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CFO Jimmy Patronis Announces Record-Breaking Unclaimed Property Returns

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$37.8 Million Returned in February

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that his Division of Unclaimed Property has set a new monthly record of unclaimed property returns in the program’s 57-year history. During the month of February, the Division’s total returns were valued at $37,885,255, exceeding the previous monthly record of $35,956,507 which was set in October 2016.

“I’m proud to announce that in February, our proactive efforts resulted in a record-breaking month of unclaimed property returns,” said CFO Jimmy Patronis. “More than $37 million are back in the hands of their rightful owners and we’ll continue to turn up our outreach efforts to return even more.”

CFO Patronis’ Division of Unclaimed Property (Division) is one of few unclaimed property programs in the country that proactively works to return funds back to businesses, local governments and other unclaimed property account holders. In addition to various outreach events and activities, the Division sends thousands of letters on a weekly basis to notify account holders and expedite the return of their unclaimed funds or assets.

More than $203 million in unclaimed property has been returned to their rightful owners since CFO Patronis took office July 1, 2017. More than 14 million accounts valued at roughly $2 billion remain to be claimed and are available to claim at any time and at no cost.

Currently, CFO Patronis’ Division holds unclaimed property from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings. In addition to money and securities, unclaimed property includes tangible property such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes.

Visit fltreasurehunt.gov to check for accounts that the unclaimed property program may be holding onto for you or your business. As outlined in Florida law, the account holder must submit a claim form in order to claim an account.

Gov. Scott: Florida Sets Another Tourism Record in 2017

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116.5 million visitors came to Florida in 2017

Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida set another tourism record in 2017 by welcoming the highest number of visitors in any year in the state’s history with 116.5 million visitors, according to VISIT FLORIDA. This represents a 3.6 percent increase over the 112.4 million visitors in 2016.

Governor Scott said, “Today, I am proud to announce that Florida has continued our record-breaking success by welcoming more than 116 million visitors in 2017. Because of VISIT FLORIDA’s aggressive marketing efforts to make sure families across the world knew that Florida was open to visitors following Hurricane Irma, we are able to celebrate another record-breaking year for tourism. This is especially great news for the 1.4 million jobs that rely on our growing tourism industry. We will continue to market our state as the number one global destination for tourism.”

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that a record 116.5 million visitors traveled to Florida in 2017, an increase of 3.6 percent over last year. This number breaks down to 102.3 million domestic visitors, 10.7 million overseas visitors and 3.5 million Canadian visitors coming to the Sunshine State. Total enplanements at Florida’s 18 major airports in 2017 increased 4.1 percent over the same period the previous year, with 87.2 million passengers. The number of hotel rooms sold in Florida during 2017 grew by 4.6 percent compared to quarter four 2016. During the same period, Florida’s average daily room rate (ADR) increased by 2.6 percent and occupancy by 3.2 percent.

Ken Lawson, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, said, “Florida welcomed a record 116.5 million visitors in 2017, which is great news for our state. Because of the cutting-edge marketing programs at VISIT FLORIDA, particularly following Hurricane Irma, we were able to increase total visitation by 3.6 percent over last year, resulting in billions of dollars in revenue for the state. We are continuing to aggressively market the Sunshine State to the rest of the country and the rest of the world.”

Maryann Ferenc, Board Chair of VISIT FLORIDA, said, “I would like to offer gratitude to the Governor and the Legislature for funding VISIT FLORIDA, the VISIT FLORIDA team for their successful efforts, the tourism industry for creating a Florida that people want to visit and residents for creating the real welcome. Alignment at the local, state and national level have created prosperity in Florida!”

Carol Dover, President and CEO of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), said, “Given all the Sunshine State has to offer as a vacation destination, it comes as no surprise that each year, Florida continues to attract visitors in record numbers, however this welcomed outcome is incredible considering the tough year our state has faced in the wake of Hurricane Irma and validates the state’s sound investment in tourism marketing. FRLA salutes the diligent efforts of VISIT FLORIDA, as well as our hospitality industry partners, who work in concert to ensure Florida remains competitive as a leading global destination. Visitors are not only enjoying our hotels and restaurants, they’re simultaneously boosting state and local revenues, and supporting 1.4 million industry jobs across the state.”

