EFRWC
Legislative Brief – January 28, 2008
Provided by EFRWC Legislative Chair,
Jennifer Bobo
Contact:
jenniferbobo@aol.com or (850) 450-2251
UPDATES – STATE OF FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
H73 GENERAL BILL by
Brown; (CO-SPONSORS) Harrell; Nehr; Schenck
(Compare
H 0107,
H 0159,
H 0571,
H 0577,
S 0388,
S 0424,
S 0540,
S 0624,
S 1086)
Illegal Immigration/Taxpayer
& Citizen Protection; Prohibits county or
municipal government restrictions
concerning communication or
cooperation with federal officials
related to immigration law
enforcement. Requires verification of
citizenship status of persons
confined for driving under the
influence and boating under the
influence. Requires verification of
immigration status for driver's
licenses, identification cards, and
public benefits, etc. EFFECTIVE
DATE: 10/01/2008.
08/17/07 HOUSE Filed
09/10/07 HOUSE Referred to Government Efficiency &
Accountability Council;
Policy
& Budget Council
11/29/07 HOUSE Referred to State Affairs (GEA) by Government
Efficiency &
Accountability
Council
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/House/bills/billtext/pdf/h007300.pdf )
H159
GENERAL BILL by Adams; (CO-SPONSORS) Harrell; Nehr (Similar S 0388,
Compare H 0073,
H 0571,
H 0577,
S 0540,
S 1086)
Security and Immigration
Compliance Act; Provides that beginning July 1,
2009, no public employers shall enter
into contracts for the physical
performance of services within the
state with contractors not registered
and participating in a federal work
authorization program. Requires
state agencies and political
subdivisions to verify the lawful presence
in the United States of natural persons
18 years of age or older who
have applied for state, local, or
federal public benefits, etc.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2008 except as
otherwise provided.
09/26/07 HOUSE Filed
10/10/07 HOUSE Referred to Government Efficiency &
Accountability Council;
Policy
& Budget Council
11/29/07 HOUSE Referred to State Affairs (GEA) by Government
Efficiency &
Accountability
Council
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/House/bills/billtext/pdf/h015900.pdf)
H571
GENERAL BILL by Kravitz
(Identical S 0540,
Compare H 0073,
H 0159,
H 0577,
S 0388,
S 1086)
Felons/Enforcement of Federal
Immigration Laws; Requires law enforcement
officers, sheriffs, chief correctional
officers, and clerks of the
circuit court to report to Immigration
and Customs Enforcement of the
United States Department of Homeland
Security suspected illegal aliens
who are arrested, detained, or
convicted of a felony, etc. EFFECTIVE
DATE: 07/01/2008.
01/17/08 HOUSE Filed
01/23/08 HOUSE Referred to Government Efficiency &
Accountability Council;
Policy
& Budget Council
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/House/bills/billtext/pdf/h057100.pdf)
H577
GENERAL BILL by Williams
(Identical S 1086,
Compare H 0073,
H 0159,
H 0571,
S 0388,
S 0540)
Illegal or Undocumented
Aliens/DOC; Requires that the court reclassify a
felony or misdemeanor offense to the
next higher degree if the offense
is the second or subsequent offense
committed by an illegal or
undocumented alien who has unlawfully
reentered the United States after
deportation. Requires that the DOC
compile, monthly, a list of persons
suspected to be illegal or undocumented
aliens who are serving a
sentence in a correctional institution
in this state, etc. EFFECTIVE
DATE: 07/01/2008.
01/17/08 HOUSE Filed
01/23/08 HOUSE Referred to Government Efficiency &
Accountability Council;
Policy
& Budget Council
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/House/bills/billtext/pdf/h057700.pdf)
S1086 GENERAL BILL by Bennett (Identical H 0577,
Compare H 0073,
H 0159,
H 0571,
S 0388,
S 0540)
Illegal or Undocumented
Aliens/DOC [LPCC]; Requires that the court
reclassify a felony or misdemeanor
offense to the next higher degree if
the offense is the second or subsequent
offense committed by an illegal
or undocumented alien who has
unlawfully reentered the United States
after deportation. Requires that the
DOC compile, monthly, a list of
persons suspected to be illegal or
undocumented aliens who are serving a
sentence in a correctional institution
in this state, etc. EFFECTIVE
DATE: 07/01/2008.
01/11/08 SENATE Filed
01/24/08 SENATE Referred to Criminal
Justice; Judiciary; Criminal and Civil
Justice
Appropriations
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s1086.pdf)
S388
GENERAL BILL by Fasano; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Gaetz (Similar H 0159,
Compare
H 0073,
H 0571,
H 0577,
S 0540,
S 1086)
Security and Immigration
Compliance Act [LPCC]; Provides that beginning
July 1, 2009 no public employers shall
enter into contracts for the
physical performance of services within
the state with contractors not
registered and participating in a
federal work-authorization program.
Requires state agencies and political
subdivisions to verify the lawful
presence in the United States of
natural persons 18 years of age or
older who have applied for state,
local, or federal public benefits,
etc.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2008 except as otherwise provided.
