FRACKING: SB 318 OIL AND GAS REGULATION
THE BILL IS DEAD. FOR NOW...
"The Legislature declares that all matters relating to the regulation of the exploration, development, production, processing, storage, and transportation of oil and gas are preempted to the state, to the exclusion of all existing and future ordinances or regulations relating thereto adopted by any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state.
Any such existing ordinance or regulation is void."
One of the most controversial bills in the 2016 legislative session, fracking, was put on life support Thursday in Senate Appropriations. Hanging in the balance could be the future of the oil and gas industry in Florida, and, critics insist, Florida's environment. Fracking involves using high pressure streams of water and chemicals to blast oil and gas from rocks as deep as two miles underground.
Reports of contamination of drinking water and aquifers, increased cancer rates, and even earthquakes have been attributed to fracking. States around the country are passing fracking bans to protect their citizenry and environment. SB 318, supported by the Oil and Gas Industry and Associated Industries of Florida, has encountered growing opposition throughout the legislative process.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Lee (R - Brandon) refused to agenda the bill for his committee until the Department of Environmental Protection sent its recently-appointed Secretary, Jon Steverson to answer committee member questions.
Steverson stumbled on the most crucial question of the day. When asked directly whether he had the power under existing law to stop fracking now, Steverson couldn't give a yes or no answer.
Steverson's deputies were also unable to explain how the bill would protect trade secrets for the oil industry, but still allow the public to know all the chemicals used in the fracking process.
The bill died on a 10-9 vote, with Senator Benacquisto voting with the majority. Immediately upon failing, Benacquisto, in a procedural move, called for reconsideration of the bill. It's not clear when or if Lee will schedule another vote.
Debbie Harrison Rumberger testifies in opposition to SB 318
EDUCATION
Posted on
February 24, 2016
by
Sue Legg
The devil is often in the details, and this bill
S
B 830 - School Choice (Stargel - R) has many provisions. In a nutshell, it requires better background checks and more transparency for charter providers. This is good, right? It also gives the State Board of Education the ability to authorize High Impact Charter Networks. Maybe this is not so good.
Charter providers in approved networks apply to districts, but if they are already authorized, is this simply smoke and mirrors? In a way, this is a mini version of the bill to amend the constitution to create a separate charter system. It takes away local control. The constitutional amendment will not make it to the ballot, but the High Impact Charter Networks are likely to become law. If I were a betting person, I would think this is another effort to attract and expand Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter schools.
State Board of Education member Gary Chartrand likes KIPP, and he brought them into Jacksonville. KIPP has strict behavior rules for students and in other states has a record of high student turnover. Those students who survive may do well academically. The remainder are sent back to public schools.
Districts will have no real oversight of these networks. They receive no administrative fees. Charters will be eligible for capital outlay funding. The Department of Education must give these charters priority in charter school grant competitions. The State Board of Education will set their regulations. Will student retention be examined? Will admissions be truly open? Past is prologue. Wouldn't it be hopeful if the State Board of Education were serious about the accountability of such networks?
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click here to read our Education Blog written by Sue Legg.