Pay Raise Watch 2017

[Unregistered]

Couple problems with that. First it would require a modification of state statute authorizing the Florida Highway Patrol all together. Since FHP is not a constitutional law enforcement agency it was only created by state statute and its powers and responsibilities are all contained within that statute. FHP is responsible for state roadways and areas of unincorporated roadways IE Areas Sheriffs Office patrol. Its not that your doing the Sheriffs Offices work your actually doing your own statutorily authorized and required functions.

The State seriously looked at restricting FHP to interstates and state roads only in 2012, be careful what you wish for on that one. It was a huge reduction in funding and manpower. It would shift large numbers of your current workload onto the Sheriffs Office and as a result they planned to cut FHP by huge numbers.

Sheriffs were against this because the State only offered to give them the money they were going to CUT from FHP for one year and not guarantee it after the first year.

Just rest assured if this ever happens FHP will be cut to a fraction of its current size I saw numbers in the 600-800 range. Funny part if CVE probably wouldn't see any cuts since a large majority of their funding comes from the Fed.

Yes, but when FDOT was merged into FHP it changed the thinking on the jurisdiction idea. Federal grant money for highway funding would be affected. CVE Troopers would suffer the same jurisdiction restriction and trucks on local roads wouldn't be checked, like hazmat vehicles. This played a big roll in squashing the jurisdictional restriction. Read the Law Enforcement Consalidation Task Force minutes from 2012, its all in there.

But the way it looks is that FHP may be a 400 man department weighing trucks everyday. Or worse yet, we go back to FDOT and food stamps!

[Unregistered]

Legislative activity for week of March 20-24th
Week three of the session brought progress for several of our key issues.

- Body camera footage review legislation passes Senate Committee.
- Career development legislation will receive a hearing next Monday.

Please review the brief summaries of week three and the direction we are heading.

State Employee Pay Raises

Senator Jack Latvala has agreed to amendment our career development legislation SB 168 to allow the doubling of salary incentive dollars for participating officers. The concept was one of the issues that came out of our career development workgroup. The bill will be heard on Monday in the Senate Government Oversight & Accountability Committee.

We are still waiting for either chamber (the Senate or House) to release their budget proposal for pay raises.

Highway Patrol Pilot Program

HB 7061 was heard this week in the House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. The legislation will create a pilot program removing the Highway Patrol from Pinellas and Polk Counties. The idea is not currently being discussed in the Senate, but Senator Jack Latvala has indicated that before any pilot program like this moves forward he will have a workgroup created to study all of the issues and concerns. If the study makes any recommendations those issues will be dealt with in next year's session.

There is still a lot time left in this year's session so this issue will no doubt linger.

The House leadership has set this legislation in motion and it will likely continue to move in that chamber. Most likely passing each committee and then the full body on a partisan vote.

From the PBA's perspective, the best place to defeat/slowdown/amend the bill is in the Senate. We have spoken to the House bill sponsor (Representative Julio Gonzalez) and the Sheriffs' Association indicating our opposition to the pilot program. They are fully aware that we will oppose the bill in the Senate and, if need be, we will agree to Latvala's study.

Local Pension Plans

PBA lobbyists continue to monitor the Tampa pension bill HB 533 by Representative Janet Cruz. It passed the House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee on Monday.

Body Camera Footage Review

SB 624 by Senator Greg Steube received a hearing this week in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill will allow a law enforcement officer to review the footage from his or her camera prior to writing a report, or making a statement about an incident arising from his or her official duties. PBA Executive Director Matt Puckett testified in support of the legislation. The bill passed the committee unanimously.

HB 305 by Representative Shawn Harrison will be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives next Wednesday, March 29th.

Sheriffs Must Be Elected

HB 721 by Representative Jason Fischer was heard in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill will place a constitutional amendment on the 2018 General Election Ballot asking voters to approve the statewide requirement that all sheriffs must be elected. Currently, only Dade County has an appointed public safety director. PBA President John Rivera testified in support of the legislation. The bill passed the committee.

Autism Awareness Training

HB 39 by Representative Evan Jenne was also heard in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation adds autism awareness training to FDLE's criminal justice training requirements. Gary Bradford testified in support of this legislation. The bill passed.


Please join me in thanking John Rivera, John Kazanjian, Ernie George, Pablo Lima, Lou Penque, Lizeth Barriel and Al Lopez for joining us in Tallahassee this week.

