Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: The Final Measures
April 17, 2016
This is the way the bill-signing season ends. Not with a whimper, but a bang.
Gov. Rick Scott finished off his duties from the 2016 legislative session by vetoing a bill on one of the most emotional and volatile issues that the House and Senate faced this year — not anything about the state’s schools or its environmental treasures, but a fight over what happens when a marriage falls apart.
To be sure, Scott dealt with other issues in the waning days of selecting which measures would and wouldn’t become law. A lengthy “train” on education departed Plaza Level Station with the governor’s signature attached, along with several health-care bills.
Across the northern part of the state, meanwhile, a longtime Republican congressman decided to step down, setting off what at first looked like a feeding frenzy but quickly quieted down. One of the top contenders for the race saw the Northeast Florida establishment rally behind him while another one of the leading names decided to take a pass.
The outrage over Scott’s action on the alimony bill will also likely cool with time. But as the week wrapped up, it was still about as angry as anyone’s been with one of his decisions on legislation this year.
WHEN IT’S OVER
People on both sides of the alimony issue, though, didn’t wait for Scott’s veto to make their feelings known. On Tuesday, men, women and a handful of children crammed into the governor’s waiting room in a tumultuous showdown over the legislation.
The bill (SB 668) would have laid out a formula based on the lengths of marriages and the incomes of spouses for judges to use as a guide when determining alimony payments.
But the most contentious part of the measure involved not alimony but offspring. It would tell judges that, when determining child-custody arrangements, they should begin with a “premise” that children should split time equally between parents.
Proponents of the bill held a press conference Tuesday morning on the steps of the Old Capitol, an hour before opponents gathered outside Scott’s office to urge the governor to veto the measure.
Scott’s policy director, Jeff Woodburn, met with representatives of both groups, who packed into Scott’s waiting room and at times got into heated exchanges. At one point, proponents of the measure — including many who were clad in red T-shirts emblazoned with messages supporting “father’s rights” — erupted into a chant urging Scott to “Sign the bill!”
On Friday, the governor did the opposite. In his veto message, Scott said “the one constant” when a divorce involves a young child is “the needs of the child must come before all others” when judges determine parenting schedules, something now required by Florida law.
“This bill has the potential to upend that policy in favor of putting the wants of a parent before the child’s best interest by creating a premise of equal time-sharing. Our judges must consider each family’s unique situation and abilities and put the best interests of the child above all else,” he concluded.
One of the most powerful lawmakers behind the measure lashed out at Scott for nixing the proposal for the second time in three years. Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said in a written statement that the problems Scott voiced about a similar bill in 2013 were fixed this time around.
“At this point it is unclear what future family law reform legislation the governor may find acceptable. Today’s veto message is vague and does nothing to further illuminate the governor’s concerns,” said Lee, whose wife is a judge.
Others backed Scott’s decision. Maria Gonzalez, chairwoman of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, said the bill would have caused more litigation if it had become law.
Divorces or paternity cases in which couples are separating are “tough situations for the entire family” but are particularly painful for children, Gonzalez said.
“So when mom and dad come in front of the judge the best thing they can have is a clean slate and have a judge consider the uniqueness of the family, and also the needs of the particular family and come up and craft a good parenting plan, a good time-sharing schedule that works best for that family,” she said.
FULL STEAM AHEAD
As he weighed what to do on the alimony bill, Scott’s office continued churning out legislation that met with his approval.
He OK’d a 160-page education bill (HB 7029) which packed in everything from funding for high-performing universities to school membership in athletic associations.
It will allow parents to transfer their children to any public school in the state that isn’t at capacity through an “open enrollment” process; add to state law performance-funding formulas for colleges and universities; allow private schools to join the Florida High School Athletic Association or other organizations on a sport-by-sport basis; and give charter schools that serve lower-income students or those with disabilities a bigger slice of construction funding doled out by the state.
The bill would also send additional funds to “emerging pre-eminent” universities — possibly the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. Those schools are approaching the pre-eminent status that provides extra money to the University of Florida and Florida State University.
