Okaloosa County BOCC — December 16, 2014 — 2014-15-legcon-legislative-program-final-1 — reading text

properties served by any water, sewer or gas systems for service charges until paid, which liens shall be prior to and on parity with state, county and municipal tax liens. Stormwater Fees: SUPPORT legislation to amend Section 403.0893, Florida Statutes, to provide authorization for stormwater utilities to charge and collect user fees from all beneficiaries of the stormwater utility system. OTHER Community Resiliency: SUPPORT increased funding for infrastructure projects and planning activities to facilitate the prevention of and recovery from damage to essential transportation systems, water management systems and national resources as a result of natural and/or disasters. Water Management Districts: SUPPORT legislative priorities which require adjacent water management district to collectively implement recovery and prevention strategies to address water bodies that fall below, or are projected to fall below applicable MFLs. 18  2014-15 Legislative Program Susan Harbin, Legislative Advocate Health & Human Services Email: sharbin@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 HEALTHCARE Behavioral Health System: SUPPORT increased funding for core mental health and substance abuse services. SUPPORT continued efforts to work through Medicaid reform initiatives to ensure that persons with substance abuse and mental health treatment needs are appropriately served. SUPPORT efforts to increase supportive housing, employment and education initiatives for people with behavioral health issues and/or disabilities. County Health Departments (CHDs): SUPPORT increasing state general revenue funding for CHDs, and OPPOSE any state reductions to the CHD Trust Funds. SUPPORT restoring funding reductions in operating support for CHDs. SUPPORT efforts to enable CHDs to transition to managed care under the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Program without impacting service capacity. SUPPORT maintaining a coordinated system of CHDs that is centrally housed within the Department of Health (DOH). SUPPORT preserving the ability of CHDs to provide primary care and direct patient care services, particularly in communities without adequate substitutes or alternative providers for these services. County Share of Cost for Medicaid Services: SUPPORT continued evaluation of the county-state Medicaid cost-share arrangement, taking into consideration the impacts of state policies designed to contain growth in Medicaid costs, including statewide Medicaid managed care and diagnosis related group reimbursement for hospitals. Additionally, consider possible alternatives to the current arrangement, including but not limited to: o Alternative financing mechanisms; o Targeted local investment of the statutory county Medicaid contribution; o Allocation of state funds to reduce the cost-shift created by the implementation of an enrollment-based formula; and o Elimination of the unfunded mandate. SUPPORT establishing a cap on growth in the individual county Medicaid costs under s. 409.915, F.S. to address the anticipated cost shifts that result from the transition to a Medicaid enrollee based cost-sharing system. 19  2014-15 Legislative Program OPPOSE efforts to further shift state Medicaid costs to counties. Low Income Pool/IGT Distribution: SUPPORT a system for distributing intergovernmental transfers (IGTs) that ensures donor counties are able to direct the federal matching dollars generated by their local IGT contributions to best meet the health care needs of their constituents, rather than having those dollars redistributed throughout the state. OPPOSE the tiered hospital rate system for distributing IGTs as established in sec. 409.97(4), F.S. Healthcare Expansion: SUPPORT state legislation drawing down the federal funds made available to Florida under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to expand health insurance coverage to certain individuals who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, provided that such a program does not further shift Medicaid costs to counties. Baker Act: SUPPORT appropriate funding as outlined in the existing state capacity formula for crisis mental health and substance abuse beds statewide. SUPPORT increased funding for public receiving facilities and maintaining funding for public facilities if new state general revenue is provided to private receiving facilities. Emergency Medical Services (EMS): SUPPORT ST Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) legislation that leads to better coordination of care without imposing additional liability or administrative costs on county government. OPPOSE legislation that preempts county authority to regulate use or register distribution of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). SUPPORT a cost recovery mechanism if county provided training is mandated. Graduate Medical Education (GME): SUPPORT efforts to fund GME programs to meet the healthcare needs of the state and its local communities, with a particular emphasis on programs that provide for specialties in need as well as the development of physicians practice in medically underserved areas. Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Program: SUPPORT including County Health Departments as priority providers within the Medicaid Managed Care Program and protect their ability to deliver primary care services to the communities they serve. SUPPORT carving out the coordinated Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) system to avoid fragmentation, inefficient operation, and costly duplication of TD services. SUPPORT the continuation of the Medically Needy program. Trauma Care System: SUPPORT efforts to maintain and enhance established trauma care funding, including incentives for the development of new trauma centers. OPPOSE any efforts to shift the state’s financial responsibility for the trauma system to 20  2014-15 Legislative Program counties or divert trauma care funding for purposes other than those intended by the existing legislation. HUMAN SERVICES Healthy Start and Healthy Families: SUPPORT a continuation of funding for the Florida Healthy Start and Healthy Families program. Smoking Regulation: SUPPORT legislation that repeals the state statutory preemption of smoking regulation by allowing local governments to enact local regulations that exceed state standards. In lieu of a total repeal of the preemption, SUPPORT legislation granting to local governments additional authority to restrict smoking on certain outdoor property. OPPOSE efforts to preempt local regulation of tobacco products and other nicotine dispensing devices. Homelessness: SUPPORT developing a dedicated state funding source for homeless programs. SUPPORT legislation that streamlines current state statutes relating to homelessness and associated programs, including the funding allocation and appropriation processes. SUPPORT the implementation of discharge protocols and/or procedures for hospitals, correctional facilities, and mental health facilities when releasing homeless persons. SUPPORT the development of strategies that would allow local governments to work with the state and federal government to serve target populations: the chronically homeless, veterans, and families and children, with particular emphasis on children aging out of the foster care system. SUPPORT continued coordination with the state's homeless planning council, specifically as it develops policies in support of the new Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness. SUPPORT efforts to extend tax credits to businesses that employ the homeless. SUPPORT creation of a public records exemption for individual identifying information entered into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Veterans: SUPPORT legislation establishing a designation program that allocates state funds to hire Veterans Services Officers to increase services and federal benefits for Florida veterans. Transportation Disadvantaged (TD): SUPPORT efforts to avoid fragmentation, inefficient operation, and costly duplication of TD services. SUPPORT appropriate and dedicated state funding for the TD program. SUPPORT efforts to protect the TD trust fund. Community Care for the Elderly: SUPPORT restoration and expansion of state funding for the Community Care for the Elderly Program, which provides cost efficient diversion from nursing home placement for impaired elders. 21  2014-15 Legislative Program Open Water Life Guards: SUPPORT legislation that would provide for open water lifeguard agency certification in Florida. Recovery Residences: SUPPORT legislation defining and establishing minimum regulatory standards for recovery residence facilities, while also allowing more stringent local regulation. 22  2014-15 Legislative Program Lisa M. Hurley, Esq., Legislative Director lhurley@fl-counties.com Public Safety Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 Eric Poole, Assistant Legislative Director Email: epoole@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 JUDICIAL SYSTEM Article V: SUPPORT eliminating the requirements of s. 29.008(4)(a), F.S., that require counties to fund certain court expenditures by 1.5 percent over the prior county fiscal year. Court Technology Fee: SUPPORT increasing the service fee charged for recording documents and instruments pursuant to s. 28.24(12)(e), F.S., from $4.00 to $8.00, so that $6.00 of the fee is distributed to boards of county commissioners to help fund court-related technology and technology needs as mandated by s. 29.008(1)(f)(2), F.S. Flexibility in Additional Court Costs for Criminal/Traffic Offenses: SUPPORT legislation giving counties more flexibility in the use of the funds generated by the discretionary $65.00 cost on criminal and traffic cases provided in s. 939.185, F.S. Pretrial Service Agencies: SUPPORT maintaining county ability to provide non- monetary and risk assessment pretrial release services that ensure the safety and welfare of local communities by preventing new offenses and ensuring those appear as obligated. OPPOSE legislation limiting the discretion of the first appearance judge, requiring written reports and eliminating the presumption of release on non-monetary conditions. SUPPORT changing pretrial program reporting requirements as provided in s. 907.043, F.S., from weekly to monthly updates. OPPOSE legislation that restricts pretrial services to only indigent defendants and SUPPORT legislation that requires bail bondsmen to report information as required of pretrial service agencies in s.907.043 F. Traffic Hearing Officer Program: SUPPORT full funding for traffic hearing officer programs statewide and allow magistrates to handle cases resulting from red light camera offenses. IMPACTS TO COUNTY JAILS Small County Courthouse Funding: SUPPORT continued state general revenue funding for capital improvements to county