Florida’s Cabinet System: Y2K and Beyond

The structure of Florida’s Cabinet will change in 2003, reducing the number of Cabinet officers. The Cabinet is unique in the US and has specific powers and duties under the constitution. Many powers and duties have been assigned to them by the legislature. Before Governor Lawton Chiles eliminated many state government rules, most agencies, boards, or commissions had a reference to meetings with the Governor and Cabinet. The rules and procedures for the Cabinet can be found in the Florida Administrative Code. The Governor and Cabinet meet every two weeks at the state capitol to discuss important issues. The meetings are usually on Tuesdays, but sometimes they may be on Wednesdays or Thursdays. If something important comes up later, it can be added to the agenda if the Governor’s office approves it. The Cabinet tries to be considerate of each other’s concerns and may delay a discussion if someone needs more time. They usually meet about 20 times a year, and they decide on a schedule for the following year. Sometimes they also have meetings in other cities as part of a program called “Capital for a Day.” The Governor and Cabinet hold meetings to discuss important issues, which are chaired by the Governor or the Secretary of State. They use Robert’s Rules of Order to make sure the meetings are fair and orderly. The meetings start with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, and then they discuss resolutions and other important issues. The agenda is prepared a day or two before the meeting and the order of the items can change based on how important they are. The Governor and Cabinet have a lot of important duties, but it’s best to do further research to understand them fully. The Governor and Cabinet work together in different organizations to oversee and make decisions for the state. They also serve as agency heads for certain departments. The boards and commissions they sit on help them make important policy decisions. Two boards are made up only of the Governor and two Cabinet members and have specific responsibilities for overseeing the state’s finances. The Division of Bond Finance is responsible for approving the sale of bonds for building things like schools and roads. The Administration Commission handles state planning and budget matters, especially in environmental and growth management. The Siting Board deals with the location of power plants and transmission lines, and the Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission hears appeals related to land and water development projects. The rules for how the Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission makes decisions are not very clear. There are different laws that seem to say different things about how the Commission should vote on certain issues. This has led to confusion about what the actual rules are. As a result, the Cabinet has decided that the simple majority voting requirement from one law applies to decisions on water management district rules and orders. The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund manages and makes decisions about public lands in Florida, including things like building docks and dredging channels. The State Board of Education and the State Board of Career Education oversee educational policies and programs in the state. Some powers of the State Board of Education have been given to the Commissioner of Education. The State Board of Executive Clemency has the power to grant pardons and other legal actions. The voting requirements for the Cabinet can vary depending on the specific issue being addressed. Some issues require a majority vote, while others may need a vote from the Governor and three Cabinet members. For example, selling state-owned lands requires a vote from five board members. The Florida Forever program also has specific voting requirements for the disposal of land. In Florida, the Governor and Cabinet have a lot of power and can make decisions on a wide range of issues. They have aides to help them with different tasks and agenda items. Important issues are discussed at public meetings before they make a decision. Over the years, there have been a lot of ideas on how to change Florida’s unique Cabinet system. One proposal in 1995 suggested moving some responsibilities to departments headed by a Secretary appointed by the Governor. The idea was to make the government more efficient. The Florida Legislature has tried to pass laws to make these changes, but they haven’t been successful. In 1998, the Constitution Revision Commission proposed changes to Florida’s Cabinet, which were approved by voters in the fall elections. These changes will eliminate the position of Education Commissioner and combine the Department of Insurance and Office of the Comptroller into one role called the Chief Fiscal Officer. This means the Cabinet will now consist of the Governor, Attorney General, Chief Fiscal Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture. The legislature has already started making the necessary changes to turn these proposals into law. These changes will bring significant alterations to Florida’s state government. The text discusses various laws, statutes, and constitutional provisions related to the Florida government. It also mentions the roles and responsibilities of different government officials, such as the Governor and Cabinet, in decision-making processes and the management of state-owned lands. It also references reports and legislative sessions related to government reform. Kent J. Perez and Edwin Baya are both lawyers who work for the government. They help the Attorney General with legal issues and have degrees in law from universities in Florida. They are dedicated to serving the public and improving the justice system.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/floridas-cabinet-system-y2k-and-beyond/