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Governor Rick Scott

Governor Scott to Kick Off “Fighting for Florida’s Future Victory” Tour

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Tomorrow, June 13, Governor Rick Scott will visit five Florida cities as part of his “Fighting for Florida’s Future Victory” tour to celebrate the major wins for Florida families and students during last week’s legislative special session. The Governor will be joined by House Speaker Richard Corcoran on several of the tour stops.
This tour will highlight an all-time high of K-12 per-pupil spending, the establishment of the $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, full funding for VISIT FLORIDA, and $50 million to kick-start repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Governor Scott fought for these important priorities all year.
WHEN: 9:00 AM
WHERE: Jungle Island
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail
Miami, FL 33132
WHEN: 11:00 AM
WHERE: South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL
WHEN: 1:15 PM
WHERE: Sun Harvest Citrus
14601 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy
Fort Myers, FL
WHEN: 3:30 PM
WHERE: Creative Sign Designs
12801 Commodity Pl
Tampa, FL 33626
WHEN: 6:00 PM
WHERE: Angie’s Subs
1436 Beach Boulevard
Jacksonville Beach, FL

Governor Rick Scott Signs 16 Bills Into Law

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Governor Rick Scott today signed the following bills into law:
CS/HB 327 – Household Movers and Moving Brokers – This bill requires movers to tell a customer if an employee convicted of a sexual offense has access to their property.
CS/HB 329 – Child Protection – This bill prohibits shared custody plans from requiring a child to visit a parent living in a substance abuse recovery residence overnight.
CS/CS/HB 343 – Payment Card Offenses – This bill enhances consumer protections against credit card theft and skimmers.
CS/CS/HB 357 – Self-Service Storage Facilities – This bill sets requirements for self-service storage facility owners to follow when disposing of certain property, such as cars or watercrafts.
CS/CS/HB 435 – International Financial Institutions – This bill updates the Office of Financial Regulation’s regulatory procedures and requirements for International Financial Institutions.
CS/CS/HB 437 – Public Records/ International Financial Institutions – This bill provides a public records exemption for identifying information of International Financial Institutions’ customers, potential customers and shareholders held by the Office of Financial Regulation.
CS/CS/HB 467 – Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – This bill relates to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services licensing and other agency functions.
HB 589 – Prescription Drug Price Transparency – This bill enhances the transparency of prescription drug prices by including additional medications on MyFloridaRx.
CS/CS/HB 859 – Postsecondary Distance Education – This bill directs the State of Florida to apply for participation in a multi-state agreement regarding online postsecondary education.
CS/SB 128  – Self-Defense Immunity – This bill amends statute to require the state, rather than the defendant, to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant did not use force lawfully.
CS/CS/SB 370 – Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol – This bill provides employee protections for eligible members of the Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
SB 436 – Religious Expression in Public Schools – This bill protects religious expression in public schools.
CS/CS/SB 890 – Direct-Support Organizations – This bill saves the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation direct-support organization, The Able Trust, from repeal.
CS/CS/SB 896 – Florida Prepaid College Board – This bill saves the Florida Prepaid College Board direct-support organization from repeal, ensuring continued scholarship opportunities for students.
CS/CS/SB 1052 – Justifiable Use of Force – This bill clarifies “justifiable use of force laws” and expands the Castle Doctrine to include any residence a person has a right to be in.
CS/CS/SB 1124  – Newborn Screenings – This bill allows expansion of the Florida Newborn Screening Program to include screening for additional conditions.
To view the transmittal letters, click HERE.

Governor Scott Proclaims June 12th as Pulse Remembrance Day in Florida

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Calls for Moment of Silence on Monday to Honor Victims

Governor Rick Scott proclaimed Monday, June 12, 2017 as Pulse Remembrance Day and directed flags to be flown at half-staff in the State of Florida from sunrise to sunset on that day. To view the proclamation, click HERE.
Governor Scott said, “The horrific terror attack at Pulse attempted to rip at the seams of our society, strike fear in our hearts and divide us. Yet, in the face of extreme adversity and loss, Floridians showed resiliency, bravery and love. Over the past year, our state, the city of Orlando and the many Floridians affected by this tragedy have shown incredible resolve as we continue to mourn the loved and lost. As we pause to honor the 49 victims of this tragic attack this Monday, my wife and I will say a prayer for each of them and their families. We will also be reminded of all the people who helped others in need. The law enforcement officers, first responders, medical personnel, faith and spiritual leaders and Central Florida families defined what Florida is all about. We care about each other and we came together when it was needed the most.
“I encourage all Floridians to pause this Monday at 9 AM to share in a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Pulse Terror attack. This was an attack on Orlando, our state, the Hispanic community and on the LGBTQ community. It left a solemn impact on our state that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.”

