What IS the status of Florida Bill HB3115?? The 1998 Florida Legislative Session closed yesterday at 4:00 P. I spoke first with Carrie at the Governors Executive Office on Legislative Affairs in regard to our request for a special signing session with Governor Chiles. Carrie stated that, "We have your request and have placed it into a SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOLDER," she also went on to add, "that [Mina's Story] was a very touching story. We passed it around the office," " We're waiting for the Bill to arrive then we'll put them together for the Governor to review." Carrie closed with, " Jennifer will contact you in the next two weeks with the Governors decision." I picked up the phone and called Rep. Howard Futch's office (Bill sponsor) and spoke with Corky one of Howards assistants and she said that, "The fact that they placed it in a special consideration folder was EXCELLENT." When asked where our bill was, since it had not yet reached the Governor's Legislative Affairs Office Corky said, "Session has ended and the Senate President [Toni Jennings] had to sign all of the bill's before she went home. She can't leave until it's done." "Did you know that I have attended special bill signing's with the Governor here in Brevard?" Corky pushed the magic button. The wheels were greased once more. I sat down and wrote another fax request but, this time in the form of a formal invitation to a HB3115 celebration party at which time Gov. Chiles could go through the motions (the bill will already have been signed) of signing the bill. Since the party would be in a central location (Brevard) it would be accessible to FL Ferret Families from coast to coast. (More on party arrangements in a future FML post.) I'm having the Governors invitation proofread before I send it out Mon. Even if Governor Chiles can't make it here to Brevard we still plan to celebrate and perhaps we could arrange something that would be closer to him complete with Mina Baxter, a couple of very photogenic Fuzzies and the Press I'm sure will be in attendance. If you have any questions e-mail me. I will try to keep everyone current as I receive the facts. Marie E Wallace [Posted in FML issue 2296]