Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations

Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Name	Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Type	Legislative committee
Formed	1975
Jurisdiction	State of Florida
Parent organization	Florida Legislature
Headquarters	Tallahassee, Florida

Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations is a standing committee of the Florida Legislature tasked with examining relationships among Florida state agencies, county government, municipalities, and federal entities. Established during the 1970s reform era alongside initiatives such as the 1970 Florida Constitutional Revision Commission and contemporaneous with national trends exemplified by the Interstate Commerce Commission reforms and the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the committee conducts oversight, produces reports, and advises on statutes affecting interjurisdictional arrangements. It interacts with a wide range of institutions including the Florida Department of State, Florida Commission on Ethics, Florida Department of Revenue, and local bodies such as the Miami-Dade County Commission, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, and the City of Jacksonville.

History

The committee traces origins to legislative responses to fiscal and administrative challenges highlighted by the 1970s energy crisis, the 1972 Local Government Assistance Act debates, and policy shifts following decisions like Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority. Early membership included lawmakers influenced by figures such as Lawton Chiles, Bob Graham, and contemporaries in the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it addressed issues arising from court rulings like Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services and federal statutes including the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, while coordinating with federal agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency. In the 21st century the committee engaged with recovery efforts after Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Katrina, and policy shifts tied to acts such as the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Mandate and Jurisdiction

The committee operates under rules adopted by the Florida Legislature and the Florida Constitution, with jurisdiction over statutes affecting relationships among counties in Florida, cities in Florida, special districts like the South Florida Water Management District, and state entities including the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Education. Its mandate encompasses fiscal issues tied to the Florida TaxWatch debates, interlocal agreements similar to those in Orange County, Florida, and statutory preemption matters that have arisen in cases involving the Florida Supreme Court. It reviews legislation related to revenue sharing with entities like the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities, and evaluates federal-state interactions involving the United States Congress and the United States Department of Justice.

Membership and Leadership

Membership comprises legislators from the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives, often including chairs of committees such as the Florida Senate Committee on Finance and Tax and the Florida House Committee on Local Administration. Leadership rotates and has historically included prominent lawmakers from districts like Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Appointments have been influenced by party leaders including figures associated with the Florida Republican Party and the Florida Democratic Party, and sometimes involve ex officio members from bodies such as the Office of the Governor of Florida and the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.

Staff and Operations

Professional staff typically include analysts with backgrounds from institutions such as the Florida State University College of Law, the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and the University of Miami School of Law, and often coordinate with external experts from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and nonprofit organizations like the Florida Policy Institute. Administrative operations are housed in facilities near the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, with support from clerks associated with the Florida House Clerk's Office and the Secretary of the Senate. The committee uses procedures consistent with rules of order modeled after legislative committees in bodies such as the United States Congress and engages consultants from audit entities like the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (Florida).

Legislative Activities and Reports

The committee issues statutory reports and special studies on topics including tax distribution disputes reminiscent of cases involving the Florida Department of Revenue, annexation controversies seen in Miami and Tampa, and shared services initiatives comparable to efforts in Broward County. It has produced analyses paralleling federal intergovernmental reports from the Government Accountability Office and worked on implementing recommendations similar to those from the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Its output has informed legislation amending statutes such as the Florida Statutes provisions on municipal incorporation, interlocal agreements, and state preemption clauses seen in legislative sessions at the Florida Capitol.

Intergovernmental Coordination and Partnerships

The committee serves as a hub linking state officials, county administrators like those in Pinellas County, Florida and Lee County, Florida, and municipal leaders from cities such as St. Petersburg, Florida and Gainesville, Florida. It convenes joint meetings with associations including the National Association of Counties, the International City/County Management Association, and the Florida Association of Special Districts to address cross-jurisdictional policy on infrastructure projects involving entities such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. Partnerships also extend to federal programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and collaborative initiatives with academic centers like the Mastry College of Public Policy.

Notable Issues and Controversies

Controversies include disputes over state preemption of local ordinances in areas echoed by national debates such as those surrounding Sanctuary cities in the United States and preemption cases similar to litigation in Arizona v. United States. Fiscal conflicts have mirrored controversies involving property tax reform and debates that engaged groups like Florida TaxWatch and the AARP Florida. The committee has been central to contentious deliberations on boundary disputes comparable to landmark cases adjudicated by the Florida Supreme Court and to contentious interlocal agreements akin to those that have drawn scrutiny in media outlets such as the Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times.

Category:Florida Legislature committees