Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 8-30-19

State News
Unclaimed Property Auction Has Over $600,000 Worth Of Valuables Left Behind
ORLANDO, Fla. — Over $600,000 dollars’ worth of valuables left behind in safe deposit boxes is now up for grabs at the unclaimed property auction in Orlando.
Right now, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer holds over two billion dollars of unclaimed property. Most of that is in the form of dor- mant accounts in banks, securities, and trust holdings.
But some of that property also comes in the form of high-priced jewelry, coins, and other collectibles. They’re items left in bank safe de- posit boxes.
If the rent on those boxes isn’t paid for three consecutive years, and the bank is unable to contact the renter, they get someone to drill that box.
Whatever contents are found inside, is then
turned over to the Florida division of un- claimed property.
The office then hangs onto these valuables for at least another two years before the public can bid on them.
Florida Felons Show Frustration Wondering
If They Qualify To Vote
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Now that some Florida felons can vote, a new committee has to pick the best way to deter- mine which.
As long as they weren't convicted of a murder or sex crime, felons will need to pay court fines and restitution be- fore rights are restored thanks to a new law from the last leg- islative session.
That info can be hard for election officials to track down, sometimes lost in old files across Florida or even outside the state.
Felons have struggled, too.
Greg James, who’s now a Tallahassee pastor, had been fighting for felon voting rights since his release from incar- ceration in 2008.
He was jubilant while reg- istering to vote in January. Months later, he feels stuck in a gray zone— uncertain if he has outstanding fees that will prevent him from voting.
“The voices that said put this on the ballot really don’t
matter now,” James said. “It’s disheartening.”
This week, a state commit- tee of officials formed to come up with a method to deter- mining which felons qualify to vote and which don't. They’ll be meeting each month and plan to have options by Janu- ary.
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee chairs the group. She said members will look at what information already ex- ists, where it could be consol- idated and what technological barriers might exist.
“I believe that we have the ability to compile all of the in- formation we need to make appropriate recommenda- tions to the legislature,” Lee said.
Convicted felons regained voting rights last January after Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers limited the scope of the changes a few months later with the financial re- quirements.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7-A