HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 198-2015 Legislative Committee Week Report - November 2-5, 2015BAL HARBOUR
V I L L A G E -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 198-2015
To: Mayor Martin Packer and Members of the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager
Date: November 12, 2015 iV\
Subject: Legislative Committee Week Report - November 2 - 5, 2015
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to transmit the attached Legislative Committee
Week Report provided by Ron L. Book.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me.
Paula Rodriguez
From: Rana Brown <Rana@rlbookpa.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 2:32 PM
To: jgonzalez@balharbour.org; prodriguez@balharbour.org
Subject: Committee Week Report — November 2 - 5
Hello Mr. Manager,
On behalf of Ronald L. Book, Kelly Mallette and myself, please find below our report for the November 2 - 5
legislative committee week. Should you have any questions on issues in our reports, or any other issue, please
do not hesitate to call or email us. Thank you.
Rana Brown
Rolbld 1. book, P. R.
rile 011M
PO 45floil i I1(100 04
Ronald L. Book
Ronald L. Book, P.A.
Harbour Centre
18851 N.E. 29th Ave.,
Ste. 1010
Aventura, FL 33180
Phone: 305.935.1866
TLH Office: 850.224.3427
Email: ron@rlbookpa.com
Committee Week Report — November 2 - 5
Kelly C. Mallette
Ronald L. Book, P.A.
Harbour Centre
18851 N.E. 29th Ave., Ste.
1010
Aventura, FL 33180
Phone: 305.935.1866
TLH Office: 850.224.3427
Email kelly@a,rlbookpa.com
Rana G. Brown
Ronald L. Book, P.A.
Harbour Centre
18851 N.E. 29th Ave., Ste.
1010
Aventura, FL 33180
Phone: 305.935.1866
TLH Office: 850.224.3427
Email: rana .rlbook ao com
As the Senate Redistricting Special Session C continued, committees met, though not all, and little was accomplished
regarding legislation this past week. Below are a list of bills we are watching that affect local governments. Also below,
we discuss the redistricting, the Senate Presidency contest and the Governor's proposed tax cut plan for the 2016 regular
Legislative Session.
Senate Redistricting Session C: Late in the day Thursday, November 5", the Senate brought a final senate district map to
a vote, which failed 13 — 23. Friday, as of 3:00 pm, the House and Senate adjourned Sine Die, without completing the task
of redrawing the Senate districts. It will likely be the courts who now will draw the Senate districts.
Senate Presidency Decision: Last week, in the middle of the redistricting swirl, the long running contest for the office of
the Senate Presidency came to an end. It was announced that Senator Latvala and Senator Negron had come to an agreement
that ended the 3 and a half year battle to lead the Florida Senate. At the end of the week, Senator Latvala conceded to Senator
Negron. As part of the compromise, during his tenure as Senate President, Senator Negron has agreed that he will appoint
Senator Latvala to hold the position of Senate Appropriations Chairman. Senator Negron will be voted in as the incoming
Senate President on December 2, and will serve through the 2018 Session.
Governor's Tax Cut Proposal: Late in the week, Governor Scott put forth a tax cut plan, with the goal of cutting $1 billion.
This plan includes cuts in the corporate income taxes on manufacturing, manufacturing machinery, and retail, commercial
lease taxes, and a one year extension of an existing exemption sales tax on college textbooks. Additionally, the Governor's
plan includes two sales tax holidays for back to school sales and for hurricane preparedness. There are several tax cut bills
filed, and we expect a tax cut package will take shape, and encompass many of the measures being discussed.
Important Dates: The remaining committee week and Session dates are below for your review.
0 Interim Committee Week Meetings: November 30 through December 4
" 2 0 1 6 R e g u l a r L e g i s l a t i v e S e s s i o n D a t e s : J a n u a r y 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 t h r o u g h M a r c h 1 1 , 2 0 1 6
B I L L S A F F E C T I N G L O C A L G O V E R N M E N T S : B e l o w a r e a n u m b e r o f b i l l s t h a t h a v e b e e n f i l e d t o d a t e , t h a t a f f e c t
l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s . W e w i l l c o n t i n u a l l y a d d t o t h i s l i s t a s t h e l e g i s l a t i v e c o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g s p r o g r e s s a n d b i l l s a r e f i l e d . A s
a l w a y s , s h o u l d y o u h a v e q u e s t i o n s o n t h e s e i s s u e s o r a n y o t h e r s , d o n o t h e s i t a t e t o r e a c h o u t t o u s .
