Representative Bilirakis, as Chair of the Florida House of Representatives Crime Prevention, Correction and Safety Committee, and more recently the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, has consistently been a leader and an outstanding advocate on issues involving public safety and effective law enforcement. During the 2003 Legislative Session, Representative Bilirakis was the driving force on two funding issues critical to the maintenance of public safety and order. One of these issues involved proposals for large cuts in state funding for crime laboratories and the imposition of a system under which law enforcement agencies would have to pay a fee for each forensic analysis performed by crime labs. Representative Bilirakis made sure that the cuts did not occur and that the fees were not imposed. The second issue involved a proposal to cut virtually all money for a trust fund designed to provide emergency financial assistance for local law enforcement agencies when massive criminal investigations threaten to overwhelm local resources. Again, Representative Bilirakis made sure that the funds were not eliminated. Success on both these issues required leadership, knowledge of the budgetary process, and a great deal of courage and persistence on the part of Representative Bilirakis.

It is therefore with great pride that the Florida Police Chiefs Association presented to Representative Gus Bilirakis a 2003 Florida Police Chiefs Association Legislative Achievement Award.