Republican Leadership Announces Bill to Eliminate Form In Effort to Increase Efficiency

Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio (R-West Miami), House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) and Government Efficiency and Accountability Council Chairman Frank Attkisson (R-St. Cloud) today announced the filing of PCB GEAC 08-17 which would eliminate the Transfer of Interest in Real Property Form, also known as the DR-219.

A copy of the announcement is reprinted below.

 

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Republican Leadership Announces Bill to Eliminate Burdensome and Needless Form

Eliminating Transfer of Real Property Form DR-219 Will Save State Millions

TALLAHASSEE – Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio (R-West Miami), House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) and Government Efficiency & Accountability Council Chairman Frank Attkisson (R-St. Cloud) today announced the filing of PCB GEAC 08-17 which would eliminate the Transfer of Interest in Real Property Form, also known as the DR-219.

“The House has been working hard seeking ways to reduce spending and eliminate inefficiency in government. Eliminating the DR-219 is a common-sense step towards bringing efficiency and accountability to government,” stated Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio (R-West Miami).

“The form was originally created to provide accurate and timely information on the sale of real property, but instead it became expensive and useless and, frankly, did not meet its original intent. In fact, the form was so impractical that in July 2007, the Department of Revenue stopped using it but taxpayers kept paying for it,” stated House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach). “The decision to eliminate DR-219 is a step in the right direction. Floridians will save millions of dollars.”

“As lawmakers, our main responsibility is to the Florida taxpayer. We must live within our means. Cutting waste in these challenging times for Florida is our top priority. The GEA Council found a perfect target in the DR-219 – a cumbersome, duplicative and redundant government form and process,” stated Council Chairman Frank Attkisson (R-St. Cloud). “It had to go.”

Transfer of Interest in Real Property Form DR-219 at a glance:

• According to a study by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study released in February 2008, the state’s cost to process the DR-219 forms ($16.1 million in FY 2006-07) far outweighs the limited benefit gained by the county property appraisers.
• Cost to the State includes payment of 1% of the deeds portion of the doc stamp fee to county clerks and $175,000 additional cost to the State to process (data entry, printing, mailing and storage).
• According to the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study released in February 2008, officials with the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers report that the loss of revenue to their individual counties and offices would be insignificant.
• Projected cost to the State for FY 2008-09 is $11.5 million.
• Projected cost to the State for FY 2009-10 is $13.1 million.
• Projected 2010-11 costs may rise to a projected $15.9 million.
• Over 1.7 million DR-219 forms were generated in FY 2006-07.
• The forms are physically stored in 900-1,000 boxes (enough to fill a tractor trailer).