Florida Celebrates Water Reuse Week May 20-26

~Florida leads the nation in water reuse efforts and residents can help continue the trend~

TALLAHASSEE –Florida Governor Rick Scott proclaimed May 20-26, 2012 as Florida Water Reuse Week to bring awareness of the importance of water reuse to meeting Florida’s future water supply needs. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection urges Florida’s residents and businesses to celebrate Water Reuse Week to learn more about how easy it is to reuse water on a daily basis.

“DEP is committed to working with the Florida’s water management districts, communities and businesses to ensure the environment is protected and future water supply needs are met,” said Greg Munson, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration.

“DEP strives to get the water right and reuse efforts can make a positive impact to both water supply and protecting our natural resources.”

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Florida Realtors® Takes Part in Gov. Scott’s Business Mission to Spain

MADRID, May 21, 2012  – Representing Florida’s Realtors and the interests of the state’s real estate industry, Florida Realtors® President Summer Greene is in Spain this week working alongside Gov. Rick Scott and other key business leaders to encourage Spanish companies and individuals to develop business in Florida.

“It is vital to our future to encourage business investment and diversification,” says 2012 Florida Realtors President Summer Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. “Development missions like this one offer a prime opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of establishing a business – and home – in Florida. Over the next several days we will be meeting with various industry groups to share our current Florida market data and forge potential alliances that will benefit Florida Realtors.”

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Hurricane Season 2012: Hurricane Experts at Florida State University

From prediction to recovery, Florida State University’s experts are among the best in the nation when it comes to the study of hurricanes and their impact on people and property. These experts are available to answer media questions and give perspective to news stories throughout the 2012 hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.

FORECASTING, FORMATION AND TRACKING

•Mark Bourassa, associate professor of meteorology, (850) 644-6923 or 645-4788; bourassa@coaps.fsu.edu

Bourassa’s expertise is in the transfer of energy and momentum between the ocean and the atmosphere and remote sensing, particularly of surface winds. He also is interested in surface water waves and the identification of tropical disturbances, possible precursors to tropical cyclones. Recent work has involved remotely sensed estimates of the energy released in storms, as water vapor is converted to precipitation.

•Dmitry Dukhovskoy, associate research scientist at the FSU Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS), (850) 644-1168; ddukhovskoy@fsu.edu

Dukhovskoy’s research interests focus on numerical modeling of ocean physical processes including ocean dynamics, storm surges, air-sea interaction, waves and tides. He has been involved in different research efforts that studied ocean response to tropical storms. Currently, he is developing a storm surge model for the U.S. Gulf Coast as part of a project on flood risk assessment in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Live Oak Mayor Garth Nobles to be Honored with 2012 Home Rule Hero Award

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida League of Cities will honor Live Oak Mayor Garth Nobles with the Home Rule Hero Award during the Live Oak City Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22.

This prestigious award is being presented to Mayor Nobles for his tireless efforts during the 2012 legislative session to advance the League’s legislative agenda and help protect the home rule powers of Florida’s cities. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials – both elected and non-elected – who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective to an issue. Florida League of Cities Deputy General Counsel and Legislative Counsel Kraig Conn will present the award to Nobles.

Florida League of Cities Legislative Director Scott Dudley stated, “Mayor Nobles is extremely dedicated and works hard for the citizens of Live Oak. Mayor Nobles brings that same level of commitment and energy to helping the Florida League of Cities lobbying team. He is always ready and willing to contact legislators and help advocate in support of home rule. He is a valuable asset to his city and the state of Florida.”

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New Research Dashes Notions of Benign Brain Plaque

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The time may have come to scrub the idea that brain plaque — deposits of protein that clog passages between brain cells — might not be all that bad.

University of Florida researchers have discovered that people with no signs of dementia during their lives, even though their brains contained the debris typical of Alzheimer’s disease, probably would have experienced health problems had they lived longer, according to a study to appear this week in the open access journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.

