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Gov. Scott's Opioid Proposal Moving Forward in the Legislature

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Governor Rick Scott today thanked Florida Senate President Joe Negron, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto and Representative Jim Boyd for filing legislation to combat the opioid epidemic and help Florida families. The legislation filed today, HB 21, follows Governor Scott’s legislative proposal made on September 26, 2017 to limit the chance of drug addiction, reduce the ability for dangerous drugs to spread in Florida’s communities, give vulnerable Floridians the support they need, and ensure law enforcement officers have resources to protect Floridians impacted by opioids. A companion Senate bill will be filed in the coming days.
Governor Scott will also be including $50 million in his recommended budget to combat opioid abuse in Florida. More details on this significant investment will be announced in the coming weeks. More information on Governor Scott’s proposed legislation and $50 million budget proposal is available HERE.
Governor Scott said, “Families across our state are struggling with the pain and loss inflicted by the national opioid epidemic and today, I am proud that Senator Benacquisto and Representative Boyd are filing important legislation to help combat this terrible crisis. Last month, I announced proposed legislation and $50 million in funding to limit the chance of drug addiction, reduce the ability for dangerous drugs to spread in Florida’s communities, give vulnerable Floridians the support they need, and ensure law enforcement officers have resources to protect Floridians impacted by opioids. I know how painful substance abuse is for a family and no family in our state should experience the anguish and heartbreak that opioid abuse brings.
“We cannot be too cautious when it comes to helping families. Whether it’s recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Irma, fighting against the Zika virus or combatting the opioid epidemic – we will not stop providing Floridians every resource when they need it the most.”
Florida Senate President Joe Negron said, “Opioid abuse is a critical public safety issue plaguing communities across our state. I commend Senator Benacquisto for working with Governor Scott on this important issue, and am grateful to Governor Scott and all of our Senators, House Members, and other local elected officials and advocates who have worked tirelessly to explore meaningful solutions. In the Senate, we have begun a robust and ongoing public discussion regarding providing treatment and resources for those suffering from addiction and instituting measured steps to prevent future addiction, while still respecting the rights of patients seeking medical treatment and the knowledge and skill of their physicians. I am confident that during the 2018 Legislative Session we can work together to pass comprehensive legislation that will help our state tackle this epidemic.”
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “Opioids are tearing families and lives apart throughout our state. It is all the more insidious because many of these addictions are preventable. Under the leadership of Governor Scott, Florida will address this public health crisis at its core and do all we can to prevent new addictions and treat those who are suffering. I commend the Governor and look forward to working with him and our counterparts in the Senate to address this scourge.”
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto said, “The opioid epidemic continues to cause pain and death in our communities each and every day, and we must act now. I’m proud to work with Governor Scott and Representative Boyd as part of the solution to this tragic problem that plagues so many individuals and families across the State of Florida. I’m hopeful that we can pass legislation that truly helps stem the tide of addiction to opiates and help folks move toward a successful recovery.”
Representative Jim Boyd said, “The opioid crisis is one of the most horrific issues I’ve ever witnessed. It’s destroying our families and destroying our communities, but together we will prevail. I’m honored to continue this fight against opioid abuse and thankful for such strong leadership from our Governor and Speaker in combating this epidemic.”
This year, Governor Scott has taken the following action to combat the opioid epidemic in Florida:

  • Directed the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to meet with communities in Palm Beach, Manatee, Duval and Orange Counties to identify additional strategies to fight the rising opioid usage cases in Florida.
  • Signed Executive Order 17-146 allowing the state to immediately draw down more than $27 million in federal grant funding through the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant. This funding is distributed to communities across the state to deal with the opioid epidemic.
  • Directed State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip to declare a Public Health Emergency and issue a standing order for Naloxone in response to the opioid epidemic in Florida.
  • Signed HB 477 which combats synthetic opioid drug abuse by enhancing penalties for the abuse of fentanyl and its derivatives. To view the transmittal letter, click HERE.
  • Propose major legislation and more than $50 million as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget to combat opioid abuse in Florida. More information HERE.

VISIT FLORIDA to Legislature: Please Learn from Colorado's Tourism Disaster

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VISIT FLORIDA shared the following video today that features Cathy Ritter, the Director of the Colorado Tourism Office. Twenty years ago, Colorado cut their tourism marketing funding and have never been able to regain the ground that was lost.
Note: This video was produced at no cost to VISIT FLORIDA.
Click HERE to watch.

