By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published March 26, 2004
The Senate voted Thursday for the second year in a row to eliminate the $400,000 sales tax break on tickets sold for skybox or luxury seats at arenas and stadiums (SB 236). The 39-1 vote came a day after the chamber voted by the same margin to end a sales tax exemption for ostrich feed (SB 234).
"This exemption made sense at one time but not anymore," said Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, sponsor of both bills.
But don't expect to see those in the good seats or ostrich ranchers suddenly paying more.
The antitax House killed the ostrich feed measure in committee this month. And the skybox measure (HB 1563) isn't expected to fare better.
- JONI JAMES
Marlins plan strikes out with King
Gov. Jeb Bush said Thursday he supports a plan that would allow the World Series champion Florida Marlins to keep $60-million of sales taxes generated by a proposed new ballpark. But Senate President Jim King said he won't back any such proposal offered to this year's Legislature.
In a change from his stance of three years ago, Bush told Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and other team officials who met with him Wednesday that he'd try to help them keep $2-million annually over a 30-year span.
"The idea may be good," King said Thursday. "It's not timely."
The Marlins want a new 38,000-seat ballpark with a retractable roof, which would cost a minimum of $325-million. The team has played since 1993 at Pro Player Stadium, which it leases from former team owner Wayne Huizenga.
Lawyers' pitches might be toned down
Have you been in an accident? Were you injured by someone else's negligence?
Commercials opening with phrases like that could be a thing of the past if a bill passed 104-8 by the House Thursday becomes law.
The measure (HB 1357) only bans direct solicitations for business. It would still allow ads including attorneys' names or other information about a law firm, as long as they don't try to encourage someone to use their services. Critics of such ads say they invite people to file suits that might not be legitimate.
The bill sponsored by Rep. David Simmons, R-Longwood, faces uncertain prospects in the Senate. There's no sponsor for it there.
Lead protection effort stalls
An effort to protect children from harmful effects of lead paint stalled in the House Health Care Committee because Republicans had concerns its cost to property owners.
The committee voted 12-9 against a bill (HB 937), sponsored by Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, that would affect owners of houses or apartment buildings built before 1978. They would have to pay for inspections for lead paint contamination if a child under 6 or a pregnant woman living there.
Several Republicans said they supported protecting children from lead poisoning, but said the measure would cost too much to landlords who would have to pay for the inspections.
Three Republicans voted to keep the measure alive: Gus Bilirakis, Palm Harbor; Gayle Harrell, Port St. Lucie; and Ed Homan, a Tampa doctor.
Fraternity hazing would be a crime
A bill (HB 1261) sponsored by Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, that would create criminal penalties for fraternity and sorority hazing was approved by a House committee.
The law would be known as the Chad Meredith Act, named after a freshman from Indiana who died Nov. 5, 2001, while swimming across the University of Miami campus' Lake Osceola with other pledges of Kappa Sigma, a fraternity.
The bill would create a third-degree felony charge for hazing incidents that result in physical injury, and a first-degree misdemeanor for cases that could have resulted in such harm. It would also eliminate the victim's consent as a defense.
It would also cover hazing on athletic teams, marching bands and at extracurricular events overseen by high schools or colleges that receive state funding.
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