Volume 19 | Number 6 | February 13, 2012

Senate Budget he focus this week, the sixth of the nine-week regular session, will be Proposal on the coming year’s budget, prison closings and privatization, and Congressional and legislative redistricting. The Senate released a $70.8 billion bud- T get late Friday that would spend more money The state Senate released its 2012-2013 budget on Friday and it totals and spare more jobs than the plan that has already passed the House. The House passed $70.8 billion. The proposal now goes before the Senate budget committee their $69.2 billion spending plan last week. on Wednesday and should be ready for debate and amendments by the The Senate’s plan would eliminate about full chamber next week. The full House, meanwhile, passed its $69.2 billion 4,000 state jobs, some of which are vacant, spending plan late last week and will wait for the Senate’s version to be fi- a reduction of nearly 3.3 percent. The bud- nalized so conferencing can begin in a few weeks. For more on the budget, get is set to come up for a committee vote on Wednesday before heading to the floor please see the related story. next week. The biggest differences in the overall spend- Last week, lawmakers passed newly drawn district maps and Attorney Gen- ing between the House and the Senate bud- eral Pam Bondi filed the legislative redistricting proposals with the Florida gets occur within the Health Care and Trans- Supreme Court. Thus begins the justices’ review of the once-a-decade re- portation budgets. drawing of district boundaries for members of the state legislative. Both plans set aside a billion for K-12. But the Senate budget currently cuts the State With AG Bondi’s filing on Friday, the court now has 30 days to review the University System by 5.6% over last year’s spending and provides no Public Education maps and decide whether they meet legal and constitutional requirements. Capitol Outlay (PECO) dollars for building However, the has already filed a lawsuit against construction on campus. The Senate is- these proposed boundaries, including those for members of Congress, even sues a $400 million non-recurring cut and though Gov. Rick Scott has not yet signed the Congressional map, which expects the institutions to use their carry- is required before it can be filed with the court. These actions may thereby forward funds to fill the deficit.For Florida State, this is a 13.9 percent base bud- cause the session to extend beyond its scheduled finish on March 9. get reduction, or $55.4 million in lost state revenue. The Senate also reduces Although the committee process for substantive legislation did slow down a the state contribution to the Retirement bit last week, many bills of interest to the State University System are sched- System Investment plan for the SUS by $5 uled to receive a committee hearing this week. Please see the Spotlight on million, which is a $565,000 deduction Bills section for a complete overview. for FSU. They rebalance contribution rates for the ORP by $46 million for the system, a The full Senate will again take up this week the contentious legislation per- $5.21 million cut for FSU. They set no base undergraduate tuition, taining to prison privatization and the closing of some state prisons. The bill but expect our BOT to approve a 15 percent was only temporarily passed last week when the measure hit a snag. differential tuition increase, and an 8% in- crease for graduate and professional, and Last week was certainly a busy and exciting one for Florida State University! out-of-state student tuition. These increas- On Monday, Vice President Joe Biden visited our campus to speak and take es, IF fully implemented, would only gener- questions from students and faculty about college affordability. The next day ate $154 million to offset the $400 million our long-anticipated and always popular FSU Day at the Capitol took place. budget decrease. One bright spot; the Sen- ate did include $3.3 million recurring for Both events were very well received (please see the related story). the Mag Lab at FSU. The House also in- cluded $3 million for the lab. You can catch legislative action live each day on The Florida Channel, lo- Finally, state employees receiving spouse cal cable channel 4. As always, if you have questions about issues or need and family health insurance benefits, could copies of bills and their analysis, please contact me at (850) 644-4453 or see premium hikes beginning in December [email protected]. of this year. Family coverage may increase to $236.34 per month, up from $180.00 and those participating in the spouse program could see an increase of $81.67 per month, up from $50.00 per month. Garnet and