Concerned Friends of Fernandina        

                 Concerned Friends of Fernandina is a grassroots citizens group formed to inform and involve  residents wanting to

                 preserve the small town  identity of Fernandina Beach and its natural beauty.

Home
Up                   

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Back  to Top

Archives for State Government:

• 08 May 08

  2008 Legislative Wrap Up

   

Once again, 1000 Friends of Florida played an active role during the legislative session. Thank you for your calls and emails to key legislators. Your support made a difference in helping to secure the passage of positive legislation to fund and continue Florida Forever, and halt damaging provisions, such as those included in bills related to aggregate mining. However, much remains to be done in 2009 to address growth management and other key issues. Here is a brief overview of what did and did not pass: Neither the House (HB 7201) nor Senate (SB 474) growth management legislation passed. The Senate was close to passing legislation supported by 1000 Friends of Florida. But on second reading, several controversial amendments appeared and, in keeping them off the Senate bill, SB 474 ultimately never made it to the third and final reading. "Lost" items included additional neighborhood meetings for map amendments, the five-day "cooling off period" for changes to amendments before hearings, the supermajority vote requirement for plan amendments, the limitation on plan amendments to one cycle per year, elimination of many exemptions to the twice per year plan amendment cycles, prohibition of LPAs in communities of 10,000 or more from being the same as the elected body, improvements to the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) definition, strengthened requirements for the optional development allowance within CHHAs, and the optional rural sub-element. Some pieces of the House growth management legislation were offloaded onto SB 682 as you will see below. In addition, below are summaries of several bills that were of interest, many of which did not pass. Thanks to DCA and the SFWMD for sharing their information summaries with us. The "big" legislation that did pass was the 10 year, $3 billion successor to the Florida Forever program, $50 million for Everglades restoration, and the energy bill. Legislation That Passed Developments of Regional Impact (SB 1706) - This bill by Senator Margolis had several DRI waivers that included an addition/clarification of DRI extension for all related local government approvals including, but not limited to, agreements, certificates, and permits. The extension also includes any development order that was adopted between January 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007. Also included are DRI exemptions for any development within a county having a population greater than 1.25 million which is proposed for at least two uses, one of which is for use as an office or laboratory appropriate for the research and development of medical technology, biotechnology, or life science applications, is exempt from this section if: 1. The land is located in a designated urban infill area or within 5 miles of a state-supported biotechnical research facility or if a local government having jurisdiction recognizes, by resolution, that the land is located in a compact, high-intensity, and high-density multiuse area that is appropriate for intensive growth. 2. The land is located within three-fourths of 1 mile from one or more bus or light rail transit stops. 3. The development is registered with the United States Green Building Council and there is intent to apply for certification of each building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating program, or the development is registered by an alternate green building rating system that a local government having jurisdiction finds appropriate, by resolution. Transportation (SB 682) - On the last day of the session, language added by Rep. Cannon to this bill deals with the compatibility of lands adjacent to airports which requires an update of appropriate local future land use maps by June 20, 2011. A DRI exemption was added for "port related activities" within 3 miles of a port. DCA and the affected local government have to determine if the development is "port related". A further clarification on backlog language from last year was added further confirming that new development is not responsible for fixing backlogged facilities. Finally, FDOT was directed to develop a methodology by March 2009, that shows how DRIs can achieve a greater than 30 percent internal trip capture. This same legislation, among other things, authorizes the use of hybrid vehicles, regardless of the number of passengers, in HOV lanes. Energy (HB 7135) - This legislation was a priority for the Governor. Among other provisions, it implements the Governor's executive orders from last year related to reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions and the development of a regulatory rule to cap electric utility greenhouse gas emissions. There is also a requirement included for gasoline sold in Florida to contain ten percent ethanol by 2011. The Senate companion, SB 1544, contained a good amendment from Senator Constantine that called for all local and state government plans to address green house gas emission and VMT reductions. Unfortunately this provision dropped out when the House took up the Senate bill. Florida Forever (SB 542) -- The Florida Forever program will continue for another ten years with the passage of legislation this Session. The legislation moves the program forward and, in addition to establishing a funding mechanism for working waterfronts and a number of other provisions, the legislation also redirects 5 percent of the 35 percent that water managements receive in funding to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) and Florida Communities Trust (FCT). Three-and-one-half percent is directed to DACS (about $15 million) for rural and family easements, and one- and-one-half percent is directed to FCT for working waterfronts. Legislation That Did Not Pass Aggregate Mining (SB 774/SB 2406) -- Two bills related to aggregate mining died in the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee. The concern with regard to these bills was the preemption of local government authority. These bills would have prohibited local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, policies or other actions that would prohibit limestone mining in certain lands that are zoned for mining. The legislation would have required a super-majority vote of the local government to deny any application for construction aggregate materials mining site approval if the applicant has received the appropriate approvals from the pertinent state agencies. There were also numerous provisions included from the Strategic Aggregates Review Task Force, including the establishment of the Strategic Aggregate Resource Assessment (SARA) which would have addressed the demand, location and relevant regulatory framework for construction aggregate materials, and the necessary infrastructure aspects for such materials. There was an amendment to extend the life of the Strategic Aggregates Task Force to June 2009. This amendment was adopted onto Senate Bill 682, a transportation bill that did pass. Desalination Technology (SB 708/HB 199) -- The bill would have required a study to examine all current and available desalination technologies, recognizing the need for alternative water supplies and long-term water sustainability and that desalination is one of those alternatives. DEP, in coordination with the water management districts, would have been required to issue a report on the current state of desalination and recommendations for a plan to implement desalination technology. The House version of the bill incorporated two amendments, the first that authorized the District to issue up to 50-year water use permits for certain alternative water supply projects that involve partnerships with private landowners. The other amendment addressed Florida-Friendly Landscaping, removed the word "Xeriscape" from the statute and replaced it with "Florida-Friendly Landscaping." The amendment further recognized that the use of