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Governor Scott Signs Major Legislation for Florida Students

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Secures Historic K-12 Per-Student Funding; Expands Gardiner Scholarship Program

Governor Rick Scott today signed HB 3A to secure the highest per-student K-12 funding in state history. This legislation increases funding by $100 per-student, for a total of $20.6 billion for K-12 public schools.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to continue our fight to increase funding for our K-12 schools and for legislation that truly benefits our students, teachers and families. Growing up, I was lucky to have the opportunity to achieve my goals thanks to a great public education. Our students are the future of our state and I’m incredibly proud to sign legislation today to ensure they have every opportunity for success. The additional $100 per-student, along with our expansion of the Gardiner Scholarship, allows even more Florida students to receive a world-class education and live their dreams in our state. I would like to thank Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran for their hard work during the Special Session.”
More details from the Fighting for Florida’s Future Budget:
Following Governor Scott’s call for a Special Legislative Session on Education, the Legislature allocated more than $215 million for K-12 education than was previously authorized. With HB 3A, the Fighting for Florida’s Future Budget invests $20.6 billion in total funding, including $11.7 billion in state funding, for Florida’s K-12 public schools. This equates to $7,296 per-student, an increase of $100 per-student over the 2016-2017 budget. This is the highest total funding, state funding, and per-student funding for K-12 public schools in Florida’s history and will allow our schools and teachers to deliver results for our children.
Governor Scott continues to focus on ensuring that Florida’s children receive a quality education in K-12 public schools. Since the Governor took office, state funding for Florida’s K-12 public schools has increased by nearly $3 billion or 34 percent, from a total amount of $8.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2011-2012 to $11.7 billion in the 2017-2018 Fighting for Florida’s Future Budget.
Governor Scott also signed the following education bills into law today:
CS/CS/CS/HB 15 – Educational Options
This bill expands the Gardiner Scholarship Program for students with unique abilities. It also increases the scholarship amounts for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program.
HB 781 – Designation of School Grades
This bill provides greater opportunities for K-3 schools to receive school recognition funding.
CS/CS/HB 989 – Instructional Materials
This bill allows greater public input and transparency in the K-12 instructional materials adoption process.
CS/HB 1109 – Private School Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities
This bill increases opportunities for private school students to participate in sports at public schools.
To view the transmittal letters, click HERE.

Gov. Scott Kicks Off Largest Transportation Infrastructure Project in Northwest Florida History

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Governor Rick Scott today celebrated the kick off of construction for the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, the largest transportation infrastructure project in Northwest Florida history. The State of Florida is investing $398.5 million in the new bridge. The new bridge is expected to be completed in 2019 and will temporarily transition four lanes of traffic onto the structure. This will allow for demolition of the existing bridge and completion of the second and final bridge in 2020.
Governor Scott said, “I was proud to join Northwest Florida leaders and community members to celebrate the kick off of the new Pensacola Bay Bridge project today. This investment will help increase safety and efficiency for the many families and visitors that travel through this beautiful community each day and will also help support the creation of thousands of jobs. Thanks to our commitment to making record transportation investments, critical projects like the Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement will help ensure Florida’s transportation infrastructure remains a national leader for generations to come.”
The new bridge will consist of two parallel structures, each with three 12-foot travel lanes, two 10-foot shoulders, and a 10-foot multi-use path for pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists.
The project’s design-build contractor, Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc., estimates they will directly employ more than 500 workers to construct the new bridge. Additionally, estimates from the University of West Florida’s Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development indicate the project will help create and sustain approximately 4,200 jobs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, along with an additional 600 jobs throughout Florida.
Mike Dew, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary, said, “I thank Governor Scott, the Florida Legislature and local officials for making this vital investment for Northwest Florida families and businesses. Governor Scott’s policies have led an economic revival across the state. We are at a nearly 10-year-low in unemployment and we are seeing 1,000 people move to the state each day. That’s why our transportation improvements, like the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, are critical to meeting the challenges of growth.”

