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Highlands Today

Legislature Passes 270 New Laws

Sales Tax Holidays Out, Tuition Will Increase, Evolution Remains

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: May 7, 2008

SEBRING — Look at it like this. At least they didn't raise taxes. That'll come in November.
But the Florida Legislature did pass 270 bills this session, which ended Friday. They will become law with Gov. Charlie Crist's signature.

Higher Education
Some new laws: tuition at state universities and colleges, including South Florida Community College, will rise 6 percent. And by 2011, the University of South Florida will build a Lakeland campus to offer four-year degrees in science and technology.

Other new laws: For instance, if you bring a gun to work in your car, and your employer fires you, that's illegal. Crist has already signed the bill. Here's the catch: immunity is granted only to those who have a concealed weapons permit, and 500,000 Floridians do.
Criminal Justice

Due to job cuts, there will be 167 fewer state attorneys, 126 fewer public defenders and 200 fewer probation officers.

"We are tightening our belts," said Steve Houchin, assistant state attorney at the Highlands and Hardee offices.

"We had a secretary leave last week that we're not replacing, and we have an attorney leaving. And a second attorney is leaving the Hardee office, and we'll have an attorney from Sebring go over there."
There is some good news: the state attorney can now charge $100 for prosecuting a felony and $50 per misdemeanor.

"That won't buy me an attorney, but every little bit helps," Houchin said.
There will be stiffer penalties for grow houses, and it will be illegal to pop a wheelie on a public street or highway.

"Just Glades Electric alone had $2 million in stolen power through the grow operations, and I would venture to say that Progress Energy lost just as much," said Sheriff Susan Benton. "It has to impact other customer's bills."

When a motorcyclist revs up the engine and releases a clutch, the front wheel of the bike rises in the air, and he rides on the back wheel.

"It's reckless driving," said Benton. "They're not considering other drivers, much less themselves. They're much more likely to lose control. So I think this is very smart legislation."

Insurance
Customers of Citizens Insurance won't see rate increases this year. And if insurance companies plan to drop their coverage, policyholders must be given 90 days notice.

Schools
School districts must stick with the class-size caps approved by voters in 2002. The House and Senate failed to compromise on a postponement.

Will Highlands schools be able to comply?

"We have to," said Wally Cox, superintendent of schools. "But they gave us some implementation flexibility for next year. That's welcome, considering how much funding they took from us."
The other good news is that the FCAT will no longer be the sole source of grading high schools. Other variables, such as graduation rates, will be added to the mix.

"In concept, it's good idea," Cox said. "We don't know how they're going to use that."
But superintendents will help develop the formula.

And science teachers won't be required to analyze Darwin. But if they do teach evolution to students, there will be no state protection.

Taxes
Every year, the Legislature authorizes sales tax holidays for hurricanes and back to school items. This year, with $3 billion budget shortfalls, the measure failed to make it through the Senate.

The cost of registering a boat up to 26 feet rose $10, $28 for 40 footers, and $67 more for yachts.
Cigarette taxes will remain the same. Lawmakers had planned to assess an extra $1 per pack.

Water>
Southwest Florida Water Management District got $15 million to restore water supplies in eight counties, including Highlands, Hardee and Polk. Decades of groundwater over pumping have lowered aquifer levels, led to saltwater intrusion, reduced flows in the Peace River and lowered lake levels. Sen. J.D. Alexander helped secure the funding.

"In this incredibly tight budget year, we are extremely grateful that this project was included," said David Moore, the district's executive director.

Morality
Attempts to legislate good taste and good morals met with equal lack of success.
Rep. Trey Traviesa, R-Tampa, tried to force doctors to show ultrasounds of fetuses to mothers wanting an abortion. The bill failed.

So did a bill promoting faith-based education license plates.

There will be a plate with the state motto, "In God We Trust."

And over that plate, you can still hang a pair of bull testicles called Truck Nutz. The Senate wanted to levy a $60 fine.

Bestiality is also still legal in Florida, but racially offensive lyrics were removed from the state song, "Swanee River."

The Tampa Tribune contributed to this story

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