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Jeff Brandes - page 15

Director of Pinellas construction licensing board retires

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Rodney Fisher, the executive director of the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, announced his retirement during a meeting Tuesday of the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation. Fisher, who has been the target of recent stories in the Tampa Bay Times, referred to those saying, “The issue with the PCCLB should not be about me. … I am retiring as the executive director.” The stories have alleged that some homeowners and contractors feel “cheated, ignored and even stonewalled” by the agency. As…

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Jeff Brandes legislation would create task force focusing on criminal justice

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

After years of watching other red states leap ahead of them on criminal justice reform, Pinellas County Republican Senator Jeff Brandes is filing a bill that would create a criminal justice task force in the state of Florida in 2017. It calls for a large committee consisting of 27 members (16 will be appointed) representing the Florida House, Senate, the Governor’s offices and various state agencies, as well as from a victim’s advocacy group, the formerly incarcerated, and the faith community. The goal would be to…

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Jeff Brandes files bill to standardize visitation plans

in Statewide by

Sen. Jeff Brandes has filed a bill aimed at providing standardized visitation plans for unmarried parents. The St. Petersburg Republican filed legislation (SB 590) Monday, which would create a standard visitation schedule for unmarried parents. If adopted, the proposal would encourage contact between non-custodial parents and their children. “Spending time with our children is the most valuable gift parents can give,” he said in a statement. “The state currently requires child support be paid but is silent on time. This…

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Jeff Brandes bill would legalize delivery drones

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by
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A bill filed Tuesday would allow delivery drones to operate in Florida. The legislation (SB 460), however, focuses on ground drones, or “personal delivery devices.” Such a unit is defined as a “motorized device for use primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks at a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour, which weighs 50 pounds or less excluding cargo.” London-based Starship Technologies makes a six-wheeled model that is beginning to make deliveries in California and Washington, D.C. “With this legislation, Florida continues to lead in…

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Bill to expand juvenile civil citations raises questions on officer discretion

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A bill to set up a civil citation program for juveniles statewide advanced Monday through a Florida Senate committee. However, questions about removing officer discretion may need to be addressed before the proposal gets widespread support from lawmakers later this Session. Miami Republican Senator Anitere Flores’ bill (SB 196) would mandate law enforcement officers to offer a civil citation for youths admitting to one of 11 separate misdemeanors: possession of alcohol beverages; battery; criminal mischief; trespassing; theft; retail and farm theft; riots; disorderly conduct;…

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Proposed legislation could break the cycle of debt for many caught in Florida’s legal system

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It’s a vicious circle: Poor people who can’t afford their court-related costs and penalties incur escalating costs for not paying, further indebting them to the state. “It’s a circle that some people get stuck in and they can’t get out,” Christopher Torres, a Tallahassee defense attorney and former Florida assistant attorney general, told Watchdog.org. Compounding the problem is the state’s practice of suspending drivers’ licenses as both a punishment for delinquent payments and an incentive to get people to pay up. For those…

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Lawmakers look to raise money during upcoming legislative committee meeting weeks

in Statewide by

It’s going to be a busy few weeks for Florida Republicans. House Majority announced fundraising events for seven House Republicans, all of which are running for re-election in 2018, between Jan. 24 and Feb. 20. The fundraising kicks off on Tuesday with an event for Rep. Bob Cortes. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at The Beer Industry of Florida, 110 South Monroe Street, Suite B. House Majority will also hold a fundraiser for Reps. Heather Fitzenhagen,…

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