Davie Hurricane Relief.org 

A private effort to enhance communications before and after hurricanes and other emergency events

Legislative Monitor

Reports on Legislation Pertaining to Hurricane and Disaster Issues

Herald.com reported on December 9 that the Florida Legislature passed a bill to allow for late payment of property taxes.  The Florida Senate reportedly approved a bill, without dissent, that would allow those in Wilma affected counties to pay late but still receive the full discount of 4 percent. Payments would have to be made by the end of January, 2006 to obtain the full discount.  The Florida House passed the bill on December 7.  Broward County had already extended the maximum discount deadline to December 15, and in Miami-Dade the time to pay for the full discount had been extended to December 9.  The bill awaiting signature by Governor Bush covers Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties, plus several others. According to the report, each county will have to agree to the extension, which will result in lost tax revenue. Herald.com reported the Broward County Commission will vote on whether or not to opt into the Legislature's bill on Tuesday. 

According to Sun-Sentinel.com on December 6, hearings will be conducted by a the Florida Senate Domestic Security Committee to discuss problems identified during and after Hurricane Wilma.  The hearings will be held in Broward County, as well as Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. Public participation is permitted. These forums reportedly are being conducted to allow lawmakers to hear ideas that can be considered during the next regularly scheduled legislative session, which starts on March 7, 2006.  Please watch this space for additional information on the upcoming hearings and for more specifics.

The Florida Legislature is set to meet in special session on Monday, December 5 to Friday, December 9.  Davie Hurricane Relief.org will monitor any hurricane related bills that are considered in Tallahassee and report on these pages.  Whether hurricane relief legislation will be taken up in the special session is not yet clear.

Bill Filed To Protect Mobile Home Park Affordable Housing

  A bill filed in the Florida Senate would require local governments to relocate mobile home park residents displaced by development plans.  The bill, filed by State Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton), would require new mobile home parks to be developed if builders purchase existing parks.  This piece of legislation was reported by the Daily Business Review on November 30.  Davie Hurricane Relief.org will watch this bill and other affordable housing proposals, as solutions to the affordable housing crisis in Florida is key to hurricane preparation and recovery.

Pet Care in Evacuation Scenarios 

Sun-Sentinel.com reported on November 27, 2005 that Congress is considering a bill "that would require evacuation plans to include information about accommodating household pets and service animals."  Entitled the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2005.  It is H.R. 3858  One purpose is to make sure pets are not separated from their owners in case of disaster. 

The proposed legislation is sponsored by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-California).  The Congressman's web site published his public remarks to the a Congressional Committee.  He said, in part, "The devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama brought unbelievable images into American homes every night.  The losses of life and property were simply staggering.  And on top of all that, the sight of evacuees choosing between being rescued or remaining with their pets, perhaps even having to leave behind the service animals they rely on every day was just heartbreaking. The Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act will put an end to all that. In order to qualify for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, local and state authorities have to submit plans detailing their disaster preparedness arrangements.  Until today, accommodating families with pets or disabled citizens with service animals was never considered an essential part of any plan. Our bill requires state and local emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans how they will accommodate pets or service animals in case of a disaster."

Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005

Currently pending before the United States Senate is a bill designed to establish the "Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board" within the Department of Commerce.  According to the Library of Congress summary on the proposed legislation, the goal is to "promote and fund research and development (R&D), studies, and investigations with respect to: (1), improved forecast and decision making technologies for weather modification operations, including tailored computer workstations and software and new observation systems with remote sensors; and (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather modification, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and anthropogenic efforts)."  The bill would also establish the "Weather Modification Research and Development Fund" whose funds would be restricted to provide research and development for weather modifications.

The bill was introduced on March 3, 2005.  It is S.B. 517, sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas).  According to the Library of Congress, the bill has no co-sponsors in the Senate. H.R. 2995 is a related House Bill.  The bill is currently pending before a Senate Committee.

UPDATE (December 10, 2005)-Suddenly, things are beginning to happen on the weather modification front. Fox News.com reported on December 8 that a bill sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), known as the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005, has been passed out of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation Committee and is on its way to full Senate debate.  The report states the funding for the bill is a crucial flash point. While the proposed legislation initially proposed $10 million a year for ten years to help fund ideas and practical applications.  After review in the committee process, only "funding as necessary" was allowed and the $10 million figure was removed.  Fox reports a bill is pending in the U.S. House of Representatives for the same purpose, and is sponsored by Representative Mark Udall (D-Colo).  The article points out that currently no funds are earmarked for research in the United States for weather modification.  Any legislation on this topic will be closely monitored by other nations, as some fear military use of weather control efforts.

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