On Monday, Pro-Family Days attendees were trained on how to lobby and were briefed by policy experts Bill Bunkley of Florida Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Marco Paredes of Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops; Paul Seago of No Casinos; Amber Kelly of Florida Family Action; and FFPC President John Stemberger on important bills facing the Legislature during the 2018 Session. Some of the bill topics discussed included life, education, religious liberty, gambling, and LGBT issues.

Pastor Dean Inserra exhorts and prays for some of Florida’s pregnancy center directors as we honored them on Monday night.

Monday evening we had the distinct pleasure and incredible privilege of honoring pregnancy care center directors from across Florida in a special celebration of life on the infamous anniversary of Roe v. Wade. We are so grateful for the work these men and women do on a daily basis to love, support and care for these new mothers (and fathers) facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Al Laws, WIN Family Services, interviews our keynote speaker, Pam Tebow

On Tuesday, FFPC hosted a Legislative Prayer Breakfast attended by 250 people, including many elected officials. Guest speakers included Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam; House Speaker Richard Corcoran; Senator Kelli Stargel; Representative Jennifer Sullivan; and keynote speaker Pam Tebow, a homeschool pioneer, pro-life activist, and mother to Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. Click here to watch the livestream from her keynote address (starting at 21:18) and sit-down interview with Al Laws of WIN Family Services.

During Pro-Family Days, attendees also met with their legislators; toured the Florida House of Representatives with House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R-Land O’ Lakes) and Rep. Chris Sprowls (R-Clearwater); and heard from Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston at the Florida Supreme Court.

Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for photos from this year’s event. More photos will continue to be added in the coming days. Tag yourself and share these photos with your friends and encourage them to join us next year for Pro-Family Days! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to continue to receive our most current updates on what’s happening around the state relating to the issues of life, marriage, family, and religious liberty. 

Constitution Revision Commission Update

CRC Commissioner John Stemberger presents Proposal 22

On Thursday, the CRC’s Declaration of Rights Committee passed out Proposal 22, the Florida Privacy Restoration Act. The proposed amendment will clarify that the privacy clause in Florida’s Constitution guarantees a right to informational privacy. Opinions by the Florida Supreme Court in recent years have not upheld a right to informational privacy, but have granted other rights, such as a right to abortion.  While abortion would remain constitutional under Roe v Wade if the Florida Privacy Restoration Act passes, it is possible that reasonable laws regulating abortion, such as parental consent for a minor to obtain an abortion, would now be ruled constitutional. This has angered groups like Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women. These groups attempted to scare commissioners into voting no by telling them that liberties we have enjoyed for decades will disappear. This is outrageous and patently false, but leftist groups will brook no limitation on abortion, no matter how reasonable. They demand that abortion be available any time, any place, for any woman who wants one.  

Commissioner Arthenia Joyner painted the judicial activism that has taken place as “progress” in the same way that women have been granted the right to vote and blacks were given civil rights. What Commissioner Joyner failed to mention was that the courts didn’t grant those rights, but rather a constitutional amendment and federal legislation did. Zach Jones, an FSU student, passionately testified that while he was pro-choice, the courts did not have the ability to grant a constitutional right to abortion and that if Floridians wanted a constitutional right to abortion, they would need to pass a constitutional amendment that said so. After nearly two hours, the Declaration of Rights Committee voted 4-3 to advance Proposal 22. It heads to the CRC’s Judiciary Committee next and will be heard on Thursday, February 1st.  

Now, for this week’s update on our legislative agenda! 

ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE

OPPOSE HB 357 / SB 576 Adoptee Birth Certificates
Sponsors: Rep. Richard Stark (D), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

This bill mandates opening up birth records to birth parents and adult adoptees (even without the consent of the birth parents in adoptions after July 1, 2018) by requiring the Florida Department of Health to issue noncertified copies of unaltered, original birth certificates to adoptees and birth parents.

Action: None.

ABORTION

SUPPORT HB 1429 / SB 1890 Dismemberment Abortion
Sponsors: Rep. Erin Grall (R), Rep. Joe Gruters (R), Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R)

Prohibits dismemberment abortion, where an unborn child is killed by an abortionist using instruments to cut or rip the child’s body apart piece by piece and then extracts the pieces from the mother.

