Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 2, 2019

Some of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis‘ transition advisers are suggesting changes to the way the state administers behavioral health care. A DeSantis brain trust of health care professionals and policy experts spent a great deal of time Wednesday discussing the behavioral-health spectrum, with mental health and substance abuse at the top of their list. These issues fill the backdrop […]

Jim RosicaOctober 1, 2018

An administrative law judge on Monday largely gutted the state’s proposed rule governing the drug testing of racing greyhounds. In a 44-page “final order,” Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early struck down specific provisions of the state regulation on how greyhounds are chosen for testing on race days, and how samples are stored and at […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2018

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Gambling regulators on Tuesday again said they were “renewing” an emergency rule that allows them to continue testing racing greyhounds for drugs, including cocaine. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which regulates gambling through its Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, posted a “notice of renewal” in Tuesday’s Florida Administrative Register. The emergency rule on “Procedures for Collecting Samples from Racing Greyhounds” […]

Jim RosicaJune 21, 2018

Gambling regulators this week said they plan to keep using an emergency rule that allows them to continue testing racing greyhounds for drugs. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which regulates gambling through its Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, posted a “notice of renewal” in Thursday’s Florida Administrative Register. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 12 […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 8, 2018

A Democratic state Senator from South Florida has filed legislation expressly allowing dog trainers to give anabolic steroids to racing greyhounds. The bill (SB 1774), filed Friday afternoon by Kevin Rader of Delray Beach, is for the 2018 Legislative Session that begins Tuesday. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted at 12 tracks. The measure […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2017

Calling it an “immediate danger” that needs “emergency action,” gambling regulators this week filed a temporary rule to allow them to keep testing racing greyhounds for drugs. The moves comes after an administrative law judge struck down the testing program, saying it was “invalid.” The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which regulates gambling in Florida, also asked Judge […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2017

An administrative law judge has struck down the state’s greyhound drug testing program, according to an order released Friday. Judge Lawrence P. Stevenson ruled that state regulators’ use of procedures in a “2010 Greyhound Veterinary Assistant Procedures Manual,” “even after being ordered to cease” doing so, was “invalid” and in violation of state law. The case […]

Gary FineoutJuly 28, 2017

Florida’s price tag for losing legal battles – which has included courtroom fights over drug testing, voting rights and gay marriage – continues to grow under Gov. Rick Scott. Scott recently agreed to pay $1.1 million to cover the legal bills of physicians and medical organizations in their successful challenge of a law that restricted […]

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

A bill that would require drug testing for adults of families previously convicted of drug offenses who are applying for temporary family assistance from the state of Florida passed a House committee Monday. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Latvala, the bill – HB 1117 — would mandate the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to give […]

Guest AuthorOctober 31, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott and our state lawmakers tried to make Florida welfare recipients submit to drug testing. Scott also wanted state workers to be drug tested. School boards across the state have instituted random drug testing for students and teachers. The new state symbol could easily become the urine specimen collection cup, especially if Gov. […]

Tag: drug testing

Ron DeSantis panel eyes mental health, addiction

Judge’s ruling eviscerates state’s greyhound drug-testing system

Regulators renew emergency rule on race-dog drug testing

Regulators plan to keep using emergency rule on race-dog drug testing

Kevin Rader files bill to legalize steroids in racing dogs

A ‘Red Bull rule’? State strikes back on drugs in race dogs

Judge strikes down Florida’s racing-dog drug testing program

Florida’s cost for losing lawsuits keeps growing

House committee OK’s bill to drug test temporary family aid seekers

Rick Outzen: I will, if you will, Governor Scott