Legislative Agenda

Florida Sheriffs 2012 Legislative Platform

Bills updated January 13, 2012    View this in PDF format

Underlined position statements show those adopted as of December 21, 2012.  Stricken statements show issues that are not relevant to the 2012 session.

Prevention & Youth Services

Juvenile Assessment Centers (JACs): Support continuation and funding of JACs. Budget item

Drug Abuse Prevention: Support efforts to require thumbprint collections from patients or patient’s agent prior to dispensing Schedule II controlled substances. HB 1167 by Rep. Williams & SB 1604 by Sen. Fasano

Healthy Families:  Maintain funding at $18.1 million to provide prevention services to 6,700 high-risk families and their 13,200 children. Budget item  See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Juvenile Detention: Support Sheriff’s authority to operate juvenile detention facilities under current law. (No legislation filed)

Community Mental Health Funding: Support funding for mental health services that will divert persons with mental health issues away from county jails into needed treatment services in the community.  Budget item

Public Safety

Prescription Drug Monitoring: Support efforts to track and monitor pharmacies and dispensing physicians who prescribe controlled substances. (No legislation filed) See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Texting: Support a prohibition on texting while driving. SB 416 by Sen. Detert & HB 299 by Rep. Pilon

Felons in Possession of Firearms: Support efforts to increase the penalty for felons in possession of firearms to a First Degree Felony. HB 947 by Rep. Boyd & SB 1272 by Sen. Latvala

Adverse Possession Law:  Support effort to clarify the law of Adverse Possession. (No legislation filed)

Red Light Traffic Camera Operations: Oppose efforts to eliminate the use of cameras to enforce red light traffic violations. HB 4177 by Rep Plakon & SB 1542 by Sen. Evers.

Personal Injury Protection:  Support efforts to streamline investigations and prevent PIP fraud. HB 119 by Rep. Boyd; SB 254 by Sen. Bennett; HB 523 by Rep. Workman; SB 1860 by Sen. Negron. See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Law Enforcement

Innocence Commission: Support proactive legislation to protect the ability for law enforcement officials to control the interview and line up process during investigations. (No legislation filed)

Secondary Metal Recyclers: Support efforts to apply pawnshop and second hand dealer reporting requirements to secondary metals recyclers. SB 540 by Sen. Smith & HB 885 by Rep. Ford. See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Kathleen’s Cause:  Support the creation of a statewide electronic database of pawnshop items. (No legislation filed)

Crime Lab Funding: Support the equalization of funding for locally operated Crime Labs and State Crime Labs. Budget item

Service of Process: Support proposal for changes to Service of Process.

Trespass Laws: Support creation of a Purple Paint Law relating to trespass upon posted lands.

Consolidation of State Agency Law Enforcement Functions: Oppose creating a State Public Safety Department or anything similar. HB 1383 by Rep. Glorioso & SB 1782 by Sen. Latvala.

Gaming

Casino Destination Resorts: Oppose the creation of Casino Resorts. SB 710 by Sen. Bogdanoff & HB 487 by Rep. Fresen. See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Internet Cafes: Support the prohibition of simulated gambling devices to conduct or promote game promotions, drawings, and games of chance. HB 3 by Rep. Plakon & SB 428 by Sen. Oelrich – Support; HB 467 by Rep. Gonzalez & SB 380 by Sen. Diaz de la Portilla; SB 468 by Sen. Fasano; SB 710 by Sen. Bogdanoff.  See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Internet Poker: Oppose the legalization of internet poker. (No legislation filed)

Administration

Florida Retirement System: Support legislation that returns the retirement age and time served to 55 years and 25 years respectively, as it was prior to the 2011 session. HB 525 by Rep. Workman & SB 1334 by Sen. Oelrich; SB 1280 by Sen. Latvala.  See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Impasse: Clarify that Constitutional Officers are the Legislative Body for their respective employees. (No legislation filed)  See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Payroll Deduction: Support dues collection for the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association through payroll deduction. (No legislation filed)

Fuel Rebates: Support clarifying statutes to allow the Florida Department of Revenue to provide tax credits for fuel for all Sheriff’s vehicles. (No legislation filed)

Jails, Corrections & Re-Entry

Inmate Medical Costs: Support limiting inmate medical costs for county inmates similar to that utilized by the Department of Corrections for state prison inmates. SB 452 by Sen. Jones & HB 263 by Rep. Hooper.  See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Pretrial Release: Oppose efforts to remove control of jails from Sheriffs, County Commissions and local Judges. HB 875 by Rep. Trujillo & SB 1730 by Sen. Garcia. See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Early Release: Oppose releasing inmates prior to serving 85% of their sentence. SB 426 by Sen. Smith & HB 439 by Rep. Stafford; SB 448 by Sen. Bogdanoff & HB 177 by Rep. Porth See Sheriffs' Position (pdf)

Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Oppose the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences. SB 732 by Sen. Bogdanoff & HB 561 by Rep. Fresen

Expungement of Criminal Records: Oppose unlimited expungement of criminal records. SB 666 by Sen. Smith; SB 644 by Sen. Siplin; SB 940 by Sen. Wise & HB 497 by Rep. Porth.

Please check back regularly for updates on FSA's priorities and positions for the 2012 legislative session.
 

For more information, contact FSA Governmental Consultant Frank Messersmith (see profile here) or FSA Assistant Executive Director, Sarrah Carroll (see profile here).