Florida-Friendly landscaping and other measures that conserve Florida's water resources serves a compelling public interest and that the participation of homeowners' associations and local governments is essential to state water conservation efforts. The House bill passed unanimously but died in Senate messages. The original version of the bill (without the added amendments) was amended onto the water management district sunset bill (HB 7143) on the last day of session but that bill also did not pass (see below). Expedited Permitting (SB 402/HB 147) - This would have required the Department of Environmental Protection and the water management districts to adopt programs to expedite the processing of wetland resource and environmental resource permits for certain economic development projects, died in Senate messages after being passed by the House. The legislation would have required approval or denial within 45 days after receipt of the original application, the last submittal of requested information or at the written request of the permit applicant. The District would have preferred that the legislation require approval or denial within a certain timeframe after receipt of a "completed" application and will work with the sponsors during the interim on that end. Senator Fasano filed an amendment to the growth management package to include the expedited permitting bill, but withdrew the amendment before it was debated. The growth management bill also did not pass. "Florida Friendly" Fertilizer Ordinance (HB 1267/SB 2352) -- This legislation attempted to implement some of the recommendations of the Consumer Fertilizer Task Force, and directed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt the "Florida Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes" Model Ordinance 2 by October 1, 2008. Local governments that have adopted and implemented the model ordinance and could demonstrate that the model ordinance is not sufficiently protective may adopt additional or more stringent provisions to the model ordinance. The legislation exempted from the adoption requirement for the model ordinance a county or municipal government that adopts its own fertilizer use ordinance prior to July 1, 2008. The House bill died in the Policy and Budget Council and the Senate bill died in Community Affairs. Rural Land Stewardship (SB 2602/HB 7151) -- The Rural Land Stewardship legislation added land used for water storage, alternative water supply or water quality enhancement to the list of lands that receive the highest number of transferable rural land use credits. It would have increased incentives available for owners who establish alternative water resource development projects within rural land stewardship areas and give priority funding under the Water Protection and Sustainability Program. It would also have provided a preference for a water use permit under s. 373.233, F.S. The Senate bill died in the Committee on Community Affairs and the House bill was heard in a workshop setting but not formally in committee. On a side note, the Department of Community Affairs is currently in rulemaking on the Rural Land Stewardship Program and will hopefully complete that rulemaking in the near future. Springs Protection Act & Task Force (HB 31/SB 2394 - SB 2078) -- The Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force would have created a task force to collect and inventory all existing data and to identify zones of influence for each of Florida's first magnitude springs. It would also required the identification and listing of best management practices (BMPs) for land uses in the ones of influence and identify existing and potential sources of funding for implementing the BMPs. This bill died in the Policy & Budget Council. The "Florida Springs Protection Act" would have created a pilot program for the delineation of the springsheds for Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs in Marion County. As part of the pilot program, the Department of Environmental Protection would adopt spring protection zones and propose total maximum daily loads and basin management action plans for the delineated springsheds. This bill incorporated language in two other springs bills related to the creation of a task force. Both Senate bills died in General Government Appropriations. Stormwater/Homeowners Associations (SB 2284/HB 1153) -- Legislation requiring that prior to the dedication of stormwater management systems to homeowners' associations, the water management district or the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shall inspect such systems to ensure compliance with all applicable laws died in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The bill had been amended to address concerns about impacts to water management districts and DEP associated with completing and maintaining stormwater systems that are abandoned by a homeowner's association that has dissolved or is no longer in operation. The amendment put the burden for the stormwater management system on the applicant and gave the permittee a clear path of responsibility. It also provided for financial responsibility to ensure that a stormwater management system is complete and is in compliance prior to transferring it to another entity. Water Management District Sunset (SB 1296/HB 7143) -- The Water Management District Sunset legislation came up on the final day of the Session and a strike-all amendment was added to replace the original bill. Earlier versions of the legislation included language that re-enacted the water management districts, deleted the Oklawaha River Basin Advisory Council, and changed the licensure requirements for water well contractors. The legislation would also have required water management districts to include "appropriate substantive committee" chairs in the distribution list for tentative budget submission and provided that governing board, basin board, committees or advisory boards may conduct meetings by means of communication media technology. The bills also would have authorized the Legislature to annually review the millage rate for each district and annually set the maximum amount of revenue authorized to be raised by each district and changed the water management districts' fiscal year to July 1 through June 30 to match the state fiscal year. The House bill included a provision to nominate members of the water management district Governing Boards with the Governor selecting from the list of nominees and the Senate still confirming the members. A strike-all amendment was adopted in the House that deleted all of the above-referenced subjects with the exception of the water well licensure requirements. The amendment added the desalination technology language (the substance of HB 199) and the District was successful in also including the WRAP language (SB2580) onto the amendment. The bill passed the House unanimously but unfortunately was not heard in the Senate before adjournment. Legislation last year extended the sunset date to 2009 so the Legislature will have another opportunity to look at this next year. West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP) (SB 2580/HB 1415) --The District's West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan was not only a budget initiative but legislation designed to enhance the visibility and long-term viability of the program by incorporating the program into statute. The bill provided intent language that recognized the resource concerns in the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) and outlined the components of the plan that will assist in meeting the goals of the SWUCA Recovery Strategy. The legislation also required the District to annually report on the progress of the program. The Senate passed the WRAP unanimously and made it on the calendar in the House, however the bill was not heard before Session adjourned. As mentioned above, WRAP language was added to the water management district sunset bill which did pass the House but not the Senate before adjournment. The bill sponsors, Representative Mike Grant and Senator J.D. Alexander were very supportive and worked the bill hard during the last days, and we are hopeful they will file the bill again next year. For more information on 1000 Friends of Florida, please visit www.1000friendsofflorida.org.

