2010 Legislative Session: Some Wins, Some Losses

By Commissioner Jeff Koons

At our June 8 Board of County Commissioners meeting, we received a final report on the 2010 Florida Legislative Session. Considering the extremely tight budget situation in Tallahassee, I think we did pretty well this year. A total of 14 bills that had Palm Beach County support were signed into law, including four sponsored by our locally elected lawmakers. Our lobbying team also was successful in getting a number of appropriation requests discussed and approved.

From a personal standpoint, my top priority, a dedicated funding source for Tri-Rail, was approved by lawmakers in a special session late last year. An additional $1 million for South Florida Regional Transportation Authority operations, maintenance and dispatching services was approved during the regular session, but was vetoed by the governor.

Here is a rundown of other significant items approved this year:

• Ethics Reform – Palm Beach County has become a leader in enacting strict ethics rules and regulations for public officials and employees. We supported a new state law that doubles the fines from $500 to $1,000 and increases jail time from 60 days to up to one year for those who violate the public trust.
• Child Care Homes – This law amends the way the county licenses child care homes. It establishes a new category called “family” child care homes, allowing up to 12 children to be cared for under one roof.
• Traffic Cameras – A provision in the approved red-light camera legislation will enable trauma centers to receive $10 from each fine collected and $3 to go toward spinal cord injury treatment and research.
• Beaches – $15.5 million was awarded for beach projects statewide, but more importantly $10 million for the county’s beach renourishment project on Singer Island was safeguarded .
• Juvenile Assessment Center – Funding in the amount of $175,000 was approved by lawmakers, but vetoed by the governor. Palm Beach County desperately needs a new center, and it may take five years or more of continued efforts to get all the necessary dollars.
• Special Elections – Having to hold a special election for one race is expensive. But sometimes the law requires it. Recognizing this, lawmakers appropriated nearly $2 million in reimbursement funds -- five times more money than last year.
• Gaming – Perhaps the biggest disappointment this session was approval of the compact that gives the Seminole tribe exclusive rights to operate certain card games and slot machines at its casinos. We were really hoping to be allowed to offer expanded gaming at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Instead, the county will continue losing out on tax revenue and hundreds of jobs to Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The dog track is located in one of the few unincorporated community redevelopment districts in Palm Beach County, and any increase in the tax base would have gone to the Westgate CRA, which has been investing heavily in infrastructure in the area.

Hurricane Reminder
With hurricane season here, it’s important to stay prepared and vigilant. This includes watching out for your neighbors.

Please make it a point to draw up a list of emergency phone numbers of those who evacuate or are seasonal residents, so you can notify them of any damage to their units. Volunteer to go door-to-door before and after a storm to make sure everyone is all right. Pay special attention to elderly residents and those who live alone. Offer to be a driver if someone will need to go to a special needs shelter. Contact your HOA board to see if there is a storm prep committee you can serve on. If not, consider forming one. Finally, if you are able, assist your neighbors with shutters and removing branches and other landscape debris.

It’s a long season, but by working together we will come through it okay. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.  Please feel free to contact me or my staff at 355-2202.