Summary of Florida legislature activities, weeks one and two

This is the legislative summary an independent firm prepares and sends to Manatee County Commissioners. It's good to keep an eye on Tallahassee.

Session Week 1 Summary- March 1-5, 2010

House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning

On March 1st, the Council heard from a national marine sanctuary manager who said oil drilling is not incompatible with the protection of coral reefs. After the presentation, Rep. Cannon told council members they would be given a list of policy questions on Friday related to drilling so that they can provide feedback. The public will be asked to provide comments by March 15. He also dismissed a Collins Center for Public Policy draft report suggesting that drilling would do little to reduce the nation's dependency on foreign oil or reduce the price of gas at the pump.

Legislation to allow oil and gas exploration and drilling in Florida's waters may not emerge until midway through the two-month legislative session. Rep. Cannon told reporters after the meeting that it's premature to say when legislation could be introduced.

House Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee

On March 1st the committee heard HB 513- Relating to Mobile Home Park Tenancies, by Rep. Horner. Rep. Horner introduced a strike-all amendment to the bill which requires that, at the beginning of the 6 months eviction period, and if the tenants have created an association, the park owner must offer to sell the park to the association. The strike-all also requires the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to develop a program to assist such associations with financing. The strike-all was adopted by the committee and was voted out favorably. Rep. Grady cast the only dissenting vote.

Opening Day of Session

House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala and Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, both outlined some of their priorities on opening day. Cretul asserted that the House would not put together a budget based on a "wink and a prayer," while Atwater said the Senate would concentrate on job development, education reform and cracking down on fraud

The Senate immediately took up CSSB 1666, which would delay for two years a coming increase in unemployment compensation taxes. A House version of the measure passed that chamber earlier in the day, and the Senate substituted the House-passed version (HB 7033). The bill also extends benefits for eight additional weeks. The measure is one of the top priorities of the business community. Without the bill, the increase would be effective April 1. Currently, the state is borrowing money from Washington to pay unemployment benefits because the state’s unemployment trust fund is empty. With passage of the bill, the state would essentially continue to borrow money the feds to pay benefits. Sen. Tony Hill argued that the Legislature also ought to modernize the system for paying benefits – which