10/01/07 SENATE Filed
12/13/07 SENATE Referred to Military
Affairs and Domestic Security;
Governmental
Operations; Criminal Justice; General Government
Appropriations
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0388.pdf)
S540
GENERAL BILL by Baker; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Posey; Gaetz (Identical H 0571,
Compare H 0073,
H 0159,
H 0577,
S 0388,
S 1086)
Felons/Enforcement of Federal
Immigration Laws [LPCC]; Requires law
enforcement officers, sheriffs, chief
correctional officers, and clerks
of the circuit court to report to
Immigration and Customs Enforcement of
the United States Department of
Homeland Security suspected illegal
aliens who are arrested, detained, or
convicted of a felony, etc.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2008.
10/18/07 SENATE Filed
12/13/07 SENATE Referred to Criminal
Justice; Military Affairs and Domestic
Security;
Judiciary; Criminal and Civil Justice
Appropriations
(The complete version of the bill is available at: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0540.pdf)
UPDATES –
U. S. CONGRESS
republicanleader.house.gov
Boehner
Praises Agreement on Economic Growth Package
Washington, Jan 24 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement announcing an agreement in principle on an economic growth package with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA):
“For the last two weeks, Congress and the Bush Administration have worked together to craft an economic growth package that will get our economy moving again on behalf of middle-class families and small businesses. Today, Speaker Pelosi, Secretary Paulson, and I came to an agreement in principle to bring a bill to the House floor so it can get to President Bush just as soon as possible.
“This agreement is a win for the American people. It will help to stimulate our economy in the most direct and effective way possible: by putting money back in the pockets of middle class families, and by giving employers incentives to create new jobs and grow our economy. Equally as important, this agreement contains no unrelated spending or tax increases – a Republican condition of support from the outset of our negotiations.
“We cannot lose sight of the fact that this agreement is only a short-term measure to deal with the unsettled economic situation. It is just as important to put policies in place to strengthen our economic competiveness and create more American jobs in the long-term. First and foremost, we should block the largest tax increase in American history looming in 2010. We also must lower our corporate tax rate, which is among the highest in the developed world, and finally end the arcane alternative minimum tax. And Washington finally needs to control spending and reform entitlements so we don’t leave a legacy of debt for generations to come.
“Many Americans correctly believe that Washington is broken. This agreement is one small step towards fixing it, and I’d like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Secretary Paulson, and our entire Republican leadership team for their work on this measure.”
Summary of the Economic Growth Package Agreement in Principle
I. Tax Relief for American Families:
Rebate Checks: The economic growth package will include rebate checks in the sum of two separate calculations, with an overall phase-out for those with adjusted gross incomes above $75,000 for a single taxpayer and $150,000 for married couples. Rebate checks will include a base amount determined by the greater of two options: (a) Income tax paid in 2007, with a maximum of $600 for a single taxpayer and $1,200 for married couples; or (b) $300 for an individual and $600 for a married couple, provided the individual or couple earned income of at least $3,000 in 2007.
A children’s bonus also will be included in the rebate check calculation. Anyone qualifying for the base amount also receives an additional $300 per child, with no cap on the number of children.
II. Tax Relief for Employers:
Bonus Depreciation: The economic growth package will provide for a 50 percent bonus deduction on new equipment in the year it is placed in service, with certain exceptions for equipment with a “long life.” This temporary tax cut offers significant savings on new property with a depreciation period of 20 years or less. This will give employers – particularly small businesses – greater incentive to invest and create jobs for more Americans searching for work. The temporary bonus depreciation, coupled with expensing measures enacted in May 2003, resulted in a four percent increase in business spending in the first six months alone.
Section 179 Expensing This provision allows employers, including small businesses, to fully expense $250,000 in both new and used tangible property in the year it is purchased up to an overall investment limit of $750,000. This will provide a particularly strong incentive for small companies to invest in their businesses so they can continue to provide good-paying jobs for the American people.
Increase in Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE)/Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Conforming Loan Limit: The conforming loan limits for both FHA and GSE (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) loans would be increased from $362,000 to $725,000 and from $417,000 to $625,000 respectively.
III. No Extraneous Spending/Tax Hikes
The agreement in principle includes no extraneous spending on unemployment insurance, transportation infrastructure, food stamps, and Medicaid. In a letter to Speaker Pelosi last week, Republican Leader Boehner and Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) asked that any extraneous spending and tax hikes be taken off the table. All have been dropped.
#####
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please see the attached documents, which have been provided by Ms. Jerrie Lewis, Staff of Representative Dave Murzin, which includes legislative resources and information, as well as information from the Office of the Majority Whip in Florida House of Representatives.
CONTACT YOUR STATE DELEGATION
Rep.
Don Brown - donald.brown@myfloridahouse.gov -
phone 850-983-5550
Rep.
Greg Evers - greg.evers@myfloridahouse.gov -
phone 1-866-450-4366
Rep.
Clay Ford - clay.ford@myfloridahouse.gov -
phone 850-595-5550
Rep.
Dave Murzin - dave.murzin@myfloridahouse.gov -
phone 850-494-7330
Rep.
Ray Sansom - ray.sansom@myfloridahouse.gov -
phone 850-833-9328
Sen.
Don Gaetz - gaetz.don.web@floridasenate.gov -
850-983-5550
Sen.
Durrell Peaden - peaden.durrell.web@floridasenate.gov -
phone 850-689-0556