Nurses association sues to block prison health-care outsourcing

A union representing health-care workers has sued to block the outsourcing of health-care services in Florida's prisons.

The Florida Nurses Association, which represents nurses and other health-care workers in Florida prisons, is making similar arguments to those made in an earlier suit by the Police Benevolent Association — that lawmakers do not have the authority to order privatization in budget proviso language through a process different from the one outlined in statute.

The association is using the same lead attorney, Stephen Turner of Broad and Cassel, who won a lower court ruling on behalf of the PBA that blocked the privatization of South Florida prison operations. That case has since been appealed by the Legislature and has not been resolved.

If the state outsources its prison health care services, about 1,000 employees would be affected, association spokeswoman Jeanie Demshar said. With vendors set to begin taking over operations in April, the union wants the case resolved quickly.

"The faster it happens, the better," she said.

The Department of Corrections restarted the bid process this past week after resolving protests from three potential vendors, and bids were set to be due Monday. They have sinced been pushed back by a week, to Feb. 7.

DOC spokeswoman Ann Howard said the department received the lawsuit Thursday, and was still reviewing it.

Reporter Travis Pillow can be reached at tpillow@thefloridacurrent.com.