Gov. Scott Expands Special Session to Include Repairs to Herbert Hoover Dike, Higher Education Funding

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Governor Rick Scott today issued a proclamation to expand the ongoing special session to include funding for repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike and higher education. Click HERE to view the proclamation.
Governor Scott said, “Today, at the request of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, I expanded the call of the ongoing special session so the Legislature can consider investing money for the repair of the Herbert Hoover Dike to help the communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee. For six years, I asked the Obama Administration to fund these important repairs with no results. During this legislative session, I called on the Florida Legislature to provide funding to kick start these repairs. I have also received a commitment from President Trump that the federal government will fix the dike.
“For more than thirty years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have identified areas of the dike that are prone to stability issues and water seepage, and now is the time to fix this problem once and for all. Along with SB 10, a major priority for Senate President Joe Negron, that I signed into law last month, repairing the Herbert Hoover Dike will ensure that future generations of Floridians will not be plagued with safety concerns during flooding events and problems with algae. I urge the Legislature to take up this call and fund these critical repairs.
“Also, today, I updated the call to include higher education funding. Last week, I signed a historic $4.9 billion budget for Florida’s universities, which is a $174 million increase over last year. By adding higher education to the topics that can be considered during the ongoing special session, the Legislature will have the opportunity to modify these issues for my consideration.”

Senate Democratic Caucus to Gov. Scott: "Veto HB 7069"

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Led by Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon (D-Miami Gardens), united members of the Senate Democratic Caucus on Friday called on Governor Rick Scott to veto HB 7069.
“Signing this bill signals immediate financial peril for our public school system in Florida, and endangers the future of public education in our state,” said Leader Braynon. “We call on the governor to exercise his authority and stop it in its tracks.”
On Thursday, Senate Democrats attempted multiple amendments to restore critical funding to the K-12 system by rerouting state dollars committed to the controversial charter school plan pushed by the House Speaker. While future promises have been made to correct a multitude of problems expected to arise from HB 7069 should it become law, Democrats argue that the better, more pragmatic approach is to preempt them through a veto.
“Aside from the financial dangers, the fatal flaw in this legislation is that it was hatched in secrecy, and never subjected to vetting by the full legislature prior to its narrow passage,” said Leader Braynon. “Even the governor recognized this critical defect, and chastised those who participated in its creation. Propping up for-profit charter companies violates every tenet of our duty to the constitutional requirement of a quality public education for all children, and walks away from the oath we took to ensure its success. We owe no such duty to charter school management corporations.”
As the special session nears its end, Leader Braynon and the Democratic Caucus urged the governor to reexamine the need for such rushed legislation and quash the clandestine measure before the damage is done.
“Dropping this 278-page rewrite of Florida’s K-12 education on the last day of the 2017 session violated every promise of transparency and accountability made by those we task with governing,” said Leader Braynon. “We call on the governor to do what multitudes of parents, educators, school superintendents, and lawmakers are all looking to him to do: Veto HB 7069.”

