Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 5B

Capital News J5 mM Status of Bills Call Toil Free 1 800 342 1827 TODAY, Tuesday, May 11, MM 5B TST The Legislature House outlaws fuzzbusters to save energy Saltwater fishing license fee backed nuvmikxMi TALLAHASSEE Commericial fishermen won out Jover their sport counterpart! Monday as House and Senate committees voted to Impose license fees on all saltwater 'fishermen who sell their catch. Similar bills approved in the House and Senate Natural 'Resources committees would require resident fishermen to ipay a new $10 annual license fee. The bills also propose '(Sharply different increases In the $23 license fee for non res klent fishermen. The nonresident license Jumps to ISO In the Senate bill, 'but shoots to ISO in the House version. Commercial fishermen have sought the new fee for years to demonstrate the number of sport fishermen who jnake money of their catcheSfCommerclaHislieiuieii aiei more closely regulated by the state.

The licenses would also help state officials keep closer tabs on fish harvests. Proceeds from the fees would go into a trust fund for managing marine fisheries. The bills were Introduced by Senate Natural Resources Chairman John Vogt, Cocoa Beach, and Rep. Tom Dan son, Sarasota. Divorce bill moves TALLAHASSEE Circuit courts, already clogged with divorces, could try to repair torn marriages under a bill approved Monday by the Senate Judiciary Civil Committee.

The bill would allow circuits to establish new family divisions and offer counseling to families on the verge of divorce. Couples that have filed papers could request a reconciliation hearing with a master's degree trained counselor. Those with minor children could request counseling before filing so the court could oversee the children's welfare. Counselors would conduct private sessions with couples as ordered by the court for up to eight weeks, reporting back to the judge. With the couple's permission, additional social service, medical or psychological personnel could be called in to assist.

Judges would review the results of the meetings, but all reports from them would remain out of the court record Prior to a conference, judges could continue to issue routine orders on such issues as child custody and division of property. But orders would last no longer than 60 days unless agreed to by both spouses. Finally, divorce proceedings could be resumed if reconciliation failed. Campaign tab snagged TALLAHASSEE A Senate Committee voted Monday temporarily to kill a measure requiring the taxpayers to pick up part of the tab for financing the state comptroller's election campaign. Partial public financing of the comptroller's election was backed by Common Cause, the so called citizens lobby, which argued it would be a foot in the door towards getting matching state funds for other state elections.

Comptroller Gerald Lewis said he favored the measure because it would encourage challengers to run for office. The Judiciary Civil Committee voted 4 2 to kill the measure, but then kept it alive when Sen. Harry Johnston, West Palm Beach, asked to reconsider the vote. Committee chairman Sen. Mattox Hair, Jacksonville, who voted to kill the bill sponsored by Sen.

Ken Jenne, Hollywood and others, said there was little point in pursuing the measure because the House version is substantially different. Lobbyists make point TALLAHASSEE Special interest lobbyists lined up Monday against a measure that would have required them and their employers to reveal how much money they spend attempting to Influence legislation. The Senate Judiciary Civil Committee deferred action on the measure sponsored by Sen Don Chamberlain, Clearwater, and others The bill would have exempted from the stlffer reporting requirement the organization that hires more lobbyists than any private industry state government. Sen Dempsey Barron, Panama City, said he opposed the measure because it would have required PTA's, library volunteers and retired teachers organizations to fill out government paperwork If they bought dinner for a legislator Prayer bill under fire TALLHASSEE A Senate proposal to re institute prayer in the public school classrooms came under fire Monday from a member of American Jewish Congress who said a similar law was struck down by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. "We are not against prayer and we are not against Christianity," said AJC spokesman Mark Stem of New York City.

But he said the proposal (SB 626) sponsored by Sens. Dempsey Barron, Panama City and Alan Trask, Wlnter Haven, would encourage "innocuous" praying. TALLAHASSEE (AP) Worried about speeders who avoid police radar with devices like the popular Fun busters, an energy conscious Florida House voted Monday to outlaw the detectors. The so called "Fuzzbus ter bill" has yet to face the Senate but the 67 48 House vote was a small victory for Gov. Bob Graham.

