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Jacksonville Civic Council to assess possible JEA sale

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The Jacksonville Civic Council, a bipartisan organization of local business and nonprofit CEOs, will assess the pluses and minuses of the possible sale of the city’s electric and water utility.

With renewed interest in the potential sale of JEA, or other options, the Civic Council membership has voted to help do the important work necessary to fully understand the impact of such a sale on our city’s finances and its citizens. A thriving Jacksonville community creates opportunities for its residents and businesses, and we will commit the time and resources to contribute a fact-based analysis and recommendation to the city-wide conversation about JEA. Doing so in a thoughtful, pragmatic way will require time, transparency, due diligence and stakeholder engagement, and we are committed to delivering a well-considered analysis.

Our newly-created Public Finance Task Force has now appointed a Special Committee, led by longtime Jacksonville business leaders Bobby Stein and Michael Ward, to focus on this important issue. The Special Committee will engage subject matter experts, our elected leaders, and community stakeholders to fully understand the scope, scale, and impact of any potential action. We look forward to sharing our results and participating further in this important conversation for Jacksonville in the coming months.

Jacksonville Civic Council Executive Committee
Douglas Baer
John Baker, II
Ed Burr
Gary Chartrand
Tim Cost, Chairman
Daniel Edelman
Matt Kane
Kelly Madden
Eric Mann
Cindy Stover
Susan Wiles

About the Jacksonville Civic Council
The mission of the Jacksonville Civic Council is to promote a fiscally responsible, economically vibrant, thriving community that offers opportunity for all its residents. Our members accomplish this mission by supporting a safe and healthy city, great schools, a dynamic economy featuring a varied base of growth industries, a high standard of operational excellence at all levels of government and an exceptional quality of life including a strong downtown and thriving arts, culture, recreation and sports institutions.

Florida Virtual Campus launches new college success series this spring

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The Florida Virtual Campus will launch a new College Success Series starting this April. The FloridaShines College Success Series will take place each Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST in April, and provide a live, interactive, online experience for high school juniors and seniors and their parents. The Florida Virtual Campus is managed by the University of West Florida Division of Research and Strategic Innovation.

“The College Success Series will have information on everything students need to get ready for college,” said Nashla Dawahre, assistant director of advising and student services. “The podcast style webinars will focus on a range of several different subjects from college admissions to financial aid to career planning.”

The College Success Series is free and open to Florida high school juniors and seniors and parents seeking information on preparing for college, including where to go, what degree to earn and how to pay for it.

College Success Series sessions will include:

April 4, 2018
Explore Meta-Majors, with an expert from the Florida College System

April 11, 2018
Find My College, with an expert in admissions from one of Florida’s top universities

April 18, 2018
Pay for School, with an expert from Florida’s Office of Financial Assistance

April 25, 2018
Discover Your Career, with an expert from MyCareerShines

For more information, or to register, visit floridashines.org.

About Florida Virtual Campus
The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), a Complete Florida Plus program, is made up of several units which provide statewide innovative educational services for Florida’s K-adult students. Working collaboratively with Florida’s 12 public universities, 28 public colleges, K-12 school districts, and other partners, FLVC provides state-funded services to help students go to college, succeed in school, prepare for career success, and thrive in life after graduation.

UT Ethics Hot Seat Featuring Anthony Menendez March 15

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On Thursday, March 15, Anthony Menendez, perhaps best known as the “Accountant Who Beat Halliburton,” will be on the hot seat at The University of Tampa’s Ethics Hot Seat Speaker Series hosted by the UT Center for Ethics. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center, and is free and open to the public (registration required).

Menendez is widely recognized for his decade-long legal battle with Halliburton as a corporate whistleblower under Sarbanes-Oxley. Despite having no formal legal training, he represented himself during the appeals process and ultimately prevailed in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling has had a positive impact on that body of law, resulting in significantly increased protections for corporate whistleblowers.

Dan Verreault, director of the UT Center for Ethics, and Robert Marley, associate director of the UT Center for Ethics, with join Menendez for an interactive discussion on “Whistleblowing: He Fought Halliburton and Won.” Refreshments will be served.

Register here. For more information, contact the Center for Ethics at [email protected].

