7/8/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

8. 1997 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT BY REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES SEMBLER Rep. Charles Sembler advised that he would highlight the issues which fall under the Board's jurisdiction, which he thought would be of greatest importance to them today and in the future. Concerning Transportation, he advised that the Treasure Coast delegation was able to secure $20,000,000+ to continue the advancement of the SR -60 project. He indicated that he would also try to assist in other projects. With respect to Arts and Parks, he advised they were able to get some grants for Riverside Theater, Center for the Arts, the Agricultural Center, the Fairgrounds boat ramps on the Sebastian River, and a new ranger station and fisheries museum for the Sebastian Inlet. There were also some smaller grants. He explained that for the first time, they were able to combine the appropriations process with the standing committee having jurisdiction over the particular agency. The goal was to determine if the "juice is worth the squeeze". In many cases it was not. They tried to put a process in place to resolve that. He is working on Mandates Provisions especially with regulatory agencies for local governments. He has instructed the staff of his committee, and other committees throughout the House, by direction of the Speaker, to take a holistic view at what programs are being required by the government, what they cost, and what benefits are being derived from them. He has extended it a little further under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Protection to have the staff take a look at specifically the mandates provision. They were able to curb the mandates this year, but he wants to look at what can be eliminated or perhaps amend some things to make compliance a little easier. With respect to Solid Waste and Recycling, he believed that the goals are admirable, but very expensive. The new proposals are expansions on what we have now, not a repeal. The proposals that have come forward have had no funding source. The proposals did not get anywhere in his particular committee. Over the summer, he will be looking at refocusing and trying to do what is fair and right, and identifying some funding. This year is a crossroads in Florida's history with the appointments to the Constitutional Revisions Commission. This will have a profound impact on whatever is proposed for the election in November. He plans to take an active role as that process moves along and considers the Commission to be a key player in the role he will play. He will be soliciting their input. Ideas that will come from Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties will probably be much 19 BDOK `� � � P�.0 2e' JULY 89 1997