Action: The House Health Quality Subcommittee heard the bill this week.  Florida Family Action’s Political and Communications Director, Amber Kelly, testified on the bill (her testimony can be seen from 1:18:15 1:20:24).  Amber spoke about the fact that while cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited in punishing criminals, the practice of dismemberment abortion is allowed which is cruel to the unborn child. The bill does not prevent a woman from choosing to have an abortion, but it does ensure that once a woman has chosen to have an abortion that a child is not killed brutally.  The bill passed its first committee stop in a 9-6 vote. 

OPPOSE HB 1273 / SB 1718 Contraception Mandate
Sponsors: Rep. Holly Raschein (R), Sen. Lauren Book (D)

Mandates employers provide insurance plans which pay for contraception, including abortion inducing drugs. The exemption for employers is limited to religious objections by religious nonprofits or small, privately-held companies and it requires notification of objection to providing coverage. Insurance companies are still required to provide coverage of contraception to employees who work for an exempt organization.

Action: None.

OPPOSE HB 189 / SB 320 Abortion Clinics
Sponsors: Rep. Amy Mercado (D), Sen. Linda Stewart (D)

This bill prohibits anyone from interfering with women attempting to enter abortion clinics. Sidewalk counselors or protestors could face fines, civil suits, and criminal penalties for simply calling out to a woman to not abort her baby. This bill goes beyond prohibiting criminal and inappropriate interference with abortion facilities and limits free speech. 

Action: None.

CULTURE

SUPPORT HR 157 / SR 480 Declaring Pornography a Public Health Crisis
Sponsors: Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Kelli Stargel (R)

Recognizes the public health crisis created by pornography and acknowledges need for education, prevention, research, and policy change to protect Floridians.

Action: None.

SUPPORT HB 839 / SB 1158 Display of State Motto in Public Schools
Sponsors: Rep. Daniels (D), Rep. Ponder (R), Sen. Perry (R)

Requires each Florida school and each school district building to prominently display the state motto “In God We Trust.”

Action: The House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee heard the bill on Tuesday and passed the bill unanimously.  It only has one more committee stop before it can head to the floor of the House for passage out of that chamber.  It has yet to be heard in the Senate.

EDUCATION

SUPPORT HB 731 / SB 732 Home Education
Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

Clarifies that a home education program is not a school district program and parents who wish to homeschool their children must register with the district school superintendent only for the purpose of complying with the state’s attendance requirements. It requires the district school superintendent to accept the parental notification and register the program upon receipt of the notice. The school district cannot require any additional information unless the student chooses to participate in their programs or services. The bill also stipulates that the content of a child’s portfolio shall be determined by the parent, not the school district.  Finally, it allows school districts to provide homeschool students access to career and vocational courses and requires that industry certifications, national assessments, and statewide, standardized assessments offered by the school district be available to homeschool students. For homeschool students who are dual enrolled to earn college credit, the bill stipulates that course or program limitations may not exceed the limitations for other dually enrolled students.

Action: After a couple of technical amendments and with no debate, the Senate version passed out of the Education committee unanimously on Monday.  It has two remaining committees.

SUPPORT HB 1 / SB 1172 Hope Scholarship Program
Sponsors: Rep. Byron Donalds (R), Sen. Bill Galvano (R)

Establishes the Hope Scholarship for students after an incident of battery, harassment, hazing, bullying, kidnapping, robbery, sexual offenses, harassment, assault, threat or intimidation. The student will have an opportunity to transfer to another public school or to apply for a scholarship to attend a private school. Scholarship funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Action: The Senate bill was taken up on Monday in the Education Committee. An amendment to the bill added additional language which allows a school principal to investigate allegations and establish the at-fault parties, the circumstances surrounding the incident, etc.  Opponents suggested that the offender should be penalized rather than removing the victim from a hostile environment.  The bill sponsor noted that there are already rules and consequences in place for those who harass, bully, or otherwise threaten or intimidate another. Some committee members suggested that they would like to see additional programs, like counseling, being included to help the victims. 

FREE SPEECH

SUPPORT HB 909 / SB 1234 Free Speech Zones on Campus
Sponsors: Rep. Rommel (R), Rep. Clemons (R), Sen. Baxley (R)

Protects the right of free speech outdoors on public campuses of higher education such as state colleges, universities, law schools, etc. Prohibits a public college, university, law school, etc. from creating “free speech zones” or restricting free expression except in cases that are reasonable and content-neutral. No student, faculty or staff member would be allowed to materially disrupt another individual or organization’s scheduled or reserved activities. If a violation occurs, the Attorney General or the person whose rights were violated may take the violator to court within one year of the violation for reasonable compensation. 

