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Legislative Process FGFOA School

Legislative Process FGFOA School. November 13, 2012 Diane Reichard, Finance Director City of Temple Terrace. FGFOA. 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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Legislative Process FGFOA School

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  1. Legislative ProcessFGFOA School November 13, 2012 Diane Reichard, Finance Director City of Temple Terrace

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

  3. http://www.fgfoa.org/

  4. 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.

  5. List Serve Categories • Accounting and Auditing • Treasury Management • Debt Management • Budgeting • Financial Administration • Disaster Recovery

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

  7. Resource Manual Sections • Accounting • Annual Financial Reporting • Annual Financial Audit • Budgeting • Capital Planning • Cash Management and Investing • Cash Receipts/Accounts Receivable • Dates to Remember • And 11 More

  8. Website Tools 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

  9. FGFOA Legislative Committee 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

  10. Legislative Policies 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. 

  11. Contents of Legislative Policies • 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

  12. Legislative Session • 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

  13. Appropriations Bill Calendar • 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)

  14. FLC Legislative Action Days

  15. How an Idea Becomes a Law • 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

  16. House after Senate • 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

  17. Senate Concurs • 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

  18. Senate Does Not Concur • 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

  19. How Does a Bill Look? 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

  20. Senate Policy and Steering Committees • Commerce & Industry: • Banking and Insurance • Commerce & Tourism • Transportation • Energy, Environment, and Land use: • Agriculture • Communication, Energy and Public Utilities • Community Affairs

  21. Senate Policy and Steering Committees • 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

  22. House Committees • Economic Affairs • Education • Finance and Tax • Health and Human Services • Judiciary • State Affairs

  23. Why Committees? • Study, research, and plan solutions before debating on the floor • Minimize conflict among members • Bring outside sources to assist with lawmaking process

  24. Legislative Information Services • 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

  25. Helpful Guides 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 Representatives 513 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL  32399-1300

  26. What Committee? • 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

  27. How Do You Handle Concerns? • Speak to Senator, Representative, Lobbyist • Know subject • Provide name, address, email, phone number • Briefly itemize your concerns • Be to-the-point • Provide supporting data

  28. Committee Testimony • The committee may require a written testimony 24 hours prior to presentation • Complete appearance record form • The committees follow agenda

  29. Notices Of Committee Meeting 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.

  30. Committee Meeting Agenda 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

  31. Committee Meeting Information • 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.

  32. How to Track Bills • 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

  33. Senate Tracker

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

  35. Report Card on Policy Recommendations • 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

  36. Report Card on Policy Recommendations • 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

  37. FGFOA Involvement • 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

  38. November Amendments • 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

  39. Thank You

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