Joel Malkin

Joel Malkin

I've spent more than 30 years on the radio in Palm Beach County, starting as a deejay in the late 1980s. Over the years, I became a news...Full Bio

 

Gov. Scott Signs Bill Cracking Down On Fentanyl Dealers

Governor Rick Scott was at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in West Palm Beach on Tuesday.  

He held a ceremonial signing of House Bill 477, which creates new penalties and enhances existing penalties relating to opioids, including fentanyl.  The governor also held a ceremonial bill signing in Sarasota (above).

Under the new law, which was officially signed last month, anyone who is in possession of 4 grams of the deadly narcotic faces a mandatory minimum of three years.  

Drug dealers may face felony murder charges and up to 30 years in prison, if their customers die using fentantyl. 

Scott declared a public health emergency in May to fight the epidemic of overdoses in Palm Beach County and around the state.  The state was awarded a $54 million federal grant to go towards prevention, treatment and recovery services over the next two years.  

A number of local law enforcement agencies report the number of overdose calls increasing during the first half of this year.

The new law goes into effect October 1.

Photo: Gov. Rick Scott's Office


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