TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV\/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – A House committee unanimously approved extending Florida\u2019s Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund with new restrictions on how the governor\u2019s office can use the money.<\/p>\n
The bill would limit<\/a> the fund\u2019s use to natural emergencies and prevent its use for immigration enforcement, which has been controversial since Gov. Ron DeSantis began using the account for that purpose under a 2023 emergency order.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re here to support him. We\u2019re just putting guardrails in place to ensure accountability and transparency,\u201d said Rep. Griff Griffitts, R-Panama City. \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re asking our people to do at the local level; we ought to do it at the state level.\u201d<\/p>\n Lawmakers created the trust fund in 2022 to set aside money for the state to use in preparing for and responding to disasters that weren\u2019t already budgeted for. The account expires on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The fund has been controversial because the money has been used on the state\u2019s immigration enforcement effort under an emergency order issued in 2023. That order has been extended nearly 20 times since.<\/p>\n The bill approved Monday would prevent that use. The House wants to limit the fund\u2019s use to only natural emergencies, specify what the money can\u2019t be used on, put federal reimbursements in the general fund and add more reporting requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did a special session last year on immigration to appropriate $300 million,\u201d Griffitts said. \u201cIf we have another issue with immigration, which we know is an ongoing issue, the governor can call us back for a special session.\u201d<\/p>\n