Legislative Committee

Michael Weinert — Legislative Committee Chairman

Mobile; 727-992-8199
Address: 3167 O’Hara Dr.
New Port Richey, FL. 34655

Any member wishing to join the Legislative Committee, please contact Mike at the above numbers.

_______________________________________________

2022 Florida Legislative Update Jan 20, 2022

Florida Legislatures Attack on FL Unions

The Florida legislative session is well underway and so is a full attack on public sector unions.
A bill titled Employee Organizations, HB1197 and SB1458, has changed current law that was already harmful to Florida’s instructional union members and applies them to all public sector unions.
These anti-union laws are so onerous that the firefighters, law enforcement and corrections officers’ unions and their members are carved out from the new rules.
The bills ban automatic payroll deductions for union dues of public sector bargaining units; The bills mandate re-authorization of union dues annually.
These bills add reporting and data collection requirements for the bargaining units, and require proof they represent more than 50% of the bargaining unit through dues.
It is clear that the sponsors and supporters of these bills understand how burdensome and unfair these new regulations are, they don’t want to increase stress on the firefighter and law enforcement union members with the undue burdens of the overreaching regulations.
The bills would enact an obvious onerous double standard, support of this bill is outright duplicitous.
Call or email your state representative and senator tell them Vote No on Employee Organizations Bill, HB1197 and SB1458.

In addition to attacks on unions the Florida legislature is going hard against local control with its own version of nanny-state bills. HB569/HB403 & SB620/SB280.
These bills are an irresponsible Preemption of Local Ordinances bill allows businesses or individuals to block an ordinance that is “arbitrary or unreasonable” yet this is not legally defined, and a business can sue for business damages which also is not defined.
It is definitely not “reasonable” to pass laws that do not define the language within the law, it seems these bills should block themselves.

The preemption bills continue with a ban on minimum wage ordinances for their own employees or public service contractors.HB865/SB758. If passed this can create possible pay cuts for thousands and reduce the amount of money going into local economies.
In 2020 over 60% of Florida voters passed an Amendment that phases in a $15 per hour minimum wage. A new amendment proposal SRJ382 would weaken what was already passed by the electorate and create a second tier for lower wages.

No legislative year can pass without damaging public education.
A Charter School bill, SB758 / HB865, creates a state level charter school review commission which cuts the power of local school boards to authorize and supervise charter schools.

Bill SB520 / HB703; Florida’s College and University presidents control over $13 billion each year in taxpayer funding and this bill would exempt their hiring process from FL Sunshine laws. The bills are an attempt to allow politically appointed boards have complete control of the process with no public oversight or accountability.
School boards in Florida have long been elected in non-partisan elections. The school board elections have stayed above the fray of political culture wars, and are about putting the needs of students, teachers, and parents first, without regard to their voter registration. Bill SJR244 / HJR35 would reverse this making school board elections fully partisan.
These bills are just the tip of the iceberg; So many of these preemption bills as well as many others are written to fix problems that don’t exist. They are clearly power grabs by the State to eliminate local control, and take away workers rights, wages, and benefits. Tell your state senators and reps you don’t need their interference in your towns and cities, or the lack of transparency.

https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/representatives
https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find

In Solidarity,

Mike Weinert
L.L. 2319 Legislative Chair

 

 

______________________________________________________________________

Check out this link for your Florida state district legislators Report Card. Then make a knowledge decision on Election Day.

Florida People First Report Card

____________________________________________________________________