Gov. Rick Scott Signs Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act

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Invests More Than $400 Million in School Safety and Mental Health

Following a meeting with the families of victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Governor Rick Scott today signed SB 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This legislation makes significant reforms to make Florida schools safer, while keeping firearms out of the hands of mentally ill and dangerous individuals. To view the Governor’s major action plan, which was announced on February 23rd, click HERE.

Governor Scott’s full remarks as prepared for delivery upon the signing of SB 7026 are available HERE.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act includes the following provisions: 

Keeping Guns Away from Dangerous and Violent Individuals

  • Creates “Risk Protection Orders,” which allows a court to prohibit a violent or mentally ill individual from purchasing or possessing a firearm or any other weapon. If a law enforcement officer believes that a person poses a danger to themselves or others by possessing a firearm, they can petition a court to have the individual immediately surrender the firearm and prohibit them from possessing or purchasing firearms;
  • Allows law enforcement to seize firearms when a person has been detained under the “Baker Act.” Also prohibits a person who has been “adjudicated mentally defective” or who has been “committed to a mental institution” from owning or possessing a firearm;
  • Requires all individuals purchasing firearms to be 21-years-old or older. Exceptions are included for the purchase of rifles and shotguns by law enforcement officers, correctional officers, active duty military members and all members of the Florida National Guard and United States Reserve Forces. Also, licensed firearm dealers are prohibited from selling or transferring any firearm to a person younger than 21 years of age;
  • Establishes enhanced criminal penalties for individuals who make threats to schools, such as social media threats of shootings or bombings;
  • Bans sale or possession of bump stocks; and
  • Creates a three-day waiting period for all firearms sales. This does not apply to law enforcement officers, correctional officers, active duty military members or members of the Florida National Guard or United States Reserve Forces who are purchasing a rifle or shotgun. The waiting period does not apply to the purchase of a rifle or shotgun for those who have completed a hunter safety course and possess a hunter safety identification card, or anyone who is exempt from the hunter safety course requirements and holds a valid Florida hunting license.

$400 Million Investment to Keep Students Safe & Enhance Mental Health Treatment 

  • Provides $162 million for safe-school officers and requires a safe-school officer at each school in the state. Safe-school officers must be sworn law enforcement officers;
  • Creates the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program under the purview of locally-elected sheriff’s offices. Participation in this program is 100 percent voluntary and optional and does not allow classroom teachers to carry firearms with exceptions made for those involved in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), current or retired armed service members and current or retired law enforcement officers. Participation in the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program must be agreed upon by the locally elected school board members and the local sheriff’s office. Each member of school personnel must complete 132 hours of comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training to be eligible for participation in the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program;
  • Requires mandatory active shooter training in schools every semester. Students, district school safety specialists, threat assessment teams, faculty, staff and designated first responders must participate in these drills;
  • Provides $99 million to address specific school safety needs within each school district. This includes school hardening measures such as metal detectors, bulletproof glass, steel doors and upgraded locks. The Florida Department of Education (DOE) will establish the Office of Safe Schools and will work in consultation with sheriffs and police chiefs to approve school safety plans and provide school hardening grants to school districts;
  • Increases the sharing of information between sheriff’s offices, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and any community behavioral health providers to better coordinate services and provide prevention or intervention strategies. In addition to the legislation, the Governor will also direct DCF Secretary Mike Carroll to establish a process between DCF and each sheriff’s office in Florida to better collaborate and coordinate services for those most in need;
  • Establishes a new, anonymous K-12 “FortifyFL” suspicious activity reporting tool, which would allow students and members of the community to anonymously report dangerous threats through a mobile app;
  • Provides $75 million for dedicated mental health counselors to provide direct counseling services to students and youth mental health assistance training. Every student in Florida will have access to a mental health counselor;
  • Requires every school in Florida to have a threat assessment team with expertise in mental health counseling, academic instruction, law enforcement and school administration to meet monthly to review any potential threats to students and staff at the school;
  • Requires crisis intervention training for all school resource officers;
  • Establishes the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission to investigate system failures in the Parkland school shooting and prior mass violence incidents and develop recommendations for system improvements; and
  • Provides $28 million to expand mental health service teams statewide to serve youth and young adults with early or serious mental illness by providing counseling, crisis management and other critical mental health services.

To view the transmittal letters, click HERE.

