FYI Miami: May 18, 2023

Bellow are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

LOTS OF NEW LAWS: The Florida Legislature’s session that ended this month passed more than 300 bills that go to Gov. Ron DeSantis to either sign into law, veto, or allow to pass without his action. A total of 1,679 general bills were filed in the House and Senate, of which 385 passed in the first chamber and 320 passed in both chambers, a 19.1% passage rate, according to a Florida Senate report. In addition, 28 of 42 local bills passed. Two of 14 proposed constitutional amendments passed and go on the ballot for voters. As of last Thursday morning, more than 275 bills, including the record $117 billion budget and a $1.3 billion tax package, had not been formally delivered to the governor for action.

BYRON CARLYLE CONSULTANT: Miami Beach is engaging AMS, a planning and research, performance analytics consulting firm that also consulted for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, to review the letters of interest to redevelop the Byron Carlyle Theater, which has a $30 million budget in Miami Beach’s Arts and Culture general obligation bond, passed last November. “We have the proposals and we’re going to enter the procurement [process],” said Adrian Morales, city facilities director. The arts consultant is to assist the city with the design throughout the duration of the project. The firm will review the 13 responses, including one from the Friends of the Byron Carlyle, a joint group headed by David L. Sexton, president of the Normandy Fountain Business Association, who has envisioned a mixed-use artistic development with 72 workforces housing units, and office space.

YEAR-AROUND SCHOOL PILOTS: An education law signed last week will establish a year-round Florida school pilot program at a limited number of elementary schools. The program will run for four years starting in the 2024-2025 school year. The state education commissioner will pick districts to participate. The plan’s sponsor suggested it could help students recover from learning losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. State law requires school boards to operate public schools for 180 days a year or the hourly equivalent, but schools are able to operate on year-round schedules. The goal of the pilot program is to study benefits of a yearlong school schedule.

SHIELD FOR COACHES: University athletic coaches will be shielded from liability if their actions affect athletes’ ability to earn money, under a revised regulation approved last week by the state university system’s Board of Governors.