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JANUARY 13, 2018 WEEK ONE UPDATE Fraternal Order Of Police SENATOR GEORGE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE PRESIDENT JENKINS GAINER SENATOR TORRES WEEK 1 PRESS CONFERENCE SENATOR OF THE DISTRICT 4 FOP YEAR WORKING HARD LEGISLATIVE Legislators Of The Year The Florida State Fraternal Order Of Police and it’s over 20,000 members are proud to announce that with a vote of the membership the Law Enforcement Senator and Representative of the Year. True Statesmen are few and far between and we are honoring Representative Jayer Williamson and Senator George Gainer as our legislators of the year. These men have shown steadfast commitment and distinguished character as freshman legislators. In support of our state’s law enforcement they have adopted an open door policy, engaging with officers directly when developing policy and deliberating on proposed legislation. Both of these outstanding legislators come to the table with pragmatic approaches and a willingness to confer with the law enforcement community in order to ensure that they have found the optimal solution. It is an honor to work with these member’s who are true Statesmen and care deeply about the men and women who serve our state and we look forward to the sessions to come. These legislators have welcomed law enforcement into their offices and openly discussed the concerns on both the impacts of legislation on public and safety of officers. As law enforcement continues to be put under a microscope and face more criticism from the public and Chairman Jimmy Holderfield, our leaders, men like Senator Gainer and Representative Williamson will be there to 2nd VP Dave Bernhardt, Representative Jayer make certain the men and women of law enforcement are heard and ultimately Williamson, Senator George protected. Gainer, President Bobby Jenkins, District 4 Director Michael Kelly, Jan Gainer, CFO Jimmy Patronis !1 JANUARY 13, 2018 WEEK ONE UPDATE Senator Gainer Speaks Representative Of Thank you for this award. To know that more than 20 thousand men and women who wear the badge and put their The Year Jayer lives on the line everyday have given me this honor is beyond humbling. Williamson As you know, many organizations give out awards to legislators but I can’t think of one more distinguished than being named Senator of the Year by the Florida Fraternal Order of Police. The reasons are simple – your members are on the front lines protecting nearly 20 million Floridians and the people who visit our state. When crimes occur, they run to the danger and place themselves between the criminal and the victim – sometimes risking their lives, and unfortunately sometimes losing their lives. Their work is often taken for granted, or even criticized. It’s a lot harder to be a police office today than it used to be. Let me be clear. I’m honored to stand with law enforcement. To give them the tools they need to keep us safe. To ensure they are treated fairly when we ask them to do so much. And to guarantee that when they retire from the job, that they receive the benefits they’ve earned for putting their lives on the line. I also feel strongly about protecting Florida’s corrections officers. They should be treated with respect for the job they do in our state prisons. Just because their mission is difference doesn’t make them any less of a law enforcement officer. Any piece of legislation that attempts to change criminal penalties, the state’s retirement system or any other issue important to law enforcement, FOP knows they will always have a seat at my table. That’s my commitment. I’ll fight for you here in Tallahassee because I know you’re Senator George Gainer the fighting for me and every other Floridian – every day. FOP Senator Of The Year, continues his commitment Again, I thank you for this honor. to listening to the concerns of law Opening Week enforcement and protecting their pensions, The opening week of session began with a continuation of the jobs, and lives. An open scandals hitting the Florida Senate. These scandals began several door policy for all the months ago and are focused on the Florida Senate and these practical needs of leos. politically motivated attacks are expected to continue throughout the session. Senator Clemons, Senator Farmer, Senator Latvala, !2 JANUARY 13, 2018 WEEK ONE UPDATE Senator Flores, and Senator Braynon have all come under scrutiny within the “pay to play” political media outlets and unless the tides turn on this kind of journalism their is an expectation of five more being named. Unfortunately, this is distracting the legislature from the mission of legislation and has created an atmosphere of distrust and paranoia throughout both chambers. The Florida Senate continues to be leaders in helping law enforcement and we are seeing our supported legislation moving through their committees. The FRS COLA legislation and PTSD Workers Compensation Legislation are moving and will be heard