Senator Cruz - The Florida Senate

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Contact:

District Office

210A S. MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 348-1017
Senate VOIP: 41800
FAX (888) 263-3681

Legislative Assistants

Jack Anderson and Devin Bleich

Secretary

Zenya Capellan

Tallahassee Office

216 Senate Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5018
Senate VOIP: 5018

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Florida Senate Service

2020-2022
2018-2020

2020-2022

Senator Janet Cruz

Party: Democrat

Committee Assignments

District 18

Maps:

Letter Size (pdf)
Poster Size (pdf)

Report:

2010 Census Demographic Profile (pdf)

Consists of part of Hillsborough county

District 18 map

Bills Introduced

Introduced in 2022

S 60 Relief of the Estate of Molly Parker/Department of Transportation
Last Action: 9/21/2021 Referred to Special Master on Claim Bills; Judiciary; Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Appropriations
S 192 Commissioner of Education
Last Action: 9/21/2021 Referred to Ethics and Elections; Education; Rules
S 550 Unlawful Employment Practices
Last Action: 11/3/2021 Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Judiciary; Rules
S 554 Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans
Last Action: 11/3/2021 Referred to Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
S 556 Medical Marijuana Identification Cards for Service-disabled Veterans
Last Action: 11/3/2021 Referred to Health Policy; Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Appropriations
S 562 Military Occupational Licensure
Last Action: 11/3/2021 Referred to Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Regulated Industries; Appropriations
S 648 COVID-19 Eviction Information
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Banking and Insurance; Community Affairs; Rules
S 650 Transportation Facility Designations/Virginia Creighton Bridge
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Transportation; Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Appropriations
S 652 Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Appropriations
S 654 Protective Injunctions
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Judiciary; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Rules
S 656 Family and Medical Leave Insurance Benefits Fund
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Appropriations
S 658 Persons Authorized to Visit Charter Schools
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules
S 660 Sexual Offense Victim Rights
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Criminal Justice; Rules
S 662 Lewd Adult Battery
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Rules
S 666 State University Student Fee Waivers
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
S 668 Custodial Interrogations of Minors
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Criminal Justice; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Rules
S 670 Emergency Drills in Public Schools
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Rules
S 672 School Safety Funding
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
S 674 Public Meetings During Declared States of Emergency
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Community Affairs; Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Rules
S 676 Drinking Water in Public Schools
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
S 678 Prescription Insulin Drugs
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Banking and Insurance; Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Appropriations
S 680 Public School Transportation
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
S 682 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations
S 684 The Legislature
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Judiciary; Criminal Justice; Rules
S 686 Energy Security and Disaster Resilience Pilot Program
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Regulated Industries; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations
S 688 Employment Practices for Family and Medical Leave
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Appropriations
S 694 Vote-by-mail Ballots
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations
S 698 Standard High School Diploma Award Requirements
Last Action: 11/16/2021 Referred to Education; Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; Appropriations
S 1026 Living Organ Donors in Insurance Policies
Last Action: 11/22/2021 Filed
S 1028 End-stage Renal Disease Facility Emergency Planning
Last Action: 11/22/2021 Filed

Co-Introduced in 2022

S 214 Assault Weapons and Large-capacity Magazines
Last Action: 9/21/2021 Referred to Judiciary; Appropriations; Rules

Personal & Career

Legislative Service

Elected to the Senate in 2018
House of Representatives, February 23, 2010-2018
- Minority Leader, 2016-2018
- Democratic Deputy Whip, 2010-2012

Honors and Awards

Aetna Healthcare, National Financial Account Manager
CIGNA Healthcare for Seniors Group Sales, Regional Director
CIGNA Healthcare Optical Operations, Director
Fourth Generation Tampa/Ybor City Resident
Pearle Vision Center, owner
American Cancer Society, Freshmen Legislator of the Year Award, 2010
Community Health Charities of Florida, House Member of the Year Award, 2010
Italian Club Ladies Auxiliary, Italian American Woman of Excellence, 2010

Affiliations

FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni
Hillsborough Community College Alumni Foundation
NAACP
National Association of Latino Elected Officials
Tampa Latin Chamber of Commerce
West Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Women In Government
Hillsborough County Democratic Hispanic Caucus, past Chair
Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, past board member
United Way Campaign CIGNA Healthcare, past Corporate Chair

Biographical Information

Occupation:	Optician/Healthcare Executive
Spouse:	Dr. Stephen "Steve" Rifkin
Children:	Ana Cruz, Raymond "Nick" Cruz, Stephen Rifkin, Laura McCauley
Grandchildren:	Madison McCauley, Peter McCauley, Teresa McCauley
Education:	Hillsborough Community College, A.A., Opticianry Dispensing, 1977
Born:	in Tampa, Florida
Religious Affiliation:	Catholic
Recreation:	Gourmet cooking, tarpon fishing, watercolor, writing

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