Florida’s 2012 legislative session starts Jan. 10. Do you know how your state legislator voted on key issues that affect Floridians 50+?

See Also: Key Vote Summary

AARP Florida is working to educate millions of older Florida voters about how state legislators have voted. For the 2012 legislative Session, AARP’s Florida advocates will be tracking votes on key issues ranging from cracking down on abuse in assisted living facilities to holding down utilities costs.

“Once again, this legislative session will decide issues that will be very important for Floridians 50+,” said AARP Florida’s Jeff Johnson, interim state director. “But it’s not always easy for you to figure out exactly how your legislator voted on issues important to you. To make that research easier, AARP will collect legislators’ votes on key issues affecting older Floridians throughout the state legislative session.”

“When state lawmakers come calling in November, asking for your vote, you’ll have information at hand to decide who you should suppport,” Johnson said.

During the legislative session, AARP will alert legislators that certain proposals will be considered key votes for the purposes of the voting-record project. Because issues sometimes change or are defeated in legislative committees, AARP advocates may track the action in committees and on the floor of each legislative chamber, Johnson said.

Issues that AARP Florida may track include utilities issues, legislation intended to curb elder abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities and proposals to penalize texting while driving.

Updates on legislative voting records may be posted on the AARP FL Blog.

In addition, AARP Florida may share updates with its hundreds of thousands of Florida members who are e-activists.