In January he made abolition ot the devices a part of his energy program for Florida. Graham says outlawing them will help Florida cut its energy depencence by 25 percent In the next decade. The "Fuzzbuster bill" Isn't the only brush the House is having this year with radar. Some of the same lawmakers who tried to block the ban teamed up two weeks ago In a House committee to pass a bill that would limit the way police use radar equipment to catch speeders. Radar Is so unreliable that it sometimes clocks houses and trees as speed ing, the group, led by Miami Beach Qesoocrat Ron Sliver, charged.

Sliver's bill would require that Florida Highway Patrol troopers and other police officers take rigorous training before they can use radar. It bans the use of radar altogether by 1963 unless manufacturers come up with more reliable models. The bill hasn't reached the House floor yet, but the Criminal Justice Committee voted unanimously to pass the measure. If the Senate goes along with the House In outlawing fuzzbusters, people caught with a radar detector plugged Into their cigarette lighter would be liable for a $100 fine. To protect tourists who might not be aware that the devices are Illegal, lawmakers said It would be all right to keep the gadgets in a car trunk.

The small boxes are easily plugged In or disconnected, Mann said. The House voted S8 47 to defeat an attempt by Rep. Fred Jones, Aubumdale, to tack on an amendment requiring police to confiscate the detectors when they find them Mann said that amendment would have killed the bill by making it too strong The radar detector ran into trouble early In the Legislature when a newspaper article Identified members of the governor's staff and some lawmakers who had the gadgets in their own cars and used them when driving along the interstates After being defeated on an Initial vote In the House last Thursday, the bill sprang back to life the next day after Intensive lobbying by the governor's office and energy officials. Rep. John Mica, WIn ter Park, and others argued that the only reason anyone has one of the devices In his car is lo break the law.

Opponents contended that motorists need private radar detectors to protect themselves from police radar They said it Pat Melior of the Lee County Conservation Association, pushing the Legislature for better protection of Florida's coast: "We feel the 1974 Coastal Mapping Act has loopholes big enough to drive a whole development through. And it's not Just happening here in Lee County. This Is going on all over the state." The Day In Tallahassee TIM ASMCIoM PrMA Monday, May 12, He IN THE HOUSE Bills Passed Paddling Prohibits principals from Imposing a school wide ban on corporal punishment in the schools. HB 1016. Mitchell.

To Senate. Fuzzbusters Outlaws private radar detectors in cars. HB 1508. Energy. To Senate.

IN THE SENATE Did not meet. THE GOVERNOR Bills Signed Health facilities Provides financing of life care facilities through revenue bonds. HB 25. Ewing. Effective Immediately.

Fruit sizes Authorizes Department of Agriculture to adopt uniform Florida grades and sizes for fruits and vegetables. SB 0141. Anderson. Effect(ve immediately. KH BBBBBjliBaBBBBBBBBBBBBBBMrsf i Bhaflf BBIEtlSBBBBBBI BBBbVTw'bBBBBBBBBBBB 7J bKbbbbbbjbI BTaSlpsl AbbbbbbbbbbY i HaBBBBBMBflPBBl SIBlKbbbbbbbbI'bB ipBiyiHiBJBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBB' nWrsflBBBBfl bbbVbbbbbbbbbbbbbv bbbbbbbK bbmbbbbbb.

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Frank Mann is no John Henry. Mann, Fort Myers, demonstrated only modest eye hand coordination Monday as he attacked a filibuster with a hammer after the House of Representatives passed a bill outlawing such radar detection devices. As chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy, Mann said he wanted to demonstrate his appreciation to the House for its support of the bill. Moments after the 67 49 vote, Mann set the fuzzbus ter on a table in front of his desk and leveled his first blow. With a resounding "clink," Mann's hammer clipped the edge of the radar device, propelling it off the table and under his desk Undaunted, Mann pursued his quarry, returning the fuzzbuster to the table.