As always, please stay safe.

Sincerely,

Matt Puckett

[Unregistered]

Legislative activity for week of March 20-24th
Week three of the session brought progress for several of our key issues.

- Body camera footage review legislation passes Senate Committee.
- Career development legislation will receive a hearing next Monday.

Please review the brief summaries of week three and the direction we are heading.

State Employee Pay Raises

Senator Jack Latvala has agreed to amendment our career development legislation SB 168 to allow the doubling of salary incentive dollars for participating officers. The concept was one of the issues that came out of our career development workgroup. The bill will be heard on Monday in the Senate Government Oversight & Accountability Committee.

We are still waiting for either chamber (the Senate or House) to release their budget proposal for pay raises.

Highway Patrol Pilot Program

HB 7061 was heard this week in the House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. The legislation will create a pilot program removing the Highway Patrol from Pinellas and Polk Counties. The idea is not currently being discussed in the Senate, but Senator Jack Latvala has indicated that before any pilot program like this moves forward he will have a workgroup created to study all of the issues and concerns. If the study makes any recommendations those issues will be dealt with in next year's session.

There is still a lot time left in this year's session so this issue will no doubt linger.

The House leadership has set this legislation in motion and it will likely continue to move in that chamber. Most likely passing each committee and then the full body on a partisan vote.

From the PBA's perspective, the best place to defeat/slowdown/amend the bill is in the Senate. We have spoken to the House bill sponsor (Representative Julio Gonzalez) and the Sheriffs' Association indicating our opposition to the pilot program. They are fully aware that we will oppose the bill in the Senate and, if need be, we will agree to Latvala's study.

Local Pension Plans

PBA lobbyists continue to monitor the Tampa pension bill HB 533 by Representative Janet Cruz. It passed the House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee on Monday.

Body Camera Footage Review

SB 624 by Senator Greg Steube received a hearing this week in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill will allow a law enforcement officer to review the footage from his or her camera prior to writing a report, or making a statement about an incident arising from his or her official duties. PBA Executive Director Matt Puckett testified in support of the legislation. The bill passed the committee unanimously.

HB 305 by Representative Shawn Harrison will be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives next Wednesday, March 29th.

Sheriffs Must Be Elected

HB 721 by Representative Jason Fischer was heard in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill will place a constitutional amendment on the 2018 General Election Ballot asking voters to approve the statewide requirement that all sheriffs must be elected. Currently, only Dade County has an appointed public safety director. PBA President John Rivera testified in support of the legislation. The bill passed the committee.

Autism Awareness Training

HB 39 by Representative Evan Jenne was also heard in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation adds autism awareness training to FDLE's criminal justice training requirements. Gary Bradford testified in support of this legislation. The bill passed.


Please join me in thanking John Rivera, John Kazanjian, Ernie George, Pablo Lima, Lou Penque, Lizeth Barriel and Al Lopez for joining us in Tallahassee this week.

As always, please stay safe.

Sincerely,

Matt Puckett

Thank you Matt.

[Unregistered]

SB 168 was heard today, and it's a joke. All it does is say agencies have to continue doing what's already being done! In fact the bill completely abandoned any idea of a step plan or true career development plan. Please go watch the video and read the bill for yourself, make sure you read he new one not the old one which mandated a guaranteed step plan of no more than 25 steps and reduced classification codes. Another fail so far.

[Unregistered]

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/new...alks/99841810/

[Unregistered]

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/new...alks/99841810/

When I see it I'll believe it!

[Unregistered]

Senate has released the budget to give a raise. The house has said NO to raises.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/pol...404-story.html

[Unregistered]

Senate has released the budget to give a raise. The house has said NO to raises.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/pol...404-story.html

Modern day hostage taking. Games legislators play. In the end there will be a small barely noticeable raise and the senate will blame the house. They house will point fingers at the senate and the governor will blame both.

[Unregistered]

Doesn't really state if the house is not backing the 1k/1.4k for all state employees or both that and the 5%. Last I saw the house still had the 5% but for SES employees only .

[Unregistered]

Doesn't really state if the house is not backing the 1k/1.4k for all state employees or both that and the 5%. Last I saw the house still had the 5% but for SES employees only .

I heard that the House was leaving pay raises to the senate this year. Not sure how it's going to play out. At least someone in there is realizing that we need some dang money