By Michael Peltier
Naples Daily News
05/03/08

TALLAHASSEE — Southwest Florida delegates shepherded through a flurry of legislation affecting criminal justice, energy, business and the environment as lawmakers completed a session marked by few dollars and minimal change.

Restricted by budget woes and a legislative leadership comfortable with letting things lie, delegates from Lee and Collier counties nonetheless called the 2008 legislative session a success.

“I think all in all it was a good year,” said Rep. Garrett Richter, R-Naples.

When the session began, Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, was hoping to pass legislation to extend the Florida Forever environmental land-buying program and funding for the Everglades.

He also was the Senate point man for Gov. Charlie Crist’s comprehensive energy package.

By session’s end, Saunders, who is forced to retire under Florida term limit rules, had accomplished all three.

Lawmakers agreed to extend Florida Forever for another 10 years and spend more than $5 billion for the purchase of environmentally sensitive lands.

Legislators also agreed to allow for up to $1 billion in Everglades funding over the next 10 years.

The $100-million-a-year authorized under the budget measure would be matched by water management district dollars for an annual $200 million pool to continue the state’s commitment to restore the River of Grass.

The governor’s energy package includes incentives for utilities to modernize while setting guidelines and goals for emission reductions.

“I did what I set out to do this year,” Saunders said.

There was more limited success for Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, whose cross-state district includes south Lee County.

A member of the minority party, Aronberg pushed through significant legislation to combat video voyeurism but fell short in efforts to set statewide standards to keep sexual predators away from schools and places were kids play.

A measure to create a 1,500-foot safety net fell by the wayside Friday. It became controversial because of questions raised by some South Florida Republicans. Miami-Dade County currently has a 2,500-foot buffer.

Despite language to allow for greater distance requirements, the bill died in the House without action taken.

Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, also saw some priorities fall short.

Williams left for Tallahassee hoping to pass legislation that would allow prison officials to deport non-violent illegal immigrant prisoners who had served at least half their sentences.

Williams had proposed spending to provide qualified illegal immigrant prisoners a plane ticket home if they agreed not to return. Those who came back and were caught again would face even tougher sentences if convicted again.

The measure got caught up among a handful of immigrant issues stalled early in the House.

Election-year considerations may have played a factor as leaders in the House have strong immigrant roots.

The parents of Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio, for example, were Cuban immigrants who came to the United States with little other than the clothes on their backs.

“It was too soon for the Florida House to do anything on immigration,” Williams said. “I think any push for reform will have to come from the Senate.”

Rep. Nick Thompson, R-Fort Myers, saw more success.

Lawmakers approved a pair of Thompson-sponsored bills to strengthen penalties for school kids who bully and update laws on marijuana growing that haven’t changed in decades.

One Thompson-backed measure reduces the threshold on marijuana growing to account for the proliferation of “grow houses” that have sprung up around the state.

Thompson’s bill would allow state law enforcement officials to use federal conspiracy charges against anyone growing more than 25 plants in homes purchased for growing marijuana. The measure also enhances penalties if kids are involved.

Thompson’s other measure creates a law that bolsters penalties for school bullying. Prompted by the death of Trafalgar Middle School student Jeffrey Johnston in 2005, Thompson’s measure increases penalties for bullying on and off campus.

The measure sets up reporting criteria for school officials to follow to track increasing Internet-based harassment.

Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, watched his first session unfold. The successor to the late Rep. Mike Davis, a popular lawmaker who lost a battle with cancer last year, Hudson said he nonetheless got off to a good start as a freshmen lawmaker. Hudson passed a handful of bills, including a measure to clarify insurance payments for homeowner’s replacement costs.

“Not bad for a red-shirt freshman,” Hudson quipped.

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