Governor Rick Scott announced today the appointment of Charles Henry to the Wekiva River Basin Commission.
Henry, 57, of Bradenton, is a health officer for the Department of Health in Sarasota. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and his master’s degree from Troy University. Henry succeeds Gerald Briggs and is appointed for a term beginning March 7, 2017, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
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Statements from Florida League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors
The Florida League of Cities and the Florida League of Mayors issued the following statements today in response to approval of SB 596 by the Senate Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committee:
Florida League of Cities President and Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie:
“The Florida League of Cities has profound concerns about Senate Bill 569. This legislation will strip away local authority in favor of private utility companies, giving Big Telecom a massive corporate handout by granting them virtually unlimited access to use resources within public rights of way.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Hutson and other interested parties to prevent the harm this bill would inflict on the ability of local communities to shape the character of their own hometown.”
Palm Shores Mayor Carol McCormack, President of the Florida League of Mayors:
“It’s well established that the best decisions for the future of a community are made by leaders within that community. Senate Bill 596 disregards that proven fact, ignoring the views of local decision-makers and instead handing authority to giant telecommunications corporations.
“While Florida’s mayors embrace innovation and new technological advancements, this legislation threatens our ability to help shape the look and feel of our hometown communities and gives private corporations unfettered access to public rights of way. This would be a terrible mistake, and we strongly oppose Senate Bill 596.”
CEA Reaction to Florida Hydraulic Fracturing Ban Proposal
Kevin Doyle, the Florida Executive Director for Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), released the below statement in reaction to Senate Bill 442, a proposal to ban hydraulic fracturing in Florida, which is being discussed today in the Florida Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee:
“Consumer Energy Alliance believes that it is critical to point out that hydraulic fracturing and the safe, state-of-the-art technology that it uses has received national praise and attention for enabling an economic resurgence across America and in particular manufacturing, chemicals, plastics, agriculture and almost every other facet of our lives.
“Given estimates that Florida’s population will grow from nearly 20 million in 2014 to 29 million in 2040, which the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council projects will increase electricity demand by more than 10 gigawatts by 2035 – or enough to power 7.5 million new homes. Since more and more of our electricity is being met by cleaner burning natural gas, it is important that the Sunshine State maintain a steady plan for safe, efficient and environmentally responsible energy development. Saying ‘no’ to energy progress is a short-sighted strategy that goes against families and businesses across the state.
“It’s time for Florida to advance policies that support an all-of-the-above energy portfolio. We need renewables, but we also need to promote oil and natural gas to ensure we can meet our growing energy demands. Energy diversity is critical for Florida’s economic success and security. We need policies that support responsible development of American resources. Floridians can and should have environmental protection AND energy development.”
PSC Proposes Rules for Establishing Reserve Funds for Water and Wastewater Utilities
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) voted today to propose rules allowing water and wastewater utilities to request a reserve fund, that may provide accessible, low-cost funding for infrastructure repair and replacement projects. The rules are consistent with House Bill 491, passed by the 2016 Florida Legislature, giving the PSC authority to establish reserve funds for water and wastewater utilities.
“Carrying out the Legislature’s directives to address water and wastewater utilities’ need to repair and replace infrastructure, which is an ongoing industry issue in our state, reduces utilities’ borrowing costs and make funding more readily available to meet short- and long-term capital expenditures,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “A reserve fund can also help reduce a utility’s need for frequent rate cases, thus lowering the impact of rate case expense for its customers.”
Chairman Brown added, “Safe, affordable drinking water and sanitary waste disposal are vital building blocks for economic development, job creation and retention in Florida’s communities. We will continue to work with the Legislature, helping Florida’s water and wastewater utilities meet their operational challenges to provide quality service to their customers.”
The proposed rules allow the PSC to create a reserve fund to be used for certain infrastructure repair and replacement projects, with disbursement subject to Commission approval. Once a reserve fund is approved, it will be secured through an escrow account or irrevocable letter of credit. The utility is required to provide a monthly report of the fund deposits and disbursements, a project status report every six months, an update in its annual report, and an updated capital improvement plan every three years.