Scientists suspect patients who experience relatively few cognitive problems even with a substance called amyloid beta protein accumulating in their brains — the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease — might collect a less toxic form of the so-called brain plaque.

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Twenty Practitioners Disciplined by the Florida Department of Health in the Past Thirty Days

TALLAHASSEE – In an effort to provide the most up-to-date information regarding Emergency Suspension Orders (ESOs), Emergency Restriction Orders (EROs), Final Orders and Administrative Complaints, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) today announced a new tool available through DOH’s Online Newsroom. This new tool will automatically provide you with the actions taken over the last 30 days in each of the previously mentioned categories. Additionally, information prior to the 30 days will continue to be available on DOH’s website.

To view the most recent ESOs, EROs, Final Orders and Administrative Complaints, please visit http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/2012/02/21/most-recent-esoserosadministrative-complaints/. For other information on Medical Quality Assurance, including information about enforcement terms or definitions, boards and councils, or the heath care practitioner licensing process itself, visit http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/category/healthcare-licensing/.

Over the past few weeks the following orders were issued:

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PIP AUTO INSURANCE — Rep. Rick Kriseman Letter To Governor Scott

Please find attached a letter submitted today to Gov. Rick Scott from Rep. Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg), the policy chair for the Florida House Democratic Caucus, concerning Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance legislation. In the letter, Representative Kriseman identifies several errors in House Bill 119 and the impacts, including auto insurance rate increases, they may have on Floridians.

In closing his letter, Representative Kriseman writes:

“While your intent in advocating for the passage of this bill was to combat auto fraud, the errors contained in this bill are of such significance that failure to fix them prior to implementation of the legislation will invite litigation. I am sure you recognize that the lack of clarity under which insurance carriers and medical providers will attempt to operate is bound to create needless new chaos and costs.

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Jacksonville City Councilman Clay Yarborough Endorses Mike Weinstein for State Senate

JACKSONVILLE, Fla – City Councilman Clay Yarborough from Jacksonville’s Arlington area announced his endorsement today of Mike Weinstein for State Senate stating his commitment to public safety and his conservative approach to government as the type of leadership qualities needed in Florida’s capital.

“Representative Weinstein’s longtime experience with the State Attorney’s Office and extensive knowledge of law management and fiscally responsible government provides a strong motivation for me to endorse him for State Senate,” said Yarborough. “He knows the importance of safety in our community and how that can translate into an economically viable environment for future businesses. He also knows that less is more where government is concerned and is active in restoring freedom and prosperity to our citizens.”

“Clay has been working for the greater good of Jacksonville for over a decade and is not afraid to take action when hard decisions need to be made. I look forward to the challenges that we will face on the road forward and I am honored to have the support of such a dynamic member of our community and I look forward to working with him,” said Weinstein.

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Department of Children and Families Reminds Parents to Talk to Teens About Underage Drinking

Alcohol kills more teens every year than all illegal drugs combined

TALLAHASSEE— Memorial Day weekend is coming up and many Floridians will
take this opportunity to relax with family and enjoy their time together
with parties that may or may not include alcohol.

During National Substance Abuse Prevention Week, the Florida Department of
Children and Families wants to remind parents that drinking is illegal for
anyone under the age of 21 and encourage them to talk with their children
about the risks of underage drinking.

Alcohol kills more teens than all illegal drugs combined, but alcohol can
seem so common that many parents forget how risky drinking is for young
people. Research shows that parents are the most important influence on
whether teens choose to drink alcohol.

“As a father of two teenage daughters, I know parents do make a
difference,” said Rob Siedlecki, Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse
and Mental Health. “All parents should take the time to sit down with their
children and have a supportive, thought-provoking discussion about why
drinking alcohol is dangerous and unacceptable.”