• 07 May 07 Your Legislature at work.........you win some, you lose some

        
                                                                    
Crist agenda takes a hit               
Smiles aside, several of the governor's opening initiatives were ignored or slashed. 

TALLAHASSEE - Ever the optimist, Gov. Charlie Crist never misses a chance to praise legislators for "incredible" work.

He did it when they passed an "antimurder" bill, a new teacher bonus program and paper trails in elections. Even when they stumbled over property taxes, Crist gave them an A for effort.  But in the session that ended Friday, legislators didn't always return the compliments.

Despite Crist's 77 percent approval rating and an uncommon goodwill throughout the Capitol, lawmakers rejected or watered down several Crist initiatives and reduced or rejected money for others. 

To be sure, Crist got much of what he requested, including an insurance rate freeze extension, a 6.5 percent school spending hike, restoration projects for rivers, the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee and more money to lure businesses to Florida.

But Crist's sunny optimism can't hide the fact that several of his priorities were rejected by his fellow Republicans.

They included a stockpile of antiviral flu drugs, stem cell research grants, mandatory civics education in public schools and
across-the-board pay raises for state employees.

When Crist demanded action, such as cracking down on probation violators or requiring paper trails, he often got results. When he took a low-key, deferential approach, lawmakers sometimes reacted with
indifference. But Crist doesn't mind.

"I respect their right to do it. If I got offended by everybody not doing exactly what I want to do, I wouldn't be a very fun guy," Crist said. "I'm not the king. I'm just the governor."

Crist counts as a major victory the mandate for paper-trail voting equipment to replace touch screens. But lawmakers refused to ante up the money, so federal funds will be used.

"He had a rough session, " said Rep. Jack Seiler, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat and a Crist admirer. "But I don't think that was his fault."

Seiler said parts of Crist's centrist agenda faced resistance from conservative Republicans or from House staffers who had strong ideological ties with former Gov. Jeb Bush.

One such example is Crist's request for $20-million for medical research using adult stem cells, or other stem cells that wouldn't require destroying a human embryo.

Although Crist's call for the funding was hailed across the ideological spectrum as a sensible way to move forward on stem cell research, the House stripped out any money for such projects.

No governor ever gets everything he seeks. But Crist's predecessor, Jeb Bush, practically wrote the script in his first legislative
session in 1999, easily winning $1-billion in tax cuts, a grading system for public schools and the nation's first statewide school voucher program.

The times were different. Bush had just wrested control of the Governor's Mansion after eight years of Democratic rule and he enjoyed delving into the deepest details of policy. As the years went by,  Republicans chafed at what they felt was Bush's heavy-handed style in  dealing with the Legislature.

Crist is well-liked by lawmakers, but after the Bush years they seem eager to reassert their independence from the executive branch.

"The Legislature was beaten up by Jeb Bush in a lot of ways, " said lobbyist Ron Book. "But Charlie Crist will get plenty of what he wants and he'll get what he needs."

Lawmakers blamed the trimming of Crist's budget priorities on tight fiscal times caused by a slide in tax collections, not any
philosophical disagreements.

"When you have a billion dollars less after the governor puts his budget out, that has an effect on a lot of initiatives," said Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie.

Lawmakers still found hundreds of millions of dollars for projects in their hometowns, largely one-time expenditures for parks, water systems, courthouse renovations and anticrime programs. They paid for them using one-time money, which is largely not allowed for continuing programs. They also socked away more than $1-billion in the state's rainy day fund.

An unusual set of political dynamics resulted in Democrats praising Crist's priorities, and criticizing Crist's fellow Republicans for falling short, as in the case of providing bonuses for state workers but no raises.

"If he Crist could factor it into his budget, we could have factored it into ours, instead of giving state employees what's left over," said Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee, who represents tens of
thousands of state workers.

A few of Crist's forceful policy pronouncements became faint echoes as the 2007 session drew to a close Friday.

For example, in his inaugural address on Jan. 2, Crist listed as a priority "quality, affordable, accessible health care" for all
Floridians. A bill that would have expanded access to KidCare, a federally subsidized health insurance program for children, failed when the Senate refused to consider it in the session's final days.

Health care advocates said Crist could have used his bully pulpit to get the bill passed. On May 1, he sent a one-sentence letter to Pruitt that said: "I respectively request your assistance in placing the following bill on the Senate Calendar for consideration."

The Senate did nothing.

What others call lobbying, Crist calls "encouragement," which raises a question: Is Crist so polite that lawmakers aren't afraid to say no to him, and should he be more forceful?

"I don't think the word 'forceful' could be used for Charlie Crist," Pruitt said. "He's genuinely the nicest guy I've ever met."

The governor acknowledged that his manner of dealing with lawmakers was more deferential than Bush. Crist said his legislative lobbyists and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, a former House member, worked feverishly behind the scenes to advance his agenda, largely with successful results.

"There's a different style, no question about it," Crist said. "And I think, I hope, that we have communicated effectively on the things that are important on behalf of the people."


WHAT THE GOVERNOR GOT

The "antimurder" bill: It automatically puts probation violators in jail.  Citizens Property Insurance: Premium rate freeze is extended until 2009 and homeowners can switch to Citizens for lower rates more easily.

