[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6325374,"mediaKeyId","2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71","parentId",2333622,"title","Senate committee advances Burgess bill to expand FDVA outreach, require adult day health plan and tighten Hall of Fame nominations","audioSeconds",1044,"startMs",996000,"endMs",2040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71&start=996&end=2040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71/thumbnail_996000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325374/Florida/Senate-committee-advances-Burgess-bill-to-expand-FDVA-outreach-require-adult-day-health-plan-and-tighten-Hall-of-Fame-nominations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325374-bffb07ef341c7a18a6106b32802ab5a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980925&Signature=oJM6vAxEBSb60453eQknRR1CratZ1AXRxiikXwAOEn8G4tmLPN-f8ftAjtqivYWY~bZikfS~7rBlPd5bNMY1CeuzKcmNpvu~MSSkSoPBgTs~luIaCkjHbJDsPCKfvQy~auo01NMJwwAjbZMw17JuVv7E3n5anfxSid3U2wh9FMjgThxHamS~F~5944mKls69LkeAP8pZ9if2xS4J8VCANin3QjktPMzE6GoygdCITkUzCFaHk9~lHI1m~ImugcIPMIOVJiXox692kHqkBeHPwAjpAsI-L-jP1hzi~Sv1s-YPwFuiIqCYlnMDIi2C-sPB9z6l5ka37T015YIURfMqPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","SB 116, presented by Sen. Tom Burgess, contains multiple measures aimed at expanding the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs’ outreach and care options for veterans and their families and was reported favorably by the committee on a roll call vote.

“This bill does several important things to improve the lives of Florida's veterans and strengthen the work of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs,” Burgess said as he opened his presentation to the committee, summarizing the bill’s components.

The bill would: reduce the number of annual Florida Veterans Hall of Fame nominations from 20 to 5; expand the FDVA health survey to measure veteran awareness of federal, state and community programs and evaluate veterans’ health literacy; add specialized mental‑health training to the veterans suicide prevention training pilot program; formalize reporting ties between FDVA and Veterans Florida; and require FDVA to develop a plan to establish adult day health care facilities for veterans across the state, including recommendations on locations and anticipated costs.

Burgess said the adult day health care component grew from the department’s prior Forward March initiative and a post‑COVID effort to identify gaps in service. “Benefits are only as good as those to those individuals that actually know they exist,” Burgess told the committee.

Bob Vostalos (listed in transcript as Bob Estales), deputy executive director at FDVA, told the committee the agency already has possible sites and statutory authority to expand adult day health care but will need state funding to build and operate such centers. He identified Port St. Lucie and the Lake City domiciliary as promising locations.

Supporters at the hearing included Dan Hendrickson of the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative and Jorge Morales Lopez of Endeavors, both of whom praised the bill’s focus on outreach, specialty courts and adult day health care. Morales described Endeavors’ work with homeless and mentally vulnerable veterans and said his organization supports the bill’s provisions.

Committee members did not offer substantive debate; Burgess closed by thanking former FDVA staff and urging committee support.

Votes at the committee
SB 116 was reported favorably. Recorded roll call votes in committee: Senator Burgess — yes; Senator Sharif — yes; Senator Trudeau — yes; Vice Chair Collins — yes; Chair Wright — yes. By the clerk’s declaration, the bill was reported favorably.

Why it matters
The measure combines programmatic changes (surveys, literacy evaluation, expanded training) with a planning requirement for new adult day health care sites intended to expand options beyond nursing home placement. If enacted, the study requirement would produce a report to the Legislature with suggested locations and cost estimates; any construction or operating funding would require future appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security 2/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","SB 116, presented by Sen. Tom Burgess, contains multiple measures aimed at expanding the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs’ outreach and care options for veterans and their families and was reported favorably by the committee on a roll call vote.","taxTitle","Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security , Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",26953,"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},6325366,"FDVA details state veteran services, nursing homes and first adult day health integration planned for Collier County",955,6915000,7870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71&start=6915&end=7870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71/thumbnail_6915000.jpg","/articles/6325366/Florida/FDVA-details-state-veteran-services-nursing-homes-and-first-adult-day-health-integration-planned-for-Collier-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325366-5de1873a41753fdc0def1f5cacee4094/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980925&Signature=jVfolvCp~iiJhMjE6sVVMzYi0oojslWgYjVw8~GrqglwAMAt3RpB6FvTskBVcxo7Afi4Zj9DowZYEewHi2U84GOerRyPODNzoW0UwC~aAcQWzOaOp1bMU-2sGtSLpSu~tTD~2N5DlM8yssI-CR3z7gJWum2GZZvxhqmrHYxy4YuA238GjABz8mZa7wk5KlwtU-Esymqbijhnonk7Pe9pmSPmt70mq9qKFIxMG8KDO9ufRvt6DtErKQORxme9flKcLuolXGbAGr0taWDmpvgknXefXFmyhnxiy77awxcXqof2h7EhjqKWisHqKNn8y2K7vnVTsXHCJOsxT4GWWm1i0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Major General James Hartsell, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, gave a broad update to the committee on veteran outreach, benefits claims, state veteran nursing homes and efforts to add adult day health care to the state system.

Hartsell emphasized Florida’s growing veteran population, noting an increase in Gulf War and post‑9/11 veterans alongside a shrinking World War II cohort. “We have become the second largest veteran population in the nation,” he said, arguing that the state’s in‑migration drives the need for expanded services.

