Dear friends,
The previous two columns we have been reporting to you on the 2023 Legislative Session and today we are bringing you the third installment in this series. This month we will continue by highlighting some other passed legislation that will be of interest to you.
Last month’s release of the blockbuster film “Sound of Freedom” has captivated American audiences and, rightfully so, brought much attention and awareness to the devastation of human trafficking. Florida continues to lead on this front to the best of our ability (our federal government must step up and secure our borders!) and a number of bills were passed to help us combat this issue. One such bill was SB 7064 by Senator Ileana Garcia. This bill requires that law enforcement officers successfully complete 4 hours of training in identifying and investigating human trafficking as part of their basic recruit training or additional training. The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission will develop the training in consultation with the Department of Legal Affairs and the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. Further, SB 7064 also establishes the state’s unified Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human Trafficking Data at the University of South Florida Trafficking in Persons – Risk to Resilience Lab. The human trafficking data, which must be submitted by law enforcement agencies and other entities, will be used to aid in combatting human trafficking, prosecuting those engaged in human trafficking, and assisting victims of human trafficking. Continue reading
It has been an eventful month at the Lady Lake Police Department, and I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the significant incidents and developments that have occurred. As always, the dedication and professionalism of our officers continue to impress me.
First, we want our residents to be aware of the new constitutional gun carry law that took effect July 1. This legislation allows a person to carry a concealed weapon without a valid concealed weapons license as long as the criteria for obtaining a license is met. It does not authorize the open carry of a firearm.
Our dedication to the community was exemplified by our participation in an amazing fireworks show on July 1. Setting up our booth at the Guava Street Athletic Complex, we had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with children and families, building positive relationships. The event showcased the dedication and teamwork of our officers on site, while our patrol crew handled calls for service. Continue reading
The Marion County Library System and Coping with Dementia LLC have announced free ABC of Dementia workshops at Belleview and Freedom branch libraries, as follows:
Belleview Public Library, located at 13145 SE County Hwy 484. A workshop will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
Freedom Public Library, located at 5870 SW 95th Street in Ocala. A workshop will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2023.
All participants will receive a free packet of useful information. Continue reading
CEP – Click to learn more