Paper-trail voting: Will now be statewide as 15 counties using touch screen systems get new machines (paid for by the feds because the Legislature wouldn't.

Teacher bonuses: Bonuses for top performance, but not tied to student test scores (with about half the money Crist wanted in the program).


WHAT HE DIDN'T GET


Stem cell research: Crist requested $20-million. Legislature appropriated nothing.

Antiviral flu drugs: Crist requested $37-million. Legislature appropriated nothing.

Civics education: Crist requested $8-million. Legislature appropriated nothing.

Reading coaches: Crist requested $26-million for 400 more coaches.  Legislature spent $5-million for 80 coaches.

Tax break: Crist requested a 0.25 percent cut in the tax on cable TV and cell phones. Legislature did not pass it.

State employees: Crist requested a 2.44 percent across-the-board pay increase. Legislature approved $1,000 one-time bonuses.

Property tax reform: Crist demanded "significant and immediate" tax relief. The Legislature failed to reach agreement and called a special session for next month.

 STEVE BOUSQUET, St. Petersburg Times 

Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.

More complete list:
2007 Legislative session: Passed and failed

By the St Petersburg Times staff
Published May 6, 2007

Each year, the St. Petersburg Times compiles a list of notable bills
considered during the Florida legislative session and which ones
passed or failed. Those that passed will go to the governor to be
signed into law, vetoed, or allowed to become law without his
signature. Many of those that failed will be back next year.

PASSED BILLS

Budget, taxes

State budget: A $71.9-billion budget, supported in part by an
additional $545-million in local property taxes paid by homeowners and
business owners.

Tax breaks: Exempts hurricane preparedness items such as flashlights
and weather radios from sales tax, June 1-12. Exempts back-to-school
supplies from sales tax, Aug. 4-13.
State investments: Requires state retirement funds to divest from
companies doing business in Sudan's or Iran's energy sector.

Education

Differential tuition: Allows University of Florida, Florida State
University and University of South Florida to charge incoming
undergrads up to 40 percent more than the base tuition of the 11
public universities.

Physical education: Requires 30 minutes of physical education each day
in Grades K-5.

Steroids: Creates a one-year pilot program to randomly test high
school athletes in football, baseball and wrestling for anabolic
steroids.

Teacher pay: Replaces controversial STAR plan with a $147.5-million
merit pay plan for instructors and administrators, based on student
performance and teacher evaluations.

The family

Adoption: Creates Office of Adoption and Child Protection to promote
adoption and prevent child abuse; increases subsidies for families
adopting foster children.

Children's Cabinet: Creates a 15-member cabinet to coordinate programs
and funding for children's services.

Claims

Boot camp death: Pays $4.8-million to the family of Martin Lee
Anderson, the 14-year-old who died after a rough encounter with guards
at Bay County boot camp in 2006.

Surgical negligence: Pays Minouche Noel, 19, and her family
$8.5-million for botched back surgery when she was an infant.

Crime and punishment

Antimurder: Requires immediate incarceration and hearings for
probation violators and stiffer penalties for violations for certain
felons.

Juvenile sex offenders: Protects teens involved in consensual
relationship cases from new federal requirements that juvenile sex
offenders register on databases. The offender could not be more than
four years older than the sexual partner. The partner would have to be
at least 14 years old.

Online crimes: Requires sex offenders to register home and e-mail
addresses and increases penalties for cyber-crimes against children.

Sex offenders: Driver's licenses and ID cards issued to sexual
offenders and predators will bear markings to show their criminal
history as part of the Jessica Lunsford Act. Clarifies fingerprinting
and background check requirements for school contractors.

Sex offense victims: Requires a victim advocate be present at the
request of a victim, and prohibits law enforcement from requiring the
victim to take a polygraph test. Requires that accused sex offenders
take an HIV test within 48 hours of a court order requested by the
victim or victim's family.

Gambling

Instant bingo: Allows veterans groups and charities that hold bingo
games to also sell lottery-like instant bingo tickets.

More slots: Expands hours of operation and number of slot machines at
parimutuel facilities in Broward County, the only place where they are
allowed in Florida outside American Indian reservations.

Elections and politics

Paper trail: Requires verifiable paper trail in elections.

Presidential primary: Moves Florida's next primary to Jan. 29, 2008.

Resign-to-run: Allows officeholders to run for any federal office
without leaving current job.

Signature revocation: Voters who sign ballot initiative petitions have
150 days to revoke signatures.

Petitions: Allows businesses to prohibit citizen petition drives on
their property.

Insurance

Citizens Property Insurance Corp.: Freezes the state-run insurer's
rates until 2009 and lowers the entry threshold so more homeowners can
move to Citizens for lower premiums.

Hurricane shutters: Homes insured at a value of $750, 000 located in
wind debris zones, including all of Pinellas County, must get shutters
or impact-resistant windows to have a Citizens policy or to pull a
building permit for $50,000 worth of work next year.

Insurance glitches: Weakens 90-day pay requirement in current law,
allowing insurers to pay only a "portion" of a claim and removes
consumers' ability to sue if they don't get paid. Limits consumer
advocate insurance report cards to residential property insurers,
excluding condo and commercial policies.

DUI auto insurance: Requires those who plead guilty or no contest to
driving under the influence to carry bodily injury auto insurance
coverage.

Consumers

Cable TV: Creates statewide franchising of cable TV and makes it
easier for phone firms to compete with cable. Allows cable companies
to break local contracts and apply through state.