Gov. Scott: U.S. Must Take Stand Against Cuba and Venezuela

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U.S. Must Take Stand Against Cuba and Venezuela
By, Governor Rick Scott
In recent months, we have seen Venezuela slip into complete chaos. Under the brutal and oppressive dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro, we have seen things go from bad to worse. Food and medicine shortages, violence on the streets and economic uncertainty.
We’ve also seen companies like General Motors, Bridgestone and General Mills scale back their operations in Venezuela. Recently, United Airlines also joined in this effort by announcing it will suspend flights to Venezuela next month.
It’s no wonder that these companies are pulling out of a country engulfed in violent political protests and economic chaos.
Venezuelans endure long lines to purchase basic necessities all while Maduro’s dictatorship blames companies for the country’s shortages. The Maduro regime continues to mismanage the country’s oil resources, has produced a swollen inflation rate and dismal exchange rate, leaving the Venezuelan people to deal with hardship and corruption.
This is not acceptable and we should not stand for these injustices to the Venezuelan people. The United States must stop doing business with Venezuela immediately.
The turmoil in Venezuela is eerily similar to events that have plagued the island nation of Cuba for decades. When President Obama moved to normalize relations with the Castro dictatorship many argued that the new relationship would be the beginning of a better life for the Cuban people. Yet two and half years later, repression is growing and the brutal crackdown of the peaceful opposition movement is most alarming.
This was the wrong move. A message must be sent to both the Maduro and Castro regimes and their gangs of thugs that the United States will not tolerate their continued aggressions.
Organizations like the Ladies in White and UNPACU are the constant targets of the Castro regime’s violent rage. The anticipated “emerging private sector” (cuentapropistas) has actually decreased and tens of thousands of Cubans have attempted to flee the enslaved island in numbers not seen since 1994. In Venezuela, the Castro dictatorship continues to pull the strings, aiding the Maduro government’s bloodbath against the heroic Venezuelan people.
Moreover, the Obama-Castro deal failed to prioritize America’s interests. It purposely did not contemplate the certified claims of American citizens whose properties were stolen by Castro’s regime; it allowed Cuba’s trafficking of 240 tons of missile technology and other heavy weaponry with North Korea, and those responsible for it, to get away without consequence; it allowed companies to put American workers at a competitive disadvantage through deals with Cuba’s state-owned entities, which employ forced and exploitative labor practices that are contrary to international norms; it ignored judicial claims of American victims of terrorism by Castro’s regime and the cries for justice from American families whose killers are being harbored by Castro’s regime. To add insult to injury, President Obama even commuted the life sentence of a Cuban spy that was convicted of conspiracy in the murder of three American citizens.
The approach for the new United States-Cuba policy should be a substantive shift. The current direction has proven to provide the Cuban military and state security the resources that will enable them to transfer power from one family member to another. The new course must be focused on doing our part so that the Cuban people may regain their right to self-determination.
Today, I am encouraging President Trump to take a stand against these brutal dictatorships. President Trump and his Administration have the opportunity to set a new course. One that recognizes that the Cuban and Venezuelan people deserve to be free, and prioritizes human rights, democracy, security and the rule of law. This new course should serve as a beacon of hope for those brave activists in Cuba and Venezuela by making it clear that, if you are a Castro or Maduro government official involved in the violation of human rights, you will be prohibited from obtaining any immigrant or non-immigrant visa to the United States. I’m convinced that this new direction will better serve U.S. interests, generate genuine economic prosperity and help the Cuban and Venezuelan people achieve their long-awaited freedom.

Gov. Scott Presents Medals of Merit to Navy Sailors for Courageous Response to Times Square Attack

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Governor Rick Scott today presented the Medal of Merit to Airman David Barba and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Andrew Miller at Mayport Naval Station. The two sailors were on leave in New York from their station aboard the USS Iwo Jima and were in the immediate vicinity of the violent attack in Times Square that took place earlier this month. They were awarded today for immediately responding to the scene of the attack in order to assist and comfort injured victims until first responders arrived.
Capt. James Midkiff said, “It was an honor to join Governor Scott in recognizing Airman Barba and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Miller with the Medal of Merit aboard the USS Iwo Jima today. While we train our sailors to be prepared for intense situations, I was proud that they reacted so quickly to help those in need without pausing to consider whether more danger was imminent. This is a great example of our shared commitment to protecting Americans and serving our great nation every day.”

Governor Scott Expands Special Session to Include Medical Marijuana

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Governor Rick Scott issued a proclamation to expand the ongoing special session to include medical marijuana. Click HERE to view the proclamation.
Governor Scott said, “Medical marijuana was approved by 71 percent of Florida voters in 2016, and I believe that it is the role of the Florida Legislature to determine how to best implement this approved constitutional amendment. I am glad that both the Florida Senate and House are moving toward crafting legislation to help patients, and I have added medical marijuana to the call for special session.
“I know many members of the Legislature, including Senate President Joe Negron and Speaker Richard Corcoran, have worked hard on implementing Amendment 2 and I look forward to the Legislature passing a bill this week that puts Florida patients first.”

