PAY RAISES Florida Supreme Court Justices received a 24 percent pay raise, taking their salaries to $220,600. Assistant state attorneys and assistant public defenders got a $2,000 bump or $4,000 if they have three or more years of service. State firefighters earned a $2,500 raise and law enforcement officers at the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a 7 percent pay raise. Those with 10 or more years of service will look forward to a 10 percent pay raise. Probation and detention officers in the Department of Juvenile Justice also received a 10 percent pay raise.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA The Legislature withheld $1.9 million from the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use until it implements rules necessary to carry out the state’s medical-marijuana laws.
OVERDOSE DRUGS The Florida Highway Patrol announced that state troopers will be issued naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug. The troopers are the latest law enforcement officers to start carrying the drug, which revives overdose victims, in an effort to help combat the opioid crises.
CONSERVATION At their March meeting, the Florida Cabinet agreed to purchase 772 acres of ranchland in Madison County for $660,060. The purchase will allow the landowners to continue operating a cow and calf ranch on the historic property. The land was once the site of San Pedro y San Pablo de Protohiriba on Lake Sampala, one of five missions established by the Spanish in the 1600’s.