November 13, 2012 Diane Reichard, Finance Director City of Temple Terrace Resources  Legislative Policies  Legislative Session Calendar  How a Bill Becomes law 

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Transcript November 13, 2012 Diane Reichard, Finance Director City of Temple Terrace Resources  Legislative Policies  Legislative Session Calendar  How a Bill Becomes law 

November 13, 2012
Diane Reichard, Finance Director
City of Temple Terrace
Resources
 Legislative Policies
 Legislative Session Calendar
 How a Bill Becomes law
 Purpose of Committees
 General Appropriation Bill
 How to Track Bills
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The FGFOA established five List Serve’s to allow the
membership to communicate on important issues.
What are List Serves? Email based communication.
As a member, you can ask other members a
question. Members can choose to get email
responses as they are sent or all at once at a
scheduled time. You will receive all emails sent to
the List Serve address. You can sign up for one or
all of them, depending on your interest. You can
unsubscribe at any time.
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Accounting and Auditing
 Treasury Management
 Debt Management
 Budgeting
 Financial Administration
 Disaster Recovery
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Developed for small governments as a
reference
 20 Chapters to use as a guide
 Use to maintain compliance with
various legal requirements
 Refers to Florida Statutes, but does
address local laws
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Accounting
 Annual Financial Reporting
 Annual Financial Audit
 Budgeting
 Capital Planning
 Cash Management and Investing
 Cash Receipts/Accounts Receivable
 Dates to Remember
 And 11 More
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During the legislative session, the following
websites will provide information to help you
track the bills:
 Senate – http://www.flsentate.gov
 House – http://www.myfloridahouse.com
 FLC Legislative Bulletin – http://www.florida
leagueofcities.com/LegislativeBulletin.aspx
 Florida
Association of Counties –
http://www.fl-counties.com/
 Final
FAC 2012 Legislative Report – http://fl-
counties.com/Docs/Legislative%20Division/Leg%20
Programs/2012%20Leg%20Report.pdf
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Provides a geographically-based information
network to assist in promoting, sponsoring and
opposing proposed legislation.
 2012
FGFOA Legislative Policies and
Recommendations - http://www.fgfoa.org/Assets/
Files/FGFOA%20Committees/2011-2012/Legislative
%20Recommendations/2012AdoptedPolicy Recommen
dationsClean9-21-11.pdf (This is found under Committees
– Legislative – at the bottom)
 FAC
Legislative Policies – http://fl-counties.com/
Pages/Advocacy/Legislative_Policies.aspx
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Annually, your FGFOA Board Officers,
Legislative Committee Chair, and Board
Liaison visit the Legislative Staff in the
Capitol and circulated the FGFOA’s
Legislative Policy Statement. They meet
with several staffers and emphasize
FGFOA’s desire to be a resource for the
Legislature. They have had productive
meetings with the staff at the State.
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Revenue and Expenditure Caps
Pension Reform
Premium Taxes for Public Safety Pension
Benefits
Property Tax Reform
Sales Tax on Internet Transactions
Transparency
Public Personnel Records
Bed Tax on Internet Sales of Lodging
Consultant’s Competitive Negotiations Act
Streamline Clerk of Court’s Budget Process
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1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in March
in odd numbered years
 For 60 consecutive calendar days
 Extended with 3/5 vote of the
members
 Special session rules
 Daily calendar – during session
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Fiscal Year is July – June
Budget requests are due to the Governor by
November 1
Governor prepares recommended budget by
January
◦ Must submit 45 days before legislative session begins
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Senate and House
◦ Prepare appropriation bill concurrently
◦ Separately debate and pass
Conference committee - resolves differences
established upfront – difficult to get adopted
General Appropriation Act
◦ Signed by government, or
◦ Line-item veto (Legislature can override with 2/3 vote in
each chamber)
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Suggested legislation
 Senator introduces bill
 Bill filed with secretary (number assigned)
 Bill read (1st reading)
 President refers to a committee
 Committee Hearing(s)
 Bill read in chamber (2nd reading)
 Senate debates (3rd reading)
 If passed, moves to House
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Bill read (1st reading)
Speaker assigns to a committee
Committee hearing(s)
Committee Recommendations
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Favorable
Favorable with amendments
Favorable with committee substitute
Unfavorable
Bill read to full house (2nd reading)
House debates (3rd reading)
If passed, return to Senate
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Complete formatting
 Record bill
 Governor signs
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◦ Signs act
◦ Becomes law without signature
◦ Vetoes
Secretary of State enacts
 Effective (either/or)
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◦ 60 days after adjournment
◦ Specific date
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Send back to House with changes
 Send to Conference Committee
(members from Senate and House
jointly)
 Majority must agree to resolve issues
 Both Senate and House adopt or bill
dies
 Bills may originate in House or Senate
– similar process
 Bill can be introduced concurrently
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HB3003
2011
A bill to be entitled
TITLE – required; briefly expresses the subject
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Florida:
BODY OF BILL – (revises or amends existing law)
 identifies subsections
 underlines new language
 strikes through the language to be deleted
EFFECTIVE DATE – Date the law takes effect
