The Board of County Commissioners has identified six strategic priorities that have guided the formulation of the FY2023 budget and set the course for advocating Palm Beach County’s needs this 2023 legislative session in Tallahassee.  Those priorities are economic development; housing and homelessness; infrastructure; public safety; environmental protection; and, substance abuse and behavior disorders.

Influenced by those priorities, here are just some of the legislative measures and appropriations we are advocating through our delegation:

Economic Development: 
Biomedical research funding for educational programs produced by local universities and state colleges in partnership with institutions such as Max Planck, Scripps of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach State College and University of Florida.  Supporting STEM programs will grow our workforce in the biotech industry.

Funding to support the restoration of historical facilities on Peanut Island, including the U.S. Coast Guard Lake Worth Inlet Station, dating back to WWII, and the Kennedy Bunker, built in secrecy by the Navy Seabees during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961 and 1962.  It is essential that we preserve the historical features in our parks and public spaces that enhance our tourist attractions.

Housing and Homelessness:
Restoration of the Sadowski Local Government Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing projects.  This session, I am very encouraged by Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s commitment to pass legislation that will assist local governments in repurposing underperforming or vacant commercial developments along our urban transit corridors into affordable housing for our workforce.  Palm Beach County has transmitted an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to recognize the County’s authority to approve affordable housing projects pursuant to Florida Statutes.  Once finalized, the County would establish procedures for considering approval of affordable housing proposals in commercial, industrial and residential zoned areas, in accordance with any legal provisions passed by the legislature.

Homelessness legislation to support programs that include services to veterans, college and university students, youth aging out of foster care, and patients exiting sober homes, and review policies to move people out of poverty.

Empower local governments to take action against landlords who fail to maintain minimum housing standards; foreclose housing properties that pose a safety hazard to its occupants; and, impose fines against landlords to recoup the costs of relocating residents from condemned properties.

Infrastructure:
Increase funding for Florida Department of Transportation programs to improve public transit efficiencies, relieve traffic congestion through high-occupancy corridors, construct park and ride lots, and support airport development.

Provide a dedicated funding source to support the operations and capital costs of Tri-Rail.

Public Safety:
Protect local governments’ ability to grant Emergency Medical Services Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for basic and advanced life support services countywide.

Provide comprehensive and uniform requirements for building safety and support additional inspection requirements statewide for multi-family condominium facilities, along with required financial responsibilities of condominium and community associations.

Environmental Protection:
Many critical environmental projects are located in Northern Palm Beach County and state support is needed for them to be successful.  This includes, but is not limited to:

Beach and inlet management projects to address critically eroded beaches subject to constant wind, waves, tides and seasonal Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes.

The purchase and preservation of additional lands in the Pal Mar Water Control District.

Ongoing projects to restore the Wild & Scenic Loxahatchee River and the Lake Worth Lagoon, two delicate ecosystems that are essential to economic development, tourism and recreation in Palm Beach County.  They include seagrass restoration – this is what manatees feed on; creation of new plant and animal habitat islands; and, hydrologic restoration projects to prevent saltwater intrusion.

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorders/Mental Health:
Communities have recognized that the human and economic costs of untreated substance use and mental illness continue to rise.  Palm Beach County supports increased funding for the collaborative agencies working together to reduce addiction and suicides, with an emphasis on expectant mothers and youth, respectively.

Overdose deaths increased statewide and nationally, fueled by the increased use of Fentanyl and the pandemic.  Palm Beach County supports the recommendations of the State Attorney Addiction Recovery Task Force for statutory changes to prohibit alcohol and illegal substances on the premises of a recovery residence, a mechanism for the imposition of fines for violations, and the ability to assert trespass charges against any discharged residents who refuse to leave a recovery residence.

This is a mere sampling of the numerous issues we are following in this year’s Legislative session.  We also place an emphasis on thwarting bills and any unfunded mandates that can negatively affect our residents, and protect home rule.  Home rule gives our 67 counties and more than 400 municipalities the ability to self-govern and create local laws through a public hearing ordinance process that are not in conflict with state law. 

As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at mmarino@pbcgov.org.