Governor Rick Scott Signs 29 Bills Into Law; Vetoes Two

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Governor Rick Scott today signed the following bills into law:
CS/HB 259 – Martin County – This bill creates the Village of Indiantown in Martin County if approved by a referendum of local voters.
HB 531 – Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County – This bill increases the maximum time frame for contracts for waste hauler franchises from five years to seven years.
HB 533 – City of Tampa, Hillsborough County – This bill allows the City of Tampa to offer a defined contribution component within the pension plan provided to police officers and firefighters.
HB 647 – Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission – This bill dissolves the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission.
CS/HB 737 – Port of Palm Beach District, Palm Beach County – This bill codifies the Port of Palm Beach District’s charter and authorizes commissioners to designate foreign trade zones within the district.
CS/HB 759 – City of Gainesville, Alachua County – This bill creates the Gainesville Regional Utilities Commission to oversee city- owned utilities if approved by a referendum of local voters.
HB 891 – Carrabelle Port and Airport Authority, Franklin County – This bill abolishes the Carrabelle Port and Airport Authority, an inactive Special District.
HB 905 – Barefoot Bay Recreation District, Brevard County – This bill authorizes the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners to amend the Barefoot Bay Recreation District’s charter to limit board members to two year terms if approved by a referendum of local voters.
CS/HB 921 – Fellsmere Drainage District, Indian River County – This bill renames the Indian River County’s Fellsmere Drainage District to Fellsmere Water Control District, removes the District’s 99-year limitation and amends boundaries.
CS/HB 951 – City of Key West, Monroe County – This bill expands the eligibility of residents who can serve on Key West’s Utility Board.
CS/HB 1025 – Firefighters’ Relief and Pension Fund of the City of Pensacola, Escambia County – This bill standardizes the use of overtime hours in retirement benefit calculation, suspends cost of living benefits for Deferred Retirement Option Plan participants, and revises the treatment of partial years in calculating years of service.
CS/CS/HB 1075 – Nassau County – This bill creates the East Nassau Stewardship District to install, operate and maintain community infrastructure for 24,000 acres of residential units currently in development.
CS/HB 1135 – West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund of the City of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County – This bill makes various changes to the pension fund as agreed upon between the City of West Palm Beach and the union representing West Palm Beach police officers.
HB 1147 – Central Broward Water Control District, Broward County – This bill removes the requirement for the Central Broward Water Control District board to take action by resolution in addition to a majority vote.
HB 1149 – North Springs Improvement District, Broward County – This bill expands the boundaries of the North Springs Improvement District to include the 42-acre area known as “Watercrest.”
CS/HB 1151 – Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District and the Alva Fire Protection and Rescue Service District, Lee County – This bill transfers land from the Lehigh Acres Fire District to the Alva Fire Protection and Rescue Service District to better serve nearby residents.
HB 1153 – Broward County – This bill allows signs along the interstate highways in Broward County to be exempt from general law height restrictions.
CS/HB 1291 – City of Jacksonville, Duval County – This bill provides an exemption for special event venues within the A. Philip Randolph Entertainment District to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages.
HB 1293 – City of Jacksonville, Duval County – This bill lowers the square footage and seating requirements for restaurants within special zones in the City of Jacksonville to obtain alcoholic beverage licenses.
HB 1295 – Monroe County – This bill authorizes the Monroe County School Board or the Board of County Commissioners to conduct public meetings by technological means.
HB 1297 – Palm Beach County – This bill revises the nomination process for local appointees to Building Code Advisory Board of Palm Beach County and expands list of industry associations to include any recognized regional trade association.
HB 1311 – Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, Lee and Hendry Counties – This bill expands the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement district to preserve and protect water reserves through drainage, conservation, mitigation, navigational and water management practices.
HB 1313 – Cold Springs Improvement District, Marion County – This bill amends the Cold Springs Improvement District’s boundaries to remove a section of property currently in foreclosure.
CS/HB 1315 – Lake County Water Authority, Lake County – This bill removes the power of the Lake County Water Authority to obtain land through eminent domain and develop active parks. It also authorizes the Water Authority to remove hazards from public waterways in Lake County.
HB 1317 – North Lake County Hospital District, Lake County – This bill extends the expiration date of the North Lake County Hospital District’s charter from 2017 to 2027 as approved by local voters in 2016.
CS/CS/HB 1333 – Sunbridge Stewardship District, Osceola County – This bill creates the Sunbridge Stewardship District for the purpose of installing, operating and maintaining community infrastructure.
CS/HB 1363 – Santa Rosa County – This bill creates a charter for the Pace Fire Rescue District within Santa Rosa County.
HB 1437 – Alachua County – This bill authorizes the Chief Judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit and the Alachua County clerk of courts to appoint designees to the county law library board and authorizes the board to relocate the library.
HB 1439 – Charlotte County – This bill authorizes event centers with certain seating and square footage requirements in Charlotte County to obtain special alcoholic beverage licenses.
To view the transmittal letter, click HERE.
Governor Scott vetoed the following bills:
HB 1089 – Ocean Highway and Port Authority, Nassau County – Click HERE to view the veto letter.
HB 1401 – East Mulloch Drainage District, Lee County – Click HERE to view the veto letter.