All lines are numbered to the left
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Commerce & Industry:
◦ Banking and Insurance
◦ Commerce & Tourism
◦ Transportation
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Energy, Environment, and Land use:
◦ Agriculture
◦ Communication, Energy and Public Utilities
◦ Community Affairs
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Government Operations:
◦ Ethics & Election
◦ Government Oversight and Accountability
◦ Military Affairs, Space & Domestic Security
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Ways and Means
◦ Several Budget Committees including:
 Finance and Tax
 General Government Appropriations
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Economic Affairs
 Education
 Finance and Tax
 Health and Human Services
 Judiciary
 State Affairs
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Study, research, and plan solutions
before debating on the floor
Minimize conflict among members
Bring outside sources to assist with
lawmaking process
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Contact Division of Legislative Services
at 850-488-4371
◦ Bills are assigned to a Committee
◦ Get opportunity to speak to Committee
◦ Will answer all your legislative questions
Senate – 40 members - www.flsenate.gov
 House – 120 members - www.myflorida
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house.gov
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The Florida Senate - send an e-mail to:
[email protected]
Mr. Haridopolos,
I would like to obtain a current copy of The Florida
Senate. It states in the back of the prior book that it is
distributed free of charge to Capitol visitors and other
interested Floridians.
Welcome to the Florida House of Representatives
- send a written request to:
Robert L. “Bob” Ward
Clerk of the House of Representatives
513 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
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Identical bills are introduced in both
houses (companion bills) –
simultaneous committee review
Conference Committee used to resolve
issue when Senate and House can’t
agree
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Speak to Senator, Representative,
Lobbyist
 Know subject
 Provide name, address, email, phone
number
 Briefly itemize your concerns
 Be to-the-point
 Provide supporting data
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The committee may require a written
testimony 24 hours prior to
presentation
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Complete appearance record form
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The committees follow agenda
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THE SENATE WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
ON A PENSION REFORM BILL FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 18 AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22.
SENATE LEADERSHIP WANTS YOU OR A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOUR CITY TO
ATTEND.
PLAN TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE MEETINGS
TO SUPPORT REFORM OF CHAPTER 175/185
PENSION MANDATES.
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WHAT: POLICE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER
PENSION REFORM BILL
WHEN: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18
8 A.M. – 12 P.M.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
3:15 P.M. – 5:15 P.M.
WHERE: 412 KNOTT BUILDING,
TALLAHASSEE, FL
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Bill language is available prior to meeting.
 FLC, FAC, FACC send bill summaries.
 Governments share experience with
committee.
 Can “waive speaking time” in support of the
bill.
 FLC coordinates the attendance of City
representatives.
 FLC has legislative staff to provide and
request additional information.
YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED.
YOUR VOICE IS CRITICAL.
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Refer to bill number
◦ Even numbers – Senate
◦ Odd numbers - House
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Follow activity on website
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Can set yourself up to be notified
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Legislative staff provides updates on
specific bills
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Transparency – SB224/HB107 – Signed
into law June 17, 2011
◦ Requires budget to be posted online
◦ Reduces report submittal time from 12 to 9 months
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Public Personnel Records – SB874/
HB597 – Signed into law May 31, 2011
◦ Provides exemption for those who are receiving
emergency notification
◦ Subject to Open Government Sunset Review Act in
FS 119.15
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Pension Reform – SB1128 – Signed into law
June 23, 2011
◦ Revised definition of compensation
◦ Made changes to actuarial reporting requirements
◦ Allows increased employee contributions without improving
benefits
◦ Directed Division of Management Services to develop rating
system
 FRS
- SB2100 – Signed into law May 26, 2011
◦ 3% employee contribution
◦ Definition of final compensation, change to vesting period,
normal retirement date/age, eliminate COLA, reduce DROP
interest rate
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Provide resource of accurate information
Once law - No more opportunity to
speak out
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FGFOA is proactively responding to bills
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Established Rapid Response Team
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The Chair is in contact with Legislative
Advocate to provide information
Response turn around is quick
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Health Insurance Mandates
Veterans/Surviving Spouse Tax Relief
Budget/Taxes
Property Tax Breaks
◦ Annual assessment cap from 10% to 5%
◦ First-time homebuyers credit
◦ Repeal recapture rule
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Judicial Reform
Small Business Tax Break
Senior Homestead Tax Exemption
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