News-Journal Online

Key issues of the 2008 legislative session

By JIM SAUNDERS and JAMES MILLER
Staff Writers

May 04, 2008

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Politics/Florida/polHEAD04POL050408.htm

Florida lawmakers Friday ended a 60-day legislative session that was dominated by budget problems. But they also dealt with issues ranging from climate change to property insurance. Here are some of the key issues of the session.

BUDGET

Issue: Lawmakers needed to pass a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, despite shrinking tax revenues.

Result: The House and Senate approved a $66.2 billion spending plan that includes deep cuts in education, health and human-services programs but does not require tax increases.

What it means: The budget will cut $332.3 million in spending on public schools, including $17.5 million from Volusia County schools. Other major cuts will come in the payments that hospitals and nursing homes receive to take care of Medicaid patients.

ENVIRONMENT

Issue: The Florida Forever land-buying program is scheduled to expire in 2010.

Result: The House and Senate approved a bill that would extend the program until 2020 and clear the way for the state to continue spending $300 million a year on conservation efforts.

What it means: The state will buy and preserve tens of thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land in the future, as development continues across Florida.

ENERGY

Issue: Gov. Charlie Crist has made a top priority of combating global warming and increasing energy independence.

Result: The House and Senate agreed on a massive bill that would take steps to reduce emissions from electric utilities, increase energy efficiency and make it easier to build nuclear power plants.

What it means: Supporters hope to reduce emissions that cause global warming and increase the use of renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power.

PROPERTY TAXES

Issue: Tax cut advocates said from the beginning that Amendment 1, passed by voters in January, wasn't enough.

Result: The action wasn't in the Legislature. The appointed Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission passed another proposed state constitutional amendment that would get rid of the main property tax for schools and force the Legislature to replace it with a mix of money that could include a sales tax increase and repeal of sales tax exemptions.

What it means: If voters support it, property owners would get significant breaks on their property tax bills. But business groups and schools oppose the plan, and a high-stakes campaign is a strong possibility.

PROPERTY INSURANCE

Issue: A rate freeze for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is scheduled to expire in January 2009, and state regulators have battled in recent months with private insurers.

Result: Lawmakers passed a bill that would extend the Citizens freeze until January 2010 and would tighten restrictions on insurers, including increasing regulatory fines.

What it means: Hundreds of thousands of Citizens customers will get a one-year reprieve from potential rate increases, but critics say that could worsen financial problems for the state-backed insurer if major hurricanes hit.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Issue: Florida has one of the highest-rates of uninsured people in the nation, as businesses and families struggle to afford coverage.

Result: Lawmakers approved a bill that tries to make health care more affordable. A key part of the bill would target individuals seeking to buy coverage, while another part would be aimed at small businesses.

What it means: Residents and businesses would have more choices in the types of insurance they buy. That includes allowing people to buy stripped-down coverage that would cost less than policies that now have broader benefits.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Issue: Lawmakers advanced two major measures related to the governance and organization of university and community college systems.

Result: The Legislature agreed to a state college pilot program that would include Daytona Beach College, which lawmakers agreed to rename. The House declined to take up a proposed constitutional amendment meant to revamp governance of the university system.

What it means: The proposed state college system is meant to better organize community colleges that offer low-cost, workplace-oriented baccalaureate degrees. Daytona Beach College officials said being part of the pilot would give them a stronger voice in the outcome.

COMMUTER RAIL

Issue: Governments in Volusia, Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties and Orlando have backed a proposed commuter rail line meant to connect DeLand and Poinciana.

Result: The Senate was unable to reach an agreement on controversial liability provisions for the rail line's current owner, Jacksonville-based CSX Corporation.

What it means: The more than $1 billion project was thrown into disarray. Officials said at the conclusion of the legislative session they did not know what its future would be.

GROWTH

Issue: State planning officials wanted to make citizens' growth initiatives, which they see as potentially harmful to good planning and economic development, less desirable by giving citizens more input in the development process.

Result: A bill that would have required such things as additional public meetings for changes to local government long-term growth blueprints failed to clear the Senate, where it was weighted down by numerous controversial amendments.

What it means: It is status quo for the rules for public participation in the development process.

Local budget information:

With the state facing a budget crunch, Volusia and Flagler counties had a tough legislative session. Relatively few local projects received money, and Volusia public schools face deep funding cuts. Here are some local issues included in the 2008-09 budget:

Volusia County schools: Will receive $430.9 million for day-to-day operations, a $17.5 million cut from this year.

Flagler County schools: Will receive $89.6 million for day-to-day operations, up $771,000 from this year.Local projects in the budget include:

-- $2.8 million for the widening of 10th Street in Southeast Volusia

-- $750,000 for a study on replacing the Veterans Bridge

-- $350,000 for sewer upgrades in the Spring Hill community of West Volusia

-- $300,000 for Port Orange canal project related to Rose Bay restoration

-- $200,000 for the Palm Grove stormwater project in South Daytona

-- $200,000 for a South Daytona water-reuse project

YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Sandy Adams

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 33: Parts of Deltona

BILLS: Adams wanted to give judges greater authority in juvenile sentencing, which is now based on Florida Department of Juvenile Justice recommendations. (Passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate.)

