LET’S GET READY FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION!

An Opinion By Jan Bergemann
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.

Published August 29, 2015

Next year’s legislative session starts on January 2016, nearly two months earlier than usual. That means that we have to get ready earlier in order to put our bills on the agenda of the Florida legislature.

I guess we have to change our tactics a little bit – lengthy bills don’t seem to make it through the legislature in the two months of the legislative session.

In 2014 Senator Alan Hays filed S 1348 (Please click on link to see the complete information) – a bill strongly supported by property owners in Florida’s homeowner associations.

This is the bill we will be trying to push again in 2016 – with the main priorities of creating a regulatory agency for homeowners’ associations and with serious election reform in FS 720.306. Election disputes in HOAs are still one of the hottest disputes in homeowners’ associations.

I know it gets boring because I repeat myself more often than any TV station: We need everybody’s vocal support and – since we are dealing with Tallahassee – with lots of money needed to lobby for our bill.

We will again visit the meetings of the LEGISLATIVE COUNTY DELEGATIONS, the easiest way to directly connect with the legislators representing our districts.

I am starting with the meeting of the SEMINOLE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 in Sanford. I will present our bill proposal to the legislature and will speak about the necessity of finally protecting homeowners living in homeowners’ associations against abuse and scams.

Here is the official invitation:

2016 Seminole County Legislative Delegation Meeting Information

On behalf of Chairman Bob Cortes, I am writing to announce that the 2016 Seminole County Legislative Delegation meeting has been scheduled:

DATE: Wednesday, September 9, 2015

TIME: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

LOCATION: Seminole County Services Building

1101 East First Street

Sanford, FL 32771

County Commission Chambers

CONTACT: Jonathon Little

Little, Jonathon

[email protected]

I have attached the required SPEAKING REQUEST FORM to this email if you would like to address the Delegation. Those who wish to speak before the Seminole County Legislative Delegation must submit all information and the speaking request form to State Representative Bob Cortes’ district office – ATTN: Jonathon Little, no later than Wednesday, September 2, 2015, at 5:00 pm.

Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes to discuss his or her topic (this is subject to change; groups will be combined). Any speaking requests or documents received after the deadline will not be included in the member packages or the agenda. You may still request to address the delegation members on the day of the meeting by filling out a speaking request form when you enter the meeting room. However, this is on a first come, first serve basis, providing time will allow it.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may want to attend or address the Delegation members. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks and hope you are having a good day!

Jonathon Little

[email protected]

Legislative Assistant

Representative Bob Cortes

District 30

It is of utmost importance that lots of owners attend these meetings to show the legislators that this bill is widely supported by their constituents.

If you have any questions in regards to the bill, please contact me at: [email protected]

SEE YOU THERE!