“This is a great day for students across Florida as Governor Scott signs into law historic legislation to increase school choice options across our K-12 education system by allowing parents to have a greater say regarding which of our neighborhood public schools their child will attend,” said Senate Education Appropriations Chairman Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who handled the bill in the Senate.
Scott also inked a series of health-care bills, including a measure that supporters say will help shield patients from getting hit with surprise tabs after going to hospital emergency rooms and one allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe controlled substances.
But Scott also vetoed a bill that would have provided financial incentives for dentists to practice in underserved areas of the state.
The money could have been used for such things as repayment of dental-school loans or investment in facilities and equipment. But in a veto letter, Scott said, in part, that the bill was duplicative of other programs that provide dental care, such as the statewide Medicaid managed-care system.
Somewhat quietly, the governor also signed a tax-cut package that had been among his top priorities during the session. A ceremonial signing of the bill served as the undercard of an announcement by Novolex — which makes plastic bags — that it’s expanding a manufacturing facility in Jacksonville.
“This bill will not only give Florida families an important back-to-school sales tax holiday, but it will also permanently eliminate the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment so companies like Novolex can invest more money in growing their business and creating new jobs,” Scott said in a press release. “We will continue to do all we can to cut more taxes and support economic growth so Florida can become first for jobs.”
‘TIME TO TURN THE PAGE’
Most of the contours of the fall congressional elections have already been set in Florida. Candidates in swing seats have been recruited, some incumbents have decided to enter the race for an open U.S. Senate seat, and others are campaigning for re-election.
But just a couple of months before qualifying for his seat is set to begin, Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw announced Wednesday he will retire at the end of his current term, ending a 16-year tenure in Washington.
“I am proud of the work we have accomplished for the citizens of Northeast Florida and our nation during my time in Congress,” Crenshaw said in a statement issued by his office Wednesday. “Progress is measured in projects completed and lives impacted, and I think we made a difference. Now, it is time to turn the page on this chapter of my life and see what’s next.”
His retirement automatically kicked up a round of speculation about who might fill his seat. Crenshaw’s district was redrawn last year in response to a redistricting lawsuit, with the new lines including all of Nassau County, part of Duval County and roughly the northern two-thirds of St. Johns County.
It remains heavily Republican; in 2012, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney carried the area by more than 33 points.
But while one of the biggest names connected to the seat quickly jumped in the race, another declined. Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford said he would run for the seat after picking up the support of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and influential GOP fundraiser Peter Rummell.
State Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, decided to take a pass on the race. Former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney also begged off.
Other candidates, including Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland, could still take a look at the seat.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott vetoed an alimony bill that was among the most controversial proposals of the 2016 legislative session as he finished up work on the 272 measures approved by lawmakers.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “His favorite line was, ‘Call Ron Book. When you realize you can’t afford him, call me for the blue-light special.’”— Lobbyist Ron Book, on late colleague Robert M. Levy, who died this week at 67.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Alabama Fugitive Arrested In North Escambia
April 16, 2016
An Alabama fugitive wanted for allegedly stealing weapons during the burglary of an law enforcement officer’s home was arrested in extreme northern Escambia County, FL, Friday afternoon.
Jerrell Mitch Johnson, Jr., age 30 was taken into custody without incident at a home on Albritton Road in Nokomis. There was no word of any weapons being recovered after the arrest.
Johnson is being held on outstanding warrants from the Monroeville (AL) Police Department for allegedly taking multiple weapons after breaking into the home of a law enforcement officer. He remains in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola awaiting extradition back to Alabama.
One Injured In Molino Wreck
April 16, 2016
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Friday night in Molino.
The accident happened about 10:45 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road. One person was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. Five other people, including at least three teens, involved in the crash refused medical treatment at the scene.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Vetoes Alimony Overhaul
April 16, 2016
For the second time in three years, Gov. Rick Scott has vetoed a controversial alimony proposal, this time blaming an even more-contentious child custody component included in the latest bill.
The proposal vetoed Friday would have created a formula, based on the length of marriage and the combined incomes of both spouses, for judges to use when setting alimony payments. After years of disagreement on the issue, alimony reform advocates and The Florida Bar’s Family Law Section supported the alimony proposal, which would have also eliminated permanent alimony while giving judges some discretion to veer from the formula.
