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GOV. SCOTT TO PROPOSE MAJOR LEGISLATION AND $50 MILLION INVESTMENT TO COMBAT OPIOID ABUSE

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BRADENTON, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that during the upcoming legislative session, he will propose major legislation and more than $50 million as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget to combat opioid abuse in Florida.

The proposed legislation will include:

  • Placing a three-day limit on prescribed opioids, unless strict conditions are met for a seven-day supply;
  • Requiring all healthcare professionals that prescribe or dispense medication to participate in the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, a statewide database that monitors controlled substance prescriptions; and
  • Additional reforms to fight unlicensed pain management clinics, require continuing education courses on responsibly prescribing opioids, and create new opportunities for federal grant funding.

The proposed investment of more than $50 million will include funding for:

  • Substance abuse treatment;
  • Counseling and recovery services; and
  • The Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council.

Governor Scott said, “We made a commitment here in Florida to do everything possible to support our communities and fight the national opioid epidemic, and while we have taken major steps to fight this crisis, more must be done. Today, I am proud to announce that I will propose major legislation during the upcoming legislative session and more than $50 million in my recommended budget to combat opioid abuse in our state. 

“As I travel the state, I have met many families who are dealing with the heartache of drug addiction. Growing up, my own family dealt with the struggle of substance abuse and I know firsthand how this painful issue causes families to worry and pray for help and healing. As states across the country continue to fight this national epidemic, we must make sure Florida is doing our part to help vulnerable individuals and keep our families safe.

“These proposals will make a major impact on limiting the chance of drug addiction, reducing the ability for dangerous drugs to spread in our communities, giving vulnerable Floridians the support they need, and ensuring our hardworking law enforcement officers have the resources to protect Floridians. I look forward to working with President Negron, Speaker Corcoran and the entire Legislature to pass this impactful legislation and major investment. I would also like to thank Attorney General Pam Bondi for her focus on this issue and her commitment to keeping our families safe. We will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners throughout this fight.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “We are in the midst of a national opioid crisis claiming lives in Florida, and we must do everything we can to stop drug abuse and save lives. I want to thank Governor Scott for proposing these legislative initiatives that will help stop addiction before it begins. It will take an all-hands-on-deck strategy, not only in Florida, but nationwide to address this crisis destroying American families.”

Senate President Joe Negron said, “The Senate is committed to working with our partners across the state to combat opioid abuse, and I appreciate Governor Scott’s leadership on this serious issue. The Senate looks forward to working with Governor Scott and our colleagues in the Florida House as we continue to do all we can to protect Florida communities from this national epidemic.”

House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “The State of Florida is fully dedicated to protecting our families and communities from the national opioid epidemic. I look forward to continuing to work together with Governor Scott and my fellow Legislators to ensure our families, healthcare professionals and law enforcement officers have all the resources they need in this fight.” 

Representative Jim Boyd, “I was proud to join Governor Scott today to announce these important proposals to combat opioid abuse across our state. We will continue to work to protect every family in Florida.”

More details on the Governor’s proposed legislation and funding to combat opioid abuse will be made available in the coming weeks.

Secretary Detzner Highlights National Voter Registration Day in Florida

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– Today, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced the observance of Tuesday, September 26 as National Voter Registration Day in Florida. National Voter Registration Day is observed each year to encourage Americans to register to vote and make their voices heard at the ballot box.

“As Florida’s Chief Elections Officer, my goal is 100 percent voter participation in every election and I encourage all eligible Floridians to celebrate National Voter Registration Day by checking their voter registration status to ensure they are registered to vote,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “If you are not yet registered, there are multiple ways to complete your voter registration or make changes to your existing voter registration to ensure your information is up-to-date.”

Floridians can look-up their voter registration status online at dos.myflorida.com/elections. There are several ways eligible Floridians can register to vote. Eligible Floridians can apply through:

·         Any Supervisor of Elections’ office.

·         Any office, including a tax collector’s office, that issues driver licenses or Florida identification cards.

·         The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle’s online website GoRenew.com for renewing a driver license or state identification card.

·         Any voter registration agency such as a public assistance office or public library.

