TALLAHASSEE – Florida Gov. Rick Scott today signed 36 bills into law including one that bans welfare recipients from using EBT cards at “adult entertainment establishments” like strip clubs and casinos.
The governor also signed a contentious environmental permitting bill, a measure dealing with “cyberbulling,” and a bill dealing with school safety procedures.
The legislation (HB 701) targeting EBT cards created a heated debate in the Legislature.
EBT cards — standing for electronic benefit transfer — are like debit cards. Welfare recipients use them to draw down their benefits.
Critics called the bill offensive to poor people. But the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jimmie Smith, said that voting against his measure was like “voting for lap dances on taxpayer dollars.”
To see what other bills Scott allowed read here on tbo.com
