BUSH SIGNS BREAST CANCER RESEARCH PLATE, THREE STRIKES BILLS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- A new license plate will raise money for breast cancer
research under a bill Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law Monday while predicting
it will become among the most popular of Florida's specialty tags.

"It will be in the top one or two in the state ... because this is a huge
issue for so many people," Bush said before signing the bill (HB 441).

If that's the case, the plates will raise millions for breast cancer
research. Of Florida's 48 specialty plates, the space shuttle Challenger
plate has raised the most money, totaling $36.8 million since it was issued
in 1987. The manatee plate is currently the most popular and has raised
$27.9 million since being issued in 1990.

The new plate will read "End Breast Cancer" and will cost an additional
$25, with the money going to the Breast Cancer Coalition Research
Foundation. It features the outline of a woman wearing a pink ribbon on her
chest.

"The idea is to end this thing once and for all, and of course research is
an incredibly important part of that," said Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan, whose
wife Mary died of breast cancer three years ago. "Won't it be a wonderful
day and time when ... we don't have to worry about education and awareness
any longer because there will be a cure."

Among the bill's sponsors was Sara Romeo, D-Lutz, who was diagnosed with
breast cancer before the start of this year's Legislative session. Sen.
Debby Sanderson, R-Fort Lauderdale and also a breast cancer survivor,
sponsored an identical bill in the Senate.

In other bill action, Bush signed five related measures that will keep the
state's get-tough-on-crime "three strikes" law on the books.

An appeals court earlier this year ruled that the original 1999 law
violated the constitution by dealing with more than one subject.

The bills signed Monday will:

_ Require judges give defendants the maximum sentence for a third felony.

_ Restore the three-year minimum sentence for aggravated assault or battery
of victims 65 and older.

_ Make possession of 25 pounds of marijuana _ instead of the current
minimum of 50 pounds _ enough to charge someone with trafficking.

_ Re-enact the three-year mandatory sentence for assaulting a police
officer and five years for battery of a police officer.

_ Enhance penalties for repeat sexual batterers.