May 1, 2009
Dear Friend, Today is the last day of the 2009 Legislative Session to vote on legislation other than the budget, and I’m happy to report that two of my bills have passed the Legislature and will be sent to the Governor for his signature.
Yesterday, the Florida Legislature passed SB 462 and SB 440 (HB 897 and HB 937), which authorize the creation of an electronic prescription drug monitoring system to track the dispensing of controlled substances in Florida to help physicians and law enforcement officials prevent abuse, misuse, and illegal sale of prescription drugs.
Our state has been devastated in recent years by the drastic increase in deaths due to prescription drug overdoses, but by passing this legislation, the Florida Legislature has taken a critical step forward in saving the lives of so many Floridians who have become addicted to prescription drugs or may become addicted to them in the future.
Florida’s lack of a prescription drug monitoring system has also made our state a target for obtaining controlled substances to sell illegally here and in nearby states that have a monitoring system in place. I have seen firsthand the countless cars with license plates from around the country lined up outside South Florida pain clinics waiting their turn to pick up handfuls of pill bottles as easy as picking up a Big Mac at a fast-food drive-through. This legislation will help us end Florida’s status as the nation’s pill mill.
NBC Nightly News did a great story on this issue last night, detailing how drug dealers and addicts from around the country come to Broward County to obtain pills illegally due to our lack of a prescription drug monitoring system. You can watch the story by clicking here. There’s also a story in today’s Miami Herald about passage of the bill, and you can read it by clicking here.
I’m also happy to report that HB 331, which I sponsored with Senator Deutch, passed the Florida Legislature yesterday as well. As a result, the Florida Public Health Institute will be able to more effectively promote public health awareness in our state.
The Legislature also passed the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law, which former State Representative Irv Slosberg has fought tirelessly to pass since becoming a member of the Florida House of Representatives. The bill would allow police officers to pull drivers over for not wearing a seat belt and will save hundreds of Floridians’ lives. I congratulate Representative Slosberg on this tremendous achievement, and thank him for everything he has done to make Florida drivers safer.
Next week, we will be voting on the state budget and I’ll be sure to give you an update on what is proposed once budget conference committee meetings have ended.
Health Tip--The 2009 Legislative Session is always a stressful time for the members and staff of the Florida Legislature, and while the end of session may lead to a little bit of stress relief in our life, there may still be a lot of stress in your own.
The Mayo Clinic offers the following tips to reduce stress and improve productivity:
Plan each day. Prioritize your tasks. Say no to nonessential tasks. Delegate. Take the time you need to do a quality job. Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Practice the 10-minute rule. Evaluate how you're spending your time. Limit distractions. Get plenty of sleep, have a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Take a time management course. Take a break when needed. For more details on these tips visit http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/time-management/WL00048.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns. Our district office number is (561) 470-6593.
All the best. Kelly Skidmore, State Representative, District 90. Visit my official website at: CLICK HERE. http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4364&SessionId=61