Bill Heller - First Term in The Florida Legislature

First Term in The Florida Legislature

In his freshman term, he was a member of the Agribusiness, Utilities and Telecommunications, and Post Secondary Education Committees as well as a member of the Schools and Learning Council. He was ranking Democrat on the Post Secondary Education Committee. He sponsored a number of bills.

In June 2006, a Pinellas Park man had claimed to have been thrown out of a bar for not drinking, despite his assertions that he was acting as the designated driver for his group. Sen. Mike Fasano, who claims to be a non drinker, took umbrage with this and introduced in the Senate a bill to illegalize requiring bar patrons to drink. Dr. Heller sponsored the bill in the House. There was an increase in the number of homeless people attacked by bored teenagers in Florida in 2006. In response, the Legislature acted to stiffen prison sentences for those who attack the homeless. Dr. Heller was one of four House sponsors of the bill. State Senator Arthenia Joyner sponsored an identical bill in the Senate.

Dr. Heller and two other Pinellas Democrats, Janet C. Long and Darryl Rouson voted to support the use of school vouchers, which Florida Democrats have historically been opposed to, citing separation issues. Dr. Heller had originally been opposed, but says he was persuaded that it was an issue of quality education after meeting with the parents who were using vouchers to send their children to a private school. He opposed a Bill in 2008 (HB 257) that would require pregnant women have a sonogram before undergoing a first-trimester abortion.