Legislative Review
Philip L. Leary, AICP
pleary@LearyGAC.com www.LearyGAC.com
The Legislature finished the 60-day regular ses- sion at 10:45pm on Fri- day May 2nd after passing a 2014-15 fiscal year budget of $77.1 billion
dollars, the largest budget in state history. In- cluded in the budget were tax rollbacks for vehi- cle registration, tags and driver licenses and sev- eral sales tax holidays including Back-to-School and Hurricane Supplies, that added up to ap- proximately $500 million dollars. From a policy perspective only 264 bills passed during the 60 day session, after over 1500 were filed. This is the lowest numbers of bills passed in several years and was due primarily to the fall election cycle and legislators not wanting any controver- sial legislation to effect the Governors race. Specifically for Fairs, Senator Wilton Simpson (R
-New ort Richey) filed SB 624 which would have prohibited a county from levying a tax, special assessment, or fee for the planning, construction, operation, use, or maintenance of storm water facilities against land owned by a Fair associa- tion; prohibited a county, municipality, or special district from imposing an impact or mobility fee on a Fair association; and would have exempted Fair associations from the assessment or imposi- tion of a fee by local or regional governmental entities for the planning, construction, operation, use, or maintenance of storm water management systems. The bill made it through two senate Committees
with only one no vote, but stalled after the House bill HB 1259 sponsored by Rep. Ray Rodriguez (R -Ft. Myers), never received a committee hearing. I fully expect both bills to be refiled for the 2015 Legislative session by the sponsors and a very good chance for the bill to pass. I will be working with the Fairs’ attorneys, staff and the legislators to expand the bill to cover all Fairs. The other legislation affecting Fairs, SB 1142/
HB 1057 Ticket Sales; By Sen. Tom Lee (R- Brandon) and Rep. Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) passed both Houses was enrolled and is on the governor’s desk for signing into law. SB 1142 provides that a person who counterfeits, forges,
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alters, clones, or possesses a ticket, card, wrist- band, or other medium that accesses or is associ- ated with a specified ticket, token, or paper with the intent to defraud commits a misdemeanor of the first degree; provides enhanced criminal pen- alties for second and subsequent violations con- cerning fraudulent creation or possession of an admission ticket; it also prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or transfer of certain multiuse tickets or a card, wristband, or other medium that accesses or is associated with such multiuse ticket. As the fall elections approach, this is a good
time to contact your Representative and Senator and give them a tour of your Fair, discuss your and the Associations issues and educate them on the many benefits the Fair provides to the com- munity. And, it is also important for you to be active in their campaigns early on as this will prove to be very valuable in both the near future and beyond. As an Association we have been very fortunate in our legislative initiatives over the last few years, and your involvement in the legislative process is key to maintaining that success in the future. Have s great summer!
Fun.
Interactive. Affordable.
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Divas Gone Country Music from America’s Heartland
Contact talent expert Tim Stevens 1-888-654-6901
www.glberg.com •
tim@glberg.com
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