Action: The House Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee took up the bill on Tuesday and passed the bill in a 9-5 vote in a party line vote. The House version must pass two more committees.

GAMBLING

OPPOSE HB 223 / SB 374 Fantasy Contests
Sponsors: Rep. Jason Brodeur (R), Sen. Dana Young (R)

Exempts fantasy gaming contests such as fantasy sports leagues from being subject to gambling penalties and regulations. In effect, legalizing fantasy gambling.

Action: The House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee heard the bill on Tuesday and passed it unanimously. The House bill still has two more committees.  The Senate Rules committee picked up its version on Thursday and passed it in a 9-2 vote, which means it is now headed to the Senate floor.

OPPOSE SB 840 Legalizing Fantasy and Designated Player Games/Expanding Slot Machines
Sponsor: Sen. Travis Hutson (R)

In addition to exempting fantasy gaming from state gambling regulations, this bill would remove the requirement that greyhound, thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness horse permit holders conduct live racing at their pari-mutuel facilities in order to be eligible for or keep their slot machine and cardroom licenses. This bill would allow these facilities to take wagers for intertrack races and simulcasts. It would also legalize designated player games (playing against a designated player rather than the house). 

Action: None.

OPPOSE HB 1293 / SB 1802 Preview Games and Machines
Sponsor: Rep. Al Jacquet (D), Sen. Perry Thurston Jr. (D)

Legalizes preview or pre-reveal machines, slot machines which draw individuals in by revealing the prize before the game is started. A Florida judge has already ruled the machines constitute gambling. 

Action: None.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

SUPPORT HB 167 / SB 1044 Civil Action for Human Trafficking Victims
Sponsors: Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Lauren Book (D)

Allows a victim of human trafficking to bring a civil cause of action against a human trafficker or facilitator (a person or business who aids in or turns a blind eye to human trafficking activities). Under this provision, a victim of human trafficking could receive payment for medical bills, mental health services, repatriation, etc. as well as monetary damages for pain, loss, trauma, etc. A trafficker or facilitator would also be liable under this section to provide an additional $100,000 in damages to the Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (established by HB 169/SB 1046) and, in some cases, additional damages to law enforcement to aid in future human trafficking rescue efforts. Punitive damages would be equally divided between the victim and the trust fund.

Action: None.

SUPPORT HB 169 / SB 1046 Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking
Sponsors: Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Lauren Book (D)

Creates the Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking and Prevention within the Department of Law Enforcement. This fund would be funded by penalties and damages obtained under as referenced in   HB 167 / SB 1044 and other sources, including funds appropriated by the Legislature. The trust fund would be used to assist victims of human trafficking with medical and mental health exams and treatment, living expenses, lost wages and repatriation. The funds could also be used for a variety of education and prevention efforts, creating a survivor’s resource center, or for vacating convictions against trafficking victims incurred due to trafficking, etc.

Action: None.

SUPPORT HB 7039 / SB 1502 Increased Penalties for Human Trafficking
Sponsors: House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Lauren Book (D)

Requires a 10-year minimum mandatory imprisonment sentence for any individual, who knowingly or recklessly without regards to the facts, engages in, attempts to engage in, or financially benefits from human trafficking. Removes fees to expunge certain portions of criminal records for victims of human trafficking as it relates to their trafficking. Redefines the term “Adult Entertainment Establishment” to include additional adult-style businesses.

Action: None.

LIFE

SUPPORT HB 41 / SB 444 Pregnancy Support Services
Sponsors: Rep. Jackie Toledo (R), Sen. Aaron Bean (R)

Requires the Florida Department of Health to contract with the Florida Pregnancy Care Network (FPCN) to provide pregnancy support services for women who suspect or know they are pregnant. FPCN would then provide support to pregnant women and address their wellness needs. The bill requires FPCN subcontractors to promote and support childbirth only. All services provided must be voluntary and cannot include religious content.

Action: None.