Gold Rocks the Capitol Last Tuesday, the Capitol rocked garnet 22nd floor of the Capitol Monday night. & Associates, Inc., Ericks Consultants, and gold at this year’s FSU Day at the legislators, staff, alumni and support- Inc., Florida Association of Broadcasters, Capitol. We want to thank all of the par- ers of FSU gathered and shared some FCCI Insurance Group, Mr. & Mrs. Michael ticipating departments that took time “seminole spirit” as the sun set over Doak Fields, Mr. John French, GMA, Inc., Mr & away from busy schedules to share in- Campbell Stadium in the background. Mrs. Cliff Hinkle, Mr. Charles O. Hinson, formation about their programs with the But these events would not have been Mr. John Hogan, Capital Health Plan, Mr. legislative community. possible without the support of our won- S. Curtis Kiser, Mabry & Associates, Mr. Special thanks also goes to Gene Deck- derful sponsors. They include: FSU Stu- Paul Mitchell, Larry J. Overton & Associ- erhoff who served as emcee for the noon- dent Government Association, Seminole ates, Inc., Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, time activities. The FSU Seminole Sound, Tribe of Florida, Classic Fare Catering by Bell & Dunbar, P.A., Mr. David Pingree, Mr. cheerleaders, and circus all entertained Aramark, Mr. Mitchell Rubin, Florida Beer the crowd in the Capitol courtyard, while Wholesalers Association, Tri-Eagle Sales, Jim Rathbun, Mr. Ron Richmond, P.A., several of our athletic coaches and team Sharkey’s Capitol Café, Coca Cola Bot- Mr. Gary Runyan, Ms. Nancy Black Stew- members mingled with our alumni and tling of Tallahassee, Mr. Guy & Mrs. Delo- art, P.A., TECO Energy, Inc., and the FSU friends in the Legislature. res Spearman, Mr. L. Carl Adams, Capital Alumni Association. Check out pictures Again this year, the festivities included City Consulting, LLC, Mr. Richard Coates, of this festive event on our website later a “Seminole Evening” reception on the Mr. Lawrence N. Curtin, David R. Custin this week at www.govrel.fsu.edu. LEGISLETTER FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Volume 19 | Number 1 | January 9, 2012

CS/CS/CS/SB 206 – Public purpose. The bill increases criminal pen- change makes the DROP deferral age MeetingsBILLS by THATSenator HAVE Joe PASSEDNe- alties OR by reclassifyingFAILED certain violations 5 years before normal retirement age gron (R – Palm City), requires involving sexual conduct with minors. The - age 55 for Special Risk Class mem- boards or commissions of state executive bill reported favorably by the Judiciary bers and age 60 for all other members, agencies or authorities and local agen- Committee and is now in the Health and which will line up the DROP deferral age cies or authorities to provide members Human Services Committee. A compa- with the normal retirement ages. of the public a reasonable opportunity rable bill in the Senate, SB 1816 by Sena- n A retiree of a state-administered retire- to be heard on items of significant inter- tor Lizbeth Benacquisto (R – Welling- ment system who is initially reemployed est at, or approximately before, meetings ton), is now in Budget Subcommittee on in a regularly established position on or where official action is taken, with certain Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations after July 1, 2010, may not be enrolled exceptions. It provides that it is presumed as a renewed member. that boards or commissions are in com- UPDATE ON BILLS n Loans and hardship withdrawals are pliance with this section if they adopt SJR 1508 – Board of Gover- prohibited in the State University Sys- and follow rules providing members of nors Membership, by Senator tem Optional Retirement Program. The the public to be heard. The bill provides Bill Montford (D – Tallahassee, bill also provides a definition of the term that a court shall assess attorney’s fees FSU Alum), proposes an amendment “benefit,” to clarify when distributions against an agency or authority in violation to Section 7, Article IX of the Florida Con- received by a member prohibit enroll- of the “right to speak” requirement. The stitution to change the designation of the ment as a renewed member in a state- bill allows courts to assess attorney’s fees board’s student member. The resolution administered retirement system. against an individual who has filed such an would require the Governor to appoint action in bad faith. The bill provides that n A retiree of a state-administered retire- the student body president of a state uni- an action by a board or commission is not ment system initially reemployed in a versity, rather than the president of the void if members of the public are not af- regularly established position on or