On Tuesday, July 20, the Florida Legislature met, and adjourned, the Special Session called by Governor Crist.  The effort to place a Constitutional Amendment on the 2010 ballot to ban offshore drilling off Florida’s Coast was not heard before the House or the Senate. 

House Speaker Larry Cretul (R-Ocala) announced the formation six “Deepwater Horizon Response and Recovery Workgroups” to meet in the coming weeks and report back to the speaker by the end of August.  The panels will be chaired by Reps. Marlene O’Toole (R-Lady Lake), Steve Crisafulli (R-Merritt Island), Matt Hudson (R-Naples), Chris Dorworth (R-Lake Mary), Paige Kreegel (R-Punta Gorda), and Trudi Williams (R-Fort Myers).  The goals, objectives, and committees may be found here: http://www.myfloridahouse.com

Senator Don Gaetz (R-Destin) also held a Workshop on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill through the Select Committee on Florida's Economy.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential legislative action regarding the economic consequences of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.  Presentations from the meeting may be found here: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/committees/Senate/meeting_packets/SFE.pdf

FRLA’s Carol Dover, in a recent forum with Claims Czar Ken Feinberg, spoke about the claims process.  Carol Dover: Can a hotel, or a motel or a restaurant that has not directly been impacted by the oil on the beach, file an eligible claim?  Ken Feinberg: The answer is of course!  File a claim.  We’ll take a look at it.  We’ll seek corroboration, but by all means, file that claim. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ups5mJ4TI_E to hear this and other comments from the meeting.

If your business has been impacted by the oil spill, please go to www.FRLA.org to secure information about filing a claim through BP. 

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association will continue to keep members informed about this and other breaking news.