Representative John P. “Jack” Seiler
Chair, Broward Legislative Delegation

As Chair of the Broward Legislative Delegation, it is my pleasure to present the Annual Report on the 2008 Florida Legislative Session. This report includes contact and council/committee service information on the Delegation members as well as individualized descriptions of their focus and accomplishments during the Session. This Report also includes information on that portion of the General Appropriations Act passed during the Session which affects Broward County, along with a section on our local bills.

In preparation for the Session, the Delegation met at numerous locations throughout Broward County to involve all segments of our community. We listened to a wide-variety of individuals, organizations, and businesses. In an effort to reach consensus on priority issues, workshops were scheduled with the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, the School Board of Broward County, and the Broward League of Cities.

Prior to Session, I appointed the Independent Living Committee of the Delegation in order to gain a status report on the policies, procedures, and actions that agencies within the County are implementing with the Aging Out population of the foster care system. Many community leaders had expressed concern regarding these young adults as they age out of the system and become self sufficient. The Committee was chaired by Senator Nan Rich and committee members were Representatives
Ellyn Bogdanoff, Martin Kiar, Ari Porth and Elaine Schwartz, and Perry Thurston. A comprehensive report was issued which highlighted the community initiatives that are being implemented and can be duplicated
in other parts of the state; services that can be improved with community action; and services that can be improved with legislative action.
A copy of the report is available through our Delegation Office.

Since the creation of the 1995 Ad Hoc Committee on Annexation, many legislative initiatives have addressed the desire to have all unincorporated areas annexed into municipalities. From the 1980’s, when 168,000 residents lived in unincorporated neighborhoods to the present with only 13,000 residents remaining, much has been accomplished. In an effort to inform the Delegation regarding the improvements initiated by Broward County in those neighborhoods and the desires of the residents, I appointed the 2008 Annexation Committee co-chaired by Representatives Matt Meadows and Perry Thurston, with Senators Mandy Dawson and Jeremy Ring and Representative Evan Jenne serving as members. A report has been written and it is anticipated that the 2009 Annexation Committee will use that report as a framework for action during the next legislative session.

The 2008 Legislative Session was dominated by the fact that the State of Florida is suffering a substantial drop in revenues. A Special Session was called in January to re-draft a budget for 2007 reflecting this loss of revenues. The Regular Session of the 2008 Legislature was then dominated by additional losses of revenues, which translated into drastic cuts in services to our citizens and in funding to local governments. The Delegation struggled to continue to provide critical services to our most needy and to maintain funding for education, health and human services, public safety, and our justice system. With the state budget decreasing by over $6 billion, we fought hard to preserve necessary programs and the core functions of state government.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as Chair of the Broward Legislative Delegation this year. I want to thank my Vice Chair, Senator Jeremy Ring, and the members of the Delegation for their trust, support, confidence, and commitment – we are truly blessed to have such hard working and dedicated public servants representing our County in Tallahassee. Our Delegation is fortunate to have the legal services of our outstanding Delegation Counsel, Eugene M. Steinfeld, Esq., and to have the consulting services of the Capitol Hill Group in relation to the appropriations process. In addition, I would like to especially thank our Executive Director, Sandy Harris, and Dee Lynch, our Administrative Assistant, who truly do a tremendous job every year.
I hope you find this Annual Report informative, insightful, and helpful.

Very truly yours,

Representative John P. “Jack” Seiler
Chair, Broward Legislative Delegation