af- Florida Student Association, as a member forded the right to speak on a proposition. ter July 1, 2010 is not eligible to partici- of the Board of Governors. The bill passed It authorizes, and in some cases requires, pate in a state-administered retirement the Senate Higher Education Committee boards or commissions to adopt rules or system. last Thursday. A similar bill in the House, policies to ensure the orderly conduct of n Loans and hardship withdrawals are HB 931 by Representative Matt Gaetz public meetings. The bill is on the calen- prohibited in the FRS Investment Plan. (R – Shalimar, FSU Alum) passed the dar to be heard today by the full Senate. A Education Committee last week. similar bill in the House, HB 355 by Rep- The bill was amended last week to clarify resentative Martin Kiar (D – South- that a retiree who is a member of the in- west Ranches) is now in the State Affairs SB 2024 -- State Retirement, vestment plan and is employed on or af- Committee. by Senator Jeremy Ring (D – ter July 1, 2012, in a regularly established Margate), cleans up and clarifies a position shall be a renewed member in the HB 1355 – Protection of Vul- number of issues raised by the enactment regular class of the investment plan. The nerable Persons by Repre- last session of Senate Bill 2100, which bill reported favorably in the Governmental sentative Chris Dorworth (R made a number of substantial changes Oversight and Accountability committee. – Heathrow), expands the instances to the Florida Retirement System (FRS). There is no House companion at this time. where a person is required to report child These changes include: abuse by mandating a person to report n A retiree of a state-administered retire- SB 922 - Current and Former known child abuse by anyone, not just ment system who is elected or appoint- Military Personnel, by Senator child abuse by a caregiver. The bill pro- ed for the first time to an elective office Mike Bennett (R – Bradenton), vides specific penalties for Florida edu- in a regularly established position with a contains a number of provisions relating cational institutions whose personnel fail covered employer may not be enrolled to current and former military personnel. to report certain child abuse at the insti- as a renewed member in any state-ad- In general, the bill: tution. The bill subjects the institution to ministered retirement system. n Creates the National Guard Employ- a $1 million fine for each failure to report, ment Tax Credit Program. This program n Loans and hardship withdrawals are and the loss of all state funding for 2 years. allows an eligible business, which em- prohibited in the FRS. The bill expands the scope of victims who ploys a current member of the Florida are eligible to receive monetary reloca- n DROP deferral ages for members en- National Guard who has been unem- tion assistance to include a victim of sex- rolled after July 1, 2011, for those en- ployed for more than 6 months or is re- ual battery, and appropriates $1.5 million tering DROP based on years of service turning from duty abroad, to be eligible from the General Revenue Fund for that instead of normal retirement age. This to receive a $10,000 tax credit. n Expands the vendor preference in state fied criteria be admitted to any Florida the state’s UC system related to the initial contracting, which currently applies to College System institution or state univer- skills assessment test and the operational qualified service-disabled veterans, to sity of veteran’s choice. The bill is in the efficiency of the program. The bill also -ex include certain businesses owned and K - 20 Innovation Committee. The identi- tends the temporary extended benefits operated by wartime veterans. cal bill in the Senate, SB 202, by Sena- program and provides reporting flexibility n Allows a school-aged dependent of mili- tor Mike Bennett (R – Bradenton) was to professional employer organizations. tary personnel the option to remain at withdrawn prior to introduction. Related to the initial skills assessment the school he or she currently attends test, the bill: if a local school board adjusts school HB 5009 -- Health Insurance n Requires the Department of Economic zones, which requires attendance at a Benefits for State Employ- Opportunity to establish a numeric different school for that student. ees by Representative Denise score on the initial skills review which Grimsley (R – Sebring), codifies n Requires institutions within the Florida demonstrates a minimum proficiency the Health Savings Account employer con- in workforce skills. College System and State University Sys- tributions in permanent law rather than in tem of Florida that offer priority course the