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New Medical Device Helps Premature Babies one Lullaby at a Time

Florida State University Invention Now Available to World’s Neonatal Units

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University announced today the availability of a new medical device that uses musical lullabies to help premature babies overcome one of their greatest growth hurdles.

The innovative device, known as the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL), is now being sold to hospitals around the world through a partnership with Powers Device Technologies Inc. PAL uses music reinforcement to help infants quickly learn the muscle movements needed to suck, and ultimately feed. Research studies have shown that PAL can reduce the length of a premature infant’s hospital stay by an average of five days.

“Unlike full-term infants, very premature babies come into the world lacking the neurologic ability to coordinate a suck/swallow/breathe response for oral feeding,” said Jayne Standley, Florida State’s Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Music Therapy and inventor of PAL. “The longer it takes them to learn this essential skill, the further behind in the growth process they fall. PAL uses musical lullaby reinforcement to speed this process up, helping them feed sooner and leave the hospital sooner.”

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Florida Department of Education Launches Statewide Campaign to Communicate with Parents

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Education (DOE) today launched a host of resources geared toward communicating directly with Florida’s parents about public education. The purpose of this effort is to help parents understand Florida’s assessment and accountability system, increased standards, and how these changes will help prepare our K-12 students for college, career, and life.

“Florida’s parents and guardians provide invaluable support to our students and the department is committed to ensuring they have the most accurate user-friendly information and resources available,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “We are asking more from our students and teachers than we ever have, and parents play a critical role in Florida’s path forward.”

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Florida Department of Education Recognizes Winner of State of Florida Student Astronaut Challenge

-High school students applauded for STEM-focused experiments-

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Education (DOE) in partnership with Walt Disney World Resort, Florida State University Schools, Coaxis International and the Challenger Learning Center today announced the Pompano Beach High School team as winner of the first-ever State of Florida Student Astronaut Challenge. On May 19, high school students from across Florida contended for first place at the Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee. Eight five-person student teams were selected to compete based on their submission of a scientific proposal for a zero gravity experiment that could be conducted on the International Space Station. Using a Mobile NASA Space Shuttle Flight simulator developed and constructed by Florida State University Lab School, student teams demonstrated their knowledge and skills in the area of aerospace science. Teams from South Plantation High School and University High School placed second and third, respectively.

“Encouraging our children to focus on STEM has never been more important as we prepare them to compete in a global economy,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “I would like to offer hearty congratulations to the Pompano Beach High School team on winning the first annual State of Florida Astronaut Challenge. This is an outstanding accomplishment and I am extremely proud of our student contenders.”

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DOH Steps Up Enforcement Efforts

-Annual report reveals Florida Board of Medicine working hard to protect Floridians-

TALLAHASSEE – The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) today released its annual Summary of Board Actions, disclosing the number of board actions against physicians who have violated the law taken by the Florida Board of Medicine. The number of actions taken by the Board has increased over the prior three years. The most significant growth is in the number of actions that resulted in loss of license or licensed privilege. The Board of Medicine suspended or revoked 144 licenses in 2011. Although the number of actions taken by the board has increased, the number of legally sufficient complaints against practitioners has actually decreased in from 2,383 in 2009, 1,930 in 2010, to 1,514 in 2011.

Since 2010, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has concentrated resources and process improvements on the investigation and prosecution of medical cases. DOH attributes much of the increase in the number of board actions to enforcement improvements they began implementing in 2009. Hiring experienced litigators and streamlining processes resulted in more cases being moved more quickly to the board for final action.

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PSC Chairman Ronald A. Brisé Participates in Panel on Florida’s Energy Future

PSC Chairman Ronald A. Brisé Participates in Panel on Florida’s Energy Future

TALLAHASSEE — Covering energy career education choices to what affects electric rates, today’s panel, “Electricity Matters: Redefining Florida’s Energy Future,” helped minorities and young adults learn about the energy industry. Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald A. Brisé participated on the virtual panel sponsored by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Politic365.

