from staff
The 60-day 2011 Legislative session began March 8. Rep. Mia Jones, a Democrat representing House District 14, is a member of the Duval Legislative Delegation. The Daily Record will feature legislators during the session.
What is the biggest issue facing Northeast Florida this session?
The biggest issue facing Northeast Florida and surrounding counties is funding reductions from the state’s budget. Every day, I have the opportunity to hear from citizens in our community in terms of these cuts and how they will impact them personally. In many cases, some programs and services are being eliminated or drastically reduced and many of these programs serve our most vulnerable population. Furthermore, cuts to our education system are another big concern, as our school district strives to provide a quality and wholesome education with significantly less funding than in previous years.
What will your role be in resolving it?
I am honored to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, and I will be vocal in ensuring that our community sustains minimal cuts.
What bill are you sponsoring or supporting that you consider most significant?
I have sponsored several pieces of legislation that I believe are significant and will have a lasting impact. I filed House Bill (HB) 715, an act related to Public School Attendance. This bill provides school districts the opportunity to change the allowable drop-out age requirement from 16 to 18. This legislation was brought to me by our superintendent and school board members to curb the number of students who drop out of school each year.
Do you have support for it?
Yes, we have support for it in the House, and Sen. Stephen Wise is our sponsor in the Senate.
What’s the hottest legislative issue this week?
There are several hot-button issues this week. The House is set to take up and vote out the new Medicaid Reform legislation. In my Appropriations Committee, we will take up HB 1405 dealing with the pension. This legislation would require state employees to pay 5 percent into the retirement system. We will also vote to deregulate more than 20 profes-sions.