TALHASSEE, Fla. (WLFA) – The end of the session means tensions are especially high on the Senate floor. This week, lawmakers returned to the back of state Sen. Daryl Luson (D-St. Petersburg), after lawmakers deleted the Mental Health Research Center, named after him.
Less than a year later, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee has dived deep into Florida’s mental health system. From that study, Senate Bill 1620 was drafted. The bill passed all Senate committees and all lawmakers were on board.
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“The committee has forwarded 30 recommendations to the chairman, president and governor. In discussions with stakeholders, I took 10 of those recommendations and put them into the form of a bill.
It recently added an amendment to the Senate bill, which was added to the University of South Florida Research Center and named after Senator Luson. However, the house stripped the center, causing tension among the senators.
“I was really moved by how all members in rooms 37-0 have signed up for the revisions with co-sponsors. The establishment of this centre means quite a bit for those who believe in moving forward mental health care with evidence-based and compassion,” says Rouson.
The entire bill would be at risk if the Senate refuses to change the House and returns the original revised bill. Luson urged fellow colleagues to agree, emphasizing that their efforts should not be in vain.
“Unfortunately, the house didn’t see that in our way. For me, it’s more important that the work continues and respect the work of the committee,” Luson said.
Luson is an advocate for addiction recovery, based on his personal experiences.
Senate Republicans and Democrats spoke one by one to support the Research Center and their names.
“This is a very good fix, and I named it after such a great man. It’s a tragedy that no other room passed this,” said State Sen. Blaze Ingoglier (R-Springhill).
“We should turn this around and tell them to straighten their heads,” state Sen. Jay Collins (R-Hillsboro).
“You’re one of my best friends in this body and what you did is absolutely amazing and I’m really pleased to have another speaker after you in a year and a half to help naming the program,” said Sen. Kathleen Pasidomo (R-Naples).
In response to the Senator’s remarks, House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) shared the following statement to your side with the 8:
“I have great respect for Senator Luson. I admire his public service and I am pleased to work with the Senate to pay tribute. But the Senator’s actions name the Center as a way for Senator Luson to emotionally intimidate what he wants. I was fully aware that the Backdoor Budget included additional items in the bill beyond the committee’s recommendations. I made this move in an attempt to promote the Backdoor Project, and did so using the Senator’s legacy.”
The House of Representatives said there appears to be a technical challenge to the Senate bill, and he believes that both rooms will resolve this and respect Senator Luson and his legacy.
“I’m sure Senator Ruthan is an agency, so they can solve something. He has been in Congress for nearly 20 years and looking at his personal journey, how did he overcome substance abuse and become a state senator?