“Helping consumers, including those who are historically disadvantaged, to better understand the energy industry and how it affects them is important to better manage their energy future,” said Chairman Brisé. “Students learned about opportunities in the energy field and others attending or listening learned about today’s rapidly changing energy sources.”

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Governor Rick Scott’s Weekly Radio Address

MEMORANDUM

DATE: May 18, 2012

TO: Interested Media

FROM: Brian Burgess, Communications Director
Executive Office of the Governor

RE: Governor Rick Scott’s Weekly Radio Address

Attached please find Governor Rick Scott’s weekly radio address. Learn more about Governor Scott’s work to bring jobs to Florida by eliminating job-killing regulation, holding government accountable and making sure Florida has the best educated workforce.

Click here for the video version of the Weekly Radio Address.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Governor Scott’s press office at (850) 717-9282.

# # #

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Governor Rick Scott Appoints Three to Acquisition and Restoration Council

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointments of Kelley J. Boree, Maurice L. Pearson and John T. Vogel to the Acquisition and Restoration Council.

Boree, 46, of Jacksonville, is the acting director of the department of recreation and community services for the City of Jacksonville. She is appointed for a term beginning May 18, 2012, and ending March 1, 2016.

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Your Life Can Be Saved With Just a Click

~ Troopers to join nationwide effort ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Motorists beware: Click it or Ticket is here. The Florida Highway Patrol will join local and national law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country for the national Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign that kicks off May 21 and ends June 3. During the mobilization, officers will help save lives by cracking down on those who do not buckle up.

“While Florida reached a record high last year for safety belt use, we still see many drivers and passengers who fail to buckle up. All too often it ends in tragedy,” said FHP Director, Col. David Brierton. “One of our goals is to save lives through education and enforcement campaigns such as Click it or Ticket.”

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Governor Scott Appoints Daliah Weiss to the Palm Beach County Court

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Daliah Weiss, of Wellington, to the Palm Beach County Court.

Weiss, 41, has been an assistant state attorney with the State Attorney’s Office in Palm Beach since 1996. Currently, Weiss is chief of the county court and family violence units within the office. Prior to that, she was chief of the special victims unit. Weiss received a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from Villanova University School of Law.

“During Daliah’s 17 years as a prosecutor, she has gained extensive trial experience in some of the most difficult cases,” Governor Scott said. “Daliah has also demonstrated leadership skills as the chief of multiple units, and I am confident she will be a great addition to the bench in Palm Beach County.”

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Governor Rick Scott Appoints Two to Santa Fe College District Board of Trustees

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the reappointments of Robert C. Hudson and George “Tom” Mallini to the Santa Fe College District Board of Trustees.

Hudson, 70, of Gainesville, is a retired health care executive. Previously, he was president and CEO of Santa Fe Health Care from 1975 to 2006. He served on the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2000 to 2006 and the Florida TaxWatch Board of Directors from 2000 to 2007. He served in the United States Army, active duty for 10 years, followed by 14 years in the Army Reserve. Hudson received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida and an executive program certificate from Stanford University. He is appointed for a term beginning May 18, 2012, and ending May 31, 2015. … Continue Reading

Senators Rubio and Lautenberg Introduce Bill to Protect Military Retirees From Unfair Health Insurance Fee Hikes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced legislation that would place reasonable and affordable caps on health insurance enrollment fees, deductibles, and pharmacy co-payments for military retirees enrolled in the Department of Defense’s TRICARE system.  The bill would protect the nine million beneficiaries in the military health care system, particularly military retirees, from unfair insurance fee hikes.

“This bill would give veterans on TRICARE greater assurances that their costs will not spiral out of control beyond their means to pay for them.  Military retirees who rely on fixed incomes usually don’t have the ability to go out and find new jobs to pay for increased TRICARE costs.  This effort will bring more predictability to help them budget for their health care needs,” Rubio said. … Continue Reading