Scott's veto of mental health bill

Gov. Rick Scott's veto of a mental health bill this week not only surprised the Florida Legislature, which passed it unanimously, it contradicted the efforts of his own agency, the Department of Children and Families.

The bill, which would have shortened from five years to three years the time frame in which a judge would have to decide whether a person was mentally competent to stand trial, among other provisions, was rejected by Scott because reducing the time frame “could pose a serious public safety risk.”...

Scott signs law banning interstate truck drivers from texting or calling on hand-held devices lling

Starting July 1, Florida’s  law enforcement officers can start ticketing interstate truck or bus drivers who will face hefty fines if they talk or text on hand-held devices.

Gov. Rick Scott has signed legislation (HB 7125) that gives officers the  power to enforce federal regulations that went into effect January 2012. States have three years to mirror the federal regulations, said Duane DeBruyne, of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration....

Movers & Shakers

Former Romney spokesman new press secretary for the Republican Party of Florida

Susan Hepworth, who served as director of the national traveling press for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 campaign, is the new press secretary and deputy communications director for the Republican Party of Florida.

The Kansas City native traveled full time with former Gov. Romney and the press corp during his race for president....

Tropical Storm Andrea brings tornadoes, heavy rainfall

Residents should be wary of tornadoes, flooding and storm surges as fast-moving Tropical Storm Andrea passes through Florida but the most severe weather should be over by midnight, Gov. Rick Scott said during a press conference Thursday at the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

"We've talked to all the local emergency management teams and they're ready," Scott said. "The biggest ssue we have is we're under tornado warnings. We had eight tornadoes so far in the state." He said there have not been any reports of deaths or property damage caused by the storm....

Bondi, FDLE launch new human trafficking training for law enforcement officers

Just last month, state and local law enforcement officials broke up a human trafficking and prostitution ring based in Clearwater, but the case just scratches the surface of the state's trafficking problems, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a press conference Wednesday. 

Bondi and FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey, flanked by other law enforcement leaders, said a search for new initiatives led to the development of a new, interactive video training program....

Rick Scott signs abortion bill into law

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law on Wednesday requiring that doctors performing an abortion offer emergency medical care if the baby is somehow born alive.

Scott was joined by his wife Ann and antiabortion activists from around the state as he signed HB 1129 at the Florida Baptist Children's Home's Pensacola campus in Cantonment, a nonprofit organization that supports pregnancy resource centers and provides services for children who are neglected, abused or abandoned....

Gov. Scott signs first abortion-related bill passed in two years

Gov. Rick Scott today signed the only abortion-related bill that passed this session, requiring that doctors must offer emergency medical care if a baby is born alive during a failed abortion or face criminal charges....

Movers & Shakers

Teachers recognized at Cabinet meeting

Five of the 2013-2014 District Teachers of the Year were recognized at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting:

Carrie Cooper, Columbia County, Columbia High School

Deborah Hodge, Dixie County, Dixie County High School

Kathy Griffin, Hamilton County, Central Hamilton Elementary School

Nicole Roddenberry, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Elementary School...

Gov. Scott to sign texting while driving bill on Tuesday

Gov. Rick Scott is signing the texting while driving bill (SB 52) at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning High School in Miami, but the state law doesn't take effect until Oct. 1.

The bill prohibits drivers from manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols or other characters into a wireless communications device, which includes text messaging, emailing and instant messaging through smart phones. Texting would be allowed in hands-off, high-tech cars and when a car is stopped at a red light or in a traffic jam....

Scott ready to give green light to texting bill?

A signing ceremony for the texting while driving bill (SB 52) has been set for 2-3 p.m. May 28th in Miami, according to an email listed on Project Sunburst, a website that displays executive staff emails in the Governor’s office, but Jackie Schutz, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott, wouldn't confirm the information.

She said the governor hasn’t yet received the bill and he is still "reviewing the legislation....

DCF announces new initiatives to crack down on fraud

Fighting fraud that costs the state millions of dollars and impacts poor residents who rely on public assistance payments,The Department of Children & Families on Tuesday announced a new system to crack down on cheaters.

“Florida has the highest per capita rate of reported identity theft nationally,” with more than 70 percent of ID theft tied to government-related services, said DCF Secretary David Wilkins, speaking at a a press conference with Deputy CFO Jay Etheridge and Tallahassee Police Chief  Dennis Jones....

Movers & Shakers

New executive editor at News Service

Jim Saunders has been named the new executive editor of the News Service of Florida. Saunders replaces founding executive editor David Royse, who will become the News Service’s associate editor of special projects....