Florida Forest Service Announces Long Leaf Pine Program for Landowners

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The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, announced today that the Longleaf Pine Landowner Incentive Program is now accepting applications from eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners. The application period is open Monday, June 26, through Friday, July 28, 2017.
Longleaf pine forests are native to the southeastern United States and are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Longleaf pines provide high quality wood products and are highly valued for their resistance to damage by insects, disease, wildfire and storms. Longleaf pine forests have been dramatically reduced to less than four percent of historical area due to urbanization and conversion to other land uses. Florida is currently home to more than two million acres of Longleaf pine ecosystems, which is more than half of all known longleaf pine ecosystems.
The goal of the program is to increase the acreage of healthy Longleaf pine ecosystems in Florida by helping non-industrial private forest landowners make the long-term investment required to establish and maintain this valuable ecosystem.
The program offers incentive payments for completion of timber stand improvement, invasive species control, prescribed burning, planting Longleaf pine, native plant understory establishment and mechanical underbrush treatments. The program is offered for private lands in Florida counties located west of the Aucilla River and several counties near the Ocala National Forest.
Application forms and more information on program requirements and procedures can be found by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com or a local Florida Forest Service office. The program is supported through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with funding from the Southern Company, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resource Conservation Service, US Department of Defense, Halliburton Company, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
The Florida Forest Service manages more than one million acres of public forest land while protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. To learn more about Florida Forest Service programs, visit FloridaForestService.com.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Scallopers get ready, more waters open for harvest starting July 1

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Celebrate the Fourth of July with bay scallops. State waters from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County through the Pasco/Hernando county line will be open for scalloping starting July 1. A span of waters in the middle from the Fenholloway River in Taylor County to the Suwannee River in Dixie County opened earlier this month on June 16 and will close on Sept. 10. (See map.)
These new season dates are for 2017 only and are an opportunity to explore regionally-specific bay scallop seasons. Harvesting bay scallops is a fun outdoor activity that the whole family can participate in. It also brings an important economic boost to coastal areas in the open region.
The scallop season in St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County will be July 25 through Sept. 10 and includes all waters in St. Joseph Bay and those west of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County, through the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.
All state waters from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the Suwannee River Alligator Pass Daybeacon 4 in Levy County, and from north and west of Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County through the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County will be open July 1 through Sept. 24.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff worked with local community leaders on selecting these regional 2017 season dates.
At the December 2017 Commission meeting, staff will review public feedback on these changes and make a recommendation for future management. Staff will host public workshops to gather feedback after the season closes. To submit your feedback now on bay scallop regulations, visit MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
Bag and vessel limits throughout the entire bay scallop harvest zone are 2 gallons whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1/2 gallon bay scallop meat per vessel.
Scallops may be collected by hand or with a landing or dip net.
Scallops must be landed within the area that is open to harvest.
There is no commercial harvest allowed for bay scallops in Florida.
Be safe when diving for scallops. Stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or buoy when scalloping in open water and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or buoy if on a river, inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a divers-down flag or buoy in open water or 100 feet of one on a river, inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed.
Done for the day? Help FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at svy.mk/bayscallops. Harvesters can indicate where they harvest scallops, how many they collect and how long it takes to harvest them. Participants can email [email protected] to ask questions or send additional information.
Learn more about long-term trends in the open and closed scalloping areas by visiting MyFWC.com/Research and clicking on “Saltwater,” “Molluscs,” “Bay Scallops” and “Bay Scallop Season and Abundance Survey.”
For more information on the season date changes for 2017, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings,” then click on “2016” and “Agenda” under the November meeting.
For information on bay scallop regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Bay Scallops.

LeadingAge Florida Statement Regarding the Appointment of CFO Jimmy Patronis

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The following statement can be attributed to LeadingAge Florida President & CEO Steve Bahmer:
“On behalf of LeadingAge Florida, I want to congratulate Jimmy Patronis on his appointment as Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida,” said LeadingAge Florida President & CEO Steve Bahmer. “LeadingAge Florida members look forward to working with CFO Patronis – a proven leader, entrepreneur, and dedicated public servant – on issues affecting Continuing Care Retirement Communities and the more than 30,000 seniors they care for.”
For 54 years, LeadingAge Florida has served as a nonprofit statewide association of more than 250 mission-driven communities, representing the full continuum of care for seniors with members ranging from affordable housing to nursing homes and from assisted living facilities to continuing care retirement communities. LeadingAge Florida is proud to serve quality leaders who devote themselves to creating a culture of excellence that motivates and inspires others throughout the aging continuum. LeadingAge Florida’s members are trusted with providing quality care and services to Florida’s seniors. LeadingAge Florida promotes practices that support, enable and empower people to live fully as they age.

