By The News Service of Florida
A bill that would expand the Capitol Complex has passed another hurdle in the House.
The measure (HB 975) would make the Florida Department of Management Services collaborate with Capitol Police and local law enforcement to provide enhanced security measures surrounding the capitol.
The bill passed the Justice Budget Subcommittee almost unanimously, with one South Florida Democrat, Rep. Mike Gottlieb of Davie, voting no.
The bill allows the Capitol Police to patrol from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. an area up to and including East Park Avenue and West Park Avenue, and bounded on the east and west by the existing eastern and western boundaries of the Capitol Complex, according to the bill.
“The idea is to make our area nice,” said bill sponsor Rep. Adam Botana, R-Bonita Springs. “We’re up here in Tallahassee, it’d be nice to clean up some streets, clean up some roads, and obviously work with the local municipality.”
Tallahassee City Hall, which lies adjacent to the Capitol, would also be included in the expanded area, if the bill passes and is signed into law.
Gottlieb said it was a sign for future legislatures to look into the bill, as signs point to it not passing this year.
Currently, the same bill in the Senate (SB 1108) sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, has not yet been heard in committee.