Grant to Aid Communities as they Continue to Provide Treatment, Support Services

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to begin utilizing a new federal grant to increase access to medication-assisted treatment, reduce opioid-related deaths and equip professionals with the necessary tools to combat the national opioid epidemic in Florida. DCF applied for and received more than $50 million from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to continue providing treatment and recovery support services for individuals seeking help for opioid use. This funding is in addition to $65 million that is already being used to combat opioid use and addiction. The Governor’s existing executive order enables DCF to immediately begin drawing down and distributing these funds. [Read more…]

Florida Fish and Wildlife

FWC and DEP have provided an additional nearly $2.2 million to Mote Marine Laboratory for the initiation of its field testing of a specialized clay focused on quelling red tide and expansion of its Ozone Treatment System which takes water containing the algae that causes red tide and filters it, returning clean water back to areas impacted by this naturally-occurring algae.

Governor Scott sent a letter to FWC urging the Commission to take the following action on red tide:

Create the Florida Center for Red Tide Research, a new resource for local communities impacted by red tide;

Re-establish the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force; and

Request an increase of funding for red tide research during the upcoming 2019 Florida Legislative Session. [Read more…]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the State of Florida will direct a $2,178,000 investment to test innovative technologies to mitigate the effects of red tide utilizing specialized clay field experiments and other innovative approaches for controlling and mitigating the impacts of red tide including expansion of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Ozone Treatment System. Mote Marine Laboratory has continuously and successfully tested the Ozone systems in both their tanks at the Mote Marine Laboratory aquarium in Sarasota and most recently in canals in Boca Grande. These systems have proven to successfully clean water, ridding it of the algae that causes red tide. Three additional mitigation technologies are also in development at Mote Marine Laboratory. Last week, Governor Scott announced a partnership between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and world-renowned experts and scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of South Florida (USF) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to focus on using a form of specialized clay to quell the effects of red tide. Red tide is naturally-occurring algae that has been documented along Florida’s Gulf Coast since the 1840’s and occurs nearly every year. For more information on red tide in Florida, go to http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/faq/. [Read more…]

Florida governor candidate Adam Putnam has endorsed false information about the FAIRtax bill HR 25 as co-sponsored by Ron DeSantis.  FAIRtax is not in addition to the federal income tax.  The FAIRtax is REPLACEMENT tax  for the present income/payroll tax system. Representative DeSantis understands the evils of the present federal income/payroll tax system.

Florida has no state income tax. Unlike other states which have both state income taxes and state sales taxes, the state of Florida receives its revenue from a state sales tax.  This appeals to many who are moving to Florida to escape their states’ income taxes and , more importantly, to have financial liberty.  Residents choose when they pay state sales taxes by their spending habits .  All the while all people who make purchases in the state contribute to the state coffers. What is working best for Florida is also best for the country by having FAIRtax ,the national sales tax, provide the same amount of federal revenue and apply fairly to all citizens.   [Read more…]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the reappointment of two to the Department of Elderly Affairs Advisory Council.

Kerry Marsalek, of Clearwater, is the manager for the Clearwater Office on Aging. She is reappointed for a term beginning September 27, 2018, and ending September 30, 2020.

Dr. Mohammad Choudhry, 52, of Leesburg, is a Neurophysician. He is reappointed for a term beginning September 27, 2018, and ending September 30, 2019.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of William Meggs and Garrett Richter to the Commission on Ethics.

Meggs, 75, of Tallahassee is a former State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Meggs also served as Leon County Deputy with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and has served as President of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning September 27, 2018, and ending June 30, 2019.

Richter, 68, of Naples is the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Florida Integrity Bank. He is a former State Representative and Senate President Pro Tempore and served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections. Richter served both in the United States Army and United States Air Force Reserve and was awarded a Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning September 27, 2018, and ending June 30, 2020.

The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

September 21, 2018

No matter how big or small the target is, identity theft is a devastating crime that can leave individuals and families with heavy financial hardships. Understandably, victims can experience high levels of anxiety and emotional distress for months and even years trying to clear their names.

This week, my Office of Statewide Prosecution successfully prosecuted a Palm Beach County man on two counts of public assistance fraud and two counts of identity theft. The defendant stole names, social security numbers and dates of birth from hundreds of victims.

Michelson Janvier used this information to apply for Food Stamp benefits, otherwise known as SNAP/EBT benefits through the Florida Department of Children and Families. Janvier physically obtained EBT cards in the victims’ names, using them to make purchases at numerous South Florida retailers and even trafficked in food stamps at a market in Hialeah. Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Jonathan Bridges and Patricia Abdi prosecuted this case.

In 2017, Florida ranked second among U.S. states in identity theft complaints. Anybody can have their identity stolen. If you do fall victim, my Identity Theft Victim Kit is a useful tool to curb the damage and protect your finances. The kit provides specific instructions on combating identity theft, along with how to properly file police reports and work with your financial institutions.

Identity thieves are very conniving and use multiple techniques to steal information. Please take steps now to protect your information by visiting http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/