But the plan became one of the most hotly contested issues of the 2016 legislative session when it was amended to include a child-sharing component that would have required judges to begin with a “premise” that children should split their time equally between parents.
The proposed time-sharing changes could potentially upend the state’s current policy of putting the needs of children first in favor of parents’ wishes when judges determine custody arrangements, Scott wrote in Friday’s veto letter.
The proposed revisions “have evoked passionate reactions from thousands of Floridians because divorce affects families in many different ways,” Scott wrote.
Men, women and a handful of children on both sides of the measure (SB 668) clashed outside of Scott’s office Tuesday, before representatives met with the governor’s policy director to make last-ditch pitches. Scott received nearly 10,000 messages urging him to sign the bill into law, more than three times the number of requests for a veto.
“As a husband, father and grandfather, I understand the importance of family and the sensitivity and passion that comes with the subject of family law. Family law issues are very personal, and nearly every family comes to the court with different circumstances and needs. As such, we must be judicious and carefully consider the long term and real life repercussions on Florida families,” he wrote.
But “the one constant” when a divorce involves a young child is “the needs of the child must come before all others” when judges determine parenting schedules, something now required by Florida law, Scott wrote.
“This bill has the potential to upend that policy in favor of putting the wants of a parent before the child’s best interest by creating a premise of equal time-sharing. Our judges must consider each family’s unique situation and abilities and put the best interests of the child above all else,” he concluded.
Scott’s veto drew a barbed response from Senate budget chief Tom Lee, who has pushed the child custody issue.
Lee, a former Senate president, said he met with Scott’s staff throughout the session in an attempt to address some of the concerns expressed in the governor’s 2013 veto of a similar alimony bill. Scott objected to a retroactivity provision in the 2013 legislation, which was not included in this year’s bill. Scott’s aides wouldn’t give any clear guidelines about what might please the governor, Lee indicated in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
“At this point it is unclear what future family law reform legislation the governor may find acceptable. Today’s veto message is vague and does nothing to further illuminate the governor’s concerns,” Lee, a Brandon Republican whose wife is a judge, wrote. “Specifically, the veto message focuses exclusively on potential outcomes, without giving reasons for how the legislation could actually result in those outcomes. Current law is clear that the best interest of the children remains paramount and it is the primary responsibility of judges to make a determination based on 20 factors listed in current law. Senate Bill 668 does nothing to change the primary role of the court, which is to do what is in the best interest of the children.”
Lee said he remained “hopeful that we can continue to work to find a solution for the thousands of families across our state who are seeking meaningful changes in family law.”
Other alimony reform advocates aren’t backing down, but will try to keep the time-sharing and alimony issues in separate bills next year.
“We still believe, as an organization, child sharing is important. We just don’t want it to hurt our chances for alimony reform, which is what happened this session.” Family Law Reform founder Alan Frisher, who has spent nearly a decade pushing the issue, said in a telephone interview Friday.
The alimony measure has been mired in controversy since Scott’s first veto three years ago.
A revised version of the measure, which included the formula included in this year’s proposal, died in 2015 after being enmeshed in a dispute between Lee and House Rules Chairman Ritch Workman, a key alimony-overhaul supporter who opposed the child-sharing component.
Late in this year’s legislative session, Workman and Lee reached a compromise regarding the child-sharing language. Instead of requiring a “presumption” of equal time-sharing between parents, the proposal instructed judges to begin with a “premise” that children will divide their time equally between both parents.
The Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, which for years had opposed the alimony reform efforts but worked with Workman, Frisher and others to develop the formula, opposed the child-sharing portion of the bill. Late in the session, the Family Law Section hired lobbyists close to Scott — including the governor’s former legislative affairs director, Jon Costello, and Slater Bayliss — to persuade the governor to veto the proposal.
The National Organization for Women and the League of Women Voters of Florida and some conservative groups also opposed the bill, which they argued would be especially harmful for older homemakers who have few prospects of lucrative employment after spending much of their lives caring for children and husbands.
