Finally Relief for Florida Agencies_Safe Harbor with Public Record Requests

May 2017 Finally Relief for Florida Agencies: Safe Harbor with Public Records Requests By Leonard J. Dietzen, III ldietzen@rumberger.com Florida public agencies have made tremendous efforts in training their staff to comply with their responsibility under the Florida Public Records Act. Unfortunately, one technical mistake has turned this law into the Lawyer’s Relief Act. For…

Gov. Rick Scott signs HB 7069 education bill into law at Orlando Catholic school

In a move surprised few and angered many, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed into law a massive education bill that legislative leaders crafted behind closed doors in the final days of their spring session. He did so at an Orlando Catholic school that serves children with special needs, highlighting the bill’s $30 million…

Rick Scott vetoes higher education bill, but leaders say Bright Futures scholarship expansion is preserved

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday vetoed a sweeping higher education reform bill that was one of Senate President Joe Negron’s top priorities of the 2017 session, saying that the measure “impedes” the ability of state colleges to provide access to low-cost, quality education.  Scott’s rejection of SB 374 halts several of Negron’s reforms intended to…

Both sides pressure Scott on schools bill

With a controversial and wide-ranging education bill now on his desk, Gov. Rick Scott faces intense pressure from both sides as he weighs whether to sign or veto the legislation.  Rumors have begun floating that Scott will sign HB 7069 later this week, but officially the governor maintains that he hasn’t made a final decision. …

Framework of a deal takes shape as lawmakers agree to increase money for higher ed and dike

Facing a 6 p.m. deadline, Florida legislative leaders struck a last-minute agreement with the governor to resolve their differences and avoid an embarrassing override of the governor’s budget vetoes Friday. House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, agreed to the Senate’s call to restore $60 million of the $114 million cut from…

Senate backs off defunding controversial schools bill, not wanting conflict with House

Florida senators wanting a second crack at stopping a contentious $419 million education reform bill that narrowly passed the Legislature last month were unsuccessful on Thursday in defunding it to redirect the dollars to general K-12 public school spending.  Broward County Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer led the charge to undo HB 7069, after Senate Pre-K-12…