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Buesing to Young, Senate Republicans: “Do the right thing” on assault weapons

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Bob Buesing, Democratic candidate for Florida Senate, District 18, issued the following statement today on gun reform legislation before the Senate Committee on Rules:

“I am deeply disappointed today by the majority members of the Florida Senate Rules Committee. By voting down an amendment banning assault weapons, the Republicans on this committee have shown that the only constituency they answer to is the National Rifle Association.

“In the twelve days since the horrific mass shooting unfolded in Parkland, Dana Young has done nothing, and her silence is deafening. An “A-rated” NRA politician herself, she would rather appease our state’s gun lobby than take action to protect its schoolchildren.

“We need a ban on assault weapons in Florida because we know it works to decrease gun violence. Today I am calling on Tallahassee politicians like Dana Young to do the right thing: get these weapons of war off Florida streets and protect our communities.”

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis: It would be Shameful if our First Responders Suffering from PTSD are Forgotten

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Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement regarding the unanimous approval of House Bill 227 today by the Florida House of Representatives Government Accountability Committee.

“Our firefighters are attempting suicide at a rate FIVE TIMES HIGHER than the general population. Suicide is not a solution and we cannot ignore this issue any longer. Our conversations about mental health care in the wake of Parkland must include this reform that would allow first responders to access the mental health benefits they need.

“I urge the House and Senate to continue to move QUICKLY and ensure our first responders aren’t left behind.”

The next stop for HB 227, sponsored by Rep. Matt Willhite, is the House floor.

RoadWatch Advisory for SR 70 from L7 Ranch Road to Southwind Road in Highlands County

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HIGHLANDS COUNTY

SR 70 from L7 Ranch Road to Southwind Road in Lake Placid: Maintenance contract project: Crews will be milling and resurfacing  3 ½ miles of road from L7 Ranch Road to Southwind Road on State Road 70 in Lake Placid. On Thursday, March 1st and Friday, March 2nd from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. motorists should expect single lane closures for eastbound and westbound traffic with flagging operations on SR 70 from L7 Ranch Road to Southwind Road.  Motorists are advised to use caution in this area and obey the posted speed limits.

UNF Students to Host Tenth Annual Dance Marathon to Benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

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12 Hour and 10 minute Event to Raise Funds and Awareness
for Wolfson Children’s Hospital and UF Health Jacksonville

Dance Marathon at the University of North Florida (UNF) will be hosting its tenth annual event on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. at the UNF Field House. Proceeds benefit the two local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the pediatric programs at UF Health Jacksonville.

To honor of all children being treated at the local CMN Hospitals, students will stay on their feet for 12 hours and 10 minutes. The 12 hours signify the typical shift of dedicated hospital staff while the 10 minutes tributes the event’s tenth year in the Jacksonville community. To keep dancers motivated, miracle children impacted by the hospitals will make special visits throughout the day to share their unique journey and interact with all participants. There will also be games, entertainment and, of course, dancing!

Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and are free and open to the public. After 11 a.m., visitors are asked to donate $5 per hour at the door to CMN Hospitals. The event concludes in a symbolic closing ceremony with miracle children cutting off the dancers’ ID bands beginning at 9:30 p.m.

There will be four local high schools that will be hosting their own dance marathon’s later in their school year! Those four high schools include, Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenney, Episcopal and Ponte Vedra. The total amount the high schools raise will be going toward UNF’s grand total, which will be given straight to the local hospitals.

Dance Marathon is a nationwide movement involving college and high school students at more than 300 schools. These students spend a year learning invaluable leadership and life skills while raising funds and interacting with children’s hospital patients and families. More students participate in Dance Marathon than any other student-led philanthropy in the United States. Since its founding in 1991, this movement has raised more than $80 million for CMN Hospitals.

For more information on how to get involved or donate, go to unfdm.com. Contact Nikki Sabol for UNF Dance Marathon or high school Dance Marathon press opportunities.

