| The Legislative Session is slated to end on April 30th and in the remaining time there is still a tremendous amount of work to be accomplished. While improving the economy and holding the line on taxes are priorities, we have been working to ensure our government operates more efficiently, effectively, and transparent for you.
Recently, working with my colleagues the Florida Senate introduced “Transparency Florida”, an initiative to make every level of the state’s budget available with an easy-to-navigate website. The site provides you unprecedented access to explore the state’s operating budget and expenditures online, providing you the opportunity to see exactly how your tax dollars are being utilized. I believe this will bring a greater level of visibility and increased accountability to our state government.
Please take a moment today to visit “Transparency Florida” at http://www.TransparencyFlorida.gov. There you will find a number of ways to explore the state’s budget, as well as a guided tour that will help you to navigate the site’s features.
I am working to improve Florida’s sunshine laws for greater public access and holding public officials to higher ethical standards. With that in mind, I am co-sponsoring the following legislation that will increase government accountability and strengthen Florida’s ethics laws. |
- To increase accountability of government officials: Senate Bill #1076 Public Servants; “The Restoring Faith in Public Office Act.” This legislation makes it is a third-degree felony for a public servant, with corrupt intent, to fail to disclose certain direct or indirect financial interests or benefits.
- To increase ethical requirements: Senate Bill #1646 Regional Workforce Boards; This bill requires a member who is employed by or who receives a benefit from a contracting entity to abstain from voting on a contract with that entity. Prohibits board members and their relatives from contracting with or having a financial interest in a contract with the regional workforce board on which the member serves.
- To raise the level of ethical conduct of legislators: Senate Bill #438 Voting Conflicts; This bill Prohibits a member of the Legislature from voting upon or participating in any legislation benefiting the member or his or her relative. The bill also prohibits a member of the legislature from participating in any legislation benefiting a business associate, employer, or board on which the member sits.
- To expand Florida’s sunshine laws for greater public access: Senate Bill #1598 Public Records and Public Meetings; This bill would enact many of the recommendations made by the Commission on Open Government Reform established by Governor Crist and bring more consistency to the way open records and open meetings laws are interpreted throughout the state. It creates the “Sunshine in Government Act.” The bill requires all elected and appointed public officials to undergo education and training on the requirements of the Sunshine in Government Act.
- To increase the level of transparency: Senate Bill #1034 Public Service Commission; Bans ex parte communication between the PSC and the utilities, adds transparency, and slows the revolving door between PSC officials and higher-paid utility positions. It requires that commissioners observe and abide by the Code of Judicial Conduct while conducting docketed proceedings.
- To streamline government for greater efficiency: Senate Bill #1412 Obsolete or Outdated Agency Plans/Reports/Programs; The Florida Statutes contain requirements that are imposed on executive, legislative, and judicial agencies as well as semi-governmental corporations and advisory bodies. Some of these requirements remain in statute despite dates for requirements that fall in the past. This bill modifies or deletes outdated, duplicative, or unnecessary specific agency programs, planning, and reporting requirements.
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| I hope you found this information to be useful and informative. As the year progresses, to help you stay informed, I will be sending additional legislative updates, a recap of the legislative session and other important information. In case you missed any of my other recent updates, you can view them at www.senatorvictorcrist.com.
Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in the Florida Senate. After 18 years of legislative service I will be leaving the Senate in November and look forward to working with you during my last legislative session. |
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