Okaloosa County BOCC — November 17, 2015 — 2015-2016-interim-legislative-program — reading text

veterans, and families and children, with particular emphasis on children aging out of the foster care system. SUPPORT continued coordination with the state's Council on Homelessness, specifically as it recommends policies and practices in support of the 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). Smoking Regulation: SUPPORT legislation restoring county authority to regulate smoking on county-owned outdoor property. OPPOSE efforts to preempt local regulation of tobacco products and other nicotine dispensing devices. 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, including funding to address unmet TD needs in rural areas. SUPPORT efforts to protect the TD trust fund. 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. 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. Medically Needy: 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 counties or divert trauma care funding for purposes other than those intended by the existing legislation. Healthy Start and Healthy Families: SUPPORT continuation of funding for the Florida Healthy Start and Healthy Families program. 19  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program Open Water Life Guards: SUPPORT legislation that would provide for open water lifeguard agency certification in Florida. Veterans: SUPPORT legislation establishing a program that allocates state funds to hire Veterans Services Officers in counties in order to increase services and federal benefits for Florida veterans. Public Safety Interim Policy Laura M. Youmans, Esq., Legislative Advocate lyoumans@fl-counties.com Statements Phone: 850-922-9755 Fax: 850-488-7501 GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY Firearm Preemption: SUPPORT legislation empowering local law enforcement to prosecute individuals who dangerously discharge firearms. 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 risk assessment pretrial release services that prevent new offenses and ensures appearance 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.S. 20  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program 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 Mental Health or Substance Abuse Programs: SUPPORT efforts to increase supportive housing, jail diversion, and employment and education initiatives for people with mental health or substance abuse issues. SUPPORT diverting, medically assisting, or treating mentally ill outside of the criminal justice process through alternative programs, such as Crisis Intervention Teams. Mental Health or Substance Abuse Funding: SUPPORT appropriate funding for core mental health and substance abuse services. 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. 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. Small County Courthouse Funding: SUPPORT continued state general revenue funding for capital improvements to county courthouses and other court-related facilities, including jails, located in rural counties. 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. SUPPORT continued efforts to obtain Medicaid eligibility for persons incarcerated in county jails while waiting disposition of their cases and to ensure that existing Medicaid benefits are not terminated during incarceration. 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- 21  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program 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. Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation: 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 juvenile facilities to improve the conditions of secure confinement for detained youth without such costs being shifted to the counties. 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 22  2015-16 Interim Legislative Program penalties for illegal purchase of scrap metals. OPPOSE legislation preempting local scrap metal ordinances from being more restrictive. 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 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 more than 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 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. 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