ABOUT UNF DANCE MARATHON
Started at the University of North Florida in 2008, UNF Dance Marathon team and students have raised more than $160,000 for CMN Hospitals. All of the funds raised by the students stays local at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the pediatric programs at UF Health Jacksonville. UNF Dance Marathon’s motto is “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” especially when it is “FTK-For The Kids!”

ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK-JACKSONVILLE
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of all children by raising funds and awareness for Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the pediatric programs at UF Health Jacksonville. A founding principle of CMN Hospitals is that all funds raised in a community stay in that community. Therefore, all donations made in Northeast Florida/Southeast Georgia are used to purchase medical equipment, child life activities and educational resources for both local pediatric programs. Learn more at CMNJax.com.

UT Sykes Chapel Concert Artist Series Continues March 4 with Cellist Nancy Snider and Friends

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On Sunday, March 4, The University of Tampa’s Sykes Chapel Concert Artist Series will continue with an afternoon of chamber music with renowned cellist Nancy Snider and friends Yuri Namkung, violin, David Yang, viola, and Grigorios Zamparas, piano. The concert begins at 2 p.m. in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values is free and open to the public.

The program will include music for string trio and piano quartet, including Beethoven’s String Trio in c minor, op. 9; Jean Cras’ Trio and Joaquin Turina’s Piano Quartet in a minor, op. 67.

Snider is a member of the Opera Lafayette Orchestra and performs regularly in a variety of chamber and period-instrument ensembles ranging from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose and L’Opèra Royal de Versailles, to experimental stages and living rooms. Snider also serves as senior professorial lecturer and director of the music program at American University in Washington, D.C.

A graduate of Columbia University and The Juilliard School, Namkung’s major solo guest appearances have included Zürich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Alice Tully Hall, the Seattle Symphony, and throughout Colombia and Brazil with the Filarmonica Joven de Colombia. She has also performed with jazz pianist and UNESCO and UNICEF Artist for Peace Danilo Perez in Panama.

Recipient of an artist fellowship from the Independence Foundation (awarded to a small number of exceptional artists), Yang has been called “a conduit for music” and his playing described as “lithe and expressive” in The Strad magazine. Yang has forged a career that is a blend of performing, composition and storytelling. Concert highlights include concertos in Canada and Great Britain, along with recitals in Italy, the U.K. and throughout the U.S.

Zamparas is an associate professor of music and director of piano studies at UT. Over the years, Zamparas has received critical acclaim for his versatile performing career as recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician in Greece, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, former Yugoslavia, Austria, Russia, Brazil, South Korea and the U.S.

The concert is free, but seating is limited. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance. Parking is available on campus.

For more information, go to www.ut.edu/sykeschapel or contact Haig Mardirosian, artistic director for the Sykes Chapel Concert Artist Series, at [email protected].

FWC Division of Law Enforcement achieves reaccreditation

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement received recognition Feb. 21 at a ceremony in St. Augustine for completing the review process to maintain its accreditation status. The FWC was initially accredited in 2009. This was its fourth completion of the accreditation process.

“The FWC Division of Law Enforcement continues to maintain the highest standards of credibility, effectiveness and professionalism,” said Eric Sutton, FWC executive director. “Our staff work diligently to uphold these important standards each and every day. Reaccreditation by the Commission validates the hard work they do, and provides a strong vote of confidence in their ability to protect the public and conserve Florida’s natural resources.”

Florida law enforcement accreditation is certified by an independent reviewing authority, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). There are approximately 240 prescribed standards reflecting best management practices that a law enforcement agency must consistently meet or exceed over a three-year period in order to achieve this status.

“Accreditation is a voluntary but important process intended to hold an agency to a higher level of accountability by an external source,” said Col. Curtis Brown, director of the Division of Law Enforcement. “We are very pleased with the CFA’s determination that reaccreditation of the Division was earned.”

An accreditation assessment team composed of law enforcement representatives from other accredited Florida law enforcement agencies conducted on-site inspections of the division’s procedures, policies, practices and equipment to determine compliance. The team visited FWC headquarters in Tallahassee and several other offices around the state, interviewing individuals, reviewing written materials and observing activity.

