Click here for printable Call-to-Action. Contains Senate Committee contact information, talking points, and instructions for your call to action on SB 1732.
In Summary, SB 1732:
- Creates new statute 83.555 “Landlord immunity from liability for leasing to persons with certain criminal records.”
- While this bill was intended to encourage landlords to rent to persons with past criminal offense, it appears to do the opposite by listing several offenses that are excluded.
- The list of excluded offenses leaves one to wonder “what offenses WOULD actually be allowable?”
- As written, this bill would discourage landlords from renting to persons with MOST criminal offenses.
- As written, it would cause landlords to avoid renting to ANY persons with criminal offenses.
- The sponsor and the members of each committee need to provide an explanation of this bill, and supporting data.
We have tried repeated to reach Senator Bracy’s office regarding his proposed bill SB 1732. Sen Bracy has always been a supporter of second chances and justice reform, but the content of his proposed bill appears to restrict housing to many of those with past offenses, including sexual offenses. It provides liability immunity to landlords who rent to persons with past criminal offenses, except for the following offenses:
- Section 777.04, relating to criminal attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy;
- Section 782.04, relating to murder;
- Section 787.01, relating to kidnapping;
- Section 787.06, relating to human trafficking;
- Section 794.011, relating to sexual battery;
- Section 796.07(2)(f), relating to soliciting, inducing, enticing, or procuring another person to commit prostitution, lewdness, or assignation.
- Section 810.02, relating to burglary
- Section 812.13(2)(a) or (b), relating to robbery while carrying a weapon;
- Section 827.03, relating to abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of a child;
- Section 893.13(1)(c), (d), (e), (f), or (h), relating to enhanced penalties for selling, manufacturing, delivering controlled substances;
- The tenant is required to register as a sexual offender under s. 943.0435; and The landlord, manager, or agent knew or should have reasonably known of the conviction, finding, or plea.
It makes one ask….”what offenses ARE applicable for Landlord liability immunity?”
Contact the sponsor of the bill and ask for clarification. Because this bill is vague, contains multiple exclusions, and is in no way supported by evidence that ANY offense should be excluded, then ask that this bill be withdrawn.
Author: Senator Randolph Bracy (D), Tallahassee: 850-487-5011 or Orlando District Office: 407-297-2045, [email protected] and [email protected]
Here are other talking points:
- Bills like SB 1732 actually increase recidivism for citizens who have served their time for their crime and are trying to reintegrate into their community and lead law-abiding lives.
- Makes it difficult for people to reintegrate into society by denying them decent housing and economic opportunity.
- Harms not only people who have served their time, but also harms the families of these people who are not given an opportunity to move to a better, safer neighborhood because Landlords will be afraid to rent to them.
- There is no evidence or research in the bill showing why certain offenses were excluded.
- Providing stabile housing should apply to all returning citizens who have served their time.
- Bills such as SB 1732 “Legislate people into homelessness.”
- Keeping families together combined with the emotional support provided by families for people who have been convicted of a crime increases public safety because it helps with that citizen’s rehabilitation.
- That family support can make the difference between a successful, productive, contributing member of the community and recidivism. Passing this bill making it more difficult for people to obtain housing will have the opposite effect by keeping families apart.
- Legislating people into homelessness increases crime and decreases public safety.
- Passage of this law does not increase public safety. It is making it difficult for citizens who have non-contact offenses or who were convicted as juveniles to have access to housing.
- This bill is just a “catch all” for registered citizens. It does not distinguish between the level/severity of the convictions like many other sections of the bill. Since the Florida registry is not a tiered system, it treats a 15 year old person who was caught having consensual sex with another 15 year old, and who now has to register, exactly the same way as it treats a person who committed a violent sexual offense.
- This bill deprives families of people whose loved ones are not a threat to public safety a chance at decent housing by making landlords afraid to rent to them because one family member has to register.
- This bill is an attempt to dissuade certain citizens who have completed their sentences from staying in or returning to Florida. While passage would make it more difficult, it will not stop these citizens who want to return to be near their loved ones. They have a right to return to their families. This bill should not discriminate/exclude anyone.
LINKS to the Bill Content:
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1732/BillText/Filed/PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1732/BillText/Filed/HTML
Irony is that Senator Bracy happens to represent one of the most clustered areas where PFR’s reside, for the usual reasons. It should be noted however that the majority of those properties are owned by individuals who make it a point to rent to PFR’s…
Finally! A post in which I can poke fun at! To Senator Bracy–with all due respect…pbthfpbhttghbph!!!! (blowing raspberries). I know not everyone is capable of doing what I did, but I am a RSO on probation. I am also single. I also own my own property. I also rent out rooms. Guess who I rent to? Other RSO’s.
Now I will say that I only rent to those who I have known from prison or come recommended by someone I trust. However, in doing so, I now have FOUR RSO’s here, three of whom are on probation. The probation officer LOVES it. She knows we won’t be a problem. Doesn’t mind a larger case load as we don’t create problems for her.
We keep a low profile with the neighbors (whom we are on decent terms with) and keep to ourselves. Also keep the property looking neat as well. Am looking forward to adding more rental units in the coming years.
I am a FIRM believer in we have to look out for ourselves. No one else will. And, by the way, yes, will be contacting the good Senator indicating my displeasure of the wording of the bill.
Mark
Thank you for helping other registered Citizens. And as far as the probation officer, I know a guy who also has an entire street with Registered folks. The Officers and probation like it because they can check on numerous people at once.