Lifeline enrollment: Allows easier enrollments of low-income customers
in the telephone bill discount program.

Gift certificates: Eliminates expiration dates and dormancy fees for
some gift cards sold in Florida .

Rental agreements: Increases fees to renters who break their leases.

Environment, growth

Energy: Creates Energy Policy Task Force, increases sales tax
exemptions for ethanol fuel and biodiesel distribution, establishes
incentives for selling biofuel, requires state buildings to meet
certain energy-efficient standards.

Growth management: Allows larger counties and cities to participate in
pilot program that allows expedited, limited state review of land use
changes.

Pets: Allow state wildlife officials to require people with non-native
reptiles, such as pythons, to pay up to $100 for a license.

Transportation

Designated driver: Prohibits bars from requiring people to buy drinks
if they are designated drivers.

Private toll roads: Allows private companies to lease Florida's toll
roads and increase tolls with inflation.

Specialty tags: Creates license plates including "Support Our Troops,
 "Trees Are Cool, " "Protect Florida Springs" and "NASCAR."
Eliminates Girl Scouts license plate.

Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority: Creates 16-member board
to plan and build a network of toll roads, rail lines and express
buses across seven counties.

Health and safety

Pet burials: Allows "internment or entombment" of human remains with
the urn of a cremated animal as long as the human and animal remains
are not mixed together.

Suicide prevention: Creates state suicide prevention office.

Tobacco prevention: Implements 2006 voter-approved tobacco prevention
ad campaign.

FAILED BILLS

Crime and punishment

Wrongful incarceration: Would have paid Alan Crotzer, formerly of St.
Petersburg, $50, 000 for each of the 24 years he spent in prison on a
wrongful conviction.

Civil rights pardons: Would have created "Rosa Parks Act" to pardon
people with convictions tied to civil rights protests.

Death penalty: Would have followed the Florida Supreme Court's advice
to undo the privatization of death row appeals in northern Florida.

Education

Elected educator: Would have re-established the commissioner of
education as an elected Cabinet position.

Vouchers: Would have created a separate trust fund to collect
corporate tax credits to support private school vouchers, to get
around a state Supreme Court decision against using generals funds.

Jeb Bush honors: Would have named the University of Florida's college
of education after the former governor.

School year: Would have allowed school boards to start fall classes
more than two weeks before Labor Day.

School athletics: Would have created a governing organization for high
school athletics among private schools, which are run along with
public schools by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Consumer

Telemarketing: Would have banned political groups from making
automated calls to consumers on federal or state do-not-call lists.

Consumer Advocate: Would have strengthened powers of the consumer
advocate under the chief financial officer.

Elections and politics

Sworn testimony: Would have required lobbyists, lawmakers and
legislative staffers speaking before legislators to take an oath,
subjecting them to felony perjury charges if caught lying.

Voting: Would have given voters an "I choose not to vote" option on
ballots for individual races.

Blind trusts: Would have required governor, lieutenant governor and
Cabinet officers to place assets in a blind trust to avoid conflicts
of interest.

Immigration

Immigration: Would have penalized businesses that knowingly hired
illegal immigrants.

Sports, entertainment

Adult entertainment: Would have made it a third-degree felony if the
owner or operator of an adult business knew or should have known the
site was used for prostitution.

Lightning: Would have provided Tampa Bay Lightning and other pro
sports teams either $2-million a year in sales tax rebates or a
one-time payment of $32-million for stadium improvements.

Insurance

No-fault insurance: Would have extended or rewritten the law requiring
motorists to carry a minimum $10, 000 policy to cover injury no matter
who is at fault.

Cell phone insurance: Would have allowed cell phone companies to embed
insurance in sales contracts.

Health insurance: Would have made it easier to enroll children in
KidCare, the state's subsidized insurance program.

Transportation

Text messages: Would have prohibited use of cell phones and text
messaging while driving.

Traffic cameras: Would have allowed cities and counties to install
cameras at intersections to record traffic violations.

Health

Cervical vaccine: Would have added a vaccine that prevents cervical
cancer to the list of immunizations for girls in public and private
middle schools, with an option for students to decline.

Pregnant minors: Would have required health care workers to notify law
enforcement and collect DNA evidence when they believe a minor is
pregnant and/or seeking abortion.

Abortion notice: Would have limited the discretion of judges
considering whether to allow a young woman to get an abortion without
notifying her parents. Also would have required a 24-hour waiting
period before a woman could get an abortion after first having an
ultrasound.

Stem cell: Would have given $20-million in adult stem cell research grants.

Guns at work

Guns at work: Would have allowed employees to keep firearms in the
cars they park at workplaces.

                                                                ______________**_______________
 

• 02 Apr 07 Your help is needed:

