Governor Rick Scott signed into law on Thursday, thirty-six mostly uncontroversial bills.
Among the bills Scott inked was the Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards (HB 701), prohibiting the use of EBT cards to buy liquor or using them at strip clubs, gambling facilities and bingo halls.
A recent 2011 TV news investigation, confirmed by Florida officials, found that of 1.3 million EBT transactions amounting to nearly $202 million over a two-year period, about $93,000 was drawn at places with liquor licenses, strip clubs or gambling sites, postonpolitics.com reported.
Scott also signed off on a bill dealing with water nutrient standards (SB 1808), allowing the state to have a greater say over its water quality. Another bill, (HB 999), pre-empts a lawsuit by environmental groups regarding leasing of Everglades land to the giant sugar corporation Florida Crystals for another 30 years. Both bills have proven to be controversial.
Environmentalists have wanted the federal Environmental Protection Agency to have greater control over pollution standards and water quality in the state. The groups also argued that the renewal of the sugar leases would lead to the ongoing dumping of pollutants into the Everglades for the foreseeable future, postonpolitics.com also reported.
Yesterday, Scott signed HB 609, an anti-bullying bill which enhances existing laws and prohibits harassment with respect to computer-related activities or cyberbullying in the public school system. The bill takes effect on July 1st.
