Gov. Rick Scott signed 11 bills into law on Tuesday, including a law governing the operation of ride-sharing operations such as "Uber" and "Lyft" throughout the state.
- HB 221 sets consistent operating standards for ridesharing companies
- Includes insurance coverage and background check requirements
- Other bills cover reservoir building in Lake Okeechobee, law enforcement body cameras
CS/HB 221, known as the "Uber/Lyft Bill," sets consistent operating standards throughout Florida for ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft, according to Gov. Scott's office. Those standards include requirements for insurance coverage and driver background checks.
Another notable bill signed by Scott is CS/SB 10, known as the "Lake Okeechobee Bill." The legislation allocates funds for the construction of a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, and provides a loan for its construction.
The Lake Okeechobee bill is an ambitious $1.5 billion plan that aims to prevent algae blooms that have been harmful to the environment and tourism. It was a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron, whose district has been plagued by algae often described as guacamole-thick.
“After twenty years of talking, southern storage is finally becoming a reality,” Negron said in a press release. “We are well on our way to putting the harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the pages of history, instead of the front pages of daily newspapers.”
The other bills Scott signed into law Tuesday covered issues ranging from individuals with disabilities using service dogs during legal proceedings to law enforcement officers' ability to access body camera footage prior to writing incident reports or issuing statements.
For the full list of bills signed into law on May 9, 2017, click HERE.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.