November 13, 2012 Diane Reichard, Finance Director City of Temple Terrace

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

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4  The FGFOA established five List Serve’s to allow the membership to communicate on important issues.  What are List Serves? based communication. As a member, you can ask other members a question. Members can choose to get responses as they are sent or all at once at a scheduled time. You will receive all s 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.

 Accounting and Auditing  Treasury Management  Debt Management  Budgeting  Financial Administration  Disaster Recovery 5

 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 6

 Accounting  Annual Financial Reporting  Annual Financial Audit  Budgeting  Capital Planning  Cash Management and Investing  Cash Receipts/Accounts Receivable  Dates to Remember  And 11 More 7

8 During the legislative session, the following websites will provide information to help you track the bills:  Senate –  House –  FLC Legislative Bulletin – leagueofcities.com/LegislativeBulletin.aspx leagueofcities.com/LegislativeBulletin.aspx  Florida Association of Counties –  Final FAC 2012 Legislative Report – counties.com/Docs/Legislative%20Division/Leg%20 Programs/2012%20Leg%20Report.pdf counties.com/Docs/Legislative%20Division/Leg%20 Programs/2012%20Leg%20Report.pdf

9 Provides a geographically-based information network to assist in promoting, sponsoring and opposing proposed legislation.  2012 FGFOA Legislative Policies and Recommendations - Files/FGFOA%20Committees/ /Legislative %20Recommendations/2012AdoptedPolicy Recommen dationsClean pdf (This is found under Committees – Legislative – at the bottom) Files/FGFOA%20Committees/ /Legislative %20Recommendations/2012AdoptedPolicy Recommen dationsClean pdf  FAC Legislative Policies – Pages/Advocacy/Legislative_Policies.aspx Pages/Advocacy/Legislative_Policies.aspx

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. 10

 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 11

 1 st Tuesday after 1 st 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 12

 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) 13

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 Suggested legislation  Senator introduces bill  Bill filed with secretary (number assigned)  Bill read (1 st reading)  President refers to a committee  Committee Hearing(s)  Bill read in chamber (2 nd reading)  Senate debates (3 rd reading)  If passed, moves to House 15

 Bill read (1 st 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 (2 nd reading)  House debates (3 rd reading)  If passed, return to Senate 16

 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 17

 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 18

HB 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 19

 Commerce & Industry: ◦ Banking and Insurance ◦ Commerce & Tourism ◦ Transportation  Energy, Environment, and Land use: ◦ Agriculture ◦ Communication, Energy and Public Utilities ◦ Community Affairs 20

 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 21

 Economic Affairs  Education  Finance and Tax  Health and Human Services  Judiciary  State Affairs 22

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

 Contact Division of Legislative Services at ◦ Bills are assigned to a Committee ◦ Get opportunity to speak to Committee ◦ Will answer all your legislative questions  Senate – 40 members  House – 120 members - house.gov house.gov 24

The Florida Senate - send an to: 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

 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 26

 Speak to Senator, Representative, Lobbyist  Know subject  Provide name, address, , phone number  Briefly itemize your concerns  Be to-the-point  Provide supporting data 27

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

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. 29

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 30

 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. 31

 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 32

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 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

 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 36

 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 37

 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 38

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