Down came the hammer again this time on target. But any hopes of a dramatic splintering of metal faded as the fuzzbuster remained Intact, much to the relief of nearby legislators shielding their eyes with documents With a fury usually reserved for House debate, Mann struck again and again, determined to dismantle his mechanical foe. The seemingly invincible device stood firm Resigned to a legislative victory instead of a physical one, Mann finally held the fuzzbuster in hand and assaulted it with rhetoric. "Are we through with breaking the law in Florida?" Mann asked his bemused colleagues "You betcha!" TALLAHASSEE (AP) State economists, concerned that recent drops in tax collections are a signal of bad times ahead for Florida, 'have sliced f78 million off a budget surplus expected to be in state coffers by mid 1981 Monday's action by the revenue estimating conference apparently sounded the death knell for millions worth of new programs already approved by several legislative committees Without tax increases to raise new revenue, lawmakers apparently have only enough money this year to fund emergencies that have arisen since they approved the 18 billion, 1980 81 budget last year as part of a biennial budgeting process The revisions left the 1980 Legislature with $148 million to spend on new recurring programs and $220 million for one time projects for a total of 1368 million The revenues are far short of the $458 million In new spending Gov Bob Graham has recommended above the 19H0 81 budget leg islators already approved Nearly $200 million of Gra ham's recommendations were for education Earlier this year, state economists predicted a $480 million surplus by mid 1981 That estimate later was reduced to $444 million because of anticipated loss of federal revenuerevenue sharing In addition to education, legislators have been asked to fund more than $38 million In higher than expected fuel and utility costs at state buildings and to give more than $55 million In higher state employee benefits and Suit urged to lift ban on highway jobs By SHAREN JOHNSON TOOAY TALLAHASSEE The Florida Legislature should consider dragging the state Department of Transportation to court to seek a forced end to DOT'S self imposed road building ban. Rep.

Peter Dunbar proposed Monday "Maybe we ought to move by writ of mandamus (ask the court to force DOT to carry out its duties)," said Dunbar, Dunedin. His suggestion came as the running battle between the state transportation agency and the House Transportation Budget Subcommittee showed signs of fusing into a Mexican standoff. DOT Director William Rose again told lawmakers he ordered a stop to awarding road construction contracts in March because he felt there wasn't enough money in the till to pay for them and because he had no guarantees the Legislature would approve a healthy enough highway budget. And subcommittee members again accused Rose of sitting on at least $53 million the Legislature gave DOT last year for special road projects money which could have been used to continue highway work stalled since March. Rep.

