A Biweekly Legislative Bulletin from FAPA 

 IN THIS ISSUE

FAPA Bill Tracking Summary

FAPA's Focus
STOP Highway Robbery

Issue One
2004 Legislative Session


The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide
leadership in the development of sustainable
communities by advocating excellence in
planning, providing professional development for
its members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built environments.

 
FAPA BILL TRACKING SUMMARY

During the 2004 Legislative Session, at a minimum, FAPA will track bills related to growth management, including those that address planning, redevelopment, transportation, housing and community development, emergency preparedness, and water and environmental issues.  FAPA may also track bills that affect state and regional agencies, local governments, and special districts, as well as those that may have implications for the state budget or the Florida Constitution.  Below is a list of the bills shown on FAPA's Bill Tracking Summary as of January 6, 2004.  The Bill Tracking summary is posted to FAPA's website at www.floridaplanning.org and is updated on a weekly basis.  It includes brief summaries, bill action, and related legislation.  Future issues of FAPA's Legislative Reporter will only reflect new bills added to the Bill Tracking Summary from one bulletin issue to the next.

HB 0003 Relating to High Speed Ground Transportation Allen
HB 0049 Relating to Constitutional Amendments/Initiative Green
HB 0067 Relating to State Constitution/Amendments Kallinger
HB 0143 Relating to Land Development Regulations Barreiro
SB 0152 Relating to 2020 Water Study Commission Saunders
SB 0162 Relating to Land Development Regulation Bennett
SB 0188 Relating to Community Affairs Dept. Geller
HB 0233 Relating to Ad Valorem Taxes/NW Fla. Water Mgmt. Richardson
SB 0268 Relating to School Growth Planning Geller
HB 0293 Relating to Water Resources Russell
SB 0302 Relating to Fla. High-Speed Rail Authority Act Dockery
SB 0304 Relating to Ratification of Amendments/Votes Dockery
HB 0373 Relating to Water Mgmt. Districts/Boundaries Spratt
SB 0374 Relating to Intergovernmental Programs Cowin
HB 0409 Relating to Coastal Redevelopment Sullivan
SB 0424 Relating to Surplus State Lands/Disposition Geller
SB 0452 Relating to Local Governments/Annexation Constantine
SB 0458 Relating to Constitutional Amendments/Initiative Bennett
SB 0488 Relating to Ad Valorem Taxes/Water Management Natural Resources
SB 0536 Relating to Comprehensive Plans/Rural Community Lynn
SB 0686 Relating to Coastal Redevelopment Jones
SB 0696 Relating to Environmental Permitting System Smith
SB 1078 Relating to Water Resources Lynn
SB 1104 Relating to Water Resources Dockery
SB 1142 Relating to Water Resources Dockery
SB 1174 Relating to Developments of Regional Impact Bennett
SB 1180 Relating to Southwest Fla. Water Mgmt. District Dockery
SB 1202 Relating to Local Water Sources First Day Cowin
SB 1214 Relating to Wekiva River Basin Act Constantine
SB 1266 Relating to Environmental Protection Clary
SB 1286 Relating to Department of Community Affairs Webster
SB 1310 Relating to Developments of Regional Impact Jones
SB 1316 Relating to Renewable Energy Bennett
SB 1392 Relating to Community Development Districts Comprehensive Planning
SB 1420 Relating to Rural Land Protection Dockery
SB 1492 Relating to Renewable Energy Comm. & Public Utilities
SB 1502 Relating to High-Speed Ground Transportation Klein

Go to the Florida Legislature's website at http://www.leg.state.fl.us to view or download bills.

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FAPA's FOCUS

Impact FeesAt the reqiest of the Senate Committee on Comprehensive Planning, FAPA has been participating in an informal review of draft bill language creating an impact fee enabling act.  Although not yet filed, Senator Bennet is expected to sponsor the bill.  FAPA solicited input on the various drafts from its members with expertise in this area.  The FAPA Executive Committee will consider a formal position on this legislation when it meets in February.  As soon as the bill is filed, it will be included on the bill tracking summary.

DRIs:  Originally drafted by the Association of Florida Community Developers, SB 1174 amends Section 380.06, F.S., the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) program.  Among the various changes, it reduces the issues that must be included in an application for development approval; revises the requirements for development orders; deletes certain exceptions under which a local government is prohibited from issuing a permit for development subsequent to the termination date contained in a development order; revises thresholds under which a proposed change to a previously approved development constitutes a substantial deviation and is subject to review as a DRI; revises rule adoption authority; and revises criteria exempting certain marinas and waterports from review. It is our understanding that the purpose of the revisions is to reduce the amount of information required of the developer by the process, reduce the number of impacts that hav e to be addressed, and eliminate from the process impacts that are addressed through permitting.  FAPA has not taken a position on this bill and welcomes constructive comments.  Remember, you may view bills at www.leg.state.fl.us.  Please forward your comments to
fapa@floridaplanning.org.

Rural Land Stewardship AreasFAPA is working closely with the Rural Lands Stewardship Council and representatives of the development, agricultural and environmental community to draft legislation that would implement FAPA's recommendations regarding the Rural Land Stewardship Program.  Although the list of recommended changes is growing, the original paper may still be found on FAPA's website at
www.floridaplanning.org.  Once the legislation is drafted, we will make it available for viewing.

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STOP HIGHWAY ROBBERY!
Last fall, TRU$T launched the "STOP Highway Robbery!" campaign, aimed at preventing a $200 million raid on the State's Transportation Trust Fund in 2004.  TRU$T is comprised of Floridians for Better Transportation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and about 15 other statewide organizations, including FAPA.  As part of the "STOP Highway Robbery!" campaign, Legislators are being asked to sign the Transportation Trust Fund Protection Pledge in opposition to any and all efforts to redirect, raid, divert or sweep dollars from the State Transportation Trust Fund.  For more information on the campaign or for copies of the pledge, letters, talking points, bumper stickers, and e-mail links to the Governor and Legislators, please go to FBT's website at www.bettertransportation.org, or contact FBT's President, Douglas Callaway at (850) 521-1256 or dcallaway@bettertransportation.org. 

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Sheri Coven, Executive Director
Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association
2040 Delta Way, Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone:  850/201-FAPA (3272)
Email: 
fapa@floridaplanning.org
Web Site:  www.floridaplanning.org

FAPA's Legislative Reporter is issued biweekly from January through May of each year.  Its purpose is to keep FAPA members apprised of legislation that impacts planning and the planning profession.