April 2 Legislative Update With Senate on Easter break we anticipated a slow week. We were wrong. We need your help with a number of damaging bills that are moving forward in the House: ACTION NEEDED! Growth Management-- The House will meet this week, and one item in particular is likely to very controversial if it surfaces as expected Wednesday or Thursday. We continue to hear that the Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council will release a substantive growth management bill which has not been seen by any committee or interest group. Conservation, citizen, local government, and development interests as well as DCA Secretary Tom Pelham share these concerns about the proposed bill. One common thread heard from many sources is that the bill will contain a provision that eliminates DCA from the plan amendment review process, possibly in favor of regional planning councils. To say the least, regional planning councils are currently not equipped legally, financially, or administratively to deal with such a program although there is speculation that an increase in the RPC base budget (in the House) may be meant to convene a study group to look into this concept. While no party is objecting to studying means of improving the growth management process, picking one idea in isolation is dangerous. Please contact Chairman Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) immediately -- let him know that this is not the way to do growth management legislation. Please also contact other members of this committee who have been helpful on growth management issues in the past, especially Representatives Susan Bucher (D-West Palm Beach), Mike Davis (R-Naples), Keith Fitzgerald (R-Sarasota), and Richard Glorioso (R-Plant City). Click here to link to a list of the full Council. ACTION NEEDED! Wetlands Protection -- A very bad amendment was attached to the Environmental Permitting Bill HB 957 (Williams) last week by Representative Will Kendrick at the behest of development interests. It eliminates ALL local government wetlands protection programs unless a local government has been delegated the state's ERP program by DEP. This is a direct attack on local programs that have set higher standards than DEP and hardly represents the "duplication" that was voiced last week. Fortunately, there is no exact Senate companion although there are several wetland bills where this could appear. A Senate version, SB 2082 (Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton), has yet to get a hearing but could become a vehicle for this bad amendment. See the articles in the St. Petersburg Times and Tallahassee Democrat for more details. Let your Senator(s) know that you do not want a similar amendment on any Senate bills that would attack the ability of local governments to have stricter wetlands protection programs. ACTION NEEDED! Rodman Dam -- The bill designed to maintain Rodman Dam, HB 427 (Pickens), passed its last committee stop and is now before the House Environment & Natural Resources Council. We have consistently argued against efforts to delay restoration of the Ocklawaha River, and this represents yet another attempt. Governor Crist has already advocated for the restoration of this river. Please help Gov. Crist by contacting the members of the House Environment and Natual Resources Council and letting them know that HB 427 needs to be stopped. The Senate companion, SB 1930 (Oelrich), has two more committee stops and has not moved since early March. Just in case SB 1930 starts to move in the Senate, please contact the Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee this week with the same message - stop this bill. ACTION NEEDED! Coastal Armoring -- The House Environment & Natural Resources Council, chaired by Rep. Mayfield, will hear a bill this week, PCB ENRC 07-13, that allows textile sand tubes to be placed on public beaches to the detriment of turtle nesting areas and vacant beachfront areas. This problematic bill would classify a single Alabama company's textile fabric, giant sand bag tubes as a type of dune stabilization regardless of the negative impacts to our beaches. Several conservation groups and state agencies continue to oppose this approach. The Senate companion bill, filed by Atwater, has been pulled. Contact the House Environment and Natual Resources Council this week to oppose futile efforts to armor our beaches at the expense of sea turtle habitat and nesting areas. UPDATE. Affordable Housing Cap -- Representative Ron Saunders introduced an amendment Friday on the House Budget that would have lifted the cap on Sadowski funding. The amendment was withdrawn, however, based on the commitment of Chairman Ray Sansom that workshops would be held on the impact of lifting the cap. No dates have been set for the workshop but we will make you aware of those as soon as they are scheduled. Tofind out about other proposed legislation, please visit www.1000friendsofflorida.org.

• 19 Mar 07 Property tax relief

• 06 Mar 07  2007 Legislative Session

                                                                     ____________**____________

• 08 May 06  Florida Legislature 2006 Session Wrap up

Presented by 1000 Friends of Florida

Once again, 1000 Friends was an active player in helping to shape legislation relating to growth management. Ultimately, there were both positive and negative outcomes to the 2006 session. More detailed information will be posted on our website in the next few days but, in the meantime, here are some of the highlights.

Positive Outcomes:

1000 Friends played a key role in passage of the Environmental Resource Permitting legislation (HB 7163), which extends this wetland and stormwater permitting program to the Panhandle. While the less favorable House version of the bill ultimately passed, potentially damaging provisions were removed that would have prevented local governments across Florida from adopting more stringent wetland protection provisions than allowed under the ERP program.

The legislature approved the $310 million necessary for the acquisition of 74,000 acres of Babcock Ranch (HB 1347). Fortunately, last minute efforts failed which would have allowed cypress harvesting on these conservation lands. This is the largest conservation land acquisition in Florida history.

Disaster was avoided with the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern legislation (HB 1299).. The initial version called for removal of the designation as of October 1, 2007 unless the Governor and Cabinet found that substantial progress had not been achieved in meeting the required work program. However, 1000 Friends and others supported two important amendments which require two more years of state oversight before dedesignation, and which make the process to legally challenge the dedesignation more favorable to citizens and conservation groups.

1000 Friends also played a leading role in defeating the controversial Charter Amendment legislation (HB 949, SB 1608). This would have undermined the ability of municipalities in charter counties to enact land use provisions to promote better growth management or environmental protection.

While 1000 Friends initially supported several "housekeeping" Glitch Bills, in the end we were pleased that this legislation failed. Damaging language was included that would weaken water and school concurrency provisions and weaken the ability of citizens to participate in the growth management process.

Positive and Negative Outcomes:

Affordable Housing ended up in both the positive and the negative categories. On the positive side, HB 1363, the omnibus housing bill sponsored by Representative Davis contains numerous housing initiatives, including a pilot program for "essential services personnel," such as police and teachers, as well as important statutory changes to ensure the development of apartments for the working poor. On the negative side, the House and Senate agreed to allocate $433 million from the state and local housing trust funds, leaving a balance of $507 million unappropriated. 1000 Friends of Florida and the rest of the Sadowski Act Coalition had expected the housing trust funds to be fully appropriated for housing in this time of housing crisis and available funding.

