Source: Sunburn – The morning read on what’s hot in Florida politics | Author: Peter Schorsch | Date published: June 27, 2019
— DATELINE: TALLY —
“DeSantis signs two bills that USF supporting veterans” via WFSU — At an event at the University of South Florida Office of Veteran Success, DeSantis signed a pair of bills that drew unanimous support from both the House and Senate during this year’s legislative session. House Bill 501 allows the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to contract with a state university or Florida College System institution to provide the following alternative treatment options: accelerated resolution therapy; equine therapy; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; music therapy; and service animal training therapy. The second bill, House Bill 471, designates an Honor and Remembrance flag for the state. The governor said the flag allows people to pay respects to fallen service members.
“Governor backs treatment options for veterans” via the News Service of Florida — A series of alternative treatment options could soon be available to U.S. military veterans with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder, under a law signed by DeSantis. The measure, which drew unanimous support from the House and Senate during this year’s Legislative Session, will allow the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to contract with a state university or Florida College System institution to provide the following alternative treatment options: accelerated resolution therapy; equine therapy; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; music therapy; and service animal training therapy. DeSantis, who served in the Navy, said he’s long supported alternative-treatment concepts, such as training dogs to work with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“DeSantis OKs legislative crackdown on human trafficking” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics — DeSantis has signed legislation aiming to curb human trafficking in the state by increasing training of law enforcement and hospitality workers, as well as setting up a database of pimps and individuals who solicit prostitutes. “This law sends a powerful message to traffickers and pimps: The State of Florida is CLOSED for business,” said Sen. Lauren Book, who authored the Senate version of the legislation (SB 540). “When we curb the demand for the illegal sale and purchase of sex, we also curb the profitability of human trafficking — and take a stand against the enslavement of men, women and children in communities across our state.”
“Ron DeSantis approves statewide expansion of needle exchange program” via Florida Politics —DeSantis has signed into law a measure allowing statewide expansion of a Miami-Dade County needle exchange program. The legislation (SB 366), however, does not mandate the program be expanded. Each county will decide on its own whether to adopt a version of the program similar to the one adopted in Miami-Dade in 2016. Democratic state Sen. Oscar Braynon II filed the bill that was eventually approved by both chambers.
“Final bills from 2019 Session go to DeSantis” via the News Service of Florida — The last of the 194 bills approved by the House and Senate this year landed on DeSantis’ desk. While DeSantis has acted quickly on most bills, he has until July 11 to sign, veto or let each of the 21 measures DeSantis received become law without his signature. Among the final bills to reach the Governor were a proposal to require out-of-state health care providers to pay application and renewal fees to provide telehealth services (HB 7067) and a plan to restrict the formation and continuation of community redevelopment agencies (HB 9). As of Wednesday afternoon, DeSantis had signed 162 bills into law and vetoed two.
“DeSantis says Florida is working on a plan to remove pythons from the Everglades” via Karl Fortier of Fox 4 — DeSantis isn’t shy about how he feels about the invasive Burmese pythons that are decimating wildlife populations in the Glades. “I hate these pythons,” he said. “We’re spending all this money to revive the Everglades, and we’re just going to let these big pythons eat everything? We don’t want to do that.” Python hunters have had success finding and removing pythons by using radio trackers implanted on male pythons to lead the hunters to breeding females and other males.
Assignment editors — DeSantis will deliver remarks and dedicate the first seven of more than 70 Habitat for Humanity of Broward homes at the A Rick Case Habitat Community, 2 p.m., 1400 NW. 6th Ave., Pompano Beach.
