FLASLA 2015 Week 2 Legislative Report

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Landscape Architecture Month

SB 452 by Senator Flores is the FLASLA resolution declaring April Landscape Architecture Month. It should be published this month prior to the commencement of Landscape Architecture Month. We are working with Senator Flores’ office to get a better idea of what date it be published.

Water and Environmental Resources

Environmental Resources

SB 918 by Senator Dean; No House companion to date

This bill outlines a comprehensive, statewide water and natural resources policy for Florida. It contains provisions related to public access to public lands, it creates a water resources work program, and it contains numerous springs provisions. The bill also creates the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network (SUN Trail) as a component of the Florida Greenways and Trails system consisting of hard-surfaced trails separated from roadways designed specifically for bicycle and pedestrian use. The bill requires a Consolidated Water Management District Annual Report that will contain information on all projects related to water quality or water quantity currently under construction or planned for construction in the next five years. Additionally, it requires the DEP and water management districts to establish standards for the collection of water quantity, quality, and related data to ensure quality, reliability, and validity of the data and testing results. The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee held another workshop on the bill this week but did not take a vote. There was a significant amount of public testimony, much of it supportive. However, some stakeholders expressed concern about shifting responsibility for improving water quality to local governments in springs protection areas without funding.

Amendment 1

HB 1291 by Representative Boyd passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee this week. Several stakeholders expressed support for this bill because it holds affordable housing funding harmless. HB 1295, a linked bill that creates a Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, also passed the committee.

SBs 576, 578, 580, 582, 584, and 586 passed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government with some technical amendments. However, the Senate package of bills are still of concern as it relates to affordable housing.

Other Legislation

Hazardous Walking Conditions

HB 41 by Representative Metz; SB 154 by Senator Hays

These bills requires school boards and other governmental entities to cooperate to identify and correct hazardous walking conditions on roads that children use to walk to schools. HB 41 is in its second of three committees. SB 154 will be heard in its first of four committees next week.

Public Private Partnerships

HB 63 by Representative Steube; SB 824 by Senator Evers

These bills contain glitch changes to the public private partnership statutes. They have been clarified to ensure that they do not interfere with the CCNA. HB 63 is in its second of four committees. SB 824 will be heard in its first of four committees next week.

Public Records

HB 163 by Representative Beshears; SB 224 by Senator Simpson

These bills are intended to prevent the abuse of public records law. Following a law change two years ago, some attorneys have brought multiple public records requests before private companies in order to catch them in public records violations and settle the cases. One law firm was even requiring quotas of its employees and an investigation is ongoing. Some landscape architecture firms have received such public records requests. These bills clarify the point of contact for public records requests and will contain conditions that must be met before attorney’s fees can be awarded in a case. HB 163 will be heard in its second of four committees next week. SB 224 is in its last committee.

Engineers

HB 217 by Representative Van Zant; SB 338 by Senator Altman

These bills create a structural engineer designation. They do not appear to be problematic to landscape architects but will be watched closely. HB 217 is on the House calendar on second reading. SB 338 passed its first of three committees this week.

2015 Session Dates

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