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

courthouses and other court-related facilities, including jails, located in rural counties. 23  2014-15 Legislative Program Core Services and Funding for Persons with Behavioral Health Issues or Disabilities and maintaining Medicaid eligibility for inmates: SUPPORT appropriate 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 continued efforts to obtain Medicaid eligibility for persons incarcerated in county jails while waiting disposition of their cases. SUPPORT efforts to increase supportive housing, jail diversion, and employment and education initiatives for people with behavioral health issues and/or disabilities. Inmate Medical Costs: SUPPORT legislation that reduces jail expenses by setting a reimbursement amount paid by counties to medical providers for health care services for inmates and arrestees at no higher than the established Medicare rate plus 10%, the same rate as currently charged to the Department of Corrections, unless there is an existing contract in place or a business practice providing a lower rate. Shift of Prison Inmates to Jails: OPPOSE any efforts to shift inmates with less than a year on their sentence at the time of sentencing to jails instead of prisons. Mentally Ill and Substance Abuse: SUPPORT increased funding of the Criminal Justice Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program with recurring dollars in a trust fund. SUPPORT sustainable matching state funds to counties that have received both planning and implementation Reinvestment Grant funds. JUVENILE JUSTICE Juvenile Detention: SUPPORT the state taking full responsibility for funding and operation of detention facilities serving juveniles, both for pre-disposition and post- disposition days and implementing juvenile justice reform, as recommended by the Detention Cost Share Proviso Workgroup. In the alternative, SUPPORT funding for the secure detention as upheld by Florida’s courts. SUPPORT allowing counties to pay actual costs on a monthly reimbursement basis. SUPPORT initiatives which reduce juvenile detention through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services. Juvenile Detention Facilities: SUPPORT the legislature appropriating state funds to the Department of Juvenile Justice to upgrade, renovate, or reconstruct detention centers across Florida that are in a state of disrepair. SUPPORT state investments in 24  2014-15 Legislative Program juvenile facilities to improve the conditions of secure confinement for detained youth without such costs being shifted to the counties. Cost of Care: SUPPORT legislation allowing counties to charge juveniles, or the parents of juveniles, for the costs of providing pre-adjudicatory, secure detention care based on their availability to pay. Juvenile Assessment Centers (JAC Centers): SUPPORT state funding of JAC Centers throughout Florida to strive to achieve equal treatment of youth offenders. GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY Medical Marijuana: If there is an effort to expand or modify the use of medical marijuana SUPPORT legislation that provides a comprehensive health-based regulatory system where the Department of Health is responsible for licensing cultivation sites, dispensing facilities and manufacturers of marijuana for medicinal purposes subject to local ordinances, including but not limited to occupational licensing, regulation and zoning laws. Synthetic Drugs: SUPPORT expanding the controlled substance schedule to include new iterations of synthetic formulas that mimic the effects of illegal drugs. SUPPORT prohibiting certain types of packaging and marketing of any products claiming to mimic the effects of illegal drugs. Pain Management Clinics: OPPOSE preemption of the regulation of pain management clinics to the state. County Emergency Radio Systems: OPPOSE legislation that would shift funds or impede counties from building and maintaining an interoperable radio communication system as authorized by statute. Crime Lab Funding: SUPPORT additional funding for locally-operated crime analysis laboratories. Copper and Other Metals Thefts: SUPPORT legislation strengthening laws related to copper and other metals thefts and secondary metals recyclers to deter thefts from local governments, businesses and individuals. SUPPORT legislation increasing the penalties for illegal purchase of scrap metals. OPPOSE legislation preempting local scrap metal ordinances from being more restrictive. 25  2014-15 Legislative Program EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Emergency Management Preparedness and Assistance (EMPA) Trust Fund: SUPPORT maintaining the original intent and purpose of the EMPA Trust Fund, which is to serve as a funding source for state and local emergency management programs, by ensuring that all monies collected for purposes of funding emergency management, preparedness and assistance are deposited into the EMPA Trust Fund and spent on emergency management activities. Accordingly, FAC’s OPPOSES legislative sweeps of the EMPA trust fund for non-emergency management purposes and SUPPORTS an increase to the county base grant funding, which has remain unchanged for nearly a decade. SUPPORT changes to the EMPA trust fund by ensuring the $2.00 and $4.00 annual surcharge on all homeowner and business