Family Law Section Chairwoman Maria Gonzalez hailed Scott’s veto, saying the bill would have caused more litigation if it had become law.
Divorces or paternity cases in which couples are separating are “tough situations for the entire family” but are particularly painful for children, Gonzalez said.
“So when mom and dad come in front of the judge the best thing they can have is a clean slate and have a judge consider the uniqueness of the family, and also the needs of the particular family and come up and craft a good parenting plan, a good time-sharing schedule that works best for that family,” she said.
Calling Scott’s veto “crushing and devastating,” Frisher accused the governor of ignoring the will of “the highest court, the court of public opinion.”
“He did not listen to our citizens. He did not listen to our legislators. One man made this determination. I understand he’s a family man, but he’s also our governor. And that made me even more disappointed,” he said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
New Prison Health Contractors Moves Into Nine North Florida Facilities
April 16, 2016
A new prison health contractor will begin moving into nine North Florida facilities Saturday, an initial step toward providing care for more than 80,000 inmates, the state Department of Corrections said Friday.
Centurion of Florida will begin what the department described as an “initial transition” into Holmes Correctional Institution, Gulf Correctional Institution, Liberty Correctional Institution, Madison Correctional Institution, Cross City Correctional Institution, Lake Correctional Institution, the Quincy Annex, the Mayo Annex and the Gadsden Re-Entry Center.
The department in January awarded a contract to Centurion of Florida after another firm, Corizon Health, decided to end its contract to provide services to about three-fourths of the state’s inmates. Centurion of Florida will move into 32 other facilities by May 31, the department said.
The award of the contract drew a challenge from Wexford Health Sources, Inc., which provides services to inmates in the rest of the state. But an administrative law judge this month rejected the Wexford challenge.
“Since entering into a contract for comprehensive health care services in January, the department and Centurion have worked collaboratively to ensure proper staffing, the availability of medical resources and a seamless delivery of medical care and services during this transition period,” Corrections Secretary Julie Jones said in a prepared statement Friday. “I am confident that Centurion will produce positive, patient-centered health outcomes for the more than 80,000 inmates under their care.”
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The medical unit inside Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Wins District Title; Jay Falls To South Walton
April 16, 2016
Tate 7, Pace 2
For the third year in a row, the Tate Lady Aggies won the District 1-7A title Friday night 7-2 over Pace at Escambia High School.
Savannah Rowell recorded 10 strike outs in seven innings and allowed just two runs and seven hits. Rowell was also 2-4 with two RBIs and run. Savannah Ullrich and Hannah Brown bother homered for the Lady Aggies.
Other Tate hitters — Hannah Brown 3-3 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Savannah Rowell 2-4 2 RBIs, R; Savannah Ullrich 1-2 HR, 2 RBIs, R.
Tate will host Milton on Wednesday in regional action, while Pace will hit the road to Niceville.
South Walton 3, Jay 1
The Jay Lady Royals lost Friday night 3-1 to South Walton at Northview in the Lady Royal’s sixth consecutive appearance inthe District 3-1A title game.
Destiny Herring pitched seven innings for Jay, allowing three runs, eight hits and striking out three. Micheala Stewart was 1-3 with a run for Jay.
Jay will travel Thursday night to Franklin County for the regional semi-finals.
Pictured top: The Tate Lady Aggies celebrate their district championship win Friday night. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott: Area’s Unemployment Drops
April 16, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the Pensacola area added 4,300 new private-sector jobs over the year in March. The area’s unemployment rate declined by 0.7 percentage point over the year to 4.6 percent in March.
Scott said, “I am proud to announce that the Pensacola area added more than 4,000 new jobs this year and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent. We want Florida to become first for jobs, which is why we worked to cut more than $1 billion in taxes in the past two years and why we will continue to do all we can to support job growth in Florida.”
The industry with the largest job gains in the Pensacola area over the year in March was leisure and hospitality with 1,000 new jobs. The Pensacola area had 4,866 job openings in March, including 1,219 openings for high-wage, high-skill, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations.
West Florida Lady Jags Win District Championship
April 16, 2016
The West Florida Lady Jaguars shut out Gulf Breeze 4-0 for the District 1-6A championship Friday night.
