April 24, 2009

Dear Friend, Budget conference meetings were supposed to begin this week so that the House and Senate could work out differences between their respective budgets. However, both chambers have been unable to agree on a starting point, and the conference committee has yet to meet. The House and Senate have been unable to agree on the level of spending for higher education, whether or not to include an increase in the tobacco tax, and how much to increase revenues and reduce spending. Unfortunately, we are running out of time to pass a budget by the end of session on May 1st, and session may need to be extended to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

While things remain at a standstill regarding the budget, individual bills are continuing to move through the legislature. Several pieces of legislation that I am sponsoring passed the House this week. HB 331, which would help the Florida Public Health Institute more effectively promote public health awareness in our state passed the House on Thursday and has been sent to the Senate for final passage. Click here for more info about the bill and to track its progress through the Legislature.

I also passed two pieces of legislation in the House regarding condominium law. One piece of legislation would create a “Condominium Handbook” to be posted on the Condominium Ombudsman’s website that would explain the Chapter 718 condo laws in a clear, conspicuous, and easily understandable manner. Chapter 718 has been a constant cause of confusion for the many Floridians who live in communities with condominium associations, and this handbook would help our citizens easily understand what their rights are, how they can best follow the condo laws of Chapter 718, and what they should expect from their association boards.

The other piece of legislation I am sponsoring regarding condos would allow unit co-owners to serve on the condominium association board of directors if nobody else expressed an interest in serving. Co-owners are currently prevented from serving on the board at the same time, and in smaller communities and senior communities it can often be difficult to find someone willing and able to serve on the board.

My top priority, House Bill 897, which would authorize an electronic prescription drug monitoring system in Florida that would help physicians and law enforcement officials better prevent abuse, misuse, and illegal sale of prescription drugs has passed the Senate and will be up for a vote in the House next week. Click here for more info about the bill and to track its progress through the Legislature. The Senate version can be found here.
Kelly Skidmore, State Representative, District 90

For more information, visit my official website at http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4364&SessionId=61

> Discuss this entry