Government Digest: April 2 - April 8

Transportation fund raided
TALLAHASSEE — The House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee is recommending $426 million be swept out of the state transportation trust fund to help balance the state budget. Lawmakers are trying to fill a $3.2 billion state budget gap. Committee Chairman Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, says the committee was given a set appropriation and it's the committee's job to work with that figure.

Slip-and-fall bill passes
TALLAHASSEE — The so-called “slip and fall” legislation passed 110-2 in the House and 32-5 in the Senate and is now on the governor's desk to be signed. House bill 689 was sponsored by Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral. The bill provides that if a person slips and falls on a foreign substance in a business establishment, the injured person must prove that the establishment had knowledge of the condition and should have remedied it. But it also povides that knowledge may be proven by circumstantial evidence.

Quick permitting bill passes
TALLAHASSEE — A House bill that would reduce the job creation requirements from 100 to 50 jobs, and broaden the eligibility to renewable energy projects that meet the job requirements, unanimously passed the Economic Development Policy Committee March 25. House Bill 733, sponsored by Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, would expedite permitting for projects and jobs having an economic impact on a local community. Current law allows for an expedited permitting of targeted economic development projects that meet certain job creation requirements. According to Associated Industries of Florida, very few permit applications have benefited from this process with only three projects utilizing it over the last four years.