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Gov. Scott To Sign Pill Mill Bill In S. Fla.

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) -- Gov. Rick Scott plans to sign legislation on Friday aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse, holding signing ceremonies in three different cities around the state including one in South Florida.

The bill (HB 7095) will increase criminal and administrative penalties against doctors involved in prescription-drug wrongdoing, and ban most doctors from dispensing two categories of controlled substances in their offices or clinics.

It will also require a new permitting process for pharmacies that want to dispense dangerous painkillers, an effort to prevent fly-by-night pharmacies from acting as suppliers. Scott will sign the bill into law Friday morning in Fort Lauderdale, which has been at the center of a reported epidemic in prescription drug abuse at pain clinics.

Scott will then hold ceremonial bill signings in Tampa and Orlando.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)

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