Florida set another record despite losing 1.8 million visitors due to Hurricane Irma, according to a recent report commissioned by VISIT FLORIDA. The impact report of Hurricane Irma shows that it cost the state 1.8 million visitors. An estimated 34.9 million out-of-state visitors came to Florida in the final four months of 2017. In the “no hurricane” model, Florida would have hosted 36.7 million visitors during that same time period. Additionally, Irma resulted in a loss of $1.5 billion in visitor spending, with $1.1 billion attributable to domestic visitors and $400 million for international visitors. Visitation was hit hardest in September, with visitation falling 13.5 percent relative to anticipated growth. However, losses were drastically reduced by October, and even more so in the following months. VISIT FLORIDA’s Post-Irma Marketing Campaign helped curb the effects of Irma on visitation, with an estimated 358 million impressions in the month following Irma.

VISIT FLORIDA estimates that a record 28.5 million visitors traveled to Florida in the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 5.5 percent over the same period last year. This Q4 number breaks down to 25.0 million domestic visitors, 2.8 million overseas visitors and 705,000 Canadian visitors coming to the Sunshine State. Total enplanements at Florida’s 18 major airports in Q4 2017 increased 6.7 percent over the same period the previous year, with 21.7 million passengers. The number of hotel rooms sold in Florida during quarter four of 2017 grew by 8.1 percent compared to quarter four 2016. During the same period, Florida’s average daily room rate (ADR) increased by 5.4 percent and occupancy by 7.0 percent.

To view the full Hurricane Irma Impact Report, click HERE.

To view additional Florida visitor data, click HERE.

*Preliminary estimates are issued 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Final estimates are released when final data are received for all estimates in the report.

Hawthorne man set for life after claiming top prize in $10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE Scratch-Off game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Calvin Ciociola, 51, of Hawthorne, claimed the second of six top prizes in the 10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Ciociola chose to receive the winnings in annual payments of $520,000 for 20 years.

Ciociola purchased his winning ticket from Circle K, located at 1137 State Road 20 in Interlachen. The retailer will receive a $20,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The $20 Scratch-Off game, $10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE, launched in September, and features more than $450 million in total cash prizes and over ten million winning tickets, including six top prizes of $10,000 a week for life! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.97.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Statement from LeadingAge Florida President and CEO on Postponement, Withdrawal of Proposal 88

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At today’s meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), Commissioner Brecht Heuchan asked that Proposal 88 be temporarily postponed. Further, Comm. Heuchan said that he will withdraw the proposal. Proposal 88 would have amended the Florida Constitution to include a nursing home and assisted living facility (ALF) residents’ bill of rights.

As we’ve said from the beginning, the proposal would have done nothing to improve the lives of nursing home and ALF residents.  Instead, it would only have served to benefit trial attorneys and divert already scarce resources that should be spent on the care of frail seniors.  We are grateful to our members for speaking out during this process, expressing their deep and ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of care to their residents.

We are pleased that Proposal 88 will be withdrawn, so that nursing homes and ALFs can continue their good work, focusing financial resources on maintaining the high-quality services they already are providing. The importance of dollars being spent on quality care for residents is reflected in the recently released statement by the state Agency for Health Care Administration, which highlights the high quality of care provided by Florida’s nursing homes.

LeadingAge Florida members remain committed to our state’s frailest seniors and will continue to serve them that the highest level possible.

Established in 1963 as a Florida not-for-profit corporation, LeadingAge Florida is committed to assisting its members in achieving excellence as providers, businesses and employers. The Association provides up-to-date regulatory information, a wide variety of educational opportunities, representation before the Legislature and government agencies, group purchasing services, and opportunities for networking with peers. 

Agency for State Technology partners with UWF Center for Cybersecurity to enhance Florida’s cybersecurity resiliency

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The Agency for State Technology (AST) is partnering with the University of West Florida (UWF) Center for Cybersecurity to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity education and training for state agency personnel and position Florida as a leader in cybersecurity resiliency and workforce development.

The program will integrate unique and innovative features and provide hands-on training and educational courses using face-to-face, online, and remote delivery to prepare state personnel to detect and protect against emerging cyber threats and attacks. The program will provide competency-based certifications to prepare state personnel for core cybersecurity work roles.

“As the threats evolve, we must continue to train our information security and technology resources. We hope our partnership with UWF will serve as a model for other states to not only provide advanced cyber training, but to offer on-going educational opportunities for state employees,” said AST Executive Director and State Chief Information Officer Eric Larson.

The initial training will commence today at the Florida Department of Revenue in Tallahassee and focus on cybersecurity awareness and fundamentals for AST personnel, state agency information security managers, and other information technology personnel. Additional topics will include cybersecurity incident management, network defense, operating system hardening, risk management, cloud security and other emerging topics.

