Beach Repairs, Synthetic Drugs Part of Pinellas Legislative Agenda

Beach renourishment, juvenile justice, synthetic drugs and fertilizer laws are just a few of the items Pinellas County Commissioners are asking their lobbyists to focus on in Tallahassee in 2013. 

The commissioners will vote on their 2013 legislative priorities for the state legislature at the Feb. 12 commission meeting in Clearwater. 

Other legislative focuses include:

• Oppose any benefit change that results in substantial increase to the county's Florida Retirement System rate. 
• Support an amendment allowing Pinellas to have more discretion for using Penny for Pinellas funds. 
• Oppose actions by the state to adjust detention responsibilities and maintain greater numbers of sentenced inmates in local jails. 
• Support additional legislation and rule making that provides for the appropriate prescribing practices, prescription use and proper accountability in prescribing drugs.
• Support science-based numeric nutrient criteria for Florida’s water
• Oppose legislation seeking to repeal the local business tax, which according to the county, would prevent local government from collecting a local business tax. The county does not currently collect a local business tax, but the county said it does not want to limit potential revenue sources.
• Support additional legislation that addresses the evolving problem for effective regulation, consistent enforcement, and proactive, rapid elimination of emerging synthetic drug products.
• Support legislation that maintains state funding for beach restoration projects.

For a full list of legislative items the county supports and opposes, click here. 

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