department of Health, told the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee that the department contracted the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research to establish and maintain the sickle cell disease and trait registry and that intake from the newborn screening program began May 31, 2024.

Bradley said the registry was fully built for newborn intake as of October 2024 and that data gathered by the newborn screening program will be migrated into the system in April 2025. She said the department developed opt‑out forms for parents and guardians and a method for individuals identified later to opt into the registry. “As of February 11… the department did file a notice of rule development creating rule 60‑4.90.001 which is the sickle cell disease and trait registry and 60‑4.90.002 which is the forms rule,” Bradley said. The notice was published February 13, and the department is in the 21‑day period for the public to request a rulemaking workshop under Chapter 120.

Committee members asked why the department implemented the registry and vendor contract before publishing proposed rules. Bradley said agency implementation focused first on procuring a vendor and building the registry; earlier statutory iterations covered only newborns and infants and the 2024 changes expanded the registry to include other individuals and amended the opt‑out requirement. The committee chair and members urged agencies to include date‑certain deadlines in legislation to help ensure timely rule adoption.","The Department of Health told the committee it contracted a vendor and built a sickle cell disease and trait registry, began intake for newborns in May 2024, and filed notice of rule development for forms in February 2025.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6327041,"Rep. Esposito outlines bill to add 8-year sunset, retrospective cost review to agency rules",575,939000,1514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012&start=939&end=1514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323453-cd81cd77d3ebff32d7bbdd66fd5eb012/thumbnail_939000.jpg","/articles/6327041/Florida/Rep-Esposito-outlines-bill-to-add-8-year-sunset-retrospective-cost-review-to-agency-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327041-2a3aaae78455f1d0ba4d075735ad5f8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179341&Signature=K2SkM-IrI6HXm96c7e2B~C8lMstwBoVo5pKSHO6sDFxvPQENx-b0HBcxKLrUXCAnoyk5Ax3jKrT1ApVqd59rWbHuMNjs13LQtY~myTabavX0pODmIYyx7ctPrJoijW0MB3IhT9AA~4X4Ws3hnxRe1HHIfY8dHa5rc6Zb8G9mHtfyNf-WtLnD4xSrjHLjEo6zt8rDM~bBpX9nEsKj1p-vX1VzDUlOmUvGXBAQi~5JtUNhDKF6NVH2b-Yvnzk03PBvshxWdxhCj4cr0CMDJRKh3IAdDCOX1yEGO3~fPOxQdwspxKbSTy5uXB1jKrETtcKvyEHWUCIm5SX8SjVMG2UgjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Anthony Esposito, sponsor of House Bill 305, told the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee that the bill is “focused on strengthening oversight and rulemaking” and would return more rulemaking authority to the Legislature.

Esposito said HB 305 would require agencies to perform cost‑benefit analyses at the start of rulemaking and retrospectively to evaluate actual costs and benefits after implementation. “Not only requiring a cost benefit analysis at the front end of a rulemaking, but also retrospectively to see…what is that cost benefit analysis,” he said. The bill would also place an eight‑year sunset on rules, bringing them before the committee for a review and requiring express legislative authority for agencies to continue rulemaking.

The committee heard questions about implementation and examples of “unduly burdensome” rules. Esposito said he is collecting examples from stakeholders but that businesses have been reluctant to be publicly identified because they still must interact with agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Education. He noted his background as a regional chamber of commerce executive and said small businesses often face additional administrative costs tied to regulation. “Time is money,” Esposito said.

Committee members pressed on practical details. Senator Gates asked why the bill uses an eight‑year sunset rather than a different interval; Esposito said he chose eight years to mirror legislative eight‑year term limits so each Legislature would have the opportunity to vote on rules. Other members asked how staggered reviews would avoid overloading agency rulemaking capacity, and whether the proposed retrospective cost reviews could slow rule adoption in cases where agencies are already delayed. Esposito acknowledged those concerns and welcomed further conversation about staggering and implementation.

Esposito said the bill’s pith is to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and save taxpayer and business dollars. He also told the committee he consulted outside partners, including the Cicero Institute, in developing the proposal.","Representative Anthony Esposito presented HB 305, a proposal to amend Chapter 120 that would require an eight-year sunset review of agency rules, add retrospective cost‑benefit analysis and require express legislative authority for rulemaking.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Proposal would align ALJ appointments with judges of compensation claims; committee forwards staff material after debate

Staff propose time limits for emergency rules and new ratification notice process; committee votes to forward proposals

Department of Children & Families finalizes human‑trafficking signage rule and files adult safe‑home certification rule

Department of Health says sickle cell registry built, files notice to adopt rules and forms

Rep. Esposito outlines bill to add 8-year sunset, retrospective cost review to agency rules