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New fiscal year means new laws on Fla's books

By Regan McCarthy

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Tallahassee, FL – Friday nearly 200 measures passed by the legislature become law with the start of the new fiscal year. And because ignorance is not accepted as an excuse for breaking a law it may behoove the citizenry to brush up on the changes. Regan McCarthy has more.

Most of the state's newly enacted laws won't have a major impact on the behavior of a typical person on the street or alter a police officer's reason for pulling out his hand cuffs. But it's likely at least one of the nearly 200 new rules will have some effect on the average citizen. So listeners, here's a list of several of the biggest changes you'll likely want to know about

If you're a doctor working at one of the state's pain management clinics: Be aware prescribing practices have changed. Florida has gained a reputation as a state with loose prescription pain medication rules making it a destination for people from state's with stricter rules to travel for illicit drugs. But a law in which Governor Rick Scott took a personal interest cracks down on prescribing policies and Scott said earlier this week doctors have already taken steps in preparation for the new pill mill law.

"My understanding is already the physicians are sending the drugs back to the distributors they got them from. So my goal is to make this the state that you're not going to be able to get these illegal drugs."

The new law makes drugs more difficult to dole out, for example requiring that prescriptions be printed on a copy-resistant pad or be given electronically.

If you're a student in the public school system: pull up your pants. A new law requires schools to enforce dress codes that prevent students from wearing sagging pants at school. Senator Gary Siplin of Orlando who authored the bill says there's some chance the law could one day be extended outside of schools, though he's hoping it will happen through a change in learned behavior rather than law.

"Hopefully after a couple of years of promoting this then we will have almost 95-percent compliance in all 67 counties and then we can see how that infiltrates out into society."

Students might also be affected by laws that let students with disabilities such as allergies and asthma select to attend private school on the tax payer's dime, as well as by a new requirement that all incoming high school freshmen take at least one online class before graduating.

If you're applying for State welfare benefits: be prepared to take a drug test first. It's a controversial measure that garnered significant debate during the legislative session.

"I think one of the amendments was to have at least somebody with probable cause. That if you've been caught with drugs before that you should be the one tested. And the discussion with that was that we shouldn't create different classes. We shouldn't discriminate against people just go ahead and test everybody."

That's Senator Christopher Smith of Oakland Park discussing the subject on the floor. Earlier this year, Governor Scott also signed an executive order requiring that state employees be randomly drug tested. Scott says the intent of the tests is to help to ensure tax payers' money is being used in the right way. The American Civil Liberties Union has already begun a law suit against Scott's executive order, which affects state employees. Florida ACLU officials say they're considering a similar move against the law that will require welfare recipients to submit to a drug test.

Scott signed the welfare drug testing bill on the same day he signed another measure the rule making the drug known as bath salts illegal. It's another coming into effect now.

If you're a pregnant woman considering her options: you may also be affected. A new law requires women to submit to an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion procedure. Women preferring not to see or hear a description of their ultrasound must now sign a document to that effect. Those who've been victimized are the victim of rape, for example, will be exempt from signing the papers in order to skip viewing their ultrasound but CEO of the North Florida branch of Planned Parenthood ,Staci Fox, says those women must bring proof before they're excused. Fox say that's the part of the law that's most upsetting to her. She says the most obvious change will be the increase in cost providers and individuals will face.

"Because of the requirements of the bill and the level of the certification of the staff that have to be involved it just creates more expense for providers who are already providing safe and legal abortion procedures in Florida."

Another abortion related law is also now in effect. It prohibits abortion procedures from being covered by insurance exchanges.

And of course, one of the biggest laws now in effect is the budget. With it come several other laws citizens will likely notice most in their wallets.

For example, if you're a state employee: expect your next pay check to be a little lighter. The government is skimming 3-percent off the top of employee pay and transferring the funds for use in the state retirement system. School teachers, specifically are taking multiple hits. They'll be affected by the 3-percent pay decrease and thanks to a newly implemented law their salaries will now be tied to their students' performance.

The legislature passed just 277 bills this year. With about 160 now in effect few remain to be implemented. The dates for the start of remaining laws are scattered over the next year.