TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity during emergencies such as hurricanes. FDOT’s report will be submitted in January 2018 and will include recommendations for fuel distribution and availability to consumers.

Governor Scott said, “Today, I am directing FDOT to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity so we can be sure families and visitors have the resources they need to safely prepare and evacuate during times of emergencies. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity during emergencies such as hurricanes. FDOT’s report will be submitted in January 2018 and will include recommendations for fuel distribution and availability to consumers.

Governor Scott said, “Today, I am directing FDOT to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity so we can be sure families and visitors have the resources they need to safely prepare and evacuate during times of emergencies. Last month, 6.8 million Floridians evacuated in preparation for Hurricane Irma, the largest evacuation in U.S. history, and we are committed to making sure our state remains fully prepared for any potential disaster. Increasing the availability of fuel for evacuations at Florida gas stations is a top priority and I look forward to reviewing FDOT’s findings.” Continue reading →

$1.7 Billion for Florida’s World-Class Beaches, Springs, State Parks, Everglades and Natural Treasures  

NAPLES, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that he will propose more than $1.7 billion to protect Florida’s environment as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget. This $1.7 billion funding for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is a more than $220 million increase over the current year.

The proposed funding will include:

• A historic investment of $55 million for Florida’s springs;

• A historic investment of $100 million for Florida’s beaches;
• A record $355 million for Everglades restoration;
• A record $50 million for Florida’s state parks; and
• $50 million for Florida Forever to help preserve and protect our natural lands

Continue reading →

Stopping human trafficking in our state is a top priority of mine, and has been since I became Attorney General. Florida is a zero-tolerance state for this terrible crime that robs victims of their freedoms, and my office and our partners are working diligently to rescue victims and lock up the monsters who traffic them. Just this week, working with local, state and federal partners, we arrested a man charged with recruiting women online and then forcing them into the sex trade.

The facts of this case are appalling. The defendant is charged with preying on women and, in some cases, using violence to force them into sex trafficking—all while depositing large amounts of cash into his bank account. According to the investigation, the defendant recruited victims using online advertisements seeking to hire young women to work as dancers or companions. Victims who answered the ads, in some cases, were forced through violence to perform sex acts to profit the defendant. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in September, the lowest rate in more than a decade. As of September, Florida’s unemployment rate had dropped 6.9 percentage points since December 2010, faster than the national decline. Private-sector businesses were severely impacted last month by Hurricane Irma, which resulted in survey data showing a reduction of job numbers solely for the month of September. To help Florida families and business owners quickly recover from this massive storm, Governor Scott has activated multiple disaster-related resources, such as the Disaster Unemployment Program, the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program and the Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following a request from Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, Governor Rick Scott today signed Executive Order 17-264 to assist local law enforcement’s response to rallies planned on the University of Florida campus this Thursday. EO 17-264 activates Florida’s Mutual Aid Plan which allows the state and Sheriff Darnell to quickly coordinate resources from other state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies. See the Executive Order HERE.

Governor Scott remains in constant communication with state and local law enforcement and University leadership to ensure that every request to the state is quickly granted to keep the public safe. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced one reappointment and two appointments to the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council.

William Snyder, 65, of Stuart, currently serves as the Sheriff of Martin County and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. Sheriff Snyder is reappointed for a term beginning October 16, 2017, and ending on June 30, 2019.

A.J. “Tony” Smith, 58, of Apalachicola, currently serves as the Sheriff of Franklin County and received his bachelor’s degree from Barry University. Sheriff Smith succeeds retired Sheriff Ben Johnson and is appointed for a term beginning October 16, 2017, and ending on June 30, 2019. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office is participating in the first coordinated federal-state civil enforcement crackdown involving student loan debt relief scams. These scams unlawfully took a combined total of more than $95 million in upfront fees from students nationwide. The crackdown involves a total of 36 state or federal actions against student debt relief companies, with Attorney General Bondi’s Office filing two of these lawsuits, as well as a third action to compel compliance with an investigative subpoena. The Attorney General’s Office also reached a settlement with a student loan debt relief company in a fourth matter that ensures the company will no longer operate in Florida. Continue reading →

This week, as part of a delegation of attorneys general from around our country, I met with Moroccan government officials in an effort to strengthen the working relationship between our countries and bolster efforts to combat human trafficking, cybercrimes and other transnational crimes. This outreach comes at an opportune moment as Morocco just last week implemented reforms that create an independent judiciary and public prosecution agency.

Morocco is a growing country with one of Africa’s largest seaports—located on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea near Spain and Portugal. Morocco’s geography and growing economy make it a potential pass-through for human traffickers and other transnational criminals trying to gain access to North America. Continue reading →

Region’s labor force grows, jobless rate drops to 5.1%

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2017) – The region’s labor force grew both over the month in August and over the year due to the one-two punch of more jobs and fewer people looking for work.

The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 5.1 percent last month, down over July by 0.3 percentage point and 1.2 percent less than the rate a year ago of 6.3 percent.

The labor force was 200,114, up 336 over the month and 2,028 more than in August 2016. There were 10,223 unemployed residents in the region, down 403 since July and 2,196 fewer than a year ago. There are 189,981 residents with jobs in the region, an increase of 739 over the month and 4,224 more than a year ago. Continue reading →