LGBT

OPPOSE HB 347 / SB 66 Creating Special Rights for LGBT Citizens or “Florida’s Competitive Workforce Act”
Sponsors: Rep. Ben Diamond (D), Rep. Rene Plasencia (R), Sen. Darryl Rouson (D)

The worst bill in the Florida Legislature because of its effect on public safety and freedom of conscience. It adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to Florida’s Civil Rights Act of 1992 as impermissible grounds for discrimination. This bill provides a new way for LGBT individuals to sue employers and small businesses for discrimination. Would allow men access to use women’s showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms.

A full list of House and Senate co-sponsors.

Action:  None.

OPPOSE HB 717 / SB 696 Banning Conversion Therapy
Sponsors: Rep. Evan Jenne (D) / Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D)

This bill makes it unlawful for people in Florida who are licensed to provide professional counseling and others, like pastors who are licensed counselors, to counsel youth under the age of 18 struggling with their “sexual orientation and/or gender identity” to think and live in a heterosexual manner consistent with their biological gender, even if the child (as the patient) asks for their help to do so. 

Action: None.

MARRIAGE

SUPPORT HB 1323 / SB 1580 Florida Guide to a Healthy Marriage  
Sponsors: Rep. Clay Yarborough (R), Rep. Danny Burgess (R), Sen. Kelli Stargel (R)

Creates the Marriage Education Committee, which is tasked with developing the Florida Guide to a Healthy Marriage, which is required to include resources on conflict management, communication skills, family expectations, financial responsibilities and management, domestic violence, and parenting responsibilities; current information from marriage education and family advocates to assist in forming and maintaining a long-term marital relationship; and information regarding premarital education, marriage enrichment education, and resources that are available to help restore a marriage that is potentially moving toward dissolution. Clerks will be responsible for posting the guide on their websites and individuals applying for a marriage certificate must certify that they have read it or similar resources.

FFPC President John Stemberger, Bill Sponsor Rep. Clay Yarborough, and Richard Albertson of Live the Life

Action: The House Civil Justice and Claims picked up the bill this week. Florida Family Action President John Stemberger testified on the divorce problem that the state of Florida has.  Richard Albertson of Live the Life also testified on the economic impact of divorce on Florida taxpayers.  There was no opposition to the bill in public testimony; however, one member of the committee seemed to want to ensure that same-sex couples would be included in the guide. The bill passed out of committee, mostly along party lines, in a 10-4 vote.  The Senate version is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday afternoon.

OPPOSE HB 130 / SB 6027 Same-Sex Marriage
Sponsors: Rep. David Richardson (D), Sen. Gary Farmer (D)

Removes the language in state statute which prohibited same-sex couples from marrying and the State of Florida from recognizing same-sex marriages from other states.

Action: None.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

SUPPORT HB 871 / SB 1290 Free Enterprise Protection Act
Sponsors: Rep. Jay Fant (R), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

Prohibits any level of state government or individual acting on behalf of the state from discriminating against a business based upon their internal personnel or employee benefits policies or their exercise of free speech and religion as protected under the Florida and federal Constitutions. The state and its subdivisions would be prohibited from revoking tax exemptions and benefits; denying grants, certifications, licenses, etc.; and access and entitlement to property, facilities and speech forums, among other provisions.

Action: None.

The post Legislative Insider’s Report Week 3 of 9 appeared first on FFV.

Legislative Insider’s Report 

2017 Legislative Session – Week 7 of 9

The question on everyone’s mind this week is “Will they or won’t they?”  Speculation is running rampant in the Capitol as to whether or not the Legislature will finish its business before the end of the normal 60-day session, which is May 5th.  There are a number of issues which have yet to be resolved, most importantly the budget.  We’ve heard that the Joint Legislative Budget Commission likely won’t meet until next Wednesday, which doesn’t give them much time to conduct their business.  The budget is the one thing that the Legislature must do each legislative session.  Another important issue before the Legislature this year is gambling in the state. The House and Senate seem to be miles apart on the issue and while the SunSentinel reported that the Gaming Conference Committee would be meeting on Thursday at 4 pm, it was never formally announced.  It was then canceled according to the SunSentinel once the Florida Supreme Court approved the language for a constitutional amendment which would require voter approval of the expansion of gambling in the state. 