Negative Outcomes:

Despite the efforts of 1000 Friends and others, the controversial Agricultural Enclave (HB 1015) bill passed. This legislation supercedes the urban sprawl provisions of Rule 9J-5, preempts local government decision-making authority, could result in the premature conversion of agricultural lands for speculative development, and promotes urban sprawl. Despite compromise language that decreases the size of parcels that can be converted from agricultural to urban uses, 1000 Friends remains concerned that this bill represents yet another instance of waiving Florida's growth management legislation on a piecemeal basis.

1000 Friends remains extremely concerned about damaging provisions in legislation related to Hazard Mitigation for Coastal Redevelopment (HB 1359). The scope of this bill was expanded to modify requirements that limit density increases in coastal areas. Instead, local governments may approve increased densities if the development can meet either a hurricane evacuation time of 15 hours, or undefined mitigation standards for sheltering and transportation. This legislation may prove to make coastal development easier in the relatively undeveloped Panhandle, but more challenging in other parts of the state.

Other Legislation:

Thanks to the leadership of Representative Traviesa (R-Brandon) and Senator Bennett (R-Bradenton), 1000 Friends of Florida and other stakeholders were allowed to provide substantial input into legislation related to Developments of Regional Impact (HB 683). It was a give and take process. 1000 Friends was successful in inserting language requiring the inclusion of workforce housing in DRIs, and with others succeeded in removing provisions that would have exempted major attractions from the DRI process and promoted "new towns" in rural areas. Unfortunately, marinas were eliminated from the DRI process, replaced by a provision that the local comprehensive plan should include policies related to siting of marinas. The final bill also requires that Florida's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPAGGA) assess the impacts of this change, and provides for an alternative permitting process for dry storage for marinas.

The Interlocal Services Boundary Agreement Act (SB 1194) passed, which provides a process for cities and counties to address service delivery arrangements and annexations. 1000 Friends had worked with the sponsors to remove some problematic provisions. The bill was amended to include the Florida Impact Fee Act, which includes the consensus recommendations of the Impact Fee Commission. It includes procedures and minimum standards on enacting impact fees.

A watered-down version of legislation related to the siting of Power Substations (SB 980) passed. Originally, it would have allowed power substations to be situated in any land use. With others, we succeeded in gaining an exemption for conservation and preservation lands. The bill defines default setback and other standards that automatically apply if the local government has not adopted substation siting standards. The bill requires electric utilities to consult with local government on site selection before they submit a substation application.

Legislation related to Water and Sewer Concurrency (HB 749) was watered down, thanks to the work of 1000 Friends and others. Originally, this bill would have eliminated the requirement that new development hook up to existing water and sewer services. As passed, it requires the local government to conduct a series of studies to evaluate the use of septic tanks prior to extending water and sewer.
 

09 March  2004

Tallahassee's disgrace
Lobbyists in Florida's capital are buying votes, writing bills and
making their fortunes - at the cost of political integrity.
A Times Editorial
Published March 9, 2004

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida lawmakers like to blame the ascendancy of high-powered and
high-priced lobbyists on term limits, as if legislative naivete were somehow
to blame. But, as St. Petersburg Times capital bureau chief Lucy Morgan
reported on Sunday, those who are well-connected in Tallahassee are getting
fabulously wealthy by delivering a single product: votes.  The "MoneyWorld"
that Morgan described is about political immorality, not uninformed innocence.

"These folks who support the political process don't make contributions,
they make investments," says Tom Lee, a Republican senator from Brandon
who is line to become the next Senate president. "... It scares me that we are
moving down this path. Whoever has the most money, wins."

In the past decade, as Republicans have taken charge of both legislative
chambers and the governor's office, the ante to sit at the big Capitol table
has reached six and seven figures. The lobbying firms have become one-stop
shopping for lawmakers, delivering pre-written laws, fine food and drink,
entertainment and campaign contributions. Thirteen lobbyists now top the
charts at more than $10-million each - $10-million in campaign contributions
over the past seven years from companies they represent to the legislators
whose votes they are buying. Last year, lobbyists spent nearly $8-million,
or roughly $50,000 per lawmaker, simply wining and dining the Legislature.
That's nearly 10 times as much as they spent in 1980.

Need a new law?  The going rate these days is anywhere from $100,000 to
$1-million, and some lobbyists report being paid as much as $40,000 just to
deliver the vote of one legislator. The bill delaying Everglades cleanup was
written by two sugar company lobbyists, and the bill raising most telephone
rates was written by a telecommunications lobbyist. A team of lobbyists
helped two South Florida hospitals circumvent regulatory denial of their
application for open-heart surgery, and the governor signed the bill despite
a plea from other hospitals that called it "a slap in the face to the entire
hospital industry that has played by the rules."

Lest people believe the myth about fresh-faced legislators being outgunned
by crafty lobbyists, Morgan reveals another reality about the new breed of
lobbyists: Many of them have played the game for fewer innings than the
politicians who are at bat.

Paul Bradshaw, for example, was just another land-use attorney until he bet
on the right horse in 1998, working as issues coordinator for Jeb Bush's
gubernatorial campaign and ultimately marrying the woman who would become
Bush's first chief of staff. At the time, Bradshaw reported a negative net
worth of $2,000. By 2002, he was one of Tallahassee's hottest lobbyists,
raking in $1.4-million a year and living on a 19-acre estate in Gadsden
County and buying a $1.5-million vacation home in Montana. David Rancourt,
Bush's deputy chief of staff in 1999, is now a lobbying partner with
Bradshaw and just finished building a 10,000-square-foot, $2-million mansion
he can call home in Tallahassee.

