Pasco wields influence

The Florida Legislature convenes Tuesday, and while most of the attention will be focused on budgets, redistricting and casino expansion in South Florida, there are a number of reasons for Pasco County to pay attention.

The county wields considerable influence as two of its sons — Speaker Pro-Tempore John Legg and Will Weatherford, the Speaker designate — hold leadership positions. Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, chairs the Redistricting Committee. Legg chairs the subcommittee drawing the state's new congressional district map.

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, always can be counted on to introduce a pile of legislation. And 2012, being his final year, is no different. Fasano already has sponsored or co-sponsored dozens of bills, including one that goes to the heart of every football fan.

Fasano's SB836 is largely aimed at forcing the National Football League to show local games in Florida markets even if teams can't fill their stadiums. Professional sports franchises, including the state's NFL teams, have been receiving money from the state since 1991.

Under longstanding policy, NFL games not sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff are not broadcast in the local media market. The blackouts extend for a 75-mile radius.

"It's an uphill battle, but I think a strong message needs to be sent to our sports franchises that get tax subsidies that you can't take taxpayer money and then deny them the opportunity to watch their home team on television," Fasano said.

This season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sold out only two home games: against Dallas on Dec. 17 and the Monday night game Sept. 3 against Indianapolis. The two sellouts are the first for the Bucs since the 2009 season. In 2010, Tampa Bay was the only team forced to black out every one of its home games. Those blackouts were the first for the Bucs since Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998.

Fasano's bill would fine clubs $125,000 for each game they don't televise to local viewers. The proceeds would be used to buy tickets for foster children, youth groups and members of the military.

Fasano also took aim at one of Sheriff Chris Nocco's pet peeves: Internet cafés.

"The law is very silent on this industry," Fasano said. "If they're going to be allowed, they need to be regulated."

Senate Bill 468 would require any company offering sweepstakes prizes of $1 or more to register with the state and post a bond. The current registration and bonding threshold is $5,000. The legislation is in response to complaints about Internet cafés conducting online promotions that seemingly never pay the prizes they promise.

Though he doesn't represent any part of Pasco, the county's 3,000 Aqua Utilities water customers will have a vested interest in Sen. Alan Hays' bill to overhaul the way public and private water utilities charge their customers. Hays said he filed Senate Bill 1244 as a direct response to the constant stream of complaints regarding Aqua Utilities.

Hays included a provision in the bill that requires water companies to provide drinking water that not only meets state and federal environmental standards, but also is "reasonably free from objectionable taste, color, odor, or sand or other sediment."

A utility company that fails to meet the new standards would be subject to financial penalties and could be forced to turn its water system over to the host county.

Fasano and Rep. Richard Corcoron, R-Trinity, teamed up to sponsor legislation regulating adult day care centers that care for patients with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. House Bill 529 would require the centers to have at least one staff member for every five patients. The centers also would be required to count the number of patients at least three times a day to make sure they're all accounted for.