2012 West Orange Chamber of Commerce Legislative Position Paper

Business Issues:

Supports…

•  HB 861 and action by Florida’s Governor and State Legislature to end the Internet Sales Tax loophole.

•  Died in Finance & Tax Committee

Business Financing:

Supports…

•  The funding of GrowFL, a program that focuses on growing the small businesses that are already established in the state.

•  Money has been appropriated for the for the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program (UCF)

Infrastructure:

Supports…

•  The protection of the Transportation Trust Fund. The funds in this account should not be used for any non-transportation related expenses.

Education:

Supports…

•  PECO funding for Valencia College West campus for site improvements, renovations, remodeling and new building.

•  To fully fund the recurring request for the UCF College of Medicine.

•  HB 5703 that will shift nearly $50 million in communication services tax collections from the general revenue fund into the state trust fund used for public school construction. The allotment will allow the chamber to make debt payments on the Public Education Capital Outlay fund and provide the funds needed to sell bonds for new and continuing projects.

•  Passed House but died in the Senate

•  The reduction of unfunded state regulations and mandates.

Health Care:

Supports…

•  Full funding of the Medically Needy and the Medicaid for the Aged & Disabled

•  No additional cuts to healthcare Medicaid funding

•  Hospitals will see their reimbursement rates reduced by 5.64 percent and nursing homes by 2.5 percent. In addition, there will be a limit of 6 visits per year for Medicaid adults to emergency room visits.

•  The Medically Needy & Medicaid for the Aged & Disabled programs were fully funded.

Destination Casinos:

Opposes…

·  The expansion of gambling/gaming in the state of Florida.

Died in Committee

Monitor:

•  The SmartCAP Amendment that will appear on the November ballot, for any revisions.

No changes, will appear on November ballot as Amendment 3

•  Home Rule – protects the rights for county and cities.

•  Unemployment compensation, workers compensation and Citizens Insurance policies.