By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

More than 25 elected politicians, community leaders and organization supporters addressed Florida representatives and senators who represent Osceola County at a legislative delegation meeting Friday in the Osceola County Commission chambers.

Many presenters requested assistance and awareness on issues and proposed legislation the delegation members have the ability to vote on in Tallahassee. They pushed for support of more job creation, expansion of educational resources and the infrastructure to handle these issues.

Tom Franklin, chairman of the Osceola Legislative Effort, pr OLE, said the organization – which represents the four municipal governments in the county – has four priorities this legislative session: updating the workforce education formula which would provide more funding for Osceola County students; the establishment of the Kissimmee Business Airpark, which would create jobs; expansion of Hoagland Boulevard to aid in the creation of the airpark; and provide additional training for fields such as law enforcement and health care at the Technical Education Center Osceola.

“The airpark is very important to Kissimmee and Osceola County because it sits in the middle of our enterprise zone,” Franklin said.

State Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, chairman of the delegation, said OLE's priorities are “aggressive and focused” on job development.

The Kissimmee Gateway Airport and Hoagland Boulevard also are high on the Osceola County Commission's priority list.

“We're never going to compete with the Orlando International Airport but we have a niche that can benefit the region,” Commissioner John Quiñones said. “We see that as a jewel in the region.”

Quiñones also discussed implementing a sports zone that would target amateur sports, such as softball and lacrosse, and offer incentives to hold competitions at Osceola County facilities, such as Osceola Heritage Park or the Osceola County Stadium. The idea is not only to foster job creation but increase tourist dollars, he said.

"We're trying to market ourselves as the amateur sports capital of the world," Quiñones said. "Even during recessions, families will travel with their children for sports-related activities."

The sports zone also would provide incentives to attract more spring training baseball teams. Currently, the Houston Astros play at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee and the Atlanta Braves play at ESPN Wide World of Sports in the Osceola County portion of Walt Disney World.

"I'm there 1,000 percent to help with spring training and retaining teams," state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, said. Lakeland will be celebrating 75 years this year for hosting the Detroit Tigers' spring training.

Mark Brisson, chairman of the year-old 192 Business Alliance, sought support for the Tourist Safety Act, which Horner is cosponsoring. The legislation would essentially crack down on individuals using the distribution of take-out food fliers at hotels as a ruse to get personal information to use in identity theft situations or to check for unlocked hotel rooms in order to steal valuables.

Under the current law, hoteliers can only call the police and hope the suspect is still on the premise; hotel security personnel cannot detain the person.

"The only thing they can do is trespass the person, which is a $100 fine, but if I'm making $2,000 a night (illegally), what do I care?" Brisson said. "This is mostly a safety issue and the 192 Business Alliance is supportive of it."

Osceola County School District Superintendent Michael A. Grego asked for support from the delegation in providing "degrees of flexibility" in the class size amendment, which caps the number of students allowed in core classes such as math and science. Grego said he wants more consideration granted for the types of courses that are labeled as core classes.

He said Italian is growing in popularity at one Osceola County high school but because foreign language at the high school level is considered a core class, student enrollment is capped at 25. This cap forced the school to remove two students from the class in order to meet the class size requirement.

Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell said he is looking for support for the immigration reform bill that is expected to be filed this year.

"Our hands are tied after we arrest them or find them," Hansell said, referring to those in the country illegally.

However, state Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, voiced his concern about people being stopped by law enforcement based solely on appearance.

State Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, said he wants to hear from constituents in Osceola County on immigration reform.

"Osceola County has a unique perspective on this issue," he said.

Many people representing organizations asked to keep the funding they currently receive and not lose it in budget cuts, given that the state deficit has been estimated for 2011-12 to be $2.5 billion, according to the latest report from the Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

The organizations' representatives focused on children and homelessness in the county, slinging statistics at the delegation about the 253 child abuse cases reported in the county in December alone and that as of Jan. 6, 1,180 county children were homeless.

"We care about our kids in Osceola County and we want you to make them first," Susan Crutchfield, chairwoman of the Osceola Children's Cabinet, said.

The delegation sympathized with the organizations but urged them to be realistic in terms of the state budget.

“Santa Claus isn't coming this year in the form of the federal government, like in the past three years,” Precourt told the audience. “There isn't any more money.”