CLEARWATER – Pinellas County Commissioners unanimously approved their 2012 state legislative program Sept. 27, including a proposed draft amendment of the state law that created the county’s EMS Authority.
Sponsors of the local bill are Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, and Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Palm Harbor.
In a memo to commissioners, County Administrator Bob LaSala said the amendment was a “priority item that will clarify the authority vested in the board … as the EMS Authority.
“It annunciates the authority’s right to set reimbursement for reasonable cost of said services. In doing so, it allows a provider to exercise its discretion to provide a higher level of service at its own expense.”
LaSala is promoting a plan recommended by a consultant studying the EMS system to equalize the funding to each of the 18 fire departments and districts that provide of first responder service. A change in state law is necessary to change the funding formula.
Commissioner Nancy Bostock called the “EMS (amendment) language very cumbersome.”
“I’d write more generally to allow better ways for change in the future,” she said.
County Administrator Bob LaSala agreed, saying the amendment was a “work in progress. I expect much more discussion.”
The last day to get a bill filed for the upcoming legislative session was Sept. 27.
Sheriff Jim Coats asked commissioners to add pre-trial release as a priority.
Coats said, “This comes up every session and is always sponsored by the bail bonds industry,” which he said was a “divided group” with some supporting pre-trial release and others opposed.
Coats said the county needed to oppose any change interfering with a sheriff’s or jail manager’s ability to manage the jail population. Every jurisdiction has their own way of managing population through release programs, he said.
In 2010, the county released 4,310 pre-trial defendants on their own recognizance within 24 hours of booking and another 4,699 between 24 and 48 hours. He said proposed legislation would require those defendants to be held for 48 to 72 hours.
“I suggest to you that it would be a huge financial burden on local, county to have to house these individuals,” Coats said.
He said it would be a “huge unfunded mandate” and undo years of work in Pinellas to reduce and manage jail overcrowding.
“This is a battle I’ve been fighting for years,” he said. “Judges, prosecutors, public defenders and sheriffs oppose this.”
He said pre-trial release is only given to non-violent defendants booked into the jail that are no threat to the public.
“They may have jobs,” he said. “But after you sit in jail two to three days, they lose their job, their house.”
Commission Chair Susan Latvala said she has always opposed any legislation that could change pre-trial release programs.
“You have worked very closely with us to reduce the (jail) budget and this is one of the ways you’ve done it,” she said.
Commissioner Nancy Bostock said she preferred the matter be placed on an advertised agenda to let the public speak before making a decision. The commission agreed to put the matter on a future agenda.
Commissioner Neil Brickfield said he wasn’t so sure he would oppose changes in the release program. He said some people being released could afford to pay a bond. He said the program lacked a means test.
Coats agreed that some released might not be indigent, but said some still might not have the money to make bond.
“Sometimes they don’t have the money right away,” he said. “Family members are scraping together money or begging and borrowing to get the money.”
Commissioners took the opportunity to thank Coats for his years of service. Coats is retiring Nov. 7 to spend more time with his wife, who is ill.
Commissioner Karen Seel said Coats’ work to solve the problem of jail overcrowding was noteworthy.
“You were very successful with that,” she said.
Commissioners agreed to remove support for the Florida Association of Counties Legislative Program until after the program is approved on Nov. 7.
They also removed the priority item of prescription drug legislation for further discussion. Bostock said she could support the intent of making it a priority but could not get behind a statement that calls for the county’s support of any additional legislation or rulemaking related to the regulation of pain management clinics.
“This says anything … regardless,” Bostock said.
Bostock wants to add "more precise language" to only target illegal and fraudulent use of prescription drugs, “not any or all.”
Other items on the program
Areas commissioners consider as top concern include unfunded mandates, a local bill for the merger of the Pinellas Planning Council and Metropolitan Organization, funding for beach nourishment and opposition to legislation that exempts online travel companies from paying taxes on retail prices of transactions.
Items listed as “of general concern” are affordable housing, department of juvenile justice billing, environmental permitting, Florida Retirement System, growth management bills that could affect home rule and juvenile detention.
Items to monitor were numerous. Some of the items include legislation concerning the department of economic opportunity, a local bill on the East Lake/Lealman annexation, the fertilizer ordinance, public notice, red light cameras and transportation funding.
Transportation projects listed as critical to the county are:
- State Road 688: widening of Ulmerton Road from east of 49th Street to 34th Street
- U.S. 19: widening of and the freeway on State Road 580 north to Curlew Road, currently in design stage; north of State Road 580 to Northside Drive, design funded; and Northside Drive north to County Road 95, design funded
- State Road 686: Roosevelt Connector Expressway, Bayside Bridget to 118th Avenue, currently in planning stage
- State Road 694: Gandy Boulevard at Fourth Street and MLK Jr. Street overpasses, in planning stage