The department is also on track to implement Online Voter Registration by October 1, 2017 as required by Florida law.

For more information about registering and voting, please visit dos.myflorida.com/elections, call the department’s Voter Assistance Hotline at 1.866.308.6739, or contact your local Supervisor of Elections office for assistance.

 About the Division of Elections
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections supports the Secretary of State, Florida’s Chief Elections Officer, in ensuring that Florida has fair and accurate elections. The Division’s three bureaus; the Bureau of Election Records, Bureau of Voter Registration Services, and Bureau of Voting Systems Certification, have several responsibilities in the areas of legal compliance and elections administration to ensure that Florida’s election laws are uniformly interpreted and implemented. The Division also assists local Supervisors of Elections in their duties, and promotes enhanced public awareness and participation in the electoral process. For more information about Florida’s elections, visit dos.myflorida.com/elections/.

UNF Coggin College of Business Stages First Annual Gala

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The University of North Florida Coggin College of Business presents its first annual gala, “Celebrating Milestones and Memories,” from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Student Union Ballroom, Building 58W, Room 3703, in the UNF campus.

Coggin College is celebrating the many milestones and memories that have made the College what it is today. Coggin is commemorating the 10th anniversary of its nationally recognized flagship programs—International Business as well as Transportation and Logistics. It’s also celebrating more than a decade of success by its Career Management Center. Coggin has also been recognized as a “Best Business School” in the country for 10 years by Princeton Review. 

The evening will kick off at 6 p.m. with cocktails, music and a silent auction, followed by dinner and an awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. Following the awards presentation, there will be dancing and dessert. Cost for the event is $150. Dress attire is cocktail, black tie optional.

Three awards—Community Advocate Award, Coggin Distinguished Alumni Award and the Coggin Young Alumni Service Award—will be presented to the Energy Authority, Anna Brosche and Benjamin Freedman.

The Energy Authority is the recipient of the Community Advocate Award, which recognizes an individual or company for his/her/their role as an advocate for Coggin in the community. The nominee makes a significant contribution to Coggin and/or the University through their time, resources, talents and dedication.  

UNF alumna Anna Brosche will be receiving the Coggin Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor that recognizes alumni from the College for superior professional achievement. To be nominated for this award, a Coggin graduate must have attained the highest level of professional accomplishment, making significant contributions to his or her profession, community and/or society; and has consistently maintained the pursuit of excellence as a representative and graduate of UNF.

Alumnus Benjamin Freedman will be given the Coggin Young Alumni Service Award, which is presented to Coggin alums for outstanding professional achievement in their chosen career field, service to and impact on the College, University and their community. To be nominated for this award, a nominee must be 35 or younger and someone who has attained the highest level of professional accomplishment; made significant contributions to his or her profession, community and/or society; and has consistently maintained the pursuit of excellence as a representative and graduate of UNF.

To register for the event, visit https://www.alumni.unf.edu/netcommunity/coggin-college-of-business-gala. For more information, contact Teresa Nichols, Coggin College director of development, at (904) 620-1833.

With more than 3,800 students, the Coggin College’s mission is to educate and develop business professionals through rigorous, relevant accredited degree programs offered by faculty devoted to student learning and engaged in scholarly activities.Since 1976, the Coggin College of Business has been accredited by AACSB—only one in five business schools are awarded the accreditation, which honors the best business schools in the world. The AACSB is the world leader in accreditation for business education.

UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT’S SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

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GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT’S SCHEDULE

FOR

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

 9:30am                       MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING FIGHT AGAINST OPIOID ABUSE

Location:         Bradenton Police Department

Address:          100 10th Street West

Bradenton, FL 34205

3:00pm                       MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING FIGHT AGAINST OPIOID ABUSE

Location:         Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Address:          3228 Gun Club Road

West Palm Beach, FL 33406

LT. GOVERNOR LOPEZ-CANTERA’S SCHEDULE

FOR

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

11:00am                     STAFF AND CALL TIME

Gov. Scott: Nursing Home Should Explain Why They Didn’t Call 911

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott made the following statement regarding the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, where 11 people lost their lives in the wake of Hurricane Irma due to the facility’s inaction to call 911 or evacuate their patients to one of Florida’s largest hospitals located directly across the street.

