January 28, 2012 Legislative Update

This has been an extremely active week in the Legislature, with a number of damaging bills moving forward.While we understand you may not be able to make calls on all the bills listed below, please try to contact as many legislators as possible.Your calls are making a difference!Thanks to the public outcry, HB 1103 privatizing half a million acres of public land is now in trouble!

 If we keep the calls coming, perhaps we can stop other damaging legislation moving forward.Thank you for your support!

 Your calls are needed on the following bills:

Fertilizer Bill -- SB 604 (general bill)/HB 421 (general bill ) - This bill preempts local government control over fertilizer application. January 28 Update- this bill will be heard on Monday in the Senate Environment & Preservation Committee. ACTION IS NEEDED:Contact members of the Senate Environment and Preservation Committee and your Senator and Representative this weekend to let them know that local government control over fertilizer application must not be pre-empted.

Reclaimed Water -- HB 639: Even though all the waters in Florida are a public resource, HB 639 would put reclaimed waters under the exclusive control of utilities with no oversight by the water management districts. The City of Tampa is the prime mover behind this bill. January 28 update:After a meeting with the bill's sponsor, Rep. Young, this week, conservation groups agreed to develop some additional language for her consideration. Our emphasis continues to remain with not altering the definition of "waters of the state" as far as reclaimed water is concerned. We will report back later on the reaction to the alternative draft language being proposed. The bill is set next for the House State Affairs Committee but no date is assigned (yet).ACTION IS NEEDED:Please call Senator Dana Young and your Senator and tell them that you oppose the move toward privatization of water and to keep the existing definition of waters of the state unchanged.
 
Public Lands -- HB 1103: This bill proposes to remove half a million acres of public land and put it in private ownership by changing the definition of ordinary high water line to the low water line. This in essence will make it illegal for you to hunt, fish, camp or picnic along Florida's freshwater bodies where these activities have traditionally taken place. ACTION IS NEEDED: Your calls are making a difference! Please keep your calls up to your Senator and Representative! The bill is becoming toxic and has yet to have a committee meeting scheduled in the Senate. So keep at it!
 
Water Management District Governance -- SB 1834 - We understand the Governor's Office is interested in and needs support for either repealing or substantially improving last year's SB 2142 that did so much damage to the water management district. ACTION IS NEEDED:Please contact Governor Rick Scott (850) 488-7146) and ask that he support (1) removing the caps on millage rates so that the water management districts can do their missions; and (2) allowing no further legislative involvement in the water management budgeting process.
 
Septic Tank Pre-Emption -- SB 820 January 28 Update:This will be heard in Health Regulation Committee on Tuesday, January 31. ACTION IS NEEDED:Please contact the members of the Senate Health Regulation Committee and let them know that the pre-emption language of local programs should be removed.

Florida Forever - January 28 Update:the House released its budget this week, and ZERO dollars were provided. The Senate has yet to present a budget.ACTION IS NEEDED:Please contact your Senator and ask that a minimum the $15 Million as proposed in the Governor's budget be included.

For more information on 1000 Friends of Florida, please visit www.1000friendsofflorida.org.

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Continue the Fight!

WE NEED YOUR HELP CONTACTING COASTAL LEGISLATORS TO PROTECT FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS Senate Bill 604 - Limited Certification for Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer Application,  Monday, January 30, 2012. SB604 scheduled to be heard Monday, January 30, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee. SB604 allows a 'ban on ban' and eliminates the prohibition of certain fertilizer applications during the rainy months for lawn care workers. Five of the seven committee members represent coastal communities. Help us to STOP SB604 and protect Florida's waterways! Please contact these five committee members and make your voice heard. When sending your email, please include "Vote NO on Senate Bill 604." Senator Charles S. Dean, Sr. District 3: dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov   Senator Nancy C. Detert, District 23: detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov   Senator Dennis L. Jones, District 13: jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov   Senator Jack Latvala, District 16: latvala.jacl.web@flsenate.gov   Senator Eleanor Sobel, District 31: sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov   Let committee members know we need their help to protect Florida's waterways!

Thank you,

Michael J. Valiquette

PURRE Founder