Subject:
Title
2021 State Legislative Program.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the 2021 State Legislative Program.
• The 2021 State Legislative Program lays out the Board’s guiding principles and priorities for the 2021 Florida Legislative Session.
• The program is a result of discussions with the Board, County staff, and the County’s contracted state government relations firm.
• Priorities include:
1.) SUPPORT legislation to amend F.S. 252.38(3)(a)5 to increase the duration of time local governments are authorized to declare a local state of emergency, from seven days to thirty days.
2.) SPONSOR legislation to amend the Calamity Provision in F.S. 193.155(4)b and F.S. 193.1554(6)b to allow for residential properties within the Special Flood Hazard Area (with lowest living floor elevation below Base Flood Elevation) to qualify for the same assessed value treatment as calamities via elevation or reconstruction.
3.) SUPPORT legislation to amendment to F.S. 365.172(8)(a)4(f) that increases the maximum rate of the 9-1-1 fee to a rate higher than the current $.40 and expands the allowable uses of funds.
4.) SUPPORT the continued use of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at pedestrian crossings to ensure the safe crossing of pedestrians on our roadways.
5.) SUPPORT legislation that continues to allow water utilities to responsibly and safely utilize surface water discharges.
6.) SUPPORT keeping funding in place for critical regional transportation investments including the Westshore I-275/SR 60 interchange, TBNext I-275 Section 2 modernization and lane continuity improvements to downtown St. Petersburg, and U.S. 19 North capacity and safety improvements from SR 580 to the Pasco County line.
• In addition to the priorities included in the program, County staff and The Southern Group will closely monitor all issues that emerge throughout the 2021 Legislative Session and throughout the remainder of the year.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
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The 2021 State Legislative Program lays out the Board’s guiding principles and priorities for the 2021 Florida Legislative Session. In addition to the priorities included in the program, County staff and The Southern Group will closely monitor all issues that emerge throughout the 2021 Legislative Session and throughout the remainder of the year.
Body
Background Information:
After meeting with internal County departments and individual commissioners, a recommended program was discussed at Board work session on December 10, 2020. Based on feedback from the Board an additional item was added to the program. The 2021 State Legislative Program will guide the County’s legislative advocacy efforts during the 2021 Legislative Session and throughout the remainder of the year.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Intergovernmental Liaison, Office of the County Administrator
Partners:
Pinellas County Legislative Delegation
The Southern Group, State Government Relations Firm
Attachments:
2021 State Legislative Program