Statement from President Negron and Speaker Corcoran Regarding Gaming Legislation

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Florida Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart) and House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R-Land O’Lakes) today released the following statement regarding proposed legislation on gaming considered during the 2018 Legislative Session.

“Despite the good faith efforts of both the House and Senate, a gaming bill will not pass the Legislature this session. We appreciate the tireless efforts of Chair Hutson and Chair La Rosa, as well as the many members of the House and Senate, and the professional staff, who worked diligently during these final days and hours of session. Gaming remains one of the most difficult issues we face as a Legislature. We are pleased with the progress made over the last week and know that our colleagues will continue to work on this important issue.”

Florida Virtual School Responds to Data Security Incident

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Students Offered Identity Protection Services

Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is offering free identity protection services to students and former students whose personal information may have been compromised in a data security incident.

Although an investigation has determined that no financial information was affected, the incident could involve some personal information in FLVS school records, including students’ names, dates of birth, school account usernames and passwords, physical school identification, as well as parents’ names and parent emails. Our investigation, while ongoing, estimates that approximately 368,000 students were potentially impacted by the incident.

FLVS learned of a possible breach on February 12, 2018. An immediate comprehensive IT security investigation was initiated and an independent forensic cybersecurity investigation firm was hired to assess the scope of the breach and take action to prevent a reoccurrence. FLVS also contacted Leon County Schools and notified the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

FLVS is continuing its internal investigation and is fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies as they seek to apprehend those responsible for this crime.

FLVS takes its obligation to protect the privacy of personal information very seriously and deeply regrets this incident. To reduce the risk that any student information could be misused for identity theft, FLVS is offering potentially impacted students one year of identity protection services through Experian, a leading identity monitoring services company, at no cost. These services help detect possible misuse of personal information and protect against identity theft.

The offer is available to students whose information was in the FLVS database from May 2, 2016 to February 12, 2016, when this incident occurred. Qualifying students or their parents should can learn more and signup for identity protection services at this website experianidworks.com/FLVS or by calling (888) 829-6553.  Students should reference engagement number DB05741.

The security incident also included the personal information of approximately 1,867 teachers.  Potentially impacted teachers and school staff are being contacted by FLVS individually.

We sincerely apologize for this incident and regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused.

The Following information in located on the FLVS website and is available for potentially impacted Students and Their Parents:

Florida Virtual School (FLVS) recently learned of a potential data security incident involving certain information provided to us by students and parents. We are providing this notice as a precaution to inform potentially affected individuals about the incident and to call your attention to some steps you can take to help protect yourself. We sincerely regret any concern this may cause you.

FLVS learned that unauthorized individuals appear to have gained access to some of our computer systems that stored personal information relating to certain students, parents of students, and Leon County Schools’ teachers. Although the investigation is still ongoing, based on what we have learned to date, we believe that this incident could affect information in FLVS school records, including but not limited to students’ names, dates of birth, school account usernames and passwords, physical school identification, as well as parents’ names and parent emails. We have not identified any evidence that any student or parent Social Security numbers or financial account information were affected. Please note, currently, we are not aware of any fraud or misuse of your information as a result of this incident.

The security incident may also affect a limited number of Leon County Schools’ teachers, where the teachers’ name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, phone number, cell phone number, emergency contact, spouse’s name, personal email address, work email address, and certain demographic information, may have been accessed by unauthorized persons. These teachers are being directly notified by individual notice by Leon County Schools and FLVS is coordinating and cooperating with Leon County Schools in these efforts.

FLVS takes its obligation to protect the privacy of personal information very seriously and deeply regrets this incident. After FLVS learned of this incident, we immediately initiated a comprehensive IT security investigation and hired an independent forensic cybersecurity investigation firm to assist in our investigation and response. FLVS also contacted Leon County Public Schools and notified the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and we will continue to cooperate with the law enforcement investigations.

As a precaution and to reduce the risk that any student information could be misused, FLVS is offering potentially impacted students one year of identity protection services through Experian, a leading identity monitoring services company, at no cost. These services help detect possible misuse of personal information and protect against identity theft. The offer is available to students whose information was in the FLVS database from May 2, 2016 to February 12, 2018. Qualifying students or their parents can learn more and if impacted by the incident, can sign up for identity protection services at this website experianidworks.com/FLVS or by calling Experian at (888) 829-6553 and referencing engagement number DB05741. For more information about these services, please see the “Information about Identity Theft Protection” reference guide, included below, which also describes additional steps that you may wish to take to help protect yourself, including recommendations by the Federal Trade Commission regarding identity theft protection and details on placing a fraud alert or a security freeze on your credit file.