“When we started the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, this is the type of partnership we envisioned,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “Together, we will enhance the ability of state personnel to detect and defend against cyberattacks and fulfill our commitment to be a leader in cybersecurity education and training.”

The Florida Cyber Range and UWF Cybersecurity for All program will be used to provide training. The Florida Cyber Range is a state-of-the-art platform created through a partnership between the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and Metova CyberCENTS to provide advanced training and testing solutions for academic, government, military and industry use. Metova CyberCENTS is a leader in cyber simulators, ranges and training environments. The high-fidelity training environment can emulate the internet, replicate websites, integrate social media and support dynamic interjection of vulnerabilities.

The UWF Cybersecurity for All program provides innovative education and training on emerging topics via an online learning environment, customizable modules and hands-on activities using the Range. The program aligns with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and academic pathways. The program will significantly expand the cybersecurity workforce across the state and nation and increase the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals.

UWF will leverage its leadership role as the National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and the NSA/DHS Cybersecurity Regional Resource Center for the Southeast U.S. to enhance cybersecurity workforce development for the state and region.

“We proudly support AST in its mission to protect Floridians’ information and access to government services,” said Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, UWF Center for Cybersecurity director. “This program will position Florida as a leader in cybersecurity resiliency and innovation, enhance higher education and research, and serve as a best practice model for cybersecurity workforce development.”

For more information on Florida Agency for State Technology, visit ast.myflorida.com.

For more information on the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/cybersecurity.

For more information on the Florida Cyber Range, visit floridacyberrange.org.

April 15 marks start of Florida’s bat maternity season

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If you have bats roosting in your attic, eaves or chimney spaces, now is the time to give them an eviction notice. Bat maternity season begins April 15 and runs through August 15. Exclusions of bat colonies must be completed before the season starts.

“During bat maternity season, bats gather to give birth and raise their young,” said Terry Doonan, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist and mammal conservation coordinator. “The season lasts until the young bats can fly and feed themselves. In Florida, this occurs from mid-April through mid-August for most bat species.”

Bat exclusions are illegal during this maternity season to prevent young bats that cannot yet fly from being trapped inside structures and dying.

Florida is home to 13 resident bat species, including threatened species such as the Florida bonneted bat. Some bat species roost in artificial structures, including buildings and houses. Although it is illegal to harm or kill bats in Florida, guidelines have been developed allowing for the legal exclusion of bats outside of the maternity season.

Exclusion guidelines on how to remove bats from buildings can be found at MyFWC.com/Bats. Materials and methods to exclude bats can affect the success of that process. For more information on how to conduct a bat exclusion, watch this YouTube video: How to Get Bats Out of a Building. Further details on how to conduct a legal bat exclusion can be found at Bat Conservation International.

Bats are beneficial to people and are an important part of the ecosystem. The state’s native bats help keep insect populations under control, with the average bat eating hundreds of insects a night. In addition to the benefit of keeping mosquitoes and other insects at bay for residents enjoying the outdoors, the value of insect suppression by bats to U.S. agriculture has been estimated to be in the billions of dollars.

There are several ways that Florida residents and visitors can help bats:

  • Preserve natural roost sites, including trees with cavities and peeling bark. Dead fronds left on palms can also provide roosting spots for bats.
  • Put up a bat house.
  • Report unusual bat behavior to: MyFWC.com/BatMortality.

Bats can carry rabies. Although infected bats may not become aggressive, like any other wild animal, they can bite to defend themselves if handled. Don’t touch or go near any wild animal, especially one that’s not acting normally. For more information about rabies, visit the Florida Department of Health website at FloridaHealth.gov.

FWC staff are working to learn more and share information about Florida’s bats. For more information on Florida’s bats, go to MyFWC.com/Bats. If you need assistance, contact your closest FWC Regional Office to speak with a regional wildlife assistance biologist for more information.

Florida Municipal Electric Association Recognizes Members for Worker Safety

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The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) recently honored 18 of its public power members for their continued commitment to safe work practices during the past year.

For the past 30 years, FMEA has recognized Florida public power utilities’ focus on worker safety as their top priority and their efforts to ensure crew safety. Utilities are placed into categories based on their total man-hours worked and rewarded for the most incident-free records. The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker-hours during 2017, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“Public power utilities are a part of the fabric of their communities. Their employees are family, friends and neighbors, so ensuring their safety while at work is of paramount importance to everyone. I commend each member recognized for making the safety of their crews their number one priority,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director.

The recognition reflects FMEA members’ commitment to protecting workers’ safety, while also ensuring reliable electric service to the customers. In an industry where serious injuries and fatalities are possible, safety training is a critical component to preventing accidents and saving lives.