The PSC held an initial rule development workshop in December 2016; water and wastewater industry representatives and the Office of Public Counsel, who represents utility customers, participated. If no requests for hearing or comments are filed, the rules will be filed with the Department of State.
Currently, the PSC has jurisdiction over 131 water and wastewater IOUs in 37 Florida counties.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Stop Playing Favorites Announces 2017 Legislative Priorities
Stop Playing Favorites Announces 2017 Legislative Priorities: Fix incentive programs, clear the path for ridesharing and stop the South Florida land grab.
Conservative grassroots group Stop Playing Favorites (SPF) announced their 2017 legislative priorities today in hopes of shining a spotlight on proposals for big government spending and regulations during the 2017 session.
The 2017 Legislative session starts this week and as always the stakes are high for taxpayers. There are three key examples of this that will be our priority as SPF aims to hold members accountable this year.
SPF’s top three issues will be, (1) Increased transparency and accountability within Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, (2) the removal of barriers for ridesharing programs and other innovative operations which frequently fall victim to unnecessary regulations promoted by their competition, and (3) stopping Senator Joe Negron’s South Florida land grab which has a tremendous price tag to taxpayers, will uproot communities and eliminate jobs.
The Stop Playing Favorites priorities are based on the key conservative principles of government accountability, responsible spending and free markets.
“Too many legislators have forgotten the fundamentals of conservatism and are working against the free market,” SPF’s Jason Hoyt stated.
Hoyt continued, “Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida must be transparent, have clear goals and be measured against those goals, and if they miss the mark either adjustments need to be made or they should be shut down. Continuing to throw taxpayer money at these programs without holding recipients of that money accountable through transparent metrics is irresponsible.”
Jason Hoyt also said, “Ensuring citizens and visitors of Florida have access to free market transportation options will increase competition and lower prices for everyone. Local monopolies who lobby for sweetheart deals and barriers to entry through protectionist regulations must be stopped.”
Lastly, Hoyt said, “Senator Negron’s 60,000 acre land grab will destroy several communities, thousands of jobs, and the livelihoods of farmers that feed the world, while numerous experts say the plan won’t even solve the problems Negron says he is trying to address.”
Stop Playing Favorites’ goal is to reach conservative groups throughout the state and provide them with updates encouraging them to take action by contacting their elected officials directly.
More information can be found at www.stopplayingfavorites.
Florida Realtors: Fake Realtor Board Scam Targets Florida Members
Florida Realtors® is warning Realtors and real estate licensees in Florida to be on the alert for a fraudulent letter scam. The “Florida Board of Realtors” does not exist, but Florida Realtors members have been receiving a “Final Notice” bill from them in the mail, saying their real estate licenses are in jeopardy. Complaints have come into Florida Realtors from all parts of the state.
“It’s a scam,” says Florida Realtors CEO Bill Martin. “And it’s not a simple scam. High-tech criminals put a great deal of work and planning into this.”
The form comes with a threat: “Failure to respond with your 2017 Agent Board Listing may lead to closure of board listing. Response required to be included in the Agency listing.”
The scam came to light over the past two days when agents, brokers and association executives started calling Florida Realtors. Many submitted copies of a letter that appears legitimate. The “Make check payable to:” address appears to be a post office in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
The letter also includes a website, floridaboardofrealtors.org. The website not only appears legitimate, it’s very professional. However, most of the links don’t work. Blogs in their “archive” appear to stretch back a few years, for example, but no content comes up when you click. The same is true for many other links.
“For now, members should ignore these demand letters, and we ask brokers and agents to spread this message to everyone working in the Florida real estate industry,” says Florida Realtors General Counsel Margy Grant. “Florida Realtors is still investigating and in contact with Florida authorities. It’s now also in front of the Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Economic Crimes section in Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office.
“Be vigilant. Be safe. And tell everyone you know,” says Grant. “Criminals created a truly impressive fake website, sent a complex fake letter and successfully alarmed Realtors across the state.”
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) have been notified of the scam. Florida Realtors legal team continues to investigate the scheme and is considering legal action, according to Grant.
Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 165,000 members in 55 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.
Seniors Advocacy Group Supports Meaningful Reform for Florida’s Continuing Care Retirement Communities
The Florida Life Care Residents Association (FLiCRA) is asking the Florida Legislature to hear Senate Bill 1430 sponsored by Senator Tom Lee and House Bill 1349 sponsored by Representative Cyndi Stevenson.
The association is keenly interested and aware of the magnitude of recent activities at several continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in the state of Florida. The situation that occurred, specifically, at University Village in Tampa, Florida has negatively impacted not only the welfare but also the financial footing of over five hundred residents that live in that community. The University Village case has brought to light gaps in Florida Statute 651 that could be addressed through reasonable reform.
“Senate Bill 1430 and House Bill 1349 are not perfect bills. However, there is considerable merit to some sections of the proposed legislation,” says Pat Arends, a resident of Freedom Village in Bradenton, Florida, and president of the state board of the FLiCRA.
“The association wants to ensure any legislative reform does not result in increases to ‘entry fee or monthly costs’ of residents living in continuing care retirement communities, nor impacts the ability of a CCRC to obtain financing or refinancing,” says Bennett Napier, CAE, executive director of FLiCRA.
Nonetheless, the association supports specific provisions in the proposed legislation that would not financially impact providers or residents, and that would improve the ability of the Office of Insurance Regulation to protect the rights and welfare of the 30,000 residents living in Florida communities.
FLiCRA agrees with other stakeholders that the vast majority of CCRC operators and owners are experienced, dedicated and successful in delivering quality services to thousands of seniors on a daily basis.
During the last several months, resident members of FLiCRA testified at a number of county legislative delegation meetings asking state legislators to fully debate the CCRC reform when it was filed for the 2017 session. Reasonable reform is required in 2017 to mitigate the ability of another provider to repeat similar actions that occurred at University Village. During the last two years, residents at University Village lived under a cloud of anxiety every day, not knowing what was going to happen to their community. Further, the residents have seen collectively, millions of dollars of hard earned retirement funds invested into the CCRC disappear.
The Florida Life Care Residents Association (FLiCRA) was established in 1989, and is the oldest and largest association of continuing care residents in the country. The membership of FLiCRA is exclusively made up of residents residing in Florida CCRCs. FLiCRA boasts a membership of nearly 14,000 members statewide. Its mission is to ensure quality of life for residents living in such communities.
For more information visit www.flicra.com.
FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed statement related to Certificate of Need
Florida Health Care Association Executive Director Emmett Reed issued the following statement today after the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee voted in support of HB 7 related to Certificate of Need (CON):
“We remain strongly opposed to any legislation that eliminates the Certificate of Need process for Florida’s nursing centers. CON is an essential tool to ensure that our state’s oldest residents continue to receive the highest quality of care. Florida’s extraordinary commitment to home- and community-based care is important for elders who can retain a measure of independence, but many others require the specialized care provided at nursing centers. The CON process is important to managing nursing center growth based on a demonstrated need and making sure centers remain viable with the resources needed to provide the highest quality care.
“While we are disappointed today’s legislation still includes language abolishing CON for our profession, we will continue advocating to have nursing centers removed from the bill and working with the House sponsor and leadership to provide a full understanding of the importance of the process for our state’s seniors.”
Jacksonville woman turns $5 into $500,000 playing Florida Lottery's GOLD RUSH Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Flora Demps, 46, of Jacksonville, claimed a top prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She purchased her winning ticket from Stop N Shop, located at 3625 Townsend Boulevard in Jacksonville.
The $5 Scratch-Off game, $500,000 GOLD RUSH, launched in January 2015. The game offers more than 7.5 million prizes ranging from $5 to $10,000 and top prizes of $500,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.23.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
Florida Realtors: Reducing Business Rent Tax Key for Fla Business Expansion
Affordable Housing, Insurance, Water Among Top 2017 Legislative Issues
As the 2017 Florida Legislature begins, Realtors® from across the state are ready to advocate for legislative priorities that will protect homeowners, promote business and community growth, safeguard Florida’s natural resources, ensure fair and transparent real estate transactions and provide Floridians with more affordable housing options.