For more information about this incident, or if you have additional questions or concerns, you may contact our dedicated call center directly at (888) 829-6553 between the hours of Monday through Friday – 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. EST, and   Saturday and Sunday – 11:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST. Again, we sincerely regret any concern this incident may cause you.

About FLVS
Florida Virtual School is an established leader in developing and providing virtual K-12 education solutions to students all over Florida, the U.S. and the world. A nationally recognized e-Learning model and recipient of numerous awards, FLVS was founded in 1997 and was the country’s first, state-wide Internet-based public high school. Today, FLVS serves students in grades K-12 and provides a variety of custom solutions for schools and districts to meet student needs.

FDLE arrests former child protective investigator

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested former Department of Children and Families child protective investigator Jessica Cirino-Lan, 28, for three counts of falsifying records. The DCF Office of Inspector General referred the case to FDLE and assisted in the investigation.

The investigation determined that during April and May of 2016, Cirino-Lan intentionally and unlawfully falsified case reports she submitted in reference to three separate DCF child abuse/neglect investigations assigned to her in her capacity as a child protective investigator. Cirion-Lan did not conduct several home visits she indicated she completed in her reports, and forged the name of a caregiver on a written safety plan she submitted to a supervisor for one of the cases.

On May 10, 2016, Cirino-Lan abruptly resigned from DCF after being questioned about the discrepancies by her supervisor. After her resignation, Cirino-Lan’s cases were reassigned and all children were deemed safe.

Cirino-Lan was arrested today and booked into the Hendry County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.

Altha woman wins her fortune playing $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Sheila Lundgren, 51, of Altha, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $748,000.00.

Lundgren purchased her winning ticket from Hobo Pantry, located at 2000 Highway 71 in Marianna. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The $25 game, $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH, features more than $549 million in total cash prizes, including two top prizes of $10 million and 46 prizes of $1 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.89.

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

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act Signed Into Law

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Critical public safety legislation establishes
safeguards designed to enhance safety in schools

Florida Governor Rick Scott today signed Senate Bill 7026, The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The legislation represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues presented by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, including firearm and school safety, and community mental health resources.

“I am pleased to see this comprehensive public safety legislation become law today. The Florida Legislature and Governor Scott worked diligently in the days following this horrific shooting to seek input from survivors and their families, as well as concerned citizens across the state,” said Florida Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “We can never replace the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, but in their memory we can, and through this legislation we will, do more to prevent a senseless tragedy like this from ever happening again.”

“The safety of our children is the top priority for all of us in public service. I appreciate the hard work of my colleagues and Governor Scott as we crafted an immediate plan of action to identify where the gaps exist in funding and policy for firearm and school safety, as well as community mental health resources,” said Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) who authored Senate Bill 7026. “The advice of survivors and the family members of the victims played a key role in the development of this legislation, and I was reassured to see the families of the victims join Governor Scott to see this legislation become law today.”

A summary of The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act is below.

Mental Health

In the area of mental health the legislation makes significant changes to keep firearms out of the hands of those suffering from mental illness:

  • Authorizes a law enforcement officer who is taking a person into custody for an involuntary examination under the Baker Act to seize and hold a firearm or ammunition from the person for 24 hours after the person is released and does not have a risk protection order against them or is the subject of a firearm disability.
  • Prohibits a person who has been adjudicated mentally defective or who has been committed to a mental institution from owning or possessing a firearm until a court orders otherwise.
  • Creates a process for a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency to petition a court for a risk protection order to temporarily prevent persons who are at high risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms when a person poses a significant danger to himself or herself or others, including significant danger as a result of a mental health crisis or violent behavior. The bill also:
    • Allows a court to issue a risk protection order for up to 12 months.
    • Requires the surrender of all firearms and ammunition if a risk protection order is issued.
    • Provides a process for a risk protection order to be vacated or extended.