Awards were presented on March 10 at the FMEA Annual Florida Lineman Competition Awards Banquet in Kissimmee.

The following utilities were presented with a Safety Award in their category:

Category A (0-59,999 man-hours):
City of Blountstown – perfect record
City of Bushnell – perfect record
Town of Havana – perfect record
City of Mount Dora – perfect record
City of Newberry – perfect record
City of Chattahoochee – 2nd place
City of Alachua – 3rd place

Category B (60,000-199,999 man-hours):
Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach – perfect record
Homestead Public Services – 2nd place
City of Leesburg – 3rd place

Category C (200,000-399,999 man-hours):
Keys Energy Services – 1st place
Ocala Electric Utility – 2nd place

Category D (400,000-949,999 man-hours):
Gainesville Regional Utilities – 1st place
City of Tallahassee – 2nd place
Kissimmee Utility Authority – 3rd place

Category E (950,000-2,499,999 man-hours):
Orlando Utilities Commission – 1st place
Lakeland Electric – 2nd place

Category G (2,500,000-greater man-hours):
JEA – special recognition

Florida’s public power utilities are locally owned, locally controlled and locally operated enabling them to quickly respond to the needs of their communities. They are also among some of the most affordable and reliable power providers in the state.

For more information on FMEA and Florida’s public power communities, please visit publicpower.com.

Gov. Scott Signs Legislation and Highlights $65 Million in Funding to Fight National Opioid Epidemic in Florida

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Governor Rick Scott today hosted a bill signing at the Boca Raton Police Department for HB 21, which was proposed by Governor Scott to combat opioid abuse. This bill will help limit the chance of drug addiction, reduce the ability for dangerous drugs to spread in Florida’s communities and give vulnerable Floridians the support they need. The Governor also highlighted the more than $65 million in the Securing Florida’s Future budget to help combat the national opioid epidemic in Florida.

The more than $65 million to support Florida’s fight against opioids in the Securing Florida’s Future budget includes:

  • $14.6 million for enhancements to the substance abuse system of care. This funding will provide additional residential treatment beds, outpatient treatment and case management, emergency room treatment and follow up, peer recovery support services and targeted outreach for pregnant women with substance abuse disorders;
  • $5 million for Naloxone for first responders;
  • $27 million in federal funding from the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant;
  • $1.2 million to enhance the Prescription Drug Monitoring System;
  • $16.5 million for Department of Children and Families, State Courts and Department of Corrections for Medication Assisted Treatment related to opioid addiction; and
  • More than $885,000 for handheld narcotic analyzers for the Florida Highway Patrol to keep officers in the field safe.

HB 21 continues Florida’s fight against opioids by:

  • Placing a three-day limit on prescribed opioids for acute pain, unless strict conditions are met for a seven-day supply;
  • Requiring healthcare prescribers or dispensers of opioids to consult the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, a statewide database that monitors controlled substance prescriptions, to review a patient’s medication history prior to prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance;
  • Requiring continuing education courses for healthcare practitioners on responsibly prescribing opioids;
  • Increasing penalties for healthcare practitioners that provide medically unnecessary controlled substance to a patient by fraud, misrepresentation, or other deception; and
  • Implementing additional reforms to fight unlicensed pain management clinics.

Supermarket Scratch-Off purchase leaves Lake Wales man $1 million richer

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The Florida Lottery announces that Dale Steenberg, 64, of Lake Wales, claimed a $1 million prize in the new FLORIDA 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $770,000.00.

Steenberg bought his winning ticket while shopping at Publix. “I had been meaning to buy the new 100X THE CASH ticket, and I’m so glad I picked one up while buying my groceries!”

Steenberg purchased his winning ticket from Publix, located at 23965 US Highway 27 in Lake Wales. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The new $30 game, FLORIDA 100X THE CASH, launched on February 26, and features eight top prizes of $15 million (the largest Scratch-Off top prize ever offered by the Florida Lottery)! The game also offers 20 prizes of $1 million. Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.59.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Attorney General Bondi’s Statement on President Trump’s Initiative to Combat Opioid Abuse

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Attorney General Pam Bondi today issued the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s nationwide initiative to combat opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand:

“I want to thank President Trump for his leadership combating the opioid crisis and saving lives, and as a member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, I am pleased with the role we played in developing this nationwide initiative. The President’s comprehensive approach will help stop the influx of dangerous drugs, treat addiction, raise awareness and hinder the spread of this deadly epidemic claiming approximately 175 lives in our country every day.”