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Home My WebLink AboutIR 10204 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10204 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 4, 2018 Page 1 of 2 ad?? SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S 2019 STATE rr' LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information regarding the background and adoption process of the 2019 State Legislative Agenda. Each year prior to the beginning of the Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, City staff seeks input from the Mayor, City Council members and City departments on proposed state legislative issues that affect the way the City of Fort Worth conducts its business. The City departments submit proposed initiatives that are compiled and reviewed by the Governmental Relations Department. The proposed legislative initiatives are then submitted to the City Council Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (LICA) for discussion and review. After review and approval by the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, the recommended legislative initiatives are forwarded to the full City Council for adoption in the form of the City's State Legislative Program. The LIGA has reviewed and considered the legislative initiatives submitted by the Mayor, City Council and city departments over the last five months. LIGA Committee meetings were conducted on the following dates in 2018: July 31, September 10, October 16, and November 13. During the November 13th meeting, the LIGA Committee voted unanimously to forward the attached draft of the proposed 2019 State Legislative Agenda to the full city council for consideration and final approval for the 86th State Legislative Session. Governmental Relations staff provided the LIGA Committee with information regarding big picture state wide legislative drivers and issues that will be drivers for local governments in Texas. Historically, the big picture drivers tend to dictate the overall tempo and temperature of how both houses operate for the balance of the legislative session. Likewise, municipal drivers provide insight into how the legislature will approach matters involving local decisions and local governance by elected officials in Texas. The state legislature's approach to the session will vary depending on the level of engagement by local elected officials at the county and municipal levels. Below are the big picture drivers and the municipal drivers: BIG PICTURE SESSION DRIVERS 1. New House Leadership 2. State Budget (Surplus) -- $11.2 to $11.9 Billion - $2 billion Medicaid Shortfall from 2017 - $2.5 billion for delayed transportation repairs - $3 to 5 billion for Hurricane Harvey 3. Public School Finance 4. Public School Safety Issues MUNICIPAL DRIVERS 1. New House Leadership 2. Revenue Cap/Tax Cap/Rollback Rate Issues 3. Economic Development Issues/Chapter 313 Issues 4. Bond Proposition Issues 5. City Indebtedness/Certificate of Obligations ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10204 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 4, 2018 Page 2 of 2 ad?? SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S 2019 STATE rr' LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM 6. Preemption Issues 7. Land Use/Land Regulation Issues 8. Gun Legislation 9. Short Term Rentals Regulations 10. School Safety Issues 11. Limited Local Authority Legislation The attachment to this informal report outlines the Proposed City of Fort Worth's 2019 State Legislative Program. It is anticipated that other issues will surface during the months leading into the legislative session and throughout the legislative process. In adopting the City of Fort Worth's 2019 State Legislative Program, the City Council also authorizes and directs the City Manager to distribute copies of the City's State Legislative Program to members of the Texas Legislature, to other cities, and to other interested individuals. A resolution approving the proposed 2019 State Legislative agenda will be included on December 11, 2018 council agenda for final review and approval by the Mayor and City Council. If you have any questions about this information, please contact T.J. Patterson, Jr., Manager of Legislative Affairs, (817) 392-6168. David Cooke City Manager Attachments ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS FORT WORTH 2019 PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM GENERAL LEGISLATIVE POLICY As a general policy, the City of Fort Worth seeks to Preserve its authority to responsibly govern the city, its citizens, and its property. The City Supports any legislation viewed as advancing the City's Comprehensive Plan or the City's Strategic Goals; or that improves the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; or that reduces the cost of governing the City. In addition, the City will Oppose any legislation viewed as detrimental to its Comprehensive Plan or its Strategic Goals; or that is contrary to the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; or that mandates increased costs or decreased revenues; or that would diminish the fundamental authority of the City. 1 STATE APPROPRIATIONS Support of State Appropriations 1. Funding for Training for the Law Enforcement and Fire 2. Funding to Support Institutions of Higher Education including Tarleton State University in Fort Worth, University of North Texas Health Science Center and Texas A&M Law School 3. Funding to the City of Fort Worth and the UNT Health Science Center for the Economic Development and Technology Commercialization Partnership 4. Funding for Transportation 5. Funding for the Local Parks Grant Program 6. Funding for Library Resource Sharing 7. Funding for Housing Retention and Supportive Services for the Homeless 8. Mental Health Services for Homelessness 9. Support initiatives to fund Youth training and Youth entrepreneur programs at the local level in an effort to prepare the next generations for financial leadership 10. Funding for Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Program (DEEAG) SEEK LEGISLATION 1. Lake Worth Direct Sales Legislation to Amend Section 272.001(h) of the Local Government Code to increase the population cap from 825,000 to 1,500,000 z SUPPORT LEGISLATION Support for the Texas Education System 1. Support expanding the Texas Rising Star (TRS) Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) to enable open participation by all licensed child care programs 2. Support significant investments Texas families make in child care by introducing a single Texas consumer website and app for parent 3. Support for Governor Abbott's funding support and expansion of available pre-kindergarten programs throughout the state of Texas 4. Support legislation that improves the Texas Education System Support for Public Safety 1. Support legislative efforts to address and eliminate Human Trafficking 2. Support legislation to address and eliminate domestic violence in Texas 3. Support the creation of a statewide minimum humane standard for the tethering of a dog and allow law enforcement officers an efficient method to carry out the law 3 Support for the Military and Military Installations 1. Airspace Compatibility: Support legislation to address vertical obstructions, radar interference, drone technology and emerging technologies that inhibit the operations around military installations 2. Land Use / Ground Compatibility: Support legislation to address Incompatible land use near installation boundaries, training ranges, operating areas, flight paths can have long-term impacts 3. Encroachment Mitigation: Support positive control of unincorporated lands along with tools and resources to buffer development near defense installations. Measures to allow purchasing rights and restrictive easements for non-conservation lands 4. Increase Veterans Benefits: Support Legislation to increase meaningful employment, on-going education for veterans and cooperative integration of state, county, and local workforce training, education, and job placement resources 5. Compatible Growth: Support legislation that enables tools to promote Compatible Growth around Military Installations: Protecting the voluntary participation coordinated efforts by municipalities 4 Support for Texas Communities 1. Support increased municipal land use authority in Extra- territorial Jurisdictions 2. Support legislation that promotes increased Community Health and Wellness Programs 3. Support legislation that promotes Healthy Work Environments and Places 4. Support legislation that will give Cities and the State greater authority to address Illegal Recycling Facilities 5. Support legislation to enhance the ability of Cities to address the Prevention and Control of Graffiti 6. Support legislation seeking to protect the personal information of animal adopters 7. Support legislation for Constitutional dedication of Sporting Goods' Sales Tax Revenue for State and Local Parks 8. Support legislation seeking to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression, consistent with City ordinances 5 IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE DATES Monday, November 12, 2018 First day legislators may file bills for the 86th Legislature Tuesday, January 8, 2019 86th Legislature convenes at 12 Noon (1st day) Wednesday and Thursday, March 6-7, 2019 Tarrant County Days in Austin Monday, May 27, 2019 Last day of the Regular 861 Legislative Session 6