Another issue that needs to be resolved this year is the implementation of Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana in the state.  Both House and Senate committees heard implementing bills for Amendment 2 this week.  The House bill bans smoking, vaping, and edibles and requires a doctor to have at least a 90-day relationship with a patient before marijuana can be prescribed.  Opponents to these measures said that these restrictions were unacceptable.  While some legislators agreed that 90 days is too long for patients to wait for medical marijuana, representatives were less willing to accept claims that Floridians voted for the right to smoke marijuana.  During debate, multiple members made it clear that some of the provisions would change when it goes to conference with the Senate.  The measure passed its second committee in a 16-8 vote, along party lines. It will likely be heard in its final committee next Monday.  

The Senate bill implementing medical marijuana is not identical to the House version and opponents’ comments centered around the limited licensing of medical marijuana growers and dispensaries.  The bill passed 6-1 and will likely be heard in its final committee next Tuesday (the last day of regularly scheduled committee meetings).  

Now for some of the bills that we’re most closely monitoring… 

GOOD BILLS

ADOPTION / FOSTER CARE 

HB 363 / SB 200 Temporary Respite Care for Families in Crisis
Sponsors: Rep. Frank White (R), Rep. Patricia Williams (D), Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R)

This bill helps families in crisis by allowing parents to place their children with respite care families temporarily while they work to better the situation for the entire family (whether it is seeking treatment for addiction, finding a job, etc.) This program is for families where there are no allegations of abuse/neglect which would cause DCF to remove the children from their home.  

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard this bill on Wednesday. Once again, the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar testified against this good bill, essentially demanding the program be changed in order to support the bill; their requested changes would destroy the program by essentially expanding foster care and requiring government interference in this remarkable program.  While the Family Law Section claims they are only looking out for the best interest of children, their motives seem to be more about making sure their lawyers stay in business.  Despite Sen. Anitere Flores’ concerns with the bill it passed in a 6-2 vote.  This bill is scheduled to be heard in its final committee next Tuesday. 

LIFE 

HB 969 / SB 1130 Pregnancy Support Services 
Sponsors: Rep. Jackie Toledo (R) and Sen. Aaron Bean (R) 

This bill would require the Department of Health to contract with a network of crisis pregnancy centers to provide support services for women who suspect or know they are pregnant for the term of their pregnancy through the first year of the child’s life.  The services provided cannot be coercive nor contain religious content.

This bill was scheduled to be heard in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services committee on Tuesday, but due to a busy agenda and a medical emergency during the committee meeting meant that it was not considered.  According to Senate rules, the meeting could not be extended without a motion from the floor of the Senate.  Unfortunately, this means the bill is dead for the year as it was the committee’s final meeting of the year. 

EDUCATION 

HB 833 / SB 692 Revising Student Eligibility for Virtual School 
Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

This bill removes a requirement that 2nd through 5th graders be enrolled in a public school in the year prior to enrolling in virtual school.  

HB 833 is scheduled to be picked up the full House next Tuesday. 

HB 15 / SB 1314 Expanding the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Denise Grimsley (R) 

This bill expands the students who are eligible for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.  

The House passed the bill on Wednesday in a 117-0 vote. 

HB 549 / SB 906 Publication of State Assessment Tests for Parental and Educational Review 
Sponsors: Rep. Randy Fine (R), Sen. Greg Steube (R), House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee

This bill seeks to require the publication of certain state assessment tests every three years.  Currently, no one has access to the questions on these exams, including the Department of Education nor any government officials.  Students are being told that they cannot tell anyone the content of test questions, including their parents. 

During its final committee stop on Thursday, the House bill was amended to eliminate the state Algebra II end-of-course exam, require paper-based state language arts and math tests for third- through sixth-grade, move the state testing window to later in the spring, and shrink it to a shorter time frame and change the value-added model of evaluating teachers.  The bill was passed unanimously out of the Education committee.  SB 906 is dead for the year, but the amendment makes it similar to SB 926, which would eliminate more end-of-course exams, extend paper testing to more grades and detach the value-added model for teacher evaluations. That bill has cleared all of its committees and is ready to be picked up by the full Senate.

GAMING

HB 937 / SB 1370 Warnings for Lottery Games

Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Keith Perry (R), House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee

This bill would require a warning placed on lottery tickets that lottery games can be addictive.

The House bill was passed quickly out of its final committee on Wednesday in a 26-2 vote, with only Rep. Tom Goodson (R) and Rep. Richard Stark (D) voting no on the measure. 