annual appropriations process. The n Provides a claimant with the option to registration for a segment of the student bill provides that the Department of Man- undergo workforce skills training if he or population to provide priority course reg- agement Services (DMS) may implement she scores below this standard. istration to veterans of the U.S. Armed a 90-day supply limit program for certain n Stipulates that workforce skills training Forces and dependents of veterans using maintenance drugs for retail pharmacies will be provided at no cost to individuals GI Bill educational benefits. participating in the program if DMS finds in order to improve their minimum pro- n Allows veterans of the U.S. Armed Forc- it is in the best interest of the state. The ficiency level. bill passed the House and is waiting to es who physically attend a public col- n be heard in the Senate. A comparable bill Related to improving efficiency in the lege, university or institution of higher UC program, the bill: learning in Florida, to be automatically in the Senate, SB 1510 by Senator Bill classified as a resident of the state for Montford (D – Tallahassee, FSU Alum) n Reduces the number of weekly em- tuition purposes. has been referred to the Governmental ployer contacts from five to three for Oversight and Accountability, the Health individuals that reside in a small county The bill has passed out of the Senate Regulation, and the Budget committees. as defined by s. 120.52(19), F.S. and is waiting to be heard in the House. A n Allows a PEO to make a one-time irrevo- House companion, HB 45, by Represen- CS/HB 1261 – State Employ- ment, by Representative Deb- cable election to calculate, report, and tative Jimmie Smith (R – Lecanto) is pay state UC taxes under the respective bie Mayfield (R – Vero Beach), waiting to be heard by the full House. unemployment account of each client. makes changes to improve efficiency and SB 94 - Postsecondary Educa- to clean up statutory language. Those n Clarifies that a disqualification for mak- tion Course Registration for changes include: ing a fraudulent claim begins when the fraudulent claim was made. Further, this Veterans, by Senator Mike Fa- n Authorization of the Department of disqualification may continue up to one sano (R – New Port Richey), Management Services to charge a state year from the date DEO discovers the requires institutions within the Florida governmental entity outside of the state fraudulent claim and until any fraudu- College System and the State Univer- personnel system for use of services lent overpayments are repaid in full. sity System of Florida that offer priority from the People First system; course registration for a segment of the n Amends the statute of limitations related n Revision of language pertaining to state student population, or that establish such to the collection of overpayments by pro- employee furloughs to allow the provi- a policy, to provide priority course regis- viding that the commencement of col- sion to be used; tration to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forc- lections must be initiated within 7 years es. Those eligible for priority registration n Creation of a monetary cap on bonus after the redetermination or decision. under the bill include veterans using GI payments to an employee in a fiscal n Authorizes the DEO to non-charge the Bill educational benefits or the spouse or year; and accounts of employers that are forced dependent children of a veteran to whom n Removal of the annual hourly cap for to lay off workers due to a man-made the GI Bill educational benefits have been other-personal-services employees. disaster of national significance. transferred. The bill provides that quali- The bill requires the Department of Man- fied GI Bill users will be eligible for priority agement Services to provide a proposal The bill has passed out of the House and registration until the expiration of the GI to restructure and modernize the leave is waiting to be heard in the Senate. A Bill educational benefits. The bill reported benefits of state personnel by a date cer- comparable bill in the Senate, SB 1204 favorably out of the Higher Education Ap- tain. The bill is now in the Appropriations by Senator (R – Venice) propriations Subcommittee and is now in Committee. A similar bill in the Senate CS/ is now in the Budget Committee. the Budget Committee. A House compan- SB 2084 by Senator Jeremy Ring (D – ion, HB 977, by Representative Bryan Margate) is now in the Budget Committee. SB 1606 – Postsecondary Edu- Nelson (R – Apopka) reported favorably cation by Senator Mike Ben- by the Economic Affairs Committee. HB 7027 – State Unemploy- nett (R – Bradenton), creates the