�' E l e c t i o n o f O f f i c e r s : H J R 1 6 5 ( A r t i l e s ) p r o p o s e s t o a m e n d t h e S t a t e C o n s t i t u t i o n t o r e q u i r e t h a t t h e o f f i c e s o f
s h e r i f f , p r o p e r t y a p p r a i s e r , s u p e r v i s o r o f e l e c t i o n s , t a x c o l l e c t o r , a n d c l e r k o f t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t , w o u l d b e e l e c t e d
o f f i c e s , a n d w o u l d c a r r y f o u r y e a r t e r m s o f o f f i c e . T h e j o i n t r e s o l u t i o n w a s a m e n d e d i n c o m m i t t e e t o i n c l u d e t a x
c o l l e c t o r , a n d t o s p e c i f i c a l l y c l a r i f y t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t i s a p p l i c a b l e t o a l l c o u n t i e s ,
i n c l u d i n g M i a m i - D a d e C o u n t y . L a s t l y , t h e H J R w a s a m e n d e d t o d e l a y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n u n t i l J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 9 , s o
t h a t t h e a f f e c t e d c o u n t i e s w o u l d h a v e t i m e t o a m e n d t h e i r c h a r t e r s a n d h o l d e l e c t i o n s .
B e i n g t h a t t h i s l e g i s l a t i o n a m e n d s t h e s t a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n , e a c h h o u s e o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e m u s t p a s s t h i s j o i n t r e s o l u t i o n
b y a t h r e e - f i f t h s v o t e i n o r d e r f o r t h e p r o p o s a l t o b e p l a c e d o n t h e b a l l o t . C S / H J R 1 6 5 p r o v i d e s f o r t h e p r o p o s e d
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a m e n d m e n t t o b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e e l e c t o r s o f F l o r i d a f o r a p p r o v a l o r r e j e c t i o n a t t h e n e x t g e n e r a l
e l e c t i o n o r a t a n e a r l i e r s p e c i a l e l e c t i o n s p e c i f i c a l l y a u t h o r i z e d f o r t h i s m e a s u r e . A n y p r o p o s e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
a m e n d m e n t i n F l o r i d a m u s t p a s s s t a t e w i d e , b y a v o t e o f 6 0 p e r c e n t o r m o r e .
C S / H J R 1 6 5 :
h t t p : / / w w w . m y f l o r i d a h o u s e . g o v / S e c t i o n s / D o c u m e n t s / l o a d d o c . a s p x ? F i l e N a m e = h 0 1 6 5 c l . d o c x & D o c u m e n t T y p e B i l l & B i I
( N u m b e r - 0 1 6 5 & S e s s i o n = 2 0 1 6
�' G o v e r n m e n t M e e t i n g s / L i c e n s e s t o C a r r y C o n c e a l e d W e a p o n s o r F i r e a r m s : H B 4 0 3 1 ( S t e u b e ) i s a m o n g
s e v e r a l b i l l s a d d r e s s i n g g u n s t h i s s e s s i o n . T h i s s p e c i f i c b i l l t h o u g h , w o u l d d e l e t e t h e p r o h i b i t i o n o n c o n c e a l e d c a r r y
l i c e n s e e s f r o m o p e n l y c a r r y i n g h a n d g u n o r c a r r y i n g a c o n c e a l e d w e a p o n o r f i r e a r m i n t o a n y m e e t i n g o f t h e
g o v e r n i n g b o d y o f a c o u n t y , p u b l i c s c h o o l d i s t r i c t , m u n i c i p a l i t y , o r s p e c i a l d i s t r i c t , a n y m e e t i n g o r c o m m i t t e e
m e e t i n g o f t h e L e g i s l a t u r e , a n d i n a n y c a r e e r c e n t e r . E f f e c t i v e D a t e : J u l y 1 , 2 0 1 6 T h i s b i l l h a s n o t b e e n h e a r d t o
d a t e .
