The Florida League of Cities posts its 2012 legislative priorities

The Florida League of Cities has released its priorities for the 2012 legislative session.

Municipal Police Officer and Firefighter Pension Plans and Disability Presumptions:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that provides comprehensive municipal firefighter and police officer pension reform. Any comprehensive pension reform package should:

• Modify the use of the insurance premium tax revenues by repealing the mandate for cities to perpetually provide new, extra pension benefits for police/fire.
• Allow cities the ability to adjust pension benefits.
• Provide for accountability by police/fire pension boards of trustees.
• Reform current statutory disability presumptions for firefighters, law enforcement officers and correctional officers relating to tuberculosis, heart disease or hypertension.

Energy:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that establishes a statewide policy on energy development and conservation; that prioritizes and incentivizes the development and implementation of renewable and alternative energy and transportation fuel sources; and that authorizes local governments to make use of the $190 million in qualified energy conservation bond capacity allocated to Florida.

Water Policy:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that ensures that cities retain the tools necessary to achieve federal or state water-quality standards, including total maximum daily loads or numeric nutrient criteria, at the lowest possible cost to cities. To meet these standards, cities must have broad regulatory authority, such as controls on stormwater discharge, septic tanks and fertilizer use. Additionally, the Florida League of Cities will support legislation that clarifies reclaimed waters are not waters in the state and should not be subject to regulatory action by water management districts.

Communications Services and Local Business Tax Protection:

The Florida League of Cities will oppose legislation that modifies, restricts or eliminates the authority of municipalities to levy, collect and/or expend the communications services tax and the local business tax.

Campus Development Agreements:

The Florida League of Cities supports the continued funding to mitigate fully the impacts of State University System campus development on host local governments and supports maintaining campus development agreements. Legislation to repeal Section 1013.30, Florida Statutes, would eliminate a proven and effective mechanism that addresses the impacts of campus development on local infrastructure.

Pending Ordinance Doctrine:

The Florida League of Cities supports maintaining the home-rule authority of municipalities in the local application of the pending ordinance doctrine.

Economic Development:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that encourages state agency coordination with local entities to promote local economic development by providing increased technical assistance, emphasizing public infrastructure and urban infill projects and programs, and collaborating on incentives that foster business development and job growth.

Residential Group Homes:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that requires community residential homes, where on-site substance abuse treatment is provided by a licensed service provider, to notify local governments upon application and adhere to local municipal standards of occupancy.

Effective Public Notice:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that authorizes municipalities to provide effective public notice and advertising for various appropriate matters -- not to include ad valorem taxation millage setting -- by means other than newspapers, such as direct mailings, physical posting of property, Internet posting, free publications, government access television channels, and other suitable alternatives.

Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification Exemption:

The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that exempts certified law enforcement officers from having to also be certified public safety telecommunicators to allow them to serve as temporary public safety telecommunicators.