Here are the legislative issues facing Northeast Florida
Jacksonville Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/print-edition/2015/03/06/here-are-the-legislative-issues-facing-northeast.html?ana=e_ph_prem&u=Z5%2FB3zaljhFU+nAAPgtvmA0f222419&t=1425645935&page=all
Politicians, lobbyists and plenty of other people with a stake in Florida's future poured into Tallahassee this week, settling in for the 2015 legislative session.
For the next 60 days or so, these men and women will have to tackle a range of difficult issues, including the vital need to fix the state's water situation, decide which taxes should be cut and allocate the pool of money newly slated for environmental projects.
A host of the issues facing the 2015 Legislature will have a massive impact on Northeast Florida — with perhaps the largest being the morass caused by the loss of funding for indigent care.
But there are other big issues as well. Read on for details on the proposals that matter most to the Northeast Florida business community.
Medical Marijuana
When Amendment 2 seemed on the verge of passing and medical marijuana being made legal, Northeast Florida entrepreneurs were quick to jump into what looked like a promising new business.
It was not to be, but two bills have been introduced that will put the issue back on the table.
The first, by Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) would extend legalization beyond the specific Charlotte's Web strain of low-THC variety cannabis to allow for medical-grade marijuana for certain health condistions.
The other, proposed by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota), is considered a kind of companion bill to Brandes'. It attempts to close some of the loop holes pointed out by opponents who want to keep pot only in the hands of patients who need by allowing for a non-smokable form of marijuana that targets eight specific diseases and those who are terminally ill.
Both of the pieces of legislation are promising, according to Jodi James, executive director of the Florida Cannabis Action Network based in Melbourne.
"This is very good news in that there are an awful lot of people who have a vested interest in getting this [marijuana] business going," said James. "It's good for patients, and it's good for business."
FCAN is not the only organization watching how things shake out at the state capital. In addition to other high-profile lobbyist groups such as John Morgan's People United for Medical Marijuana, James said would-be entrepreneurs are on the lookout for potential investment opportunities.
On the other side of the issue, opponents see legalized pot as a kind of slippery slope, one that could open the door to use of other drugs or damage the state's family-friendly image of its tourism industry.
Infrastructure
Transportation funding should see a major increase for the 2016 fiscal year, with about $9 billion worth of funding allocated through the state department of transportation.
North Florida should be a big benefactor of that increase with $1.1 billion going to the northern 18 counties, said FDOT spokesman Ron Tittle. Of those allocated funds, about $800 million will go to the construction of new projects — double the amount for construction in 2015.
"Every main roadway is going to be under construction," Tittle said, adding that the end results will be worth the wait. "We're accommodating an increase in port activity, building capacity for guests and visitors coming to Florida. There are a lot of projects on the table and when there's funding we do those projects."
Port
Two bills have been introduced that are geared to bring activity to state ports. The first, House bill 257, creates freight logistics zones, and is poised to pass this year, he said.
The second, House bill 331, will puts the funding in place for projects such as dredging and freight mobility. Projects such as the St. Johns harbor deepening and the North rail corridor would be included in such a bill.
The other big issue facing the Legislature: the proposal to breech the Rodman Dam.
That proposal is the subject of an agreement between the JaxChamber and the St. Johns Riverkeeper that gives environmentalists a long-sought-after goal in return for dropping opposition to plans to deepen the harbor.
Manufacturing
Several bills will be introduced during this legislative session that will directly or indirectly affect the manufacturing industry.
* House bill 777 will provide a statewide assessment of how electrical rates in Florida compare to other states — such as Georgia, where it is believed to be 50 percent cheaper, said State Rep. Lake Ray (R-Jacksonville), who is also executive director of the First Coast Manufacturers Association said. "This bill will see how much government has added to those expenses," he said.
* An unnumbered bill that will freeze the property tax for ten years for manufacturers who have been in business in Florida for more than 20 years and are changing their equipment. "Right now," Ray said, "the way it works is when someone makes a change out, the property taxes are raised substantially. The opportunity is to keep the company here. Now they're unable to make the changes they need to make and go forward without being impacted negatively."
Brewing
Local craft brewers were big players in last year's fight over the industry — which started with a push to allow 64-ounce growlers and turned into a referendum on taprooms.
This year, a growler bill has already passed the Regulated Industries Committee in the Senate and a companion bill is making its way through the House.
"We got a lot of support this year," said Ben Davis, owner of Intuition Ale Works. "I think this year both state [legislative bodies] are on our side. With the jobs we are creating, the taxes — they know how important we are to contributing to the economy. They protect our taprooms and allow us to operate the way we are. It basically allows us to have taprooms on the side of breweries with no exceptions associated with it."
Higher Education
University of North Florida President John Delaney said that funding – and gun legislation – are major concerns for the institution as the legislative session begins.
Funding is of particular note to UNF, which hopes to gain financial support in order to purchase equipment for their engineering major. Delaney said that UNF needs $4 million to purchase microscopes for use in material science.
"The budget is always what we're interested in," Delaney said. "We live and die by it."
Financial aid and increased need-based aid is also a focus for higher education during the legislative session.
When it comes to security, Delaney also said that both public and private colleges are concerned about a bill that would allow concealed weapons on campus.
Delaney, though an Amendment 2 supporter, said guns have a place – and it's not on campus.
"The school is just not a great place for guns – you have drinking, sometimes drugs. Students can be volatile emotionally," Delaney said. "Any amendment has reasonable restrictions."
The bill would also limit colleges' and universities' ability to set regulations.
"It's one of the rare issues that will affect both public and private schools," Delaney said. "The legislature has pre-empted any local issues."
President of Florida State College at Jacksonville Cynthia Bioteau said community colleges will be focused on the moratorium on baccalaureate degree creation and performance-based funding in the upcoming legislative session.
The moratorium, which restricts the state board from approving baccalaureate degree program proposals from the Florida College System – which also restricts community colleges from expanding four-year programs – may be lifted this year.
"The baccalaureate degrees that we offer do not compete with university baccalaureate degrees," Bioteau said. "We are providing a niche market to many students who wouldn't necessarily go to university."
In addition, Bioteau said performance-based funding, which is being pushed in the legislature this year, needs to be based on the separate missions of universities and community colleges.
While universities have selective admissions and can more easily control student results, community colleges are meant to be accessible to all, meaning that it is difficult to measure progress in the same way.
"Funding needs to be closely aligned to the mission," Bioteau said.
Although not against performance-based funding, Bioteau said that the collaborative nature of community colleges and universities should be recognized during this session.
"We want the assessment to be based on what we do, not a cookie cutter approach," Bioteau said. "We complement each other and educate different kinds of learners."