Bills Signed into Law by Governor Scott: AIRBOAT OPERATOR REGULATIONS “Ellies Law” requires a commercial airboat operator to carry a photo ID, proof of completion of an approved boater education course or possess a captain’s license issued by the United States Coast Guard. Operators must also successfully complete a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first Read more about Legislative Issues[…]
PAY RAISES Florida Supreme Court Justices received a 24 percent pay raise, taking their salaries to $220,600. Assistant state attorneys and assistant public defenders got a $2,000 bump or $4,000 if they have three or more years of service. State firefighters earned a $2,500 raise and law enforcement officers at the Florida Highway Patrol, the Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER GRANT Florida was awarded $13 million from the federal government as part of a grant program to help post-hurricane evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands dislocated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria to find work in the U.S. Around 350,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since the storms, although the Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
CITRUS There was more bad news for the citrus industry in Florida this month as the USDA forecasts 46 million boxes of oranges for the 2017-18 season, down 4 million from last month’s estimate. The industry was hit particularly hard by Hurricane Irma. IGUANAS The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has hired a trapper to try Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
HURRICANES The Office of Insurance Regulation estimated insured losses from Hurricane Irma are over $6.55 billion, with almost 866,000 claims as of December 18th. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it would send $616 million from its community development block grant-disaster recovery program help. Governor Scott sent a letter to Majority Leader Read more about Issues of Interest[…]