“We sincerely support the accreditation process,” Brown said. “It has been an effective way to ensure that we are operating efficiently and providing the best service we possibly can.”

Consumer Alert: America Saves Week

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America Saves Week is recognized February 26 – March 2, to raise awareness and empower you to save money and build personal wealth. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation encourages Floridians to take time to assess their finances and make savings a regular habit. 
America Saves is asking individuals to take a pledge to commit to saving money on a regular basis. Take the pledge to save at americasaves.org. Below are some helpful steps to ensure success:
  • Assess your finances. Review your income and expenses, noting which expenses are necessary and which aren’t. Determine an amount to save every month. 
  • Set a goal. When deciding on goals, be sure to include short-term goals and long-term goals. Short-term goals are helpful for more immediate purchases, like a vacation or car. Long-term goals are important for retirement planning and building wealth.
  • Create an action plan. Consider how long it will take you to reach your desired goal. It’s a good strategy to increase your savings amount each year when you review your finances. 
  • Make savings a habit. Make a commitment to paying yourself every month, just like you would a monthly expense. Automatic withdrawals are a simple way to make saving easy. 
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation offers Floridians a robust online Consumer Knowledge Center, where you can find more information on several financial topics. 

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis: Florida League of Cities Attempt to Derail Legislation for First Responders is Disgraceful

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Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis today provided an analysis of a report commissioned by the Florida League of Cities on legislation that would allow first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) access to mental health benefits to members of the Senate Appropriations and House Government Accountability Committees. Below please find a statement from CFO Patronis and a copy of the analysis memorandum.

“Florida League of Cities lobbyists have, at every step of the legislative committee process, vehemently opposed a measure that would allow Florida’s first responders to seek treatment for PTSD. Their opposition comes despite the fact that this measure has passed every House and Senate committee unanimously. Florida League of Cities lobbyists have now gone further to commission a report, wrought with flawed and erroneous data, to support why they don’t care about the first responders who make up the communities they represent.

“Our analysis revealed that not only does the report reflect a minimal impact, but there are outrageous and absurd assumptions made to skew opinion on this important issue. Knowingly peddling a deceptive report to defeat a measure that would allow first responders suffering from PTSD to get help is nothing short of disgraceful. Firefighters, for example, have a suicide attempt rate five times the general adult population. Suicide is not a solution.

“As we discuss increasing mental health resources in response to the Parkland tragedy, it would be shameful if an inaccurate report prevented our first responders, who struggle to deal with the immense psychological and emotional toll of their job, from getting the help they deserve.

“To combat the attempt by the Florida League of Cities lobbyists to derail this life or death issue, at my direction the Division of Workers’ Compensation analyzed their report and uncovered shocking flaws.”

MEMORANDUM

To: Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and House Government Accountability Committee

From: Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis

Date: Monday, February 26, 2018

Subject: Analysis of Florida League of Cities’ Study on House Bill 227

Currently, Florida’s workers’ compensation system does not cover mental injuries for first responders unless accompanied by a physical injury. House Bill 227 and Senate Bill 376 aim to make post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) a covered treatment for first responders under workers’ compensation without requiring a physical injury. Below please find CFO Patronis’ Division of Workers’ Compensation (“Division”) analysis of a report commissioned by the Florida League of Cities. The analysis was conducted on February 23, 2018 after a request for the report had been made.

Invented Worst-Case Scenarios. The Florida League of Cities’ report overestimates the amount of time a first responder could be out of work by nearly six times the Florida standard. The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Florida CompScope report indicates the average duration for a typical Florida lost-time claim to be 11 to 13 weeks, while the Florida League of Cities’ report estimates 6 to 18 months. The Florida League of Cities report uses each and every “worst case scenario” possible to estimate the cost of lost wages (indemnity), and assumes first responders will always receive the highest disability amount available. The Florida League of Cities also ignores the effect of return-to-work programs on mitigating indemnity costs. First responders may return to work in another role while remaining at the same pay or are able to work in a different capacity at a reduced salary. In this situation, the first responder will receive temporary partial benefits, which will offset some of the differential in pre-and post-injury salary amounts.