Governor Scott said, “It’s an absolute shame that this facility continues to not take any responsibility for the deaths of 11 people. This nursing home is directly across the street from a hospital, making their failure to evacuate or call 911 in a timely manner completely inexplicable and inexcusable.  

“Any health care professional that thinks calling an elected official’s cell phone instead of 911 when people are in need should not be allowed to have any access to patients. Because of their inexplicable failure, I have taken aggressive action to suspend their license and remove them from the state’s Medicaid program. Every child knows that when there is imminent danger, 911 is the number to call. Yet, trained health staff at this facility didn’t even do that. No one has offered an explanation for why the nursing home allowed these patients to perish, why they failed to call 911 until it was too late or why they failed to evacuate patients in danger to the hospital directly across the street.

“Thus far, the owners and operators of this facility have offered no explanation or defense for the deaths of these patients in their care, other than to say they left messages on my personal cell phone. The nursing home administrators placed four separate calls to my cell phone, like hundreds of others did during the storm. In each instance, the calls were promptly returned by state officials, and the voicemails were immediately deleted so the voicemail box had room for more incoming messages. In none of these calls did the staff indicate that any of their patients were in danger. I gave my cell phone number out as a courtesy to any group during the hurricane that needed access to state resources. It’s a ridiculous and irrational suggestion that my personal cell phone is somehow a substitute for 911. 

“There were over 100 nursing homes that reportedly lost power during Hurricane Irma, but this is the only facility that allowed patients to die. I fully expect that those responsible for these senseless deaths will be brought to justice, and a criminal investigation is well underway by the Hollywood Police Department with the help of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Nothing can hide the fact that this health care facility failed to do their basic duty to protect life and the state will aggressively continue to hold this facility accountable.”

As the Governor’s Office has said, the voicemails were immediately deleted once the information was collected by staff and transmitted to the appropriate agency for handling, which is in accordance with Florida’s public record law and record retention policy. Each call was quickly returned. The information collected from the voicemails was released to the public last week along with more than 150 pages of documentation, including emails, notes, call log information and other relevant records (available HERE).

Mast’s Pro-Veterans Bill Passes House Unanimously

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast’s (FL-18) bipartisan legislation to avoid the expiration of critical veterans programs today passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously.  Without action from Congress, the authority for the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out numerous programs that help veterans will expire at the end of the week. 

“The heroic men and women that I fought alongside in our Armed Forces have earned the very best care our country has to offer, but without this immediate action from Congress, veterans could have lost access to benefits, health care, support for the homeless and more,” Rep. Mast said. “The Senate must now do its part and get this commonsense, bipartisan bill to the President’s desk!” 

The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 extends a number of expiring authorities impacting veterans’ benefits, health care, and homeless programs, including nursing home care, support services for caregivers, transportation, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs and housing and home loan services. 

“The men and women who have served our nation, along with their caregivers, dependents and survivors, rely on key programs at VA for support,” Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (TN-1) said. “I thank Rep. Mast for his leadership on this essential legislation to extend the authorities of many VA programs and aid in the administration’s implementation of the Forever GI Bill.”

Read the bill here.

CRC Committee Extends Recommended Public Proposal Deadline to October 6

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) Rules and Administration Committee recommended Friday, October 6 as the filing deadline for public proposals to be considered by the CRC. The recommended deadline extended the previously recommended deadline of September 22 due to the impact of Hurricane Irma on Florida.

CRC Chairman Carlos Beruff, said, “The CRC has already received a historic amount of public input and we want to ensure that all Floridians interested in the CRC process have every opportunity to submit their proposals. The Rules and Administration Committee has recommended October 6 as the public proposal deadline to ensure that all proposals are given the consideration and review they deserve. Commissioners are actively reviewing the nearly 1,400 public proposals that have been received by the CRC to date.” 

The recommended October 6 deadline is subject to approval by a vote of the full commission. The next full commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 2 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM in Tallahassee. All public proposals received by the CRC are available online atflcrc.gov/Proposals/Public. 