ment Compensation by Rep- HB 755 - Relating to Postsec- Postsecondary Education Study Commit- resentative Doug Holder (R tee for the purpose of evaluating and de- ondary Education of Military – Sarasota), rebrands the state’s Veterans by Representative termining whether state university branch unemployment compensation (UC) sys- campuses should be combined with Flor- Doug Holder (R – Sarasota), re- tem as a “Reemployment Assistance ida College System (FCS) campuses to quires that any veteran who meets speci- Program.” The bill addresses aspects of create a three-level postsecondary edu- cation system in the state. Members on to be implemented beginning with the fall ferred in STEM fields and university re- the study commission will be appointed term. The bill requires the Board of Gover- search and endowment funding; by the Governor, President of the Senate, nors to adopt regulations and timetables n A career-themed course and a personal- and Speaker of the House of Representa- to implement the fees. Additionally, the ized academic and career plan for mid- tives and must serve without compensa- bill requires the Division of Bond Finance dle school students and their parents; tion but are entitled to reimbursement for of the State Board of Administration to per diem and travel expense. The Commit- analyze any proposed reduction to the n Industry certification courses in middle tee must prepare and submit a report to fees to ensure consistency with prudent school; and the Governor and the Legislature by Janu- financial management of the bond pro- n An agreement between the Department ary 1, 2013. The law creating the commit- gram associated with the revenues from of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the tee will expire on January 1, 2013. The bill the fee. The bill was scheduled to be heard Board of Governors (BOG) to facilitate passed the Higher Education Committee by the Higher Education Committee yes- the re-enrollment and timely degree last week. A similar bill in the House, HB terday, but was temporarily postponed. completion of students who leave their 1375 by Representative Franklin Sands There is no House companion at this time. degree program for a tech job and want (D – Sunrise) is now in the K-20 Innova- to return to complete their degree. tion Subcommittee. CS/SB 1366 – Higher Educa- tion Reform by Senator Don The bill directs funding toward education SB 1156 - Relating to State Uni- Gaetz (R – Destin), requires chang- in technical fields by: versity Student Fees by Sena- es in educational delivery and reporting to n Authorizing universities to use a portion tor Anitere Flores(R –Miami), better inform students and their parents of the tuition differential fee for financial authorizes state universities to increase of the employment and economic out- aid for students in technology fields; the Capital Improvement Trust Fund comes for degrees earned at state uni- n Providing weighted funding for K-12 stu- (CITF) Fee and building fee to an amount versities and to provide opportunities for dents in industry certification courses; that could not exceed 10 percent of tu- secondary and postsecondary students and ition for resident students and 10 percent to earn science, technology, engineering of the sum of tuition and out-of-state fees and mathematics (STEM) industry certifi- n Providing performance funding for state for nonresident students. The fees could cation necessary for employment. The bill universities that are most successful in be used to fund construction projects or requires: educating students who earn degrees property acquisition. A committee com- in, and become employed in, technol- n Reports of employment and earnings prised of students appointed by the stu- ogy fields. for graduates from state universities to dent body president and other members be given to secondary school students appointed by the university president The bill reported favorably by the Higher and their parents and to university stu- would have to approve any subsequent Education Committee and is now in the dents when they register for classes; increase in the fee. The fee could only be Budget Committee. There is no House increased once each year and would have n Reporting of university degrees con- companion at this time.

SESSION SCHEDULE

SENATE SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

HOUSE SESSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 12:30 p.m. until completion THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Kathleen M. Daly, Assistant Vice President

Toni Moore, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Program Coordinator

Chris Adcock, 850.644.4453 govrel.fsu.edu Office Administrator