Absurd Assumptions about Eligibility. The report assumes that 100 percent of first responderseligible to receive benefits will seek treatment and immediately begin “out of work” status. Testimony and first responder behavior demonstrate that this assumption is grossly overstated. By using this assumption, local governments would also have to expect to replace every single one of their first responder employees, which is absurd.

Assumes Costs are Immediate. The Florida League of Cities’ report seems to present that costs will all be immediately realized. The cost estimates presented in the report represent the total costs paid out over the life of the claim, which can take several years and often vary year to year.

Uncertainty. The Florida League of Cities’ report is unable to actually predict with certainty the fiscal impact of the bill because of the vast variations in the data for the possible total cost to local governments. By the Division’s calculations, there is a 587 percent difference between the central cost estimates and the lowest cost estimate, and a 195 percent difference between the central cost estimates and highest cost estimate.

Report Reflects Minimal Impact. Even if one were to believe the exaggerated assumptions and data choices, the impact to local governments still only represents .08 percent (low severity) to 1.58 percent (high severity) of the current budgets of the largest users of the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust.

The Florida Lottery celebrates 30th birthday with new $30 Scratch-Off game

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FLORIDA 100X THE CASH and three other Scratch-Off games on sale today

In celebration of the Florida Lottery’s 30th birthday, we are excited to introduce our second-ever $30 Scratch-Off game, FLORIDA 100X THE CASH! This new game features eight top prizes of $15 million – the largest Scratch-Off top prize ever offered by the Florida Lottery. The game also offers 20 $1 million prizes. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.59.

Additionally, players can enter any non-winning FLORIDA X THE CASH ticket into the 30thBirthday Cash Spectacular Second Chance Promotion. In each of the six drawings, one player will win $30,000, two players will win $10,000, four players will win $5,000, and 30 players will win $1,000. Players can also earn up to 35 extra entries per entry period by entering special social media “promo codes” that will be posted to the Florida Lottery’s official Facebook and Instagram pages during each second chance promotion entry period. For more information about these games and the second chance promotion, visit flalottery.com.

The Florida Lottery is also launching three additional Scratch-Off games today that offer more than $103 million in total cash prizes. All Lottery retailers are expected to have these new tickets in stock and available for purchase within 72 hours.

The $5 game, MONEY MACHINE, features 16 top prizes of $250,000 and over $58 million in total cash prizes! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.04.

For just $2, players can win up to $30,000 with $30,000 LUCKY WIN. There are over five million winning tickets totaling more than $32 million in cash prizes! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.53.

TRIPLE PAYOUT offers 84 top prizes of $3,000 and more than $12 million in total cash prizes! This $1 game features more than four million winning tickets, and overall odds of winning are one-in-4.88.

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.

Volunteer Florida, Uber Co-Host Third Annual #SuitsForSession Service Project at Capitol Tomorrow

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Media are invited to attend #SuitsForSession, a Capitol Service Project co-hosted by Volunteer Florida and Uber, tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Plaza Level of the capitol. Legislators, capitol staff, the private sector, local non-profits, state agencies, and others can drop off gently-worn professional attire to the capitol at the Volunteer Florida and Uber display on the Plaza Level. For those unable to visit the capitol, Uber will pick up and drop off clothing donations for free. Simply tap the GIVE option in the Uber app on Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Items donated to #SuitsForSession will be distributed to the Chapman Partnership, Dress for Success Tampa Bay, ECHO Outreach Ministries, Bridges of America and the Florida State University Unconquered Scholars program.

WHAT:
#SuitsForSession Capitol Service Project of Volunteer Florida and Uber

WHEN: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2018

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE:
Florida State Capitol
Plaza Level
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL

HOW:
Drop off at the Capitol or via Uber in Tallahassee by tapping GIVE in the app

For additional information and to arrange interviews, media are asked to contact Amanda Prater, 850-766-0679, [email protected].