Senate committee advances Burgess bill to expand FDVA outreach, require adult day health plan and tighten Hall of Fame nominations

SB 116, presented by Sen. Tom Burgess, contains multiple measures aimed at expanding the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs’ outreach and care options for veterans and their families and was reported favorably by the committee on a roll call vote.

“This bill does several important things to improve the lives of Florida's veterans and strengthen the work of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs,” Burgess said as he opened his presentation to the committee, summarizing the bill’s components.

The bill would: reduce the number of annual Florida Veterans Hall of Fame nominations from 20 to 5; expand the FDVA health survey to measure veteran awareness of federal, state and community programs and evaluate veterans’ health literacy; add specialized mental‑health training to the veterans suicide prevention training pilot program; formalize reporting ties between FDVA and Veterans Florida; and require FDVA to develop a plan to establish adult day health care facilities for veterans across the state, including recommendations on locations and anticipated costs.

Burgess said the adult day health care component grew from the department’s prior Forward March initiative and a post‑COVID effort to identify gaps in service. “Benefits are only as good as those to those individuals that actually know they exist,” Burgess told the committee.

Bob Vostalos (listed in transcript as Bob Estales), deputy executive director at FDVA, told the committee the agency already has possible sites and statutory authority to expand adult day health care but will need state funding to build and operate such centers. He identified Port St. Lucie and the Lake City domiciliary as promising locations.

Supporters at the hearing included Dan Hendrickson of the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative and Jorge Morales Lopez of Endeavors, both of whom praised the bill’s focus on outreach, specialty courts and adult day health care. Morales described Endeavors’ work with homeless and mentally vulnerable veterans and said his organization supports the bill’s provisions.

Committee members did not offer substantive debate; Burgess closed by thanking former FDVA staff and urging committee support.

Votes at the committee SB 116 was reported favorably. Recorded roll call votes in committee: Senator Burgess — yes; Senator Sharif — yes; Senator Trudeau — yes; Vice Chair Collins — yes; Chair Wright — yes. By the clerk’s declaration, the bill was reported favorably.

Why it matters The measure combines programmatic changes (surveys, literacy evaluation, expanded training) with a planning requirement for new adult day health care sites intended to expand options beyond nursing home placement. If enacted, the study requirement would produce a report to the Legislature with suggested locations and cost estimates; any construction or operating funding would require future appropriations.