Legislative News

We completed the ninth week of the 2020 Legislative Session, but we are not in the final days just yet.  The budget is being placed on the legislators' desks today then we have to wait for the "72 Hours Cooling …

We completed the eighth week of the 2020 Legislative Session.  However, next week is not expected to be the last week.  The Legislature has been at an impasse on big policy issues and appropriation allocations.  The impasse will add some …

We completed the seventh week of the 2020 Legislative Session. Joining the lobbying team this week were Senior Vice President Mick McHale, Vice President Jim Baiardi, CPO President Tammy Marcus, CPO Dan Kubach, South Florida PBA Senior Vice President John …

We completed the sixth week of the 2020 Legislative Session. Joining the lobbying team this week were Senior Vice President Mick McHale, Vice President Jim Baiardi, CPO Aaron Rivas, PBA Lobbyist Gary Bradford, PBA Lobbyist Ken Kopczynski, General Counsel Stephanie Webster, and …

We completed the fifth week of the 2020 Legislative Session. Well, it may be easier to list who was not in Tallahassee this week.  Joining the lobbying team were President John Kazanjian, Senior Vice President Mick McHale, Vice President Jeff …

We completed the third week of the 2020 Legislative Session. This week's lobbying team consisted of Vice President of Services Jim Baiardi, FHP President William Smith, Vice President of Chapters Steve Slade, State Correctional Officer Andrew Reese, State Correctional Officer …

We completed the first week of the 2020 Legislative Session. This week's enormous lobbying team consisted of President John Kazanjian, Vice President Jim Baiardi, South Florida PBA President Steadman Stahl, South Florida Senior VP John Jenkins, South Florida PBA Sergeant …

This week was the second of six interim committee weeks for the Florida Legislature. As previously stated, these meetings are designed to get a early start on the major issues of the upcoming session. This week's lobbying team was led …

The 2019 Legislative Session is over. We passed legislation updating DNA warrants (SB 920), texting while driving (HB 107), survivor death benefits (SB 7098), and an omnibus criminal justice reform package (HB 7125 - there is much to unpack in …

SB 7098 (Senator Ed Hooper) and HB 7105 (Representative Alex Andrade) is the implementing language from the constitutional amendment passed during the 2018 election guaranteeing surviving family members of law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers a death benefit included in s.112.19 Florida …

The idea came to us from Palm Beach County PBA's Treasurer Lou Penque and Vice President Rick McAfee. After talking with a number of Homicide Investigators across Florida, we came up with a simple change to the law which has …

The Florida PBA met with Governor Ron DeSantis this week to discuss our budget priorities.  The Governor and his staff were gracious with their time.  His message was clear, he fully supports Florida's law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and correctional …