Florida Attorney General Proclaims 2007 Legislative Session a Success for Improving Safety of Floridians

Attorney General praises Legislature for commitment to public safety

May 4, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today extended his thanks to state lawmakers for passing a wide range of bills that greatly enhance public safety for Floridians throughout the state.

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"I am appreciative of the great efforts made by our House and Senate members to improve the quality of living here in Florida," Attorney General McCollum said. "They have clearly demonstrated that the safety and security of Floridians is a top priority.”

Several public safety measures initiated or supported by Attorney General McCollum and passed during this legislative session include the following:

- CyberCrimes Against Children Act of 2007 (SB 1004): This bill strengthens penalties against online predators by creating a new crime for those who contact a child online and then travel to meet the child to further sexually abuse him or her. The bill also increases penalties for the possession or distribution of child pornography and for behavior known as “grooming.” Grooming occurs when internet predators misrepresent their age in order to make a child feel more comfortable for the purpose of seducing him or her over the internet.

- Funding for the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit Expansion (SB 2800): The General Appropriations Act includes $2.3 Million to expand the Child Predator CyberCrime Unit throughout Florida, with 50 additional cybercrime staff dedicated to investigating, arresting and prosecuting internet predators and child pornographers.

- Victims Services (HB 989): This bill provides additional protections for victims of sexual assault and enables Floridians who are victims of violent crime abroad to receive the same compensation available to victims of violent crime within the United States. The Attorney General’s Office disburses this compensation to victims.

- False Claims Act (SB 2312): This bill strengthens the False Claims Act to combat Medicaid fraud. By mirroring the Federal False Claims Act, Florida will receive an additional 10 percent from the Federal government on all civil actions. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is responsible for protecting the medical needs of those who are disadvantaged.

- Adam Walsh Act (SB 1604): This bill brings Florida into compliance with the National Sex Offender Registry, providing more comprehensive information to the public throughout the country on registered sexual predators and offenders.

Additionally, Attorney General McCollum supported several measures that provide enhanced assistance to minority communities and protect Floridians’ civil rights, including the following pieces of legislation:

- HB 529: The cable franchise bill includes an important provision that allows the Office of Attorney General to fine a company up to $15,000 a month per violation if it purposely avoids serving a neighborhood because of the residents' race.

- SB 2800: Included in the Office of Attorney General’s budget is:

- Funding of $100,000 for the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys, which is charged with making a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys including homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rate, poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual income levels, health issues and school performance
- Funding of $100,000 for the Haitian American Bar Association to assist immigrant and indigent populations with pro bono legal counsel
- Funding of $250,000 for the Cuban American Bar Association to assist immigrant and indigent populations with pro bono legal counsel
- Funding of $1.5 Million for the University Area Community Development Corporation to coordinate anti-crime initiatives in low-income minority communities
- Funding of $3.25 Million for crime prevention programs coordinated through the Urban League

Source: Florida Attorney General