The Senate version was passed out its second committee on Wednesday as well.  Members of the Senate Judiciary committee questioned the bill sponsor as to whether the warning could also print something like “For help, call…”. While that is not currently in the bill, it could be amended to the bill and would be a positive change to a good bill.  The vote was 5-3 with Sen. Audrey Gibson (D) once again commenting that the lottery is not gambling, but rather funding for education.   This bill may be scheduled for its final committee next Tuesday, the final day for regularly scheduled committee meetings. 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

HB 1383 / SB 852 Child Victims of Human Trafficking 
Sponsors: Rep. Jeanette Nuñez (R), Sen. Rene Garcia (R)

This bill seeks to help children who have been the victims of sex trafficking by requiring the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to maintain a database of services available for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, increases the situations in which a defendant’s confession may be used at trial, outlines procedures for assisting victims, and requires officials to follow up with victims within six months to evaluate services used and their effectiveness.

This bill is scheduled to be picked up by the full House next Tuesday.

HB 1165 / SB 972 Victims of Human Trafficking
Sponsor: Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Randolph Bracy (D)

This bill allows victims of human trafficking to sue the individuals who engaged in their trafficking, including businesses who profited from their trafficking.

On Monday, this bill was heard in Senate Criminal Justice and passed favorably in a 7-0 vote.  The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled this bill for its Wednesday meeting and also passed it in a 7-0 vote.  It will hopefully be heard in its final committee next week and move on to the Senate floor, despite its late movement during the legislative session.  

HB 1167 / SB 970 Florida Compensation Trust Fund for Survivors of Human Trafficking
Sponsor: Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Randolph Bracy (D)

This bill establishes a trust fund to compensate victims and pay their legal fees, pay for human trafficking education and awareness training for communities, and advertise the national human trafficking hotline.  Finances for the trust fund will come from court penalties, civil actions, seizure of properties used by traffickers, and donations from outside sources or the Legislature. 

On Monday, this bill was heard in Senate Criminal Justice and passed favorably in a 7-0 vote.  The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled this bill for its Wednesday meeting and also passed it in a 7-0 vote.  It will hopefully be heard in its final committee next week and move on to the Senate floor, despite its late movement during the legislative session.  

BAD BILLS 

LGBT RIGHTS

HB 623 / SB 666 Creating Special Rights for LGBT Citizens or “Florida’s Competitive Workforce Act” 
Sponsors: Rep. Ben Diamond (D), Rep. Rene Plasencia (R), Sen. Jeff Clemens (D)

The CWA adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to Florida’s Civil Rights Act of 1992 as impermissible grounds for discrimination. This bill provides a new way for LGBT individuals to sue employers and small businesses for discrimination and would allow men access to use women’s showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, women’s domestic violence shelters, etc.  

This bill which we have described as the worst bill proposed in the Florida Legislature due to its effect on public safety and religious liberty has not been scheduled to be heard in committee.  We continue to educate legislators on the dangers of this piece of legislation, and it continues to be dead on arrival despite some liberal Republican support. 

ALCOHOL

HB 81 / SB 106 Hard Liquor in Grocery Stores 
Sponsors: Rep. Bryan Avila (R), Sen. Anitere Flores (R)

Dubbed “Whiskey and Wheaties,” this bill would allow grocery stores and large retail stores to sell hard liquor in their main store rather than building or renting a separate store to sell liquor. 

While we previously believed this bill might be dead for the year, it may have been resurrected.  The bill is on the Special Order Calendar for next Tuesday. We hear the lobbying corps has been out there pounding the pavement working on members to get them to vote yes on this bad bill. 

NOTE: If you find this and other editions of the Insider’s Report helpful please consider giving a gift to support our work here. 

The post Legislative Insider’s Report Week 7 of 9 appeared first on FFV.

Dear Representative Richardson:

Since your election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 until now, I have always known your reputation as a legislator to be one of nothing but respect for the dignity of the institution, for the legislative process and for your fellow colleagues.  Even those who firmly disagree with you on matters of public policy speak highly of you, of your talents as a legislator and the unique perspective you bring to the process.

However, after the tragic and despicable acts of evil which took place right down the street from my offices in Orlando on June 12, I was shocked to learn of your repeated statements accusing your fellow legislators of creating an environment that gives rise to such horrible violence when they speak out against any LGBT bills as bad public policy in the Legislature.

