Volume 7

April 14, 1998

Number 7
As the sixth week of the session came to a close last week, members of the House and Senate Conference Committee finished making their budget decisions and forwarded their recommendations to the chairs of the budget committees in each chamber. Senator Don Sullivan, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and Representative Rudy Garcia, Chair of the Appropriations Committee are responsible for working out the final budget details by mid-week.

The budget is not the only thing moving along this session. Several important bills are making their way to final passage prior to the May 1 close. The Deferred Retirement Options Program (DROP) "glitch" bill (CS/CS/HB 3131), passed the Senate last week and is awaiting the Governor's signature. This program is meant to provide a way for retirees to accumulate additional savings while continuing employment. Both the House and Senate building-naming bills are awaiting approval from the full House and Senate this week. The Management Efficiency bill, HB755, passed the House and is awaiting a hearing in the full Senate. The Senate companion (CS /SB1358&160) will be heard tomorrow in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Legislators left Tallahassee a day early last week to observe the religious holidays. It cer tainly was a timely and much-needed break. Last Thursday, during debate regarding public-paid private schooling for kindergartners, two House members nearly came to blows. This was the first time since 1991 that a scuffle had erupted on the House floor!

Remember, you can catch all of the action, live, on The Florida Channel (local cable channel 47) Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. As always, feel free to contact me at 644-4453, or at kdaly@govrel.fsu.edu. with any comments or questions.

Kathleen Daly