He described FDVA’s service footprint — 75 state veteran service officers who handled roughly 245,000 claims last year, including 45,000 new claims that generated about $260 million — and touted a reported return on investment: “We currently are doing $41 to every state dollar spent,” Hartsell said.

Hartsell presented plans for a new Collier County state veteran nursing home that will include a 20‑bed skilled nursing unit, memory care and an integrated adult day health care program for up to 40 veterans. According to Hartsell, Collier County community partners committed roughly $9.5 million to cover adult day health care costs and raised about $30 million to cover the local cost share for construction; the state would cover remaining costs. FDVA representatives said the federal government does not fund construction of adult day care and the state must provide capital and operating support.

Hartsell also described Hope Florida navigators and state veteran service officers who provided outreach during recent hurricanes and disaster recovery operations. He said FDVA performed about 875 outreach events last year and is seeking additional state veteran service officers and navigators in the governor’s budget to meet demand.

Questions from committee members focused on capturing veterans’ histories, staffing and the department’s record of recent standard‑setting inspections at nursing homes. Hartsell noted two deficiency‑free surveys in FDVA nursing homes over the prior year and said agency vacancies and agency use have declined following multiyear pay increases.

Why it matters
FDVA’s planning for integrated adult day health care and its claims work have budgetary and operational implications. The Collier County project illustrates a public‑private financing model local officials and FDVA support, but any construction or operating funding for state facilities would require legislative appropriation and ongoing state oversight.","Major General James Hartsell (FDVA) told the Senate committee the department is expanding outreach, state veteran nursing home capacity and adding adult day health care at a planned Collier County facility funded largely by local contributions.",{"_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},6325371,"Florida National Guard briefs Senate committee: heavy domestic tempo, understaffing by population ratio and infrastructure gains",935,5164000,6099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71&start=5164&end=6099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333622-f806f712b54248b600d2f2bb9ab46a71/thumbnail_5164000.jpg","/articles/6325371/Florida/Florida-National-Guard-briefs-Senate-committee-heavy-domestic-tempo-understaffing-by-population-ratio-and-infrastructure-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325371-d4df438f061a9a1cb6b70f4da732124e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980925&Signature=Z9bwesCy7~EmoRWIMp9zqB-voekuTZt-96L-5P-u-uqlKUfUvIvD79vNKsHopdLCPQX6aO7npR0Q3nXhjhjU4aVBhXrdxLEkmDHwpH7ewo3dQzJmRdA6x5mx3kvY~GNgBB5hHhIcw4zqYO3TNBYPYE5NlmE7ptTp7NxhWtZmthe0iKCDBcXkaXzzYByi7L~wRIKew4USFEF5DXNNuwPZedwCOuw5j-V4dYDzpZ-12vgS3CBH8pPdQyPcS95oyhTNXeljaVF5Jj2cT4NI0rVXaOPHLFgaQXNnzOS57ygDml3Kj2KV7lox0Jcnli0Z8wCQva2z4z7Jg9LgikEyJwCdNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colonel Jason Hunt, representing the Florida Department of Military Affairs, told the Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security that the Florida National Guard remains engaged both at home and abroad and faces a sustained high operational tempo.

“The Florida National Guard has three primary missions…to provide highly trained units and personnel to support national security objectives, to respond to state emergencies, and to add value to our state and nation,” Colonel Hunt said during a committee presentation.

Hunt outlined recent activity: roughly 450 Guard members deployed overseas, about 1,200 preparing to deploy, routine domestic missions including corrections staffing and border support, and major hurricane responses in which thousands of Guardsmen were mobilized (3,500 for Hurricane Debbie, 4,000 for Helene and 6,800 for Milton). He also described that the Guard provided 550 missions over 116 days and delivered more than 18,000 man‑days of work during a busy period.

The colonel stressed Florida’s manpower shortfall relative to population: the state is allocated roughly 12,000 guardsmen based on an outdated population formula and currently ranks 53 of 54 when comparing Guard personnel to state population. “We are an undersized force,” he said, noting that members average 93 days of duty per year — among the highest in the nation — which increases strain on troops and families.

Committee members asked about infrastructure gains, and Hunt credited recent state investments: new armories in Immokalee and Zephyrhills and significant upgrades at Camp Blanding, including new barracks and improved ranges. He said recruitment is strong — Florida ranks second nationally in recruiting — but the Guard’s challenge is acquiring additional federal force structure to match the state’s growth and disaster exposure.

Why it matters
The Guard’s dual state and federal missions mean that shortages in personnel and force structure can translate into higher operational tempo for citizen‑soldiers and increased strain on communities during large disaster responses. The briefing reinforced committee interest in pursuing changes to the federal force‑structure allocation process and boosted support for Senate Memorial 314 urging the National Guard Bureau to reexamine Florida’s allocation.","Colonel Jason Hunt updated the Senate committee on the Florida National Guard’s dual state and federal missions, recent hurricane responses and deployments, and highlighted that Florida ranks near the bottom nationally for Guard manpower relative to population despite strong recruiting outcomes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances Burgess bill to expand FDVA outreach, require adult day health plan and tighten Hall of Fame nominations

FDVA details state veteran services, nursing homes and first adult day health integration planned for Collier County

Florida National Guard briefs Senate committee: heavy domestic tempo, understaffing by population ratio and infrastructure gains