by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Things are quiet in the Duval Delegation office these days. The phone doesn’t ring off the hook and there’s time for visitors to stop in and chat.
But the lull won’t last long.
The 11-member Delegation has until noon on Nov. 3 to submit what are commonly-called “J-Bills.” Then the fun begins for Darla Wilson and Susan Stewart, the Delegation’s support staff. In theory, anyone can submit a J-Bill, but in reality, “Joe Citizen” doesn’t just file a bill and hope it passes in Tallahassee during the legislative session.
“A J-Bill is anything that impacts the charter of Jacksonville,” explained Delegation secretary Stewart, who has been working in the office for all but 14 months of the past 19 years.
“You can add to or change a J-Bill like any other bill,” said Wilson, the Delegation coordinator who has been with the office for five years. “It won’t impact the state, only Jacksonville.”
Ten days after the Nov. 3 deadline, the Delegation will meet in the City Council Chambers to approve those J-Bills, organize themselves before the 2007 session and elect a new Delegation chair-elect. State Rep. Stan Jordan is the current chair-elect and will succeed State Sen. Tony Hill as chair of the Delegation. Neither Stewart nor Wilson said they have heard much regarding Jordan’s successor.
Last year, seven J-Bills were filed, but only three made it to Tallahassee for consideration by the full State House of Representatives. Two passed: a bill that repealed the Downtown Development Authority and a bill that amended the mayor’s appropriation transfer power.
Wilson explained that filing a J-Bill isn’t just filling out a form and turning it into the Duval Delegation Office. All J-Bills need sponsorship, meaning a member of the Delegation must sign on before the bill will be heard Nov. 13. Although an occasional bill is citizen-inspired, Stewart said most bills are generated by government entities such as the mayor’s office, JEA, the Jacksonville Port Authority or the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, among others.
“Ninety-nine-point-nine percent are created by entities within the government,” said Wilson. “The mayor’s office usually goes to the representative with the most interest in a bill or one they have a good relationship with.”
As a courtesy, the Delegation usually seeks City Council approval before sending a J-Bill on to Tallahassee. The Delegation can forego Council’s approval, but it rarely happens.
Once a J-Bill is sent to Tallahassee, there are several requirements that must be met before it can be taken up by the House and then the State Senate.
The bill must be advertised 30 days prior to being introduced at the session. (This year’s session begins March 6.) An economic impact form must be filled out, along with a bill information form.
According to the Delegation’s Web site, 38 J-Bills have become law since 1994 with the most — six — coming in ‘94. Stewart said many years ago, upwards of 20 J-Bills a year would be filed.