Although I do not mean to compare us to black people, but I remember my grandfather telling me when the first black person moved onto their street in the 1970s and everyone was in an uproar. Now we are the ones who the outrages are focused on.
It took a long time for it to be normal for African Americans could live in peace among white families. How long will it take for every street in America to have one of us living on any given street? However unlike black folks, I do not think we would ever be accepted, just tolerated.
Hey there
I’m iso housing for a dear friend (rso) in Pasco county Florida.
Any info would be more than I currently have.
The list of offenses failed to include snoring, high cholesterol, wearing clothing of two different materials (sin of Biblical proportion!), and using Cheeto dust as artificial tanning make-up.
David
Well crap, I have violated all of your list. Especially the Cheeto Dust make-up. I use that during my drag shows I hold in the parking lot of the Sheriff’s office. :)~
I’m still scanning my 1995 plea agreement for the part where it says I will be subject to all these future changes. I can’t seem to find the words “collateral consequences” anywhere in the document. I’m starting to think the terms of the contract are being violated by the state.
What’s the relief for an injured party when the other party violates the terms of a contract?
Jim
I am from 1991 and there was not even a registry then. Wasn’t until 1997 they retroactively applied it to me with no redress available to fight it. Seems since this passed without much push back, they can now do just about anything to us without having to even having to inform us.
As each of these new laws came out, I have never gotten a single notification, just the same form to sign at registration saying you agree to everything under the sun and more.
Well Put. And to my knowledge the Add ons have never been challenged from that view. I wonder how many of us would pull out plea agreements
I would think that the party who abided by the terms should be able to released from said contract with no harm incurred. Because if we had broken the terms of the contract, we would be in the slammer.
Special place in Hell for politicians and governors who support bills like this one. Nobody should be without food, shelter, clothing, work, and support based only on their past. I’d like see what the skeletons are in these officials’ closet, I bet it’s filled with more bones than a cemetery.
I emailed this Senator when I saw all the bills regarding registrants on the agenda this year. Tired of being dumped on because of lies and fear with politicians making a name of themselves. What a putz!!
Brandon
And what about those of us who have been on the registry for 25 years without incident and no path to get off. We have not re-offended yet they state HUGE numbers of us are offending every day.
Then they use the excuse it is not punishment, therefor it can be applied retroactively. And why do our families have to suffer? I hate when they rebuttal that, that is our problem that we caused so we have to live with that guilt for the rest of our lives?
Emailed both his addresses as follows.
Senator Bracy,
As one of your constituents I urge you to withdraw SB 1732 for all the following reasons. Please be advised that this is a major issue to me and my family and you can expect our votes to follow on whatever action you take on it.Bills like SB 1732 actually increase recidivism for citizens who have served their time for their crime and are trying to reintegrate into their community and lead law-abiding lives.Makes it difficult for people to reintegrate into society by denying them decent housing and economic opportunity.Harms not only people who have served their time, but also harms the families of these people who are not given an opportunity to move to a better, safer neighborhood because Landlords will be afraid to rent to them.There is no evidence or research in the bill showing why certain offenses were excluded.Providing stabile housing should apply to all returning citizens who have served their time.Bills such as SB 1732 “Legislate people into homelessness.”Keeping families together combined with the emotional support provided by families for people who have been convicted of a crime increases public safety because it helps with that citizen’s rehabilitation.That family support can make the difference between a successful, productive, contributing member of the community and recidivism. Passing this bill making it more difficult for people to obtain housing will have the opposite effect by keeping families apart.Legislating people into homelessness increases crime and decreases public safety.Passage of this law does not increase public safety. It is making it difficult for citizens who have non-contact offenses or who were convicted as juveniles to have access to housing.This bill is just a “catch all” for registered citizens. It does not distinguish between the level/severity of the convictions like many other sections of the bill. Since the Florida registry is not a tiered system, it treats a 15 year old person who was caught having consensual sex with another 15 year old, and who now has to register, exactly the same way as it treats a person who committed a violent sexual offense.This bill deprives families of people whose loved ones are not a threat to public safety a chance at decent housing by making landlords afraid to rent to them because one family member has to register.This bill is an attempt to dissuade certain citizens who have completed their sentences from staying in or returning to Florida. While passage would make it more difficult, it will not stop these citizens who want to return to be near their loved ones. They have a right to return to their families. This bill should not discriminate/exclude anyone.Very sincerely,
Justice Seeker
Thank you, couldn’t have said it better myself even if I were Ole Abe Lincoln giving the Gettysburg address. Very well written with seriousness and passion, truth and urgency. Let us hope and pray it makes an impact and does not fall of deaf ears and blind eyes. Many of our petitions end up in file 13. (Look it up)
Justice Seeker, thank you for contacting Senator Bracy.
I wonder if it passes, if they will make it retro-active like everything else they push on us. Imagine signing a lease and giving a deposit then this bill passes and you are kicked to the curb with no refund.
Remember folks, this is NOT punishment. The reason? Nothing apparently related to anyone with a sex offense is punishment.
I would say I am being sarcastic but do I really need to?
CherokeeJack
Maybe the politicians need to have their past dug up to see if they were: druggies, alcoholics, domestic abusers, thieves, gang bangers, cheaters, liars, car jackers, and sex crazed youth. Oh wait the rules don’t apply to them. Could they be evicted from office for bearing false witnesses against thy neighbor for nothing other than a resume padding.