FDLE AND DEP At its August 5th meeting, the Florida Cabinet approved the appointments of Rick Swearingen as Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Jon Steverson as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. ENTERPRISE FLORIDA Representative Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) has joined the board of Enterprise Florida. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL Gene Spaulding Read more about Movers and Shakers[…]
SILVER SPRINGS WATER PERMIT The St. John’s Water Management District recently approved an application by Canadian billionaire and Ocala ranch owner Frank Stronach to pump 1.46 million gallons of water per day from the popular Silver Springs in Marion County. At a recent hearing, several dozen opponents stated that the pumping will do significant damage Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
DOCS VERSUS GLOCKS The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled in a 2-1 vote to lift an injunction against the State enforcing the “docs vs. glocks” law passed in 2011. The law prohibits doctors from asking patients about gun ownership and placing such information into medical records. The Court has determined that Read more about Legal Update[…]
FLORIDA STANDARDS ASSESSMENT Considerable disagreements continue over standardized testing for Florida’s K-12 students. As a response to ongoing questions, state lawmakers ordered an independent study to test the validity of the process and the test. The findings, released this week, acknowledged the first year test included questions inaccurately reflecting the standards adopted by the State. Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
The Florida Legislature adjourned its second special session of the summer on August 21st without agreement on a revised congressional map. In July, the Florida Supreme Court ordered the Legislature to redraw the maps based on a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters and others. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, who held a hearing Read more about From the Capitol[…]