Sarah Nicholas pitched seven for the Lady Jags, allowing three hits and striking out five. Lauren Carnley was 2-4 with a single, a double, three RBIs and a run scored for West Florida, while Jibrashia Moore was 2-3 with a walk and two runs scores. Bri Morgan was 1-3 with a sacrifice bunt.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Jacksonville
April 16, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Ray Chang said when he stepped into the on-deck circle, he had a serious case of de ja vu.
Less than a year ago on June 10, the 32-year-old minor league veteran hit a walk-off single to defeat the Jacksonville Suns.
He did it again last night with a single to right field to score catcher Chad Wallach from third base with one out in the 11th inning, giving Pensacola a, 4-3, victory Friday over Jacksonville at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It’s the first time in the Blue Wahoos’ five-year history that it has won the first two five-game series.
Pensacola is 3-1 against the Suns and sits atop the Southern League South Division at 7-2. Jacksonville fell to 5-4.
Chang, who’s hitting .294, nearly froze to death after his walk-off hit getting doused in cold water three times. It was the third walk-off in his career. He said the feeling of hitting a walk-off never gets old.
“Never. Absolutely never,” Chang said after the game. “That’s an awesome feeling.”
Chang’s walk-off was set up by smart base running by Wallach. He took off for second when Suns’ closer Victor Araujo bounced one in the dirt and ended up on third when catcher Francisco Arcia threw the ball into right-center field.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said Chang was just the person he wanted at the plate.
“I love him being up in that situation with his experience,” Kelly said. “Chang was clutch again.”
In the 10th inning, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases against Araujo with two outs but he struck out Pensacola’s Brandon Dixon to get out of the inning.
Chang said the mood of the 2016 team compared to last year’s team is “180-degrees different.” He added, “We got off to a really slow beginning last year. We’ve got some serious chemistry going on here.”
Interestingly, Wallach scored the Blue Wahoos last two runs. He smashed a two-run homer to right field — the team’s third home run of the season — that put the Blue Wahoos up, 3-0, in the second inning.
“Chad’s got the power to go to the opposite field,” Kelly said. “In this park, I don’t care which way the wind is blowing, that’s a big home run.”
The Blue Wahoos went up, 1-0, in the first when Beau Amaral walked and then scored when left fielder Tony Renda, ripped a single to center field.
However, Jacksonville clawed its way back scoring one run in the sixth, seventh and eighth to tie the game, 3-3. In the eighth, Suns first baseman Brady Shoemaker singled into right field with one out to score right fielder Jeremias Pineda with the tying run.
Jacksonville had a golden opportunity to win the game in the ninth inning when it loaded the bases but Austin Dean hit a chopper to Pensacola third baseman Eric Jagielo, who quickly threw to home plate to force out second baseman Peter Mooney. With the bases still loaded and two out, Shoemaker hit a grounder to Jagielo who stepped on the third base bag to end the scoring threat.
Meanwhile, the Wahoos bats went silent as Jacksonville relievers set down 16 Pensacola hitters in a row from the fourth inning until Chad Wallach earned an infield single that ricocheted off the first baseman in the ninth inning. In fact, Suns relievers Scott Lyman, Tyler Kinley and Sean Donatello combined to pitch 5.2 innings of no-hit, no-run ball until Wallach’s hit.
Pensacola pitcher Jackson Stephens, who got the Suns side out four times in six innings, pitched 5.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
Cantonment Man Facing Multiple Drug, Weapons Charges After Traffic Stop
April 15, 2016
A Cantonment man is jailed on a list of drug and weapons charges after a Pensacola traffic stop.
Pensacola Police conducted a traffic stop on Olive Road on a vehicle driven by 31-year old Thomas Richard Moore III.
After K-9 alerted on the vehicle, officers reported finding Spice, several controlled narcotics and other prescription medications for which Moore did not have a prescription, a variety of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and a .38 caliber revolver. The loaded revolver was listed as stolen by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Moore was charged with possession of a new legend drug without a prescription, possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a synthetic narcotic with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of marijuana.
Moore remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $34,500.