Legislative Update

More than ever, it is unclear what Florida's upcoming legislative session will bring. With fundamental changes in legislative composition, leadership, and rules, 1000 Friends of Florida is watching closely to see how the 1997 Legislature deals with critical issues relating to growth management, planning, the environment, and affordable housing. There are faint rumblings on the horizon about efforts to dilute comprehensive planning legislation this session, but it is too soon to tell. If this comes to pass, your active involvement will be essential.

Possible legislation includes:

• EAR -- Florida's Department of Community Affairs wants to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report ("EAR") process, and the legislature may establish a study committee to oversee this. While 1000 Friends supports ongoing efforts to review and improve comprehensive planning, it will closely monitor legislation related to appointments to and scope of work for such a committee to ensure that it is constructive.
• Plan Amendments -- Once again there is a movement to have the review and approval of local comprehensive plan amendments delegated to local governments. The 1996 Legislature established the Sustainable Communities Program, which substantially reduces state oversight of local planning in five communities on a pilot basis (see the article on page 7). 1000 Friends does not support further changes to the plan amendment process until the pilot program has been fully implemented for several years and then evaluated.
• Citizen Standing -- Some legislators have been discussing further limiting the citizen standing provisions in the state comprehensive planning legislation. 1000 Friends is strongly opposed, as it would severely limit the ability of private citizens and nonprofit organizations to challenge local government decisions that are contrary to adopted local comprehensive plans.
• Property Rights -- In both the House and Senate there may be efforts to file joint resolutions to put a private property rights amendment on the ballot in 1998. This would violate the compromise reached over the Bert Harris Private Property Rights Act, in which parties agreed not to introduce property rights measures for several years. It also represents an attempt to bypass the Florida Supreme Court, which is currently considering the proposed ballot language (see the article on page 6). 1000 Friends remains strongly opposed to efforts to weaken land use and environmental measures through property rights measures.
• Sadowski Act Amendments -- 1000 Friends and other members of the Sadowski Act Coalition have developed and are supporting amendments to improve Florida's flagship affordable housing legislation. With regard to the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program, proposed amendments would provide for: 1) greater citizen participation in the development of local government annual reports; 2) more flexibility to local governments in use of recycled SHIP monies; and 3) increased implementation of local government regulatory reform provisions. The amendments would also broaden affordable housing training and technical assistance provisions in the Catalyst Program.
• High Speed Rail -- 1000 Friends supports funding for the Florida Department of Transportation to continue planning for the proposed high speed rail and will closely monitor the land use and environmental aspects of the project.
• Preservation 2000 -- As in previous years, 1000 Friends supports full funding for the P2000 program for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive land. Once again there may be efforts to reduce the amount of funding, or to divert funds to other uses such as land management and exotics removal.
• Communities Trust Program -- This program to set aside a percentage of Preservation 2000 (P2000) monies for local projects expires this year. 1000 Friends supports reauthorization of the program.
• Land Management -- A push is expected to require all state-owned land to serve multiple purposes including water supply development, agricultural activities and, possibly, public facility siting. This issue should be examined with great care to ensure that, at minimum, uses are compatible with the purpose for which the land was purchased with tax payer support.
• Water Management -- Small bills are expected related to removing some PSC impediments to private investor-owned water utilities, the process to determine minimum flows and levels, and a planning process for identifying new sources. There also may be a push for new sources of money to develop local water supplies. 1000 Friends will continue to monitor water management issues, as water supply has a significant impact on the location of growth and development.

-- Casey Gluckman and Vivian Young

How You Can Make a Difference The only way you can make a difference is by staying informed about and involved in what is happening in Florida's Legislature. This session, Florida Public Television is again producing Today in the Legislature, a one-hour program highlighting each day's activities. Check your local television guide to see if it is running in your area. You can also:

• Call (800) 342-1827 to obtain copies of individual bills.
• Download copies of bills from the Legislature's home page on the Internet (http://www.leg.state.fl.us). You can search bills by subject matter.
• Write your legislators in Tallahassee:
  

  House members--The Honorable Jane/John Doe, Florida House of Representatives, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300. Dear Representative Doe:     Senators--The Honorable Jane/John Doe, Florida Senate Office Building, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100. Dear Senator Doe:

• Bring up the 1000 Friends web page at http://www.arch.usf.edu/1000 Friends of Florida /and look under organizations, or call Jeannette Hallock of 1000 Friends of Florida at (904) 222-6277.