Firearm Safety

The legislation also provides new provisions to ensure full and complete background checks when a firearm is purchased:

  • Requires a three-day waiting period for all firearms, not just handguns or until the background check is completed, whichever is later. Provides exceptions for:
  • Concealed weapons permit holders, and
  • For the purchase of firearms other than handguns, an exception for:
    • Individuals who have completed a 16 hour hunter safety course;
    • Individuals holding a valid Florida hunting license; or
    • Law enforcement officers, correctional officers and service members (military and national guard)

The bill addresses two of the most frequent requests Senators heard from the families of victims simply to raise the age for purchasing a firearm and ban devices that turn a legal firearm into an illegal weapon.

  • Prohibits a person under 21 years of age from purchasing a firearm, and prohibits licensed firearm dealers, importers, and manufacturers, from selling a firearm, except in the case of a member of the military, or a law enforcement or correctional officer when purchasing a rifle or shotgun. (Persons under 21 years of age are already prohibited from purchasing a handgun under federal law.)
  • Prohibits a bump-fire stock from being imported, transferred, distributed, sold, keeping for sale, offering for sale, possessing, or giving away within the state.

School Safety

The bill improves school safety through the following provisions:

  • Establishes the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission to investigate system failures in the Parkland school shooting and prior mass violence incidents, and develop recommendations for system improvements.
  • Codifies the Office of Safe Schools within the Florida Department of Education (DOE) and which will service as a central repository for the best practices, training standards, and compliance regarding school safety and security.
  • Permits a sheriff to establish a Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program.
    • The legislation allows school districts to decide whether to participate in the guardian program if it is available in their county.
    • A guardian must complete 132 hours of comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training, pass psychological evaluation, submit to and pass drug tests; and complete certified diversity training. The guardian program is named after Coach Aaron Feis, who lost his life protecting students during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The guardian program is completely voluntary for a sheriff to establish, for a school district to participate, and for an individual to volunteer.
    • Individuals who exclusively perform classroom duties as classroom teachers are excluded from participating in a Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program. However, this limitation does not apply to classroom teachers of a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program; a current service member; and a current or former law enforcement officer.
  • Requires each district school board and school district superintendent to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to assign one or more safe-school officers at each school facility.  The safe-school officer requirement can be satisfied by appointing any combination of a school resource officer, a school safety officer, or a school guardian.
  • Requires each district school board to designate a district school safety specialist to serve as the district’s primary point of public contact for public school safety functions.
  • Requires each school district to designate school safety specialists and a threat assessment team at each school, and requires the team to operate under the district school safety specialist’s direction.
  • Requires the DOE to contract for the development of a Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool which will assist school districts in conducting security assessments to identify threats and vulnerabilities.
  • Creates the mental health assistance allocation to assist school districts in establishing or expanding school-based mental health care.

The legislation also:

  • Prohibits a person from making, posting, or transmitting a threat to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
  • Requires DCF to contract for community action treatment teams to provider behavioral health and support services.
  • Requires FDLE to procure a mobile app that would allow students and the community to relay information anonymously concerning unsafe, dangerous threats. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglass recommended that the program be named “FortifyFL”

Funding

The legislation appropriates $400 million to implement the bill provisions, including the following:

  • Over $69 million to the DOE to fund the mental health assistance allocation.
  • $1 million for the design and construction of a memorial honoring those who lost their lives on February 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
  • Over $25 million for replacing building 12 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
  • Over $67 million for sheriff’s offices who decide to establish a school guardian program.
  • Over $97 million to aid for the safe schools allocation.
  • Over $98 million to implement a grant program for improving and hardening the physical security of school buildings.
  • $18.3 million to DCF for additional mobile crisis teams to ensure reasonable access among all counties.

FDLE arrests local businessman in tax scheme for racketeering, grand theft

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Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Major Callahan, Jr., today on charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft.

Callahan operated three Pointe 1 Tax Services offices within Highlands County. According to investigators, Callahan used these offices to defraud victims out of out of more than $50,000 in tax refunds. At least 24 victims were identified as having their refunds stolen, or attempted to be stolen, by Callahan through Pointe 1 between 2012 and 2015.

FDLE investigators, with help from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service, believe Callahan, or his co-conspirators, filed federal tax returns with the victims’ information, then forging their signatures on refund checks in order to convert the funds to their own use. The investigation into the conspiracy is ongoing.

Callahan turned himself into the Highlands County Jail. This case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.