Legislative ProcessFGFOA School

November 13, 2012Diane Reichard, Finance Director

City of Temple Terrace

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Resources Legislative Policies Legislative Session Calendar How a Bill Becomes law Purpose of Committees General Appropriation Bill How to Track Bills

FGFOA

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http://www.fgfoa.org/

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FGFOA List Serves http://www.fgfoa.org/resources.aspx?CNID=4386 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

List Serve Categories

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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

Resource Manualhttp://www.fgfoa.org/resources.aspx?CNID=4382

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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

Resource Manual Sections

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Website ToolsDuring 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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FGFOA Legislative CommitteeProvides 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. 

Legislative Policies

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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

Contents of Legislative Policies

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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

Legislative 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

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)

Appropriations Bill Calendar

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FLC Legislative Action Days

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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

How an Idea Becomes a Law

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Bill read (1st reading) Speaker assigns to a committee Committee hearing(s) Committee Recommendations

◦ 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

House after Senate

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Complete formatting Record bill Governor signs

◦ Signs act◦ Becomes law without signature◦ Vetoes

Secretary of State enacts Effective (either/or)

◦ 60 days after adjournment◦ Specific date

Senate Concurs

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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

Senate Does Not Concur

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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

How Does a Bill Look?

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Commerce & Industry:◦Banking and Insurance◦Commerce & Tourism◦Transportation

Energy, Environment, and Land use:◦Agriculture◦Communication, Energy and Public Utilities◦Community Affairs

Senate Policy and Steering Committees

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Government Operations:◦Ethics & Election◦Government Oversight and Accountability◦Military Affairs, Space & Domestic Security

Ways and Means◦Several Budget Committees including:

Finance and Tax General Government Appropriations

Senate Policy and Steering Committees

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Economic Affairs Education Finance and Tax Health and Human Services Judiciary State Affairs

House Committees

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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

Why Committees?

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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 house.gov

Legislative Information Services

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The Florida Senate - send an e-mail to: haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov 

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 Representatives513 The Capitol402 South Monroe StreetTallahassee, FL  32399-1300

Helpful Guides

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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

What Committee?

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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

How Do You Handle Concerns?

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The committee may require a written testimony 24 hours prior to presentation

Complete appearance record form The committees follow agenda

Committee Testimony

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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.

Notices Of Committee Meeting

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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

Committee Meeting Agenda

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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.

Committee Meeting Information

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Refer to bill number◦Even numbers – Senate◦Odd numbers - House

Follow activity on website Can set yourself up to be notified Legislative staff provides updates on specific bills

How to Track Bills

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Senate Tracker

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http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill

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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

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

Report Card on Policy Recommendations

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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

Report Card on Policy Recommendations

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Provide resource of accurate information

Once law - No more opportunity to speak out

FGFOA is proactively responding to bills

Established Rapid Response Team The Chair is in contact with Legislative Advocate to provide information

Response turn around is quick

FGFOA Involvement

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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

Judicial Reform Small Business Tax Break Senior Homestead Tax Exemption

November Amendments

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Thank You