in committees next week. Stay tuned for the vote! The Florida House of Representative has been slower in hearing the priority legislation, but it is only week one. We will need to encourage our House Members to request the opportunity to help law enforcement by voting on these priority issues. This Week The opening week of session was attended by President Bobby Jenkins, Legislative Chairman Jimmy Holderfield, District 4 Director and Legislative Vice-Chair Michael Kelly, and 2nd VP David Bernhardt. These men worked hard walking the halls speaking with legislators and attending committee meetings to support law enforcement officers in Florida. The team also honored Senator George Gainer and Representative Jayer Williamson with Legislator of the Year Awards. The House Transportation Committee brought up HB33 texting while driving and 4 specialty plate bills. HB 33 had 42 people testify in support of the bill, and the bill was heavily debated. The strongest debate came from Representative Jayer Williamson, who stated that he was more than willing to support the bill except that he was not comfortable passing a bill that places working leos in the position of being governed by ambiguous laws. That is was unfair in the current climate of discord to place them in position of taking on more criticism, and requested that the bill sponsor assure that the law clarified policy and limitations. This bill does not change the current law with exception of making is a primary offense and requiring an explanation of rights to the citizen about search of a cellphone. The committee also heard 4 specialty plate bills that are currently clear of any harmful language to the FOP specialty plate. Senate Criminal Justice Committee heard the following legislation: 854 Correctional Officers- Lowering age requirement to 18 and adding that no officer under the age of 19 could supervise prisoners. 870 Capital Felonies- The bill was temporarily postponed in committee, due to a lack of votes for passage of the highly controversial legislation. 928 Theft- This legislation raised the retail theft guidelines from $300 to $1500. House Appropriations passed HB 517 state employee prescription drugs program.HB 517 directs DMS to implement measures to manage the prescription drug formulary in the Prescription Drug Plan. The PBM must add drugs to the formulary and remove drugs from the formulary, as necessary, to implement cost-saving measures. However, any formulary management technique cannot restrict access to the most clinically appropriate, clinically effective, and lowest net-cost prescription drugs.In !3 JANUARY 13, 2018 WEEK ONE UPDATE addition, an excluded drug may be available for inclusion, and thereby covered by the Prescription Drug Plan, if a member’s, or her or his dependent’s, prescribing practitioner writes clearly on the prescription that the excluded drug is medically necessary. Senate Governmental Oversight passed SB 7014 which sets the actuarial employer cost for funding of FRS. They also passed SB 7002 Criminal Investigative Council, which keeps evidence, testimony and open investigations from the public records requirements of the Sunshine Laws. The Senate Transportation Committee pass SB90 texting while driving as a primary offense. The House Criminal Justice Committee pass HB 365 that sets standards for correctional officers. Lowering the age to 18 but requiring supervision for all those under the age of 19. The House Local and Federal Affairs committee passed HB815 County and Municipal Officers legislation that deals with the approval of per diem for elected officials and all local government employees. The House Judiciary committee passed HB 55 dealing with sale of firearms. The Senate and House Agriculture Committees heard the DACS agency packet and we monitored the impacts to law enforcement. (I.e. guns, solicitations,Class K security licenses). The bill currently does not have any harmful language to leos. Commissioner Of Agriculture Adam Putnam reached out to President Jenkins and requested a meeting to reach out and get to know the members of the Fraternal Order Of Police. The meet and greet with President Jenkins, Legislative Chairman Holderfield, District Director and Vice-Chair Kelly, and 2nd Vice President Bernhardt was a positive one. Constitutional Revision Commission The 2017-2018 Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) is the third of its kind in Florida history. In 1998, CRC proposals required a simple majority to be passed by Florida voters (more than 50%). As of 2006, at least 60% of the vote is required to pass a constitutional amendment. The 2017-2018 CRC, chaired by Carlos Beruff, held meetings this week and FOP Legislative Chairman Jimmy Holderfield attended the meetings on Thursday and Friday.There have been 1400 public proposals submitted to the CRC, and Chairman Holderfield has contacts and will be observing and communicating with the members.

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