H B 4 0 3 1 : h t t p : / / w w w . f l s e n a t e g o v / S e s s i o n B i I Y 2 0 1 6 / 4 0 3 1 B i l l T e x t / F i l e d / P D F
�' P u b l i c W o r k s P r o j e c t s : H B 1 8 1 ( V a n Z a n t a n d T o b i a ) T h i s b i l l a d d r e s s e s b o t h s t a t e a n d l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t
c o n t r a c t i n g . S p e c i f i c a l l y , s t a t e c o n t r a c t s f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t s t h a t a r e p r o j e c t e d t o c o s t i n e x c e s s o f $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0
m u s t b e c o m p e t i t i v e l y b i d . C o u n t i e s , m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , a n d s p e c i a l d i s t r i c t s s e e k i n g t o c o n s t r u c t o r i m p r o v e a p u b l i c
b u i l d i n g , m u s t c o m p e t i t i v e l y b i d t h e p r o j e c t i f t h e e s t i m a t e d c o s t i s i n e x c e s s o f $ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 . T h i s b i l l h a s p a s s e d t w o
o f i t s t h r e e c o m m i t t e e s o f r e f e r e n c e .
H B 1 8 1 :
h t t p : / / w w w . m y f l o r i d a h o u s e . g o v / S e c t i o n s / D o c u m e n t s / l o a d d o c . a s p x ? F i l e N a m e = h 0 1 8 1 c l . d o c x & D o c u m e n t T y p e = B i l l & B i l
] N u m b e r - 0 1 8 1 & S e s s i o n = 2 0 1 6
�' P u b l i c W o r k s P r o j e c t s : S B 5 9 8 ( B r a n d e r ) i n i t s o r i g i n a l f o r m , w o u l d p r o h i b i t t h e s t a t e a n d p o l i t i c a l s u b d i v i s i o n s
t h a t c o n t r a c t f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , m a i n t e n a n c e , r e p a i r , o r i m p r o v e m e n t o f p u b l i c w o r k s f r o m i m p o s i n g r e s t r i c t i v e
c o n d i t i o n s o n c o n t r a c t o r s , s u b c o n t r a c t o r s , o r m a t e r i a l s u p p l i e r s o r c a r r i e r s ; p r o h i b i t s t h e s t a t e a n d p o l i t i c a l
s u b d i v i s i o n s f r o m r e s t r i c t i n g q u a l i f i e d b i d d e r s f r o m s u b m i t t i n g b i d s .
I n t h i s b i l l , a P o l i t i c a l s u b d i v i s i o n i s d e f i n e d t o m e a n a s e p a r a t e a g e n c y o r u n i t o f l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t c r e a t e d o r
e s t a b l i s h e d b y l a w o r o r d i n a n c e a n d t h e o f f i c e r s t h e r e o f . T h e t e r m i n c l u d e s , b u t i s n o t l i m i t e d t o , a c o u n t y ; a
m u n i c i p a l i t y ; o r a n a u t h o r i t y , b o a r d , c o m m i s s i o n , d e p a r t m e n t , i n s t i t u t i o n o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , p u b l i c c o r p o r a t i o n ,
s c h o o l d i s t r i c t , t a x i n g d i s t r i c t , w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t d i s t r i c t , o r o t h e r p u b l i c a g e n c y o r b o d y a u t h o r i z e d t o e x p e n d
p u b l i c f u n d s f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n , m a i n t e n a n c e , r e p a i r , o r i m p r o v e m e n t o f p u b l i c w o r k s . T h i s b i l l h a s n o t b e e n h e a r d t o
d a t e .
S B 5 9 8 : h t t p : / / w w w . f l s e n a t e . g o v / S e s s i o n / B i l l / 2 0 1 6 / 0 5 9 8 / B i l l T e x t / F i l e d / P D F
�' B o d y C a m e r a s / L a w E n f o r c e m e n t O f f i c e r s : H B 9 3 ( J o n e s ) a n d S B 4 1 8 ( S m i t h ) R e q u i r e s l a w e n f o r c e m e n t
a g e n c i e s t h a t p e r m i t l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f f i c e r s t o w e a r b o d y c a m e r a s , t o d e v e l o p p o l i c i e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s g o v e r n i n g
z
the proper use, maintenance, and storage of body cameras and recorded data. The policies would be required to
include the following:
• Guidelines for the proper use, maintenance, and storage of body cameras;
• Any limitations on which law enforcement officers are permitted to wear body cameras;
• Any limitations on law enforcement -related encounters in which law enforcement officers are permitted to
wear body cameras; and
• Guidelines for the proper storage, retention, and release of audio and video data recorded by body cameras.