Gov. Scott urges legislature to fund $200 million to help fix Herbert Hoover Dike

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Encourages Legislature to pass bill to help Lake Okeechobee

Governor Rick Scott today urged the Florida Legislature to include $200 million in state funding to its budget to help fix the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike and solve water issues around Lake Okeechobee. Governor Scott also commended Senate President Negron’s focus on storage south of Lake Okeechobee in the A2 Reservoir and asked the Legislature to pass a good bill which address the problems surrounding Lake Okeechobee and benefits Florida’s environment.
Below are the remarks as prepared for delivery that Governor Scott gave today in Tallahassee:
Governor Rick Scott said, “It’s important to me that as the Legislature has progressed on President Negron’s priority Lake Okeechobee bill, I give an update on how I believe we should be funding our environment and conversations I have been having with the Trump Administration.
“Florida is known for our beautiful waterways and pristine coastline. We have to be very aggressive in protecting our environment and every year I have been in office, I have fought to provide resources to protect our lands and waterways. Unfortunately, due to heavy amounts of rain, we had the Lost Summer in 2013 and last year we had the algal blooms in South Florida where I had to declare a state of emergency.
“Our environment and the local economy in South Florida were hit hard. Businesses were hurt, our tourism industry was impacted and we have to continue to do all we can to make sure we keep enhancing the quality of our water. That’s why today I am announcing two items:
“First, I am calling on both the House and the Senate to allocate $200 million in state funds to help fix the federal Herbert Hoover Dike. They are in the middle of their budget negotiations and I urge them to add this in immediately. If we can start working to fix the Dike, we can help solve a lot of the water issues we have seen with Lake Okeechobee. Repairing the Dike is key to enhancing the water quality in South Florida and I am going to be very aggressive at doing whatever we can to protect our environment.
“I have spoken to the Trump Administration about the importance of fixing the federal Dike and I know they are very focused on investing in our environment and infrastructure. As you know, we had a major win from the Trump Administration last week with their commitment of $1.5 billion in LIP funding. This was nearly a billion more than the Obama Administration gave us. With this additional funding, we now have other funds available to spend on key items in our state, like our environment. And most importantly, we now have a federal government that is our partner and actually focused on working with Florida. My goal is for the Dike to be completely repaired by 2022, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration to complete this, which would substantially reduce future discharges.
“Second, the quality of our water is one of the biggest issues facing our state and President Negron has been very focused on getting a bill done to help Lake Okeechobee. I have continued to review the legislation and watch it go through the process this session. And today, I met with many Senators on this bill to let them know my thoughts on it. There is a lot about the bill I like, and I know it is still going through the process. But ultimately, I hope the legislature sends me a great bill that addresses the Lake Okeechobee problem and benefits our environment and takes into consideration the agriculture community.
“Specifically, I support storage south of the lake in the A2 Reservoir which utilizes state-owned land and does not take people’s private land. This is a big step toward protecting our pristine environment. This additional storage, in conjunction with our currently planned projects around the Lake, will help reduce harmful discharges to the estuaries in South Florida. It’s very important to me that while we fund items in this bill, dollars are not taken away from our existing restoration plan, including projects like C43 and C44. Also, it is important to me that whatever is passed does not impact any person’s job. We have dedicated record funding toward Everglades restoration and I am confident we have the funds available to get these projects done without taking on more debt.
“I am a businessman who came into government to get things done for Florida families. Protecting our environment isn’t a partisan issue. We have to aggressively fight to protect it. I think about my grandsons who love being outdoors and I want to make sure we leave our future generations a pristine environment.”
Since taking office, Governor Scott has worked to provide record funding for our springs, pass a historic $880 million Everglades water quality plan and create a dedicated source of funding to restore the Everglades and Florida’s springs. Under Governor Scott’s leadership, Florida has invested more than $680 million in Everglades restoration. This year, Governor Scott proposed nearly $4 billion for Florida’s environment, with $360 million for water quality projects. This includes $60 million for the new Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee Clean-Up Initiative and $225 million for Everglades restoration.

Florida A&M University's Statement Regarding SGA's Electoral Commission Decision

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The Florida Legislature has provided for university student governments to self-govern, and pursuant to the August 2016 opinion, the First District Court of Appeals upheld this autonomy.
Subsequently, on January 11, 2017, Florida A&M University’s Student Government Association (SGA) – through its Electoral Commission – issued an electoral resolution determining that Justin Bruno and Devin Harrison are the SGA President and Vice President, respectively. The SGA has the authority to self-govern pursuant to Florida Law and the Florida Board of Governors’ regulation.
 
The University’s administration looks forward to working with SGA’s representatives.