INSURANCE SCAM The Office of Insurance Regulation warned Floridians that scammers were sending out emails notifying the recipient that their insurance policies have been cancelled. The emails appear to be from OIR Commissioner David Almaier, but are fake messages. Please notify OIR if you receive such an email by calling the Department’s hotline at 877-693-5236. HURRICANE Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
THIRD GRADE RETENTION Fourteen parents filed a suit in Leon County Circuit Court seeking an injunction against seven school districts to prohibit the districts from retaining third grade students whose parents opted out of the Florida Standards Assessment test. Confusion exists throughout Florida’s public schools regarding whether opting out is a legitimate reason to retain Read more about Legal Updates[…]
ZIKA UPDATE As of August 30th, there were 682 cases of the Zika virus in Florida, 78 related to pregnant women. Governor Scott asked the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to activate an emergency response team to assist the Florida Department of Health and other partners in their investigation, sample collection, and mosquito control efforts. An unprecedented Read more about Issues of Interest[…]
159 new laws went into effect in Florida on July 1st. A sampling: HB 7099- the $129.1 million package exempts sales taxes on food and drinks sold by veterans’ organizations; revises how taxes are calculated on alcohol and tobacco sales for cruise ships within Florida waters; on pear cider; and on an excise tax on aviation fuel. It Read more about New Laws Went into effect July 1st[…]
SCHOLARSHIP AUDIT A routine audit at the Department of Education discovered that a small percentage of students receiving Personal Learning Scholarships, named Gardiner Scholarships this past session after Senate President Andy Gardiner, were later classified as ineligible to receive the scholarship money this school year because they re-enrolled in public school. Jacksonville-based Step Up for Read more about Issues of Interest[…]