Hugh Paul Nuckolls, Fort Myers, called the contract stoppage "a concerted effort by the governor's office to tell us we're gonna have to vote for a gas tax Gov. Bob Graham wants to pay for road programs with a floating gas tax increase tied to.highway construction costs His proposal would boost pump prices about two cents per gallon; eight cents per gallon now is levied to pay for state and local road projects Graham said last week he will veto any highway plan requiring a raid on the state's general revenues the approach legislative leaders tentatively have agreed upon The governor has refused to say, but has Indicated, he also will nix any transportation package not calling for a gas tax hike Lawmakers have said they want no gas tax boosts this year, when most of them face election Monday, House Transportation Chairman Fred Jones, Auburndale, also pilloned Rose about an April exchange of letters between the DOT chief and Graham's top budget aide, Jim Tail Tait promised Rose $25 million likely In the form of a loan from another transportation fund to tide DOT through its current dry spell, when funding from Washington is uncertain and the department's cash flow is spotty Jones contended Rose could have used the $25 mil lion to continue the normal road building work flow Rose countered that he needed the money for "day to day services lo keep the department running Jones then 'pTrtimUed Rose his budget subcommittee will vote next week whether to challenge the highway work stoppage, or admit defeat and let the matter drop "We're gonna paint or get off the ladder," he said The budget subcommittee is scheduled to meet again Monday pay raises Some lawmakers wanted to use as much as $123 million of the projected surplus for road construction, and others wanted to increase unemployment compensa Hon and give tax breaks to business. In addition, the state is facing a $21 million deficit in Medicaid and food stamp programs "The level of expects lions has been far greater than the revenue we have," said House Appropriations Chairman Herb Morgan, Tallahassee "There's no way we can do what we thought when we came up here The money Just Isn't there Morgan told Houte members to resign them selves to only emergency spending this year Members of the revenue estimating conference which is comprised of economists from the Legists lure, governor's office and state agencies said they were worried about steep March declines In several tax collections, especially the Important sales tax The more than $2 billion In annual sales lax collections fund much of state govern ment So the economists changed course from their decision a week ago and voted to reduce projected stale revenues for this year by $26 3 million and for (he year beginning July I by $50 million Much of that revl sion was In projected sales tax collections down $15. million this year and $31.8 million during the second year of the biennlum The economists said rev enue revisions should not be considered a sign that Flor Ida Is heading for a severe recession In fact, they said, the revisions are minor as compared to the billions of dollars In tolal annual tax collections They said ihey agreed with recent stale ments of the Governor's Council of l.conomlc Advis ers that the recession In Florida would be short and mild Although tourism showed a decline In March, and construction was weak in some areas of the state, they said population growth, declining interest rates and other factors should boost both industries Panel: abolish colleges of education TALLAHASSEE (AP) The Senate Education Committee voted 4 3 Monday to abolish the colleges of education at the University of Florida and Florida State University and transfer students seeking teaching degrees into other academic courses. Sen.

Jack Gordon, MI ami, said the proposed transfer is an effort to emphasize a return to academics such as English or history instead of on teaching methods taught In education theory courses Sen. Curtis Peterson, Lakeland, said the contro DOT reports trimming buying by $4 million TALLAHASSEE (AP) Department of Transportation officials said Monday they trimmed agency purchases by $4.3 million during the first four months of this year below spending In the same period of 1979. The agency said It cut purchases in those four months from $11 million In 1979 to $6.7 million because of Transportation Secretary William Rose's order to cut highway spending in recent months. That amounted to about a 40 percent reduction in DOT purchasing, according to information distributed by DOT. Rose and Gov.

Bob Graham have been trying to build pressure on the Legislature to tore lawmakers to go along with Graham's plan to state's cent a gallon gas tax by, 1.9 cents a gallon in lsfa. versial measure should help the Senate when it bargains with the House over higher education issues later In the session. "The House is coming out with an avalanche and we've got a featherduster to go at them with," Peterson warned the committee. But Senate Minority Leader John Ware, St. Petersburg, who vpted against the measure, was skeptical.

"Another step down this legislative road "he commented. The committee solidified the higher eduation plan it approved last week, voting to further dilute the powers of the Board of Regents and the state Board of Education, and give additional powers to the state Commissioner of Education in planning university policy. The Senate will go to the conference committee with proposals to turn Florida International University into a four year school; create a new Post Secondary Education Commission to coordinate higher education planning, and a plan to severely weaken the Board of Regents and Community College Coordinating Board The plan differs substan tially from the House version which is still being drafted The House version is ex pected to call for mergers of University of Florida with University of North Florida and of Florida Atlantic Unl versity with Florida interna tional University Classroom paddling receives new support TALLAHASSEE (AP) The House hailed corpora! punishment as a way to "bring law and order back to the classrooms" and rejected attempts to reduce paddllngs in Florida schools Monday. On an 82 27 vote the House sent the Senate a bill that expressly prohibits principals and school boards from banning; corporal punishment In their schools. Corporal punishment has been legal In Florida schools for years.

Principals must appoved peddlings "in principle" before punishment is meted out, but the officials do not need to approve In each specific Instance, It is up to the principal to prepare guidelines for admlr istering punishment, aftd to delineate what kinds of offesries. may be punishable by paddling..