• Training for use and storage of camera, and use and maintenance of data.
HB 93 passed its first committee hearing, 13 — 0. SB 418 has not yet been heard.
HB 93:
http://www.myfloridahouse.aov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc aspx?FileName= h0093 docx&DocumentTypc=Bill&BiI
INumbei=0093&Session=2016
SB 418: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0418/BillText/Filed/PDF
➢ Traffic Infraction Detectors (Red Light Cameras): SB 168 (Brandes) and HB 4027 (Artiles) would repeal the
use of red light cameras. Neither bill has been heard to date.
SB 168: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0168/BillText/Filed/PDF
HB 4027: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/4027BiliText/Filed/PDF
➢ Sales Tax on Commercial Real Property: HB 215 (Ahern) would phase out taxes on the rental of commercial
property over the next decade. This bill would gradually increase tax exemptions and completely repeal the tax by
January 2025. This bill has not been heard to date.
HB 215: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0215/BillTextIFiled/PDF
➢ Tax on Sales, Use, and Other Transactions/Commercial and Sales and Use Tax Reduction: SB 116 (Hukill)
would also reduce the commercial property tax, by trimming the tax rate from 6 percent to 5 percent, effective Jan.
1, 2017. Additionally, the bill reduces sales and use tax revenue by $119.6 or in FY 2016-2017 and $287m on a
recurring basis. It decreases General Revenue and local revenue by $254.1m and $32.9m, respectively, on a
recurring basis. In FY 2016-2017, the bill reduces General Revenue by $105m and local revenue by $137m. The
bill would take effect January 1, 2017. The bill has passed two of its three committees of reference unanimously.
SB 116: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0116/BillText/Filed/PDF
➢ Tax on Communications Services: SB 256 (Hukill) would reduce the tax rates applied to the sales of
communications services and retail sales of direct -to -home satellite services, revise the allocation of revenue
received from the tax on retail sales of direct -to -home satellite services. This bill has not been heard to date.
SB 256: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0256BiliText/Filed/PDF
➢ Public Procurement Practices: SB 124 (Evers) and HB 95 (Steube) would require a private entity that submits an
unsolicited proposal to pay an initial application fee and additional amounts if the fee does not cover certain costs. It
deletes provisions relating to notice to affected local jurisdictions by which the responsible public entity would no
longer be required to notify each affected local jurisdiction when considering a proposal for a qualifying project.
Also, this bill would increase the dollar threshold for a contract amount of a project for which a person, the state,
or a political subdivision is prohibited from refusing a surety bond issued by a surety company, and deletes
provisions creating the Partnership for Public Facilities and Infrastructure Act Guidelines Task Force. This bill has
not been heard to date.
SB 124: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBiIU2016/0124/BillText/Filed/PDF
HB 95: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBiIU2016/0095/BillText/Filed/PDF
➢ Texting while driving: SB 328 (Altman) and HB 537 (Perry) would authorize law enforcement officers to stop
motor vehicles and issue citations as a primary offense to people who are texting and driving. Currently texting
while driving is a secondary offense. This bill has not been heard to date.
SB 328: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0328BillText/Filed/PDF
HB 537:
http://www.myfloridahouse.pov/Sections/Documents/loaddoe.aspx?FileName= h0537 .docx&DocumentType=Bill
&BillNumber-0537&Session=2016
➢ Texting while driving in a school zone: HB 25 (Stark) and SB 246 (Sachs) is a different approach, which would
only make texting while driving a primary offense while in a school zone or in a school crossing. This bill has not
been heard to date.
HB 25: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0025/BillTextIFiled/PDF
SB 246: http://www.flsenate.gov/SessionBill/2016/0246BillText/Filed/PDF
➢ Community Investment Program: HB 33 (Rodgers) and SB 240 (Soto) would establish an investment program
within the Department Of Economic Opportunity. The program will focus investment to reduce poverty in
economically disadvantaged communities. This bill has not been heard to date.
HB 33: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0033/BiliText/Filed/PDF