07-31-2012, 01:30 PM
Another Hearing Set In Florida Prison Privatization Case
July 31, 2012
A Leon County circuit judge has agreed to hold a hearing next week in the long-running dispute about whether the Florida Department of Corrections will privatize prison health services.
Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll has scheduled an August 8 hearing, according to an online court docket. The Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit in January challenging a legislative move last year to privatize inmate health services.
Carroll early this month declined to rule on the constitutionality of the Legislature’s decision because it was included in budget fine print, known as “proviso” language, which expired at the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
The nurses association and AFSCME, a state employees union, asked Carroll for a rehearing. Subsequently, the DOC said it would go ahead with the privatization, regardless of the expiration of the proviso language. The DOC said it had the authority to contract with two private companies under existing state law.
By The News Service of Florida
July 31, 2012
A Leon County circuit judge has agreed to hold a hearing next week in the long-running dispute about whether the Florida Department of Corrections will privatize prison health services.
Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll has scheduled an August 8 hearing, according to an online court docket. The Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit in January challenging a legislative move last year to privatize inmate health services.
Carroll early this month declined to rule on the constitutionality of the Legislature’s decision because it was included in budget fine print, known as “proviso” language, which expired at the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
The nurses association and AFSCME, a state employees union, asked Carroll for a rehearing. Subsequently, the DOC said it would go ahead with the privatization, regardless of the expiration of the proviso language. The DOC said it had the authority to contract with two private companies under existing state law.
By The News Service of Florida