Okaloosa County BOCC — December 16, 2014 — reading text

delineates state lands from private lands. OPPOSE any changes having the effect of transferring large quantities of wetlands and uplands from state ownership to private ownership. SOLID WASTE Solid Waste Funding: SUPPORT reinstating state funding of Solid Waste Management Grants. SUPPORT maintaining the waste tire fee as a dedicated revenue source for funding mosquito control programs and waste tire recycling. Solid Waste Regulation: OPPOSE any diminution of county authority to franchise and otherwise regulate construction and demolition debris (C&D) haulers, recyclers, or disposal facilities. 15 Packet Pg. 440  2014-15 Legislative Program Recycling: SUPPORT legislation that provides appropriate resources and incentives to local governments to achieve statewide recycling goals. SUPPORT a recycling credit for all recycled materials including municipal biomass and other waste-to-energy processes. OPPOSE legislation that imposes fees or taxes on local governments for collecting waste, which is an essential governmental service. Any recycling plan promulgated by the state must consider market and state-wide economic conditions. SUPPORT removing the exemption in s.403.7046(3), F.S., so that local government may require commercial establishments to convey source-separated recovered materials to the local government or to a facility designated by the local government for recycling. DOMESTIC WASTE Land Application of Septage: SUPPORT legislative policies that recognize the challenges of septage disposal in rural counties without adequate treatment facilities and Class I landfills, and the prioritization of funding for the construction of such facilities and associated infrastructure. Central Sewer Systems: SUPPORT the authority of county government to require mandatory connection to central sewer systems as they become available. WATER RESOURCES Water Funding: SUPPORT legislation that enhances regional and local financial capacity to address water supply development and the flexibility of all available funding sources. SUPPORT the funding of the Water Protection and Sustainability Program within the Department of Environmental Protection for the development of alternative water supplies, water quality improvement projects, and comprehensive water infrastructure needs. SUPPORT sustained commitment of state resources for regional systems of statewide importance, such as rivers, springs and the Everglades. SUPPORT renewed funding for alternative water supply projects, conservation, and the TMDL program. Water Supply: OPPOSE any shift of the water supply allocation process from publicly regulated to a market driven process. SUPPORT the fundamental principles of Florida water law which: • Requires demonstration that a proposed use of water is a reasonable- beneficial use, will not interfere with an existing legal use of water, and is consistent with the public interest to protect water and related natural resources. • Establishes a right of use, not a right of ownership. 16 Packet Pg. 441  2014-15 Legislative Program • Provides for “local sources first” – that is, a county in which water is withdrawn shall not be deprived directly or indirectly of the prior right to reasonable and beneficial use of water to supply the needs of its natural systems, property owners, or inhabitants. OPPOSE any state-wide water commission or “water czar” which would redefine the water supply relationship among the state, water management districts, and local governments. SUPPORT the enhancement of local government participation in the water management district planning, permitting and regulatory processes, including proposed reservations, minimum flows and levels, and recovery and prevention strategies. SUPPORT removal of the current sales tax exemption on bottled water. Water Quality: SUPPORT measures to preserve county authority to address water quality problems and the flexibility to craft solutions at the local level. Indian River Lagoon & Lake Okeechobee Basin: SUPPORT state funding for the construction of additional water storage and water quality treatment facilities within the Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie and Indian River Lagoon watersheds. SUPPORT state funding for domestic wastewater infrastructure that would reduce nutrient loading from septic tanks within the Lake Okeechobee Basin. Springs Protection: SUPPORT state funding for nutrient load reduction programs within Florida’s springsheds. SUPPORT state funding for projects that will improve water quantity and water quality within Florida’s springsheds. Fertilizer: SUPPORT the authority of county government to regulate the use and application of fertilizer to protect water quality. SUPPORT the “Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices” as a basic level of water quality protection, with more stringent protection authorized to address water bodies in need. SUPPORT legislation that would allow counties to develop regional approaches to nutrients, fertilizer, and other water quality issues that take into account particular local concerns relating to geology and hydrology. UTILITIES SUPPORT legislation that encourages and supports “goal-based water conservation initiatives through permit incentives and the use of conservation best management practices developed by the utility industry. 17 Packet Pg. 442  2014-15 Legislative Program SUPPORT legislation that recognizes the responsibility and authority of local government utilities to establish rates and rate structures to allow for flexibility in the provision of services and the sustainable funding of operations. Utility Certification : SUPPORT legislation that requires the PSC to consider local county comprehensive plans in determining whether to grant a certificate to a private utility. OPPOSE legislation that would amend the PSC statute to disregard a demonstration of need in determining whether to grant a certificate to a private utility. Utility Liens: SUPPORT legislation to amend Section 159.17, Florida Statutes, to authorize counties – as well as municipalities – that issue revenue bonds to place liens on 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 Packet Pg. 443  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 Packet Pg. 444  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