The bill that would legalize Hatzalah of South Florida to transport patients to the hospital has just passed the Florida State Senate.

As YWN reported, the bill passed the Florida House of Representatives on Friday. This brings Hatzalah just one step away from being able to serve the communities as a full fledged EMS provider.

The Bill now heads to the desk of Florida Governor DeSantis, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

Thank you @senpizzo for your help in passing SB1084! Probably the most significant piece of @hatzalah legislation to pass in state government in years. Looking forward to participating the in signing ceremony with @GovRonDeSantis sometime soon!

— Yehiel M. Kalish (@ymkalish) April 26, 2021

THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT FROM HATZALAH OF SOUTH FLORIDA GIVEN TO YWN:

14 Iyar 5781 / April 26, 2021

We are pleased to announce the passage of SB1084 in the Florida Senate by unanimous vote earlier today. This brings us even closer towards being able to serve our communities as a full fledged EMS provider.

הוא ברוך הקדוש, In His Infinite Kindness, continues to show us open miracles, including today.

We take this opportunity to publicly thank His messengers in the Florida Senate – the bill sponsors and every member – for standing up for what they know to be just and right against tremendous opposition and pressure to vote in favor of this bill. We are proud to call each one of them our friends.

Bill Sponsors

Senator Jason Pizzo
Senator Lauren Book
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez

We especially thank Senator Pizzo for his leadership and courage in accepting to sponsor this bill from the beginning and for his hard work and dedication in seeing it through to final passage.

The Jewish communities of South Florida owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to these hard-working and dedicated public servants. Please take a moment to call their office to show proper הטוב הכרת and thank them for their support.

We take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the Rabbonim, Shluchim, community leaders and organizations that assisted our efforts every step of the way. A special thank you to Rabbi Schneur Oirechman of Chabad of Tallahassee, Russell Galbut, Jacqui Carmona and her amazing team from Rubin, Turnbull & Associates, Raquel Rothman, Lidya Abramovici, Chevra Hatzalah of New York, Agudath Israel of Florida, Safra Synagogue, and every member of the communities we serve and throughout the state for your invaluable assistance and tremendous showing of support and advocating on behalf of this legislation to your elected officials. We could not have done it without you!

Sincerely,
Hatzalah of South Florida

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)