$227,000 FANTASY 5 ticket set to expire

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The Florida Lottery today announced that a FANTASY 5® top prize-winning ticket worth $227,100.11 remains unclaimed. The 180-day deadline to claim the top prize is Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at midnight ET.
The winning FANTASY 5 numbers for the January 13, 2017, drawing were: 

03 – 24 – 27 – 29 – 31

The winning free Quick Pick ticket was sold at Publix, located at 55 Ava Way in Saint Augustine. Players who may have purchased a FANTASY 5 ticket at this retail location are encouraged to check their tickets for the January 13 drawing.
While any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, the FANTASY 5 top prize must be claimed at a Florida Lottery district office or at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Players can obtain additional information by calling the Lottery’s Customer Service Department at (850) 487-7787 or visiting the Florida Lottery’s website at www.flalottery.com.
FANTASY 5 is a pari-mutuel game in which players win the top prize by matching 5-of-5 winning numbers drawn in any order. Additionally, players win cash prizes or a free Quick Pick ticket by matching two, three or four of the numbers drawn in the official drawing for the date played. If there is no top prize winner, the money in the top prize pool rolls down and is shared among players who match 4-of-5 or 3-of-5 winning numbers.
Since the game’s inception, more than 717 million FANTASY 5 winners have won more than $4 billion in prizes. Of these, more than 51,000 players have won top prizes totaling more than $2.3 billion.

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Jimmy Patronis as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer

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Governor Rick Scott appointed Jimmy Patronis as Florida’ next Chief Financial Officer. Patronis will be officially sworn in this Friday, June 30, 2017, to replace CFO Jeff Atwater who is leaving to pursue a position at Florida Atlantic University. The swearing in ceremony will be in Tallahassee and more details will be released later this week. The Governor made the announcement at Captain Anderson’s restaurant, which is owned and operated by the Patronis family.
Governor Scott said, “I am honored to appoint Jimmy Patronis as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. As a small business owner, Jimmy has been a successful job creator and has helped grow Panama City’s economy. I know that he will bring his wealth of private sector experience with him to Tallahassee.
“Jimmy faithfully served Floridians in the Florida House of Representatives for four terms, and I was proud to appoint him to both the Constitution Revision Commission and the Public Service Commission. In each of these roles, Jimmy always put Florida families first. I am confident that he will add to our mission to cut even more taxes and create even more jobs.”
“I would like to thank Jeff Atwater for his service to families and for his stewardship of tax dollars. I will miss working with Jeff, and I wish him the best as he continues to work to benefit Floridians.”
CFO Appointee Jimmy Patronis said, “I am honored to be appointed as Florida’s next CFO. I would like to thank Governor Scott, and I look forward to continuing his legacy of job growth and economic prosperity for our state. This year marks the 50th anniversary of my family starting a business in Florida, and it has been my honor to be a part of its growth and success for much of my life. I want every family in Florida to have the same opportunities that my family had. As Florida’s next CFO, I want Florida to be the place where government does its job fairly and predictably so workers can find great jobs at great businesses.”
Jimmy Patronis was born and raised in Panama City, Florida. He has helped run and operate Captain Anderson’s restaurant in Bay County for nearly his entire life. Jimmy served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives beginning in 2006. He was appointed to both the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and the Public Service Commission by Governor Scott. Jimmy attended Gulf State College and Florida State University.

Matt Spritz Enters Race for Florida House

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Spritz, a Republican, will run for the District 89 seat with a positive,
conservative vision of a vibrant economy and a prosperous future.

Matt Spritz announced today that he has filed to become a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives in District 89. Spritz, a conservative Republican who resides in Boca Raton, is an attorney and recently served as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Representative Bill Hager, who will not be seeking reelection in 2018 due to term limits.
“Bill Hager has been an outstanding representative for our community,” said Spritz. “I want to build upon his hard work and continue to keep our area safe, our beaches healthy, and our taxes low. Our best days are ahead of us if we can build a vibrant economy that promotes growth and creates jobs. I’m excited about the opportunity to serve our district, and over the next 14 months I’ll work hard to build the trust and support of neighbors from north to south across this beautiful area.”
Born and raised in South Florida, Spritz graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors from Emory University and from New York University School of Law in New York City. He practiced corporate and business law in New York City and later in South Florida before committing himself to public service in the Florida House.
House District 89 covers coastal portions of Palm Beach County spanning from Singer Island to Boca Raton, which has the largest concentration of voters. Thirty-six percent of registered voters in the district are Republicans, while Democrats make up 33 percent, and voters with minor or no party affiliation, 31 percent.

