As I travel our beautiful county daily, I am reminded of the devasting effects caused by Hurricane Michael. The reminder is often triggered by traveling to an area and reminiscing about the picturesque views of graceful large grand trees or even an old farmhouse which quietly graced a hillside. Often, the reminder is caused by the jolt of a pothole or roadway which was left in a disarrayed state and desperately needs repair. Each of these adverse reminders caused by Hurricane Michael is what makes our beautiful county so amazing and why so many call it a lifelong home.
Natural disasters are very complex and place a heavy burden and strain on the workforce of everyone involved. Construction workers, insurance providers and adjusters, county and state governments and our legislative delegation which is bombarded with complaints and problems caused by the excess damages and demand of the workforce. However, the legislative delegation also has the responsibility to identify areas in our laws and regulations which need to be modified to protect the state and local governments, business providers and its citizens.
With Florida experiencing several hurricanes over the last few years, our legislators have experienced firsthand the problems experienced in the recovery of these natural emergencies. The delegation immediately went to work last session and passed Senate Bill 250. Senate Bill 250 provided revised provisions, new mandates, oversight guidance, encouraged financial plans and provided local government bridge loan programs for local government who find themselves impacted by federally declared disaster. The bill also provided a newly created regulatory department to provide accountability for hurricane conduct.
This bill took effect July 1, 2023, and provided the following provisions: (1)“Requires the Division of Emergency Management to post on its website a model debris removal contract for the benefit of local governments. (2) Encourages local governments to create emergency financial plans in preparation for major natural disasters. (3) Provides that counties and municipalities cannot prohibit a resident from placing a temporary residential structure on their property for up to 36 months following a natural emergency under certain circumstances. (4) Authorizes local governments to create specialized building inspection teams following a natural disaster and encourages interlocal agreements for additional building inspection services during a state of emergency. (5) Requires local governments to expedite the issuance of permits following a natural disaster. (6) Increases the extension of certain building permits following a declaration of a state of emergency from six to 24 months and caps such extension at 48 months in the event of multiple natural emergencies. (7) Allows registered contractors to engage in contracting for the types of work covered by their registration within areas for which a state of emergency has been declared. (8) Makes the Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program a revolving program and makes funds available for local governments impacted by federally declared disasters until July 1, 2038. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund to the program. (9) Directs the Division of Emergency Management to administer a revolving loan program for local government hazard mitigation projects and appropriates $1,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and $10,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the Federal Grants Trust Fund for such activity. Such funds will be held in reserve, contingent upon FEMA approval and release by the Legislative Budget Commission. (10) Requires property insurers doing business within the state to annually submit a claim’s handling manual to the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). (11) Appropriates $971,331 in recurring funds and $37,456 in nonrecurring funds from the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to fund eight new positions at the OIR for hurricane-related market conduct activity.”
The measures enacted with this bill reflected protection of citizens’ rights, broadening of the workforce by allowing additional licenses to work, encouraging interlocal agreements to benefit the citizens and providing guidance and much need emergency funding for local governments. One of the most helpful measures was the creation of the Office of Insurance Regulation which will provide accountability for market conduct during hurricane related times.
I pray none of us experience anything like Hurricane Michael again, however, we are still living with the choices made during the storm and its devastating effects. Just a gentle reminder that government is only as good as the people that are elected to provide the guidance to run it. I will leave you with that thought and that concludes this week’s The Straight Truth With Mary Ann Hutton.