She also proposed requiring state contractors to electronically verify with the federal government the immigration status of new employees. (Did not pass. Part of a workshop on immigration related bills.)

Joyce Cusack

PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat

DISTRICT 27: Daytona Beach area, part of DeLand

BILLS: Cusack wanted Florida driver's license and automobile registration forms to include an option for a $1 for homeless assistance. The State Office on Homelessness would use the money to supplement grants and provide information and literature to the public. (Amended to another bill, which passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate.)

She also sought to eliminate lapses in mental health and substance abuse services for Medicaid recipients when their health care plans are changed and to create a grievance process if they're unsatisfied with reassignments. (Did not pass.)

Alan Hays

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 25: DeBary, portions of Deltona

BILLS: Hays proposed a task force to recommend ways to lessen reliance on the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.--and the state's claim exposure -- by encouraging private insurers to get back in the Florida market. (Did not pass.)

He also proposed repeal of a state constitutional provision requiring public financing of statewide campaigns. (Passed in the House but was not voted on in the Senate.)

Dorothy Hukill

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 28: Southeast Volusia

BILLS: Hukill wanted to guarantee that citizens could comment on agenda items at all public local government meetings, including workshops. (A revised version passed the House but was not voted on in the Senate.)

She also sought a pilot program in Volusia and Pasco counties to give incentives to small businesses that provide health insurance when they haven't provided it before. (Did not pass.)

Pat Patterson

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 26: Northeast Volusia, Southeast Flagler, most of West Volusia

BILLS: Patterson filed legislation to make sure vehicles towing cars to race events are not defined and ticketed as commercial vehicles. He said it had been a problem for some race-goers and would benefit people attending events like the Daytona Turkey Run vintage car event. (Did not pass.)

He wanted to add the state motto as an option in addition to the county name or "Sunshine State" logo for the standard Florida automobile license tag. (Passed.)

Joe Pickens

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 21: Northwest Volusia

BILLS: Pickens introduced a bill that would create a pilot program for a state college system meant to regionally organize community colleges that issue baccalaureate degrees. (Passed, including Daytona Beach College in the pilot program.)

He also wanted to create end-of-course examinations in public schools. (An omnibus education bill passed that allows the commissioner of education to establish those assessments for subjects in addition to those required for the FCAT.)

Bill Proctor

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 20: Most of Flagler County

BILLS: On behalf of Flagler County officials, Proctor introduced legislation that would let school districts and local governments combine transportation maintenance efforts. Flagler County, the Flagler County Schools and Palm Coast have discussed using a common fleet maintenance facility but state law currently doesn't provide for that because of restrictions on use of school tax dollars. (Passed.)

He also wanted to make sure that state funding for medical schools is distributed on an equal basis rather than in favor of upstart medical schools at the University of Central Florida and in South Florida. (Did not pass.)

YOUR SENATORS

Carey Baker

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 20: Deltona, DeBary, portions of DeLand

BILLS: Baker sought to set statewide standards prohibiting physical or psychological bullying or harassment in grades K-12. (Passed.)

He also wanted to require Florida law enforcement officers to turn over to federal authorities any person who is arrested and is in the country illegally. (Did not pass.)

Tony Hill

PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat

DISTRICT 1: West Flagler County and portions of Daytona Beach

BILLS: Hill filed a bill that to homeowners more time to work out arrangements to avoid foreclosures after they become delinquent on mortgage payments. (Did not pass.)

He also wanted the Board of Executive Clemency to pardon civil rights-era protestors convicted of for challenging racial segregation laws or racial discrimination. (Did not pass.)

Jim King

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 8: East Flagler County and portions of Daytona Beach

BILLS: King introduced the Senate version of legislation introduced by Proctor in the House that would let school districts and local government share fleet maintenance facilities under special agreement. (Passed.)

Evelyn Lynn

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DISTRICT 7: Most of Volusia County, including entire coast, Central and Northwest Volusia

BILLS: Lynn filed a bill to require the state Department of Education to develop a plan to administer end-of-course in public schools. (An omnibus education bill passed that allows the commissioner of education to establish those assessments for subjects in addition to those required for the FCAT.)

Lynn also introduced legislation that would put Salvia Divinorum, a pyschoactive plant that originates in Mexico, on the list of controlled substances. (Passed.)

How do I find how a legislator voted on a bill?

Floor votes for a particular bill are available as part of a bill information page on flsenate.gov. Be advised that the information presented is provisional. For an official copy of a legislator's vote on a bill, consult the Senate or House Journal.

For more information, call the Secretary of the Senate at 850-487-5270 or the Clerk of the House at 850-488-1157.