TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is issuing a Consumer Alert to ask Floridians to report suspicious crowdfunding charity pages. Friday, the Florida Highway Patrol made the Attorney General’s Office aware of a suspicious-looking page purporting to raise money for the family of a fallen FHP Trooper. In less than an hour, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, working with GoFundMe.com, secured the suspension of the page and the more than $500 that had been raised is being returned to donors.

The account in question featured the name and photo of FHP Trooper Joseph Bullock. Trooper Bullock, a 19-year veteran of law enforcement, was shot and killed in the line of duty last week. An investigation into his death is underway.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Trooper Bullock is a hero, and people want to help honor his service by donating to his family. When FHP told us that someone unknown to the family might be trying to exploit the death of this brave law enforcement officer, I asked my Consumer Protection investigators to act quickly. Our office immediately contacted GoFundMe and the crowdsourcing site took swift action to protect the donations. The company has assured our investigators that these funds will only be released to a member of Trooper Bullock’s family or returned to the donors—per its distribution policies.” Continue reading →

On February 12, 2020, in News Releases, by Staff

Jacksonville, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced he is awarding more than $3.6 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to the Florida State College at Jacksonville and St. Johns River State College to create the Northeast Florida Fintech Initiative. This Initiative represents a partnership between both colleges, regional schools, nonprofits and numerous financial services companies to provide new financial technology, or “FinTech” training and certification opportunities.

“I’m pleased to launch the Northeast Florida FinTech Initiative in conjunction with Florida State College at Jacksonville and St. John’s River State College,” said Governor DeSantis. “This innovative collaboration to provide new FinTech-related training and certifications will help equip Floridians with skills in demand by Northeast Florida’s growing FinTech industry.”

The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund award for $3.67 million will help the Northwest Florida FinTech Initiative create two FinTech Technical Certificate Programs, a FinTech Support Technician Boot Camp Academy and will embed FinTech related skills and coursework into existing programs related to Accounting, Business Administration, Financial Services and Information Technology. Continue reading →

After many months of obstruction by the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Governor’s office received deeply disturbing information regarding the organization’s practices over the past several years.  These practices include exorbitant compensation payouts, abuse of state dollars, withholding of information, and breach of public trust.

Governor Ron DeSantis has requested Chief Inspector General (CIG), Melinda Miguel, to determine if there are reasonable grounds to refer the matter for criminal investigation to law enforcement.  If the evidence leads to that conclusion, CIG Miguel will take the appropriate action going forward. This investigation is a top priority for Governor DeSantis.

The Governor has been urging action on this matter since 2019. Due to these ongoing concerns, the Governor recommended competitive procurement for domestic violence services rather than continuing to directly contract with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence in his Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget recommendations. Continue reading →

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Dr. Patricia Snyder, Nancy Hardt, Dr. Margarita Labarta, Dr. Karen Cole-Smith and Charles “Lee” Pinkoson to the Children’s Trust of Alachua County Advisory Board. These board members are appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates selected by Alachua County’s Board of County Commissioners.

Dr. Patricia Snyder

Dr. Snyder, of Gainesville, is the director of the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from the State University of New York, her master’s degree in special education from Millersville University and her doctorate degree in early childhood special education from the University of New Orleans. Dr. Snyder is appointed to a four-year term. Continue reading →

Friends,

The 2020 Legislative Session will have soon reached a conclusion, maybe even before this article makes it to publishing and we’re very much looking forward to being back home in the district. Once we return, we’ll be ready to tour the district to give a full report on all that we’ve accomplished these last few months. Until that time, however, we will keep providing a few updates on some of the highlights.

For this column, we should address the budget.

The Florida Senate passed Senate Bill 2500: Appropriations, a proposed state budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. This proposed budget invests in Florida’s teachers, state employees, and environment while maintaining $3.5 billion in total reserves. With $500 million for a new Teacher Salary Increase Allocation and $325 million in increased flexible funding through the Base Student Allocation, the state budget provides funding for schools districts to increase the starting salary for classroom teachers while also investing in other members of school district personnel who serve our children. This has been a big priority for Governor DeSantis and President Galvano. I’m excited to be a part of this great team, working to improve education in the State of Florida. Continue reading →

On January 17, 2020, in News Releases, by Staff

Photo Credit: Governor’s Press Office

Jacksonville, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Made In Space has decided to relocate their corporate headquarters and satellite manufacturing operations from California to Florida. The headquarters relocation and expansion effort will involve more than $3 million in new capital investment for Jacksonville.

“As a global leader for in-space manufacturing and assembly, Made In Space has a proven track record of delivering innovative space technology demonstrations at an industry-leading pace,” said Governor DeSantis. “Made In Space’s move to Florida is more evidence of Florida’s success and growth in the aerospace industry. My administration remains committed to supporting that growth and ensuring we maintain an economic climate that allows companies like Made In Space to prosper.” Continue reading →

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis delivered the State of the State address to a joint session of the Florida Legislature and Floridians everywhere, highlighting Florida’s strengths while reporting on the promising prospects for the future with the support of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Governor DeSantis said, “In 2019, we took bold steps to expand educational opportunities, protect our environment and natural resources, reform health care, invest in infrastructure and bolster public safety – all while reducing taxes and adding to our budget reserves. While we should look with favor on these bold beginnings, we have much more to do.

“For everything there is a season, and this is Florida’s season of opportunity – we have the chance to build on a strong foundation, the chance to face the challenges before us and the chance to leave a legacy of success that will benefit our people now and in the future. There is no reason why we can’t seize this moment and deliver for the people of Florida.”

This purchase would be the largest wetland acquisition in a decade and will permanently save the land from oil drilling. 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reached an agreement with Kanter Real Estate LLC., that will allow for the purchase of 20,000 acres of critical wetlands in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA 3) within the Everglades Protection Area located in Broward County. This acquisition would represent the largest wetland acquisition in a decade.

“One of my administration’s top environmental priorities has been expediting Everglades restoration,” said Governor DeSantis. “Today we take another step in the right direction by reaching this agreement between DEP and Kanter Real Estate that will allow for the purchase of 20,000 acres of critical wetlands. This significant purchase will permanently save these lands from oil drilling. I’m proud of our progress but also recognize this is just the beginning. I will continue to fight every day for the Everglades and Florida’s environment.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chair of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse, today in Miami convened the group’s third meeting. The meeting, held at Miami Dade College, focused on the recovery process and innovative programs to promote and sustain long term recovery for Floridians struggling with Opioid Use Disorder.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Today we heard from medical professionals, recovery specialists and a woman who struggled for years to overcome a powerful drug addiction, about how we can better serve those struggling with Opioid Use Disorder. By focusing on recovery and innovating the ways we help those struggling with addiction, we can change lives, heal families and reduce the death and destruction caused by the national opioid crisis in Florida.”

The recovery-themed meeting highlighted barriers to recovery, support systems for patients, Medication Assisted Treatment and effective peer recovery strategies. Task Force members heard from Jacksonville Fire Chief Mark Rowely about an innovative program reducing repeat opioid overdoses in Duval County. Project Save Lives, a partnership between Jacksonville Fire and Rescue and local hospitals, has proven successful in reducing successive trips to the emergency room for survivors of opioid overdoses. More than 70 percent of patients treated at a partnering hospital have enrolled in the program that provides additional engagement and follow-up treatment. Continue reading →