This kind of excess is enough to make even Ralph Haben, hardly a choir boy,
blush. Haben, a former House speaker who has parlayed his own political
connections into a lucrative lobbying career, told Morgan: "It's more about
the money than it's ever been. In the old days, I didn't know how much a
lobbyist contributed. Now they (legislators) know to the penny."

Lawmakers with a shred of decency at least could share their knowledge of
the pennies. Florida, and this will surprise no one, is mostly hands off
when it comes to regulating the business of lobbying. Unlike some other
states, lobbyists in Florida do not have to disclose their fees, itemize
their expenditures or identify the lawmakers they contact or the bills they
are pushing. Wisconsin, Massachusetts and South Carolina, for example, won't
let lobbyists pay for anything a legislator receives. Vermont requires an
itemized list of every gift valued at more than $5. New Hampshire makes
lobbyists wear bright orange name tags.

In the end, the meteoric rise in the fortunes of Tallahassee lobbyists is
tied to a decline in political integrity. The Constitution empowers only the
160 elected members of the House and Senate to vote, and only the governor
to sign or veto legislation. So when lawmakers profess alarm at the
influence of big-money lobbyists, they are only calling attention to their
own complicity. The same governor who expresses unease with the extent to
which people around him are cashing in on his name also continues to invite
these same lobbyists into his office and appoint them to high-profile boards
and commissions.

So long as lawmakers are willing to let their votes be bought, the bidding
war for votes will only continue. That may be good news for luxury housing
prices in Tallahassee, but it demeans democracy.
 

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/09/Opinion/Tallahassee_s_disgrace.shtml
[

                                                               ____________**___________

10 May 05  Florida Legislature 2005 Session Wrap up

                                                                                    __________**__________

• 08 Mar 05  Legislative agenda

                                                                 __________**__________

17 Mar 04 DAMAGING DRI BILL TO BE CONSIDERED ON TUESDAY, MARCH 23

The Florida Legislature is currently considering damaging growth management legislation that, among other things, reduces state, regional, and local authority to approve or deny large-scale developments. Senator Mike Bennett’s (R-Bradenton) SB 1174 and HB 1205 by Representative Mike Davis (R-Naples) would radically overhaul the Development of Regional Impacts (DRI) process, the means by which large development projects are reviewed and approved in Florida.

On Tuesday, March 23, the Senate Comprehensive Planning Committee plans to vote on SB 1174, with the expectation that some version will pass. This bill would significantly reduce the number of DRI reviews by dramatically increasing the residential threshold. It would also also limit the kinds of issues that can be raised during the review process, eliminate the ability of local governments to require that future changes to approved DRIs be consistent with future amendments to local comprehensive plans, and exempt marinas from recently developed master planning requirements that, among other provisions, protect Florida’s manatee.

ACTION NEEDED:

Call members of the Senate Committee on Comprehensive Planning and tell them that bill is very damaging to growth management, and that you oppose any effort to weaken the DRI process.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

Chair: Steven A. Geller (D-Hallandale Beach) – Phone 850.487-5097, geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov

Vice Chair: Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden) - Phone 850.487.5047, drawdy.ann.s09@flsenate.gov

Nancy Argenziano (R-Crystal River) - Phone 850.487.5017, argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov

Michael S. 'Mike' Bennett (R-Bradenton) - Phone 850.487.5078 bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov

Larcenia J. Bullard (D-Miami) - Phone 850.487.5127,
bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov

Walter G. 'Skip' Campbell, Jr. (D-Tamarac) - Phone 850.487.5095, campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov

Lee Constantine (R-Altamonte Springs) - Phone 850.487.5050, constantine.lee.s22@flsenate.gov

Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) - Phone 850.487.5053,
posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov

BACKGROUND:

Drafted by the Association of Florida Community Developers, which includes as its members the state’s largest developers, these bills would significantly reduce the number of DRI reviews. Instead of residential DRI review thresholds based on the population of each county, the bills call for a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Developments throughout the state would need more than 1000 houses to trigger DRI review, while currently as few as 250 homes in some smaller counties can trigger review.

Because of their smaller populations and more limited scale of developments, 34 of Florida’s 67 counties would be highly unlikely to go through the DRI process because their residential threshold could double, triple, or even quadruple under the proposed legislation. Furthermore, a bill that passed three years ago increased DRI thresholds by 150 percent for areas designated as Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern. Currently, 28 counties in northwest and south central Florida have been designated. Combined with the filed versions of SB 1174 and HB 1205, those counties with the smallest or sometimes no planning staff would only start reviewing projects with more than 2500 homes, which is higher than the current threshold for highly urbanized Sarasota County. Smaller communities, which often have the weakest or least sophisticated planning requirements, would only be able to take advantage of the DRI process on massive developments.

The proposed legislation would also limit the kinds of issues that can be raised during the review process, eliminate the ability of local governments to require that future changes to approved DRIs be consistent with future amendments to local comprehensive plans, and exempt marinas from recently developed master planning requirements that, among other provisions, protect Florida’s manatee.

1000 Friends of Florida recognizes the need to periodically readdress this state’s growth management process. But if this bill passes, there is no point in even having a DRI program. Legislation of this nature just adds fuel to Florida Hometown Democracy, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow citizens to vote on every amendment to their local comprehensive plan. Because of their large size, DRIs often require comprehensive plan amendments.

1000 Friends of Florida was created in 1986 to serve as a watchdog over this state’s growth management process. Others on record opposing these DRI bills include the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, Save the Manatee Club, and Florida Department of Community Affairs.

             Back  to Top

For problems or questions regarding this web contact  webmaster@fofgroup.org

"cfof" are residents of Fernandina Beach, Florida.

 
Last updated: October 20, 2011.