The official CRC website (flcrc.gov) allows Floridians to create and submit proposed changes to the Florida Constitution by following these simple steps:

How to Submit a Proposed Constitutional Amendment

  1. Visit flcrc.gov
  2. New users must register for a free CRC Website Account by filling in the required fields and following the activation prompts
  3. Once logged into your account, click on the “Submit a Proposal” button on the upper right-hand side of the homepage
  4. Click on “Get Started” and then click on “Create a New Proposal” to submit a proposed change to the Florida Constitution using legal language
  5. Fill in the required fields and then submit the proposed constitutional amendment
  6. Proposals may take up to three (3) business days to be posted on the CRC website in accordance with the moderation policy

NOTE: Proposals must be typed within the application. Users cannot upload attachments. Public proposals may also be submitted to the CRC by other means, including mail and email. Visit flcrc.gov for contact information.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION (CRC)

Once every 20 years, Florida’s Constitution provides for the creation of a 37-member revision commission for the purpose of reviewing Florida’s Constitution and proposing changes for voter consideration. The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) meets for approximately one year, traveling the State of Florida, identifying issues, performing research and possibly recommending changes to the Constitution. Any amendments proposed by the CRC would be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot. For additional information, visit flcrc.gov. Follow the CRC on social media @FloridaCRC (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube).

GOV. SCOTT EXPEDITING DELIVERY OF TARPS TO PATCH ROOFS OF HOMES DAMAGED BY IRMA

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MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) to expedite the delivery of more than 10,000 tarps to communities across the state so that homeowners can patch roofs damaged by Hurricane Irma. To date, more than 100,000 tarps have been distributed throughout Florida. Following destructive storms like Hurricane Irma, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) activate Operation Blue Roof which provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting at no cost to homeowners in eligible counties until permanent repairs can be made. The action ordered by Governor Scott today aims to mitigate and prevent additional water and rain damage to homes impacted by Hurricane Irma until the federal Operation Blue Roof program is fully operational.

Governor Scott said, “Throughout our state, many families are still displaced from their homes due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma. As we all work to help Florida recover, we must do everything possible to protect families and help them return to their homes. Today, I have directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to take every action to expedite the delivery of tarps to impacted communities so homeowners can patch their roofs, preventing further damage to their property and allowing them to return home. Across the state, more than 100,000 tarps have already been distributed and today, an additional 6,000 tarps will be arriving in the Keys. Florida is expediting the delivery of these tarps until the federal Blue Roof program is operational.” 

Governor Scott Thanks Law Enforcement and First Responders in Miami

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MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott visited the Miami Police Department to thank first responders and law enforcement for their commitment to Florida families. Last week, Governor Scott announced that Florida’s law enforcement officers, first responders and utility workers will be able to enjoy license-free freshwater and saltwater fishing through June 30, 2018 and offered a free day-pass to all Florida State Parks through October 2018 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Recovery Job Opportunities Available for Florida Families

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity today announced Employ Florida, one of the nation’s largest job opening websites, launched a new portal for Hurricane Irma recovery and cleanup jobs. The Employ Florida Hurricane Irma Recovery Jobs Portal provides direct links to recovery and cleanup job opportunities across the state and is available at Irma.EmployFlorida.com.
Governor Scott said, “Helping Floridians get back to work is a huge part of the recovery process, and with the new Hurricane Irma Recovery Jobs Portal, families will now be able to more easily find job opportunities that also help their own communities. I encourage all families and businesses owners to take advantage of this important resource as we continue to work together to help our entire state rebuild and recover.”
New jobs are being added every day for jobseekers. Employers who would like to register and list jobs should pick “Hurricane Irma Recovery Job” in the listing so that it shows up in the portal.
DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Employ Florida’s Hurricane Irma Recovery Jobs Portal will connect jobseekers with job opportunities for the important work that is needed to help our communities and state recover after this disaster. We are proud to offer jobseekers and employers this new resource.”
Besides job listings, individuals can also use Irma.EmployFlorida.com to create a resume, apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, find education and training opportunities and more.