Gov. DeSantis’ budget wish list for ’22 session
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis recently released a $99.7 billion budget proposal for the 2022 legislative session and has touted a series of other priorities. Here are some of the things he’s asking for from the election-year session, which starts Jan. 11:
■ Gas tax cut: DeSantis wants to suspend the state’s 25-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline for five months, starting July 1. The state would use $1 billion in federal stimulus money to make up for the lost money for transportation projects.
■ Florida State Guard: DeSantis has requested $5.4 million to re-establish a 200-member Florida State Guard, which was a defense force set up during World War II to replace Florida National Guard members who were deployed abroad. The governor said it would be used to assist the National Guard during emergencies.
■ Hiring and keeping cops: DeSantis wants to increase pay for officers at the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, provide a second round of $1,000 bonuses for first responders and provide $5,000 bonuses to help recruit law-enforcement officers to Florida.
■ Teacher bonuses: DeSantis wants to use $238 million in federal stimulus money to give a second round of $1,000 bonuses to teachers and principals in an effort to retain educators amid an ongoing teacher shortage.
■ Testing overhaul: DeSantis wants to spend $15.5 million to carry out a plan that would replace the statewide standardized tests known as the Florida Standards Assessments with a progress-monitoring system.
■ Elections enforcement: DeSantis is seeking $5.7 million for a 52-person Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State to investigate and prosecute election-related crimes.
■ Immigration crackdown: DeSantis has requested $8 million to transport undocumented immigrants out of state, while calling on legislators to expand a 2019 law targeting so-called “sanctuary cities” and a 2020 law that requires all government employers and some contractors to use a federal electronic system known as E-Verify to check the immigration status of new worker
■ Cryptocurrency: DeSantis has requested $700,000 for cryptocurrency projects at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Financial Services. Among other things, the money would be used to set up a pilot program that would allow people to pay for car title certificates through Blockchain technology at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.