Paid by Matt Spritz, Republican, for State Representative

Attorney and Artist Deborah Reid Discusses First Amendment/Copyright Law

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The College of Arts and Sciences and the Pre-Law Program at the University of North Florida present Deborah Reid, attorney, artist and author, who will discuss copyright law and the First Amendment as it relates to the arts, in two separate lectures next month on campus. Both lectures will take place 12:40 to 4:10 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center, Building 45, Room 1200.
Reid, an accomplished artist and an AV-rated attorney with more than 36 years of experience, will discuss “That’s Not Fair!” Thursday, July 6. This illustrated lecture presents an overview of copyright law followed by a game-show format incorporating exhibits from actual court cases to illustrate the application of the Fair Use Doctrine in copyright law.
Her second lecture, “Art Speaks!,” will take place Tuesday, July 18. Reid will present an overview of the First Amendment and focus on its interaction with the arts. She’ll also explain the extension of protected speech status, obscenity, hate speech, graffiti, street art and limitations on public funding.
Reid, who is based in Jacksonville, is currently at work writing and illustrating a graphic primer on law, which provides an overview of contracts, intellectual property, First Amendment rights and other areas of the law that impact the arts.
This lecture is funded by the following endowments: Brown, Terrel, Hogan Pre-Law Endowment, Rutledge P. and Katherine R. Liles Lecture Fund, Maria Keebler Child Advocacy Fund and the Coker, Schickel, Sorensen and Daniel Endowment.
Both lectures are free and open to the public. For more information about this event, contact Dr. Jenny Hager, UNF associate professor of sculpture, at (904) 620-4687 or at [email protected].
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.

Rosen College of Hospitality Management Receives $1.5 M from Marriott Foundation

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The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation has made a commitment of $1.5 million to help fund construction of a new foodservice lab at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. The facility will be named the Marriott Foodservice Lab.
The new 3,500-square-foot lab is needed to accommodate rapid growth in the college. Currently more than 1,400 students in six different courses learn about design, catering, franchise development, food preparation, cost controls and managerial skills in two existing foodservice labs, which closely resemble modern restaurant kitchens. But as teaching labs they are also equipped with video monitors and other instructional enhancements. The new lab is expected to be completed in 2019.
Viewing the hospitality and tourism industry as one of the world’s most important drivers of economic growth, the Marriott Foundation seeks to help educate and prepare the next generation of hospitality leaders by supporting programs that offer exceptional curricula, real-world experiences, and opportunities for students to engage with mentors in the field.
“The Rosen College of Hospitality Management not only offers an excellent education, but also emphasizes access and opportunities for students from all backgrounds,” said Marriott Foundation executive director Anna Gunsteens. “That aligns closely with our Foundation’s priorities.”
The Rosen College of Hospitality Management opened the doors of its new campus in 2004 to just 75 students. Today, it is ranked among the top five hospitality management programs in the world, enrolling more than 3,700 students and offering five undergraduate and two graduate degrees, in addition to a Ph.D. in hospitality management.
“The Marriott Foundation’s support of the Rosen College is an endorsement of our programs and an investment in the hospitality leaders of the future in foodservice operations and food industry management,” said Dr. Abraham Pizam, Dean of Rosen College. “The Foundation recognizes the importance of stellar educational facilities and the challenges of growth, and we are extremely grateful for their partnership and support as we prepare our students to take on the challenges of accommodating and entertaining the 666 million visitors that make Orlando their destination of choice each year.”
About the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management
The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management located in Orlando, offers students an unrivaled opportunity to learn and work in the heart of hospitality. Ranked in the top five hospitality management programs worldwide, Rosen College has been an educational leader for over 30 years. Uniquely positioned in America’s top tourism destination, we educate the next generation of industry leaders through internationally-recognized faculty, innovative academic programs, cutting-edge research and strong industry and community partnerships. To learn more, visit hospitality.ucf.edu.