| Archive | www.flasla.org | March 2013 |     |
FLASLA Government Affairs Committee Capitol Landscape March, 2013 Issue If you have questions or would like to get involved in assisting the Chapter with advocacy, licensure issues, and other legislative concerns, please contact Jonathan Haigh, Member at Large for Advocacy and Licensure at: memberatlargeAL@flalsa.org Community Affairs SB 84 by Senator Diaz de la Portilla; HB 85 by Representative Stuebe SB 238 by Senator Flores (Similar) This bill encourages state agencies and local governments to utilize public private partnerships (PPPs) and provides a process for entering into PPPs, including comprehensive agreements, financing, and other items. The bill also provides for the application of sovereign immunity for public entities with respect to qualified projects. SB 84 was referenced to four committees in the Senate and passed its first committee unanimously on Jan. 23. Senator Diaz de la Portilla amended the bill at our request to provide parity for all registered professionals. HB 85 received three committee references and passed its first committee this week with a strike-all amendment. The strike-all picked up our most important change and continues to use the term "Florida registered professional.” Unfortunately, some other changes were missed, so this bill will need to be amended at its next stop. The bill proponents have indicated it was an error. SB 238 received five committee references but is similar in nature to SB 84, and the two bills may be merged going forward. Neighborhood Improvement Districts SB 564 by Senator Simmons; HB 679 by Representative Nelson These bills rename the "Safe Neighborhoods Act” as the "Neighborhood Improvement Act” and authorize the formation of a neighborhood improvement district through an ordinance rather than through a planning ordinance. They also provide for these districts to levy ad valorem taxes. SB 564 passed its first committee this week. Our amendment was not picked up but the bill proponents have indicated our change should be made at the next stop. HB 679 received four committee references but has not been heard. HB 741 by Representative S. Jones; SB 770 by Senator Ring These bills are similar in nature and add taxing powers to the current neighborhood improvement district provisions in chapter 163. The bills also provide that neighborhood improvement districts will be treated as a community development districts for purposes of certain bond provisions in chapter 190. HB 741 has four committee references but has not been heard. SB 770 has three committee references and passed its first committee this week. These bills do not contain any problematic language. It is possible that these two pieces of legislation could be combined at a future committee hearing. OTHER BILLS Design Professionals SB 286 by Senator Joe Negron; HB 575 by Representative Passidomo This bill provides that certain business contracts may specify that registered professionals may not be held individually liable for negligence while performing professional services provided under those contracts. SB 286 passed its second committee this week on a 7-2 vote. HB 575 passed its first committee this week. Public Records HB 403 by Representative Holly Raschein; SB 1152 by Senator Margolis This bill exempts from public records financial statements that a governmental entity or agency requires a prospective bidder to submit when responding to an invitation to bid, request for proposals, or invitation to negotiate. Both bills have received three committee references but neither has been heard. Department of Business and Professional Regulation HB 57 by Representative Porter; SB 802 by Senator Hays This bill requires funding for the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund and will allow DBPR to transfer funds from the Florida Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board to the Recovery Fund. HB 57 passed its second committee this week. SB 802 received three committee references but has not been heard. Department of Economic Opportunity HB 121 by Representative Combee; SB 670 by Senator Brandes This bill requires DEO to create a web page that provides data and information that is relevant to the creation of new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses. HB 121 received four committee references and passed its first committee on Feb. 6. SB 670 received three committee references but has not been heard. Community Development Block Grants SB 1024 by Commerce and Tourism; HB 7007 by Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee; See also SB 494 by Senator Simpson This bill substantially revises the Community Development Block Grant program so that the Department of Economic Opportunity will control the flow of the funds. SB 1024 received three committee references, HB 7007 received two committee references, and SB 494 has received four referenced but no bill has been heard. Stormwater Management Permits HB 183 by Representative Raulerson; SB 934 by Senator Lee This bill allows municipalities and counties to adopt stormwater adaptive management plans and obtain permits for urban redevelopment projects. HB 183 received three committee references but has not been heard. SB 934 received two committee references but has not been heard. State Contracts HB 307 by Representative Tobia; SB 684 by Senator Hays These bills expand the provisions that govern agencies, universities, colleges, school districts or any other political subdivisions when providing consideration to Florida business contracts regarding person property purchases. Both bills received four committee references but neither bill has been heard. Campaign Finance SB 1382 by Senator Latvala; HB 569 by Representative Schenck These bills would repeal provisions authorizing Committees of Continuous Existence (CCEs). SB 1382 will be heard in its first committee next week. HB 569 passed its first two committees prior to the beginning of session. State Procurement HB 1017 by Representative Fresen; No Senate Companion to date These bills provide preference for local businesses in state contracting for goods and contractual services, including construction services. HB 1017 has received three committee references and has not been heard. Deregulation of Professions and Occupations SB 720 by Senator Brandes; HB 1189 by Representative Raburn These bills deregulate certain auctioneers who conduct motor vehicle auction contests, as well as hair braiding, hair wrapping and body wrapping. They also repeal provisions of the Sale of Business Opportunities Act. SB 720 received four committee references but has not been heard and HB 1189 has received three committee references without being heard. Procurement of Professional Architectural, Engineering, Landscape Architectural or Surveying and Mapping Services HB 739 by Representative Metz; SB 1002 by Senator Soto These bills amend the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) to allow cost to be considered once firms have been short-listed. Both bills received four committee references but neither bill has been heard. Environmental Regulation HB 999 by Representative Patronis; SB 1684 by Senator Altman This bill creates, amends and revises provisions regarding development permit applications, general permits for special events, well permits, exemption from permits and fees and related environmental requirements. Both bills received three committee references but neither bill has been heard. United Nations’ Agenda 21-2013 HB 1187 by Representative Eagle This bill endorses the Congressional rejection of the UN’s Agenda 21 and its policies. The bill has been referenced to two committees and has not yet been heard. Administrative Procedures HB 1225 by Representative Adkins; SB 1696 by Senator Brandes Among other provisions, these bills provide that an agency has the burden of proof in proceedings challenging the validity of existing rules and unadopted agency statements. The bills also remove certain exceptions from requirements that attorney fees and costs be held against an agency in proceedings. HB 1225 has not received committee references. SB 1696 received three committee references and has not been heard. Legislative Lobbying Expenditures SB 1634 by Senator Lee; No House companion to date This bill provides exceptions when a member or an employee of the Legislature may accept a certain expenditure made by a lobbyist or principal. The bill provides for procedures and filing requirements related to certain events and dinners. This bill is of interest to FLASLA because it could require the association to take certain actions when inviting legislators to annual conference, for example. This bill has been referenced to three committees and has not yet been heard. Jonathan Haigh, PLA, ASLAFL|ASLA http://www.flasla.org/?page=governmentaffairs
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