Local Bills for the 2012-2013 Legislative Session

A local bill is any bill which relates to a specific geographical area, e.g., county, city, or special taxing district, as opposed to a general bill, which affects the entire State of Florida. Listed below are the Local bills that the Delegation will be considering for the 2013 Legislative Session. The Delegation will vote at their Local Bill Public Hearing on Thursday, January 3, 2013, 5:00 p.m. at the Broward Governmental Center, County Commission Chamber. If you would like more information on How a Bill becomes Law, Click here. Contact us if you would like more information on the bill(s) listed below.

Law Enforcement Special Assessment

The City of North Lauderdale is requesting a special act that would legislatively authorize alternative funding for the significant and growing expense of law enforcement services. The City of North Lauderdale is concerned that without the ability to fund law enforcement services through an alternative funding source, the growing cost of this service will result in an inability to provide other critical municipal services in the near future. 

Mullet Fishing Repeal Ch. 12554

Broward County is requesting a special act that would repeal Chapter 12554, Laws of Florida (Special Acts 1927). This Chapter placed certain restrictions on fishing mullet. This law allowed for mullet fishing so long at the mullet was 10.5 inches long. This law is now enforced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Since this law was created by an act of the Legislature, a special act must be undertaken to delete the provision. These laws no longer serve their original purpose, so they should be amended

Inland Fishing, Explosives and Black Bass Repeal Ch. 8636

Broward County is requesting a special act that would repeal Chapter 8636, Laws of Florida (Special Acts 1949). This Chapter placed certain restrictions on fishing in inland waters, prohibited use of explosives to kill fish, and made it illegal to keep black bass shorter than 10 inches or longer than 15 inches. These laws are now enforced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Since this law was created by an act of the Legislature, a special act must be undertaken to delete the provision. These laws no longer serve their original purpose, so they should be amended

Dissolution of BERTA

Broward County is requesting a special act that would repeal Chapter 94-431, Laws of Florida 1994. Chapter 94-431 was the authorizing language for the creation of the Broward Educational, Research, and Training Authority, also known as BERTA. BERTA is an independent special district which was created by act of the Florida Legislature in 1994. Pursuant to Florida Statute 189.4042, since BERTA was created by an act of the Legislature, a special act must be undertaken to remove its enabling authority. BERTA no longer serves its original purpose and the board has not had a meeting or taken any action in 4 years. Therefore, BERTA meets the inactive criteria in Florida Statute 189.4044. BERTA has no debt.

School Safety Act

In an effort to identify a funding source for additional school safety measures, including School Resource Officers, Senator Sobel is requesting this bill. It would establish a special taxing district in Broward to generate funds specifically to address school safety issues and mental health referral programs for all students and staff with in the school district. The funds would be overseen by an independent Broward School Safety Board comprised of 11 members including: representatives from the School Board, County Commission, municipal governing bodies and members of the Broward Legislative Delegation. The School Safety Board would have the authority to either: levy an assessment of up to one-half a mill (50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property) or seek voter approval to levy a property tax of up to one half-mill to be used to generate the revenue. If the Safety Board opted to take the issue to the voters, it would be on the primary election ballot in 2014.

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