Title
CRA Legislative Update (B)
Explanation
As you will recall, last year Representative Rayburn and Senator Lee introduced legislation that would have required CRA’s to either terminate or reaffirm their existence by supermajority votes to continue. That legislation did not pass last year. This year, Representative Rayburn and Senator Lee have already filed bills that again would affect how a CRA could do business. House Bill 17 and Senate Bill 432, filed for the 2018 Florida Legislative Session, are already underway with committee meetings.
The bills as currently drafted would be effective October 1, 2018 and prohibit new CRA’s after October 1, 2018, unless they are created by special act of the Legislature.
Additional proposed changes include, but aren’t limited to:
1. The addition of two civilian positions to CRA Boards
2. The addition of prohibited expenditures and an illustrative list of authorized expenditures as an exclusive list
3. Increasing the list of prohibited expenditures
4. Changing the wording of authorized trust fund expenditures such that the CRA could only expend trust fund moneys for items in the list. This proposed change could potentially eliminate the following current CRA programs or projects:
a. Heartwood
b. Paint Programs
c. Programs for Partnerships with local agencies and non-profits (i.e. Habitat for Humanity’s Partnership for Paint)
d. Community Sponsored Event like the Eastside Youth Triathlon, 5th Avenue Arts Festival, etc.
5. It may require a reduction in staffing because the administrative and overhead expenses are limited to 18% of total CRA budget. If staffing is reduced, the number of projects may also be reduced.
6. Additional annual audit and reporting requirements
7. Proposed lobbyist registration language
While the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) is leading the organizational response and strategy on behalf of all CRA’s in the state, local governments, governmental officials and citizens are encouraged to contact their legislators in support of their respective local CRA’s. Included as back up to this item are copies of the bills, a list of key legislative dates and a memo from the FRA.
Fiscal note
None at this time
Recommendation
CRA Executive Director to the CRA Board: Review proposed bills and additional backup from the Florida Redevelopment Association