insurance policies is assessed on either a per-parcel or per-unit basis of coverage, rather than on a single policy. SUPPORT a repeal of the service charge to general revenue on the EMPA trust fund and redirect these monies back to the counties in the same manner in which the EMPA base grant is distributed. Shelter Funding and Standards: Consistent with the provisions of s. 252.385, F.S., which states that it is the intent of the Legislature that this state not have a deficit of safe shelter space by 1998 and thereafter, SUPPORT additional state funding for hurricane shelter spaces, including retrofitting existing facilities, and providing for the increased cost of construction for Enhanced Hurricane Protection Areas (EHPA) associated with new school construction. SUPPORT statutory revisions requiring nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have back-up power supply sources that operate a majority of the mechanical systems in the facility for a minimum of 72 hours. SUPPORT state funding for county and regional special needs patients and shelters. Background Checks for Emergency Volunteers: SUPPORT a legislative review of the intent of background screening requirements of Chapter 2010-14, Laws of Florida with respect to volunteers in emergencies. Persons with Special Needs: SUPPORT legislative changes to s.252.355 F.S. that provide additional privacy protections to all individuals who voluntarily register with local emergency management agencies. Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs): SUPPORT continued state funding for county EOCs to ensure each is able to meet the minimum structural survivability and operational space criteria established by the state and federal government and the American Red Cross. Disaster Funding: SUPPORT a 50/50 cost-share arrangement with the state for the non-federal portion of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). SUPPORT the 26  2014-15 Legislative Program current HMGP fund allocation and project selection process defined in Rule 9G-22, Florida Administrative Code. SUPPORT the creation of an emergency bridge loan program for counties to provide a source of expedient cash flow to counties impacted by a major catastrophe. Alternatively, SUPPORT expanding the current Florida Small Business Emergency Loan Program by making counties eligible applicants. Emergency Management Credentialing: To strengthen the professionalism of County Emergency Management Directors, SUPPORT efforts that provide enhanced training and education opportunities for County Emergency Management employees. OPPOSE any state mandated training and hiring requirements for County Emergency Management Directors. 27  2014-15 Legislative Program Lisa M. Hurley, Esq., Legislative Director lhurley@fl-counties.com Federal 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 WATER Waters of the United States (WOTUS): SUPPORT legislation that clarifies that local streets, gutters, and other stormwater infrastructure are excluded from the definition of “Waters of the U.S.,” while also requiring federal agencies to consult with state and local officials to identify which waters should be federally regulated and which should be left to the states. TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE MAP-21 Reauthorization: SUPPORT passage of a new surface transportation authorization bill that provides long-term funding certainty, restores solvency to the Highway Trust Fund, and distributes to high growth states like Florida at least 95% of all highway funds by formula. FEMA Mapping Procedures: • As FEMA amends flood hazard maps for Florida’s counties, SUPPORT the agency’s full coordination with local governments and technical experts to ensure technical and scientific accuracy of any final maps, which have the potential for negative economic impacts. Monitoring Issues NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reform: FAC SUPPORTS legislative efforts, policies and programs that ensure all property owners can receive affordable flood insurance within a program framework that helps the NFIP become financially stable. 28  2014-15 Legislative Program ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA): SUPPORT revisions to OPA to provide for greater participation from local governments as primary first responders in the protection of local communities. Offshore Energy Production: Monitor and report on the potential for expansion of offshore energy exploration in Florida’s federal waters. Numeric Nutrient Criteria: Monitor and report on activities associated with proposed numeric water quality criteria for lakes, flowing waters and canals. TAX REFORM Tax-Exempt Status of Municipal Bonds: SUPPORT the preservation of the existing tax-exempt status of municipal bonds. Oppose legislative provisions that would repeal or eliminate the tax exempt status of municipal bonds. Oppose legislative provisions that would repeal, limit or “cap” the deduction for interest earned on new and outstanding municipal bonds. Marketplace Fairness Act: Monitor and report on the status of legislative provisions for the collection of sales and use taxes from remote sellers and the effect on a state’s ability to enforce state and local sales and use tax laws. ENTITLEMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS Block Grants: Monitor