TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the release of the 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide. The annual guide, created by the Florida Defense Support Task Force, offers a summary of Florida’s laws, programs and services benefitting military service members and their families. It also highlights Florida’s low tax and financial advantages, educational benefits, professional licensure opportunities and fee waivers for service men, women and their families stationed in Florida. A digital copy of the 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide is available https://www.enterpriseflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/Florida-Military-Friendly-Guide-2018.pdf [Read more…]
Governor Rick Scott Signs 18 Bills into Law; Vetoes One
April 6, 2018 By
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott signed the following bills into law:
| CS/CS/SB 1392 | Criminal Justice – This bill increases transparency in the criminal justice system, authorizes the adult civil citation program, and revises the juvenile civil citation program. |
| SB 186 | The Resign-to-Run Law – This bill makes changes to the law on running for public office for current office holders. |
| CS/CS/CS/HB 165 | Written Threats to Conduct Mass Shootings or Acts of Terrorism – This bill prohibits a person from making, posting, or transmitting a threat to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism in a way that allows another person to view the threat. |
Gov. Scott: Lockheed Martin to Expand and Create 500 New Jobs in Orlando
March 7, 2018 By
ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Governor Scott announced Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company, will be expanding in Orlando and creating 500 new jobs. The average wage of the 500 new jobs will be $87,064. The company will also invest more than $50 million in their Orlando facility. Lockheed Martin currently employs over 14,000 Floridians at 73 locations.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce Lockheed Martin is continuing to invest in Florida by creating 500 new jobs as part of their expansion in Orlando. Lockheed Martin is already a major job creator for our state, and our commitment to cutting taxes and making Florida business-friendly is making it easier for this global business to continue to create thousands of opportunities for Florida families.”
Lockheed Martin employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced, technology systems, products and services. [Read more…]
Gov. Scott Issues Updates on State Response to Marjory Douglas High School Shooting
March 7, 2018 By
PARKLAND, Fla. – Following the tragic shooting at Marjory Douglas High School in Parkland yesterday, Governor Scott has continued to be briefed by law enforcement and emergency management officials and has remained in communication with state leaders to ensure all state resources are made available. The Governor has also spoken with President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and local school officials. Governor Scott remains in Broward County and additional details regarding the Governor’s schedule will be made available throughout the day. Governor Scott also announced that he will be organizing meetings with state and local leaders in Tallahassee next week to discuss ways to keep Florida students safe, including school safety improvements and keeping guns away from individuals struggling with mental illness. [Read more…]
Gov. Rick Scott: FBI Director Needs to Resign
February 17, 2018 By
PARKLAND, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott made the following statement regarding the FBI’s admission that they failed to take action after receiving information on January 5, 2018, regarding “[Nikolas] Cruz’s gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.”
Governor Scott said, “The FBI’s failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable. The FBI has admitted that they were contacted last month by a person who called to inform them of Cruz’s ‘desire to kill people,’ and ‘the potential of him conducting a school shooting.’ [Read more…]
Orlando Area Leader in Job Creation
February 2, 2018 By
Gov. Scott: Orlando Area Remains Leader in Job Creation
ORLANDO, Fla. — Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Orlando area had the highest job creation in the state for the fifth month in a row, adding 46,300 new private-sector jobs in the last year. The unemployment rate in Orlando was 3.3 percent, down 1.0 percentage point from one year ago. Statewide, Florida businesses created nearly 30,000 new jobs in December bringing the total number of new private-sector jobs created in Florida to 1,497,100 since December 2010.
Governor Scott said, “For the fifth month in a row, the Orlando area led the state with the most jobs created, which is great news for families in Central Florida. Every job is an opportunity for a Floridian to provide for their family, and I look forward to another great year of job creation in 2018.” [Read more…]
Tampa Area Ranks Third in State Job Creation
February 2, 2018 By
TAMPA, Fla. — Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Tampa area added 28,000 new private-sector jobs in the last year, creating the third-highest number of jobs among all Florida metro areas. Tampa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent, down 1.1 percentage points from one year ago. Statewide, Florida businesses created nearly 30,000 new jobs in December bringing the total number of new private-sector jobs created in Florida to 1,497,100 since December 2010.
Governor Scott said, “Last year ended strong with 28,000 new jobs created in the Tampa Bay area. Statewide, nearly 1.5 million jobs have been created since December 2010, and it is clear that we are on track to making Florida the best place in the nation for families to find new opportunities.” [Read more…]
Gov. Scott Appoints Ten to Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee
November 7, 2017 By
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced four reappointments and six appointments to the Medicaid Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee.
Jennifer Lalani, 56, of Windermere, is a district pharmacy manager for CVS Pharmacy. Lalani received her bachelor of pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. She is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Dr. Alan Smith, 67, of Tampa, is the senior medical director for WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Dr. Smith received his doctor of medicine from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019.
Dr. James Zenel, 57, of Trinity, is a physician at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. Dr. Zenel received his doctor of medicine from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is reappointed for a term beginning October 17, 2017, and ending June 30, 2019. [Read more…]
Gov. Scott Recognizes Statewide Zika Preparedness Efforts
August 8, 2017 By
MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott gave opening remarks at the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) Zika Preparedness Planning Meeting in Miami. DOH hosted the meeting with county health departments and mosquito control districts from across the state, as well as CDC officials, to discuss ongoing efforts to prepare for and combat the Zika Virus.
Governor Scott said, “While Florida does not have any identified areas with active Zika transmission, DOH, mosquito control districts and community partners across the state have been tirelessly working together to help combat the spread of this disease and keep our state safe. We know that summer means more rain, more mosquitos, and more travel-related cases, and that is why we must continue to take aggressive preparedness actions. It is also important that all Floridians do their part to dump standing water and wear bug spray in order to help fight the spread of Zika. We will continue to remain in contact with our federal and state partners and we remain fully committed to doing everything we can to protect our families and visitors.” [Read more…]
State Attorney Reassignment
August 8, 2017 By
Executive Orders 17-188 and 17-189:
Regarding State Attorney Reassignment
Please see Executive Order 17-188 and Executive Order 17-189 which reassign to State Attorney Brad King the investigation, presentation to the grand jury, and all matters related to criminal charges referenced in the Executive Orders against Callene Marcia Barton and Lakesha Chantell Lewis.
On July 7, 2017, Callene Marcia Barton and Lakesha Chantell Lewis were arrested for First-degree Felony Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse after inflicting fatal injuries upon a three-year-old victim. As reported in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, Lewis attacked the three-year-old with a plastic rod, repeatedly striking the child until the rod broke apart. The victim’s mother attempted to intervene and removed the child to another room, but Barton pursued them and grabbed the child by an arm and a leg, throwing him down a hallway, the impact of which caused his neck to turn and his body began convulsing. Barton prevented the victim’s mother from calling the police, but the woman fled from the residence and called the authorities from a neighbor’s phone. The minor victim was transported to a hospital, but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead several hours later. The arrest affidavit notes the child had other bruising on his body that had begun to heal, consistent with evidence of prior physical abuse.