Reducing the business rent tax is a top legislative priority for Florida Realtors®, says Florida Realtors 2017 President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart.
“Florida is the only state that charges this sales tax on commercial leases,” says Wells. “To stay competitive with other states and online retailers, we must reduce the business rent tax. This tax puts the Sunshine State at a disadvantage for new business and industry; eliminating it will help create new jobs and grow Florida’s economy.”
The past few weeks have been busy ones for lawmakers and the Florida Realtors’ public policy office as they prepared for the Legislature to convene.
“Leading up to session, we have been working hard to explain our issues to lawmakers and help them understand why legislation is needed,” says Carrie O’Rourke, vice president of public policy for Florida Realtors. “I think those efforts paid off based on the movement of some of these bills during the last month of pre-session committee meetings.”
Florida Realtors’ priorities are:
Reduce the business rent sales tax
Florida charges a six percent sales tax on business rent, creating a financial burden for any business that leases space. What’s more, municipalities and local governments may levy additional taxes on top of the state sales tax rate. Consequently, businesses in many counties are paying up to an eight percent sales tax on their business rent. Lowering the business rent tax will provide Florida businesses with the capital to expand, hire more employees, improve benefits and raise salaries.
Florida Realtors is leading a coalition of business trade associations and other interested parties to advocate for the successful passage of a bill that will reduce the amount of sales tax that businesses must pay to rent commercial space.
Support a permanent property tax cap on second homes and businesses
A constitutional amendment, passed by voters in 2008, created a 10 percent cap on the annual increase of property taxes for all non-homestead properties. This cap helps make sure businesses don’t get hit with property tax bills they can’t cover, the cost of owning a second home doesn’t skyrocket and that renters don’t see huge increases in their monthly rent. However, this cap is set to expire on Jan. 1, 2019.
Florida Realtors is leading a coalition of business trade associations to encourage the Legislature to take action this session to ensure a constitutional amendment is put back in front of voters for renewal during the 2018 General Election.
Cap the fees charged by community associations for estoppel certificates
Florida law allows condo and homeowners associations to charge a “reasonable” fee to prepare an estoppel certificate, which is essentially a payoff letter. Some association management companies have turned this administrative task into a lucrative revenue stream.
Florida Realtors is advocating for a bill that restores fairness to real estate transactions by capping estoppel fees.
Increase funding of the housing trust funds
The state and local government housing trust funds were created to help families achieve the dream of homeownership with down payment assistance. They also provide housing rehabilitation and rental assistance to Florida’s homeless, veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities.
Last year, the Legislature allocated $200.1 million toward the housing trust funds, the highest funding level in nine years. This is a significant allocation and we applaud lawmakers for supporting housing programs. However, as the economy continues to strengthen and home values rise, the need for housing assistance will increase as well.
Florida Realtors is urging the Legislature to appropriate the housing trust fund monies for housing programs.
Help preserve Florida’s natural resources
No matter where you live in Florida, clean and abundant water is vital. Florida Realtors supports legislation that reduces the number of septic tanks near shorelines and other important surface waters through a voluntary cost-share program between state and local governments that converts onsite sewage systems to central sewage.
Reform Assignment of Benefits to stop the abuses that raise everyone’s insurance rates
Assignment of Benefits (AOB) allows a contractor or companies handling repairs for a homeowner to work directly with the insurance company and collect the homeowner’s insurance benefits. Abuse of Assignment of Benefits with water and roofing claims have led to a significant increase in both the frequency and severity of insurance claims, particularly in South Florida. As a result, several insurance companies are requesting significant rate increases, and this shows no sign of slowing.
Florida Realtors supports legislation that would implement Assignment of Benefits reforms aimed at reducing this fraud and abuse.
To find out more about Florida Realtors’ legislative priorities this year, go to: http://www.floridarealtors.org/LegislativeCenter/TopInitiatives/index.cfm.
Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 165,000 members in 55 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.
