Eliminating regulatory obstacles will help establish a business climate that inspires entrepreneurs, empowers the private sector to create jobs and provides greater freedom to Floridians.
Burdensome government regulations cost employers time and resources and impede job creation and economic growth. State government issues thousands of regulations every year, and there are more than 4,000 federal regulations currently in the pipeline.
Small businesses, in particular, are often most significantly impacted by government regulations. That’s because businesses with fewer than 20 employees incur regulatory costs 42 percent higher than larger business. When four out of every five jobs are created by small businesses, regulatory reform is critical.
During the 2012 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed several Florida Chamber-backed regulatory bills that reduce red tape and eliminate regulatory burdens on entrepreneurs.
State Government Rules Repeal
Eliminating duplicative, costly and antiquated rules and regulations, lawmakers passed a Florida Chamber-backed bill repealing 270 rules and directly improving Florida’s business climate.
Sponsored by Rep. Patrick Rooney (R-Palm Beach Gardens), HB 7029 provides regulatory checks and balances to support Florida’s global competitiveness and to help secure Florida’s future. Further, this measure helps restore balance, transparency and accountability to government.
Governor Scott signed this bill into law on March 28, 2012.
Administrative Authority to Reduce Regulatory Burdens
Ensuring Florida’s regulatory reform efforts are not thwarted by the courts, lawmakers passed Florida Chamber-backed legislation empowering Florida’s Governor to supervise – at all times – state agency department heads under his authority.
Under HB 7055 by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Shalimar), the Florida Legislature clarified a legal decision rendered in response to a lawsuit filed against Governor Scott’s Executive Order suspending new rules and regulations from being imposed until they could be reviewed. This bill clearly sets in statute that the governor has authority to reduce red tape and burdensome regulations through state agency’s that fall within his supervisory role. Governor Rick Scott signed this bill into law April 13, 2012.
Environmental Resource Permitting
Establishing a statewide Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Rule and single point-of-entry into Florida’s storm water permitting process will ease the cost of doing business in Florida. Under HB 7003 sponsored by Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice) and Rep. Steve Crisafulli (R-Merrit Island), ERP is streamlined and standardized – eliminating costly redundancy and creating certainty for businesses.
Florida’s ERP Program provides a statewide set of rules for storm water management structures. With this legislation, agencies will expedite permit reviews, a division of responsibility is established between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Water Management Districts, and reduces government inefficiency. This bill was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on April 6, 2012.
Growth Management Glitch Bill
Creating a climate of greater economic certainty, lawmakers cleaned up the 2011 growth management reform law by removing outdated and obsolete provisions. The 2011 legislation was the first major rewrite of growth management laws in 26 years. Because of the vast number of changes, Rep. Ritch Workman (R-Melbourne) sponsored Florida Chamber-backed HB 7081 to cleanup leftover statue references. This bill was signed into law by Governor Scott on April 6, 2012.
Developments of Regional Impact
Providing greater clarity in the permit review process and establishing a more competitive business climate, the Florida Legislature passed HB 979 – a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) bill sponsored by Rep. Jose Diaz (R-Miami) and supported by the Florida Chamber.
The bill allows local governments subject to the DRI process to provide faster approval when competing for projects, gives permit seekers clarity in the review process and reduces permitting times. This bill was signed into law by Governor Scott on April 6, 2012.
State Pension Reform
Modernizing Florida’s retirement system for sustainability and consistency with retirement plans offered by the private-sector remains a Florida Chamber priority. By modernizing the plan, Florida can help ensure the public employee retirement system can continue providing benefits without burdening taxpayers.
This year lawmakers introduced legislation to help ensure a sustainable and more actuarially sound public employee retirement plan. Three public employee unions reached an agreement to support pension reform, but one later broke the agreement. Instead of focusing on long-term solutions to ensure future public employees have a sound retirement system available, unions back-peddled on their support and instead focused on short-term political fixes.
Local Pension Plans
Special interest groups pushed back against efforts to provided public employees a sustainable retirement plan. A local pension plan bill would have modernized public pensions to ensure a sound financial future for employees, reduce the state’s liability and provide cost savings to taxpayers.
There is more work to be done and the Florida Chamber remains committed to ensuring Florida’s hard-working public employees can receive retirement benefits without burdening taxpayers.
Earlier this year, the Florida Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of Florida’s small businesses, thanks in part to many Lakeland Chamber members. The information that was provided will guide the Florida Chamber as they work to track the trends and issues affecting small businesses in Florida that may be addressed by the Florida Chamber’s Small Business Council.
Latest results from the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council survey show Florida’s overall business health improving and nearly 40 percent of small business owners planning to hire more employees during the next six months.
For the third month in a row, Florida voters are more optimistic Florida is headed in the right direction, according to a poll released today by the Florida Chamber Political Institute. Up three percent since January, 35 percent of Floridians believe the state is moving in the right direction while 44 percent are not as confident – a decrease of four percent since January.
