Over the course of the last month, I have had the privilege of working on a number of policy and budget issues that impact our community. As week four comes to a close, I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to contact me through email, phone calls, letters, and even visits to our office here in Tallahassee.

In the coming week, the House will be considering a budget proposal that places the needs of Florida’s most vulnerable at the top of our priority list while still emphasizing fiscal responsibility in our spending.

The House is developing a financially-sound, efficient budget that totals $70.8 billion, an increase of 8.1% over current year spending. This will include $1.36 billion in new dollars for K-12 schools – an increase of 8.26% over the current year.

And with a projected $3.2 billion revenue surplus, we will also emphasize the need to return surplus funds to taxpayers. In fact, last week, the House gave approval to legislation repealing the intangibles tax, and more relief measures are moving through House committees.

As we approach our halfway mark next week, I am extremely hopeful that the 2006 Legislative Session is shaping up to be one of the most beneficial for Floridians. Continue to write, call, and visit.

My job as a legislator depends on feedback from you!

• Total Budget: $70.8 billion
• K-12 Public Schools: A $1.36 billion increase over current year spending!
• Fully-funds projected enrollment in KidCare (a $325.9 million investment in 228,885 Florida children)
• $23.2 million for National Guard armory repairs
• $9.1 billion investment in transportations systems, including improvements to existing highways and construction of new ones.

RECAP OF WEEK FOUR & BILLS OF INTEREST

• ON THE FLOOR…The House met in session on Wednesday morning to consider a number of bills relating to public records.

• BUDGET CONSIDERED…The House Fiscal (Budget) Council met on Thursday to consider its proposed committee bill released on Monday of this week, as well as amendments filed by Members. The measure was approved and is now positioned for consideration on the floor by the full House late next week. To view the proposed budget, visit www.myfloridahouse.gov and click the link in the right-hand margin “2006-2007 Appropriations”.

• LAWSUIT ABUSE REFORM…The Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a significant reform to the civil justice system, HB 145 by Representative Don Brown, repeal of the joint and several liability provisions in Florida law. The House had approved the bill earlier in the Session. The measure now goes to Governor Jeb Bush for his consideration.

• TO INFINITY AND BEYOND…Speaker Pro Tempore Leslie Waters’ HB 1489 reflects the recommendations of the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Space and Aeronautics, unifying existing space-related agencies under Space Florida. Space Florida will promote aerospace business development, research, and marketing. The bill also provides tax exemptions for researchers and developers of any space-related product. The House Spaceport & Technology Committee approved the measure on Tuesday.

• SCIENCE SECTOR…Representative Frank Attkisson’s HB 1283 creates a program to improve the state’s ability to compete effectively in attracting science-based research projects of significant scale and world class excellence to Florida. Earlier this year, Governor Bush launched a new economic development initiative to bolster the state’s efforts to diversify and build Florida’s Innovation Economy. This bill, passed by the House Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Banking this week, would serve as an important component of that initiative.

• THE MOTTO…Representative Greg Evers’ HB 1145 designates the Official State Motto as “In God We Trust”. Although the motto was included in the State Seal approved by the Legislature in 1868, two Tallahassee schoolchildren brought the issue to Rep. Evers after research found that no official designation existed in statute. The measure was approved by the State Administration Council this week and now heads to the House floor.

• TEACHERS & CHOICES…Rep. David Rivera’s HB 1059 increases a teacher’s discretion over certain wages that would otherwise be controlled by the collective bargaining unit (union) representing the teacher. In many cases, dues collected through garnishing of a teacher’s wages have been used for any number of political activities not necessarily endorsed by the teacher. This has created a dilemma for many Florida teachers whose affiliation with a union was for the purposes of collective bargaining, not political activism. The measure was approved by the State Administration Council on Wednesday and now heads to the floor.

• ELECTION REFORM…On Wednesday, the House Ethics & Elections Committee approved PCB 06-01 to provide a new level of transparency for organizations communicating during elections. The measure requires increased disclosure and accountability for persons or groups that engage in electioneering communications. Under current law, a 527 group does not have to register or report in Florida any activity until an electioneering communication (EC) is contracted for or made. PCB 06-01:

• Requires the initial report and registration of an Electioneering Communication Organization (ECO) to be made within 48 hours after the electioneering communication is made. Current law requires registration within 10 days.
• Requires an ECO to report all contributions and expenditures since the last general election. Current law requires an ECO to only report its activity from the most recent reporting period.
• Requires disaggregation of large contributions made to ECOs from a 527 political group. Current law does not have any such provision.
• Codifies into law the tenets of House Rule 15.3, requiring legislator-controlled political committees to disclose contributions and expenditures on websites. The provision is expanded to include statewide officials and candidates as well as legislators and legislative candidates.

LEGISLATION I AM SPONSORING

HOUSE MOVING FORWARD WITH BUDGET PROPOSAL

On Thursday, the House Fiscal Council approved a proposed committee bill appropriating state revenue for the 2005-06 fiscal year. The measure is now positioned for consideration on the House floor next week.

The total budget appropriates approximately $70.8 billion, an increase of 8.1% over the current fiscal year. Among the highlights in general terms:

EDUCATION: Reflecting our ongoing commitment to lifelong learning, the budget appropriates a 13.8% increase over the current budget of $27.8 billion for education (K-12, colleges, workforce training, VPK). In K-12 schools specifically, this includes an extra $1.36 billion for the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), a stunning 8.26% increase.

HEALTH CARE: A $1 billion increase over the current year’s budget, providing $23.5 billion in health and welfare services for the people of Florida. This represents a 4.4% increase over the current year. The measure reaffirms assistance for our state’s most vulnerable by fully funding the projected enrollment numbers in the state’s KidCare health insurance program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Focusing on a balanced approach that recognizes the importance of front end interventions to enable troubled individuals to avoid a life of crime, back-end sanctions for hardened criminals, and a solid law enforcement presence to deter and detect criminal activity, we provide $3.38 billion, an increase of approximately 6.5% over the budget for FY 2005-06.

JUSTICE: Realizing that public safety requires a well-funded a efficient justice system, the total budget for the justice system in Florida for FY 2006-07 is $1.26 billion, a 13% increase over FY 2005-06.

EMPHASIZING NEED FOR CLASS SIZE REFORM

Several House members this week touted their vision for enhancing the Class Size Amendment, and ensuring that the intent of Florida voters for smaller class sizes is preserved, through House Joint Resolution (HJR) 447, currently being considered in the 2006 Session.

HJR 447 would allow voters to provide flexibility to the Class Size Amendment originally approved in 2002, while retaining the most stringent class size requirements in the nation. The measure also provides that 65-percent of education spending in school districts must be in the classroom.

HJR 447 would maintain district average class sizes of 18 students in elementary school, 22 students in middle school and 25 in high school. This flexibility will enable school districts to allocate resources in the best interest of the students.

Seven states including Florida have K-12 class size requirements; however, five of these states are subject to provisions that significantly weaken their effects. None of the seven have mandated class size limits as low as those provided for by HJR 447, and none are in their state constitutions. Florida’s class size limits are considerably more stringent than the rest of the nation and will remain so under HJR 447.

HJR 447 is now in the House Education Council.

View Boiler Notes from Previous Weeks
Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
	Week 9