| |
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Session 2004 - Report 1
The 2004 Legislative
Session will begin tomorrow, March 2nd. It is due to conclude
on April 30th. We hope we don't have to ask too much from each
of you this year, but if you receive an "URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT" from
FTBA, please act immediately. Everything moves very quickly during
session and if an alert is sent out it means we really need your help in
contacting your hometown legislators. Hearing from you can make the
difference in their position on issues. Please keep that in mind during
the next 60 days. Acting to the alert is easy; everything will already be
set up for you. It only takes a few minutes.
Links have been set up in
this report and subsequent ones. Anything that is underlined will take
you to the website to view information relating to the topic.
State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF)
The Governor has recommended another "sweep" of the STTF. This year it is $100 million
(last year it was $200 million). We have been working with Floridians for
Better Transportation to obtain signed pledges from legislators stating
they will oppose and vote against any sweep, raid or diversion of
transportation trust fund dollars. To date, 23 Senators (out of 40) have
signed the pledge and 17 (out of 120) House members. Use this link to see
who has signed on:
Legislators who have signed the Transportation Trust Pledge. Please
let them know you appreciate their support. Simply click on their e-mail
address to send an email. This information is also available on the FTBA
website.
Work Zone Safety
HB 1103 by Representative Dave Russell (R-Spring Hill) has been filed but
not yet referred to any committees. The Senate Bill will be a Senate
Transportation Committee bill with Senator Jim Sebesta (R-St. Petersburg)
the sponsor. We'll let you know the bill number as soon as it is assigned.
We have two very strong sponsors. They are both Chairmen of the
Transportation Committees in their respective chamber.
These bills will allow
the use of camera-enforced radar in active construction work zones. We
appreciate those who have emailed the Governor asking for his support on
this issue. After meeting with his staff, we believe he will not be an
obstacle. We just have to get it through the legislature.
Diversion Bills
HB 491 by Representative Don Davis (R-Jacksonville) and
SB 1630 by Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Miami). These bills relate to the
Rental Car Surcharge. The bills reduce the percentage the STTF receives
from the rental car surcharge and would give it to two tourism-related
trust funds. According to FDOT the negative impact would be $90 M to the
work program.
SB 2214 by Senator Evelyn Lynn (R-Ormond Beach) and
HB 1049 by the Committee on Transportation both revise the specialty
license plate formation process. The bills divert $1 of motor vehicle
license plate revenues from the STTF to the Highway Safety Operating Trust
Fund for the recruitment and retention of state law enforcement.
According to FDOT the negative impact would be $140 M to the work program.
LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
FTBA is co-hosting a
Legislative Reception with the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida,
Florida Concrete and Products Association and the Underground Utility
Contractors Association of Florida. The reception will be held on Monday,
March 29th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Hospitality Square, 200 W.
College.
A block of rooms has
been secured at the Holiday Inn Select on Tennessee Street (this is the
round Holiday Inn). Please call 800-648-6135 for reservations. The code
for the group rate is: TRA.
For more information on the Legislature, please use the following links:
Florida Senate
Florida House of Representatives
|
|
|
|
|