After the local NPR affiliate interviewed you, WFSU issued this report:

“Florida’s only openly gay legislator says Orlando’s mass shooting is an example of a deranged individual taking anti-gay political rhetoric to the, “next level.” Democratic Representative David Richardson of Miami Beach says attempts by religious conservatives to roll back recent gains in gay civil rights encourages extremists… “[P]eople who are prone to committing violent acts are emboldened by speeches that they hear from policy makers that want to roll back our advances.” 

When I respectfully confronted you on another NPR affiliate radio debate for linking vocal opposition to new LGBT laws with violent acts such as the ones that occurred in Orlando, you initially denied these statements– until I read your words back to you on the air.  Then, instead of retracting or apologizing for these irresponsible remarks, you doubled down and repeated the same very offensive and incorrect argument again.  In that interview you said,

“I absolutely do think that people are emboldened, by the comments of certain lawmakers whether they are reacting in a violent way…”

While I realize the matter of the Orlando shooting and the topic of creating new LGBT rights are still raw, emotional, and highly personal matters for members of the LGBT community, this in no way justifies these inflammatory remarks which do nothing to foster good will, understanding or collegiality among fellow members of the Legislature, much less the general public.  On the contrary, your comments breed divisiveness, sow discord and are an attempt to manipulate and silence robust debate among the other elected leaders of our Legislature on these important policy decisions.

Additionally, you have also stunningly stated:

“It doesn’t help when they go to Tallahassee and spew hatred and rhetoric that is harmful to our community. I really wish we could get to a place where everyone can get along and respect the rights of everybody.”

I personally know many of the members of the Legislature who are known to be the most vocal and the most actively opposed to these bad gay-rights bills.

I have been in some of their homes.

I know their families.

None of them, even in private or casual conversation, make comments that “spew hatred” toward the LGBT community.  On the contrary, these are truly some of the finest, most loving and charitable people you could ever know.  Do you have specific examples of Florida legislators “spewing hatred” when debating in opposition to the creation of new LGBT rights?

The primary push by gay-rights activists after the Orlando tragedy, as you know, is the so-called “Competitive Workforce Act” (CWA) which seeks to create a new legal protected class for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.  These laws are being used all across the country asweapons to punish Christians who want to live out their constitutionally protected right to free exercise of religion in public life without government interference.  Even more egregiously, this CWA bill would alsoallow fully biological men to freely use women’s locker rooms and showers in any facility declared a public accommodation like YMCA’s, camps, LA Fitness & health clubs and domestic violence shelters.  This is a gross invasion of privacy, safety and security for women.  The more serious problem created with the CWA has not so much to do with transgendered persons themselves, as it does with actual criminals(voyeurs, sex offenders and pedophiles) who are looking for excuses to go into women’s intimate spaces, which the latest version of this bill would unquestionably allow.

These are just a few of the many legitimate and compelling public policy and constitutional problems which compel legislators to speak out publicly and strongly oppose the CWA.  For you to argue that when any legislator speaks out in debate against this dangerous bill they are “spewing hatred,” “encouraging extremism” and “make people prone to violent acts” is simply beyond the pale of decency for a member of the legislative branch of government.

Rep. Richardson, this sir– is not your finest moment.

Is there a way to disagree on these policies and not be judged as hateful or contributing to creating an environment of terror?  If we cannot disagree in civility without being slimmed with such accusations, then our civil society has a real problem.

Unless you can provide real examples of such “hateful” behavior, rather than talking about it in generalities, you should stop making these assertions. It is not helpful to this important debate, it is manipulative and pollutes the work we are hopefully both committed to, namely building a better Florida, even in the midst of our disagreements.

You have correctly stated that, “it does not help when [people] go to Tallahassee and spew rhetoric that is harmful.”  If you really mean that, please start by reexamining and reconsidering your own harmful words directed to your own colleagues and do not confuse “robust debate” with “hateful rhetoric” just because you disagree.

The post An Open Letter to Florida’s Only Openly Gay Legislator Rep. David Richardson appeared first on FFV.

Article from LifeNews.com.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed a bill that would revoke taxpayer funding from the Planned Parenthood abortion business and any other clinics that also do abortions.

Link to article: http://www.lifenews.com/2016/03/28/florida-gov-rick-scott-signs-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-abortion-business/

The post LifeNews: Florida Gov. Rick Scott Signs Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood Abortion Business appeared first on FFV.