FAC to speak out against HB45 at today’s House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Meeting
Today at 1:30 PM, several members will be appearing, in person, at the Florida House of Representatives Criminal Justice Subcommittee Meeting to speak out against HB 45, which seeks to add “Public Swimming Pools” and “Public Bathing Areas” to the already onerous State 1000 foot sex offender residency restriction.
Staff analysis of the Bill notes that, “the bill may have an indeterminate economic impact on persons who are subject to the residency restrictions in the bill who would be required to relocate to avoid committing a crime or violating the terms and conditions of their probation, community control, or conditional release.” So members of the Subcommittee are on notice that the current version of the Bill, as written, will require SOME registrants who have been living peacefully and law abidingly in their residences for years to relocate. If forced to relocate, they and their family will have a hard time finding compliant housing, considering Florida’s 8,426 miles of shoreline along the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts, more than 7,700 lakes that are 10 acres or larger (including Lake Okeechobee, which is about 448,000 acres), over 30,000 other lakes and ponds, and based on a Public Information Act request from FAC to the Florida Department of Health (which we received the results of yesterday), 40,918 Public Swimming pools.
We offer so much thanks to our legislative team for organizing the call to action to oppose this bill, for those who have written to their lawmakers in opposition of this bill, and especially to those who have taken the time and expense to travel to Tallahassee to speak out against this bill.
Please monitor the comments below for an update on how the meeting and presentations went. Please also continue to monitor our website for next steps as the companion bill is heard in the Senate and as this one continues along its path.
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As a member who had the opportunity to speak at the sub-committee hearing, I found it rather informative. (Also, after seeing government “in action”, wanted to come home and take a shower, but that is not relevant to this thread.)
I don’t mind saying I went and spoke on a slightly different tack on this bill. As a landlord. I rent out to registrants–have five living here. I spoke on the possibilities of being economically depressed due to the impact of this bill–for both myself and the thousands of other landlords around the state who may see their income affected.
I found the committee somewhat attentive and at least one person who spoke, referenced some of what I said, so at least some are listening. Some already had their mind made up, but others asked thoughtful, insightful questions, some of which caught the sponsor off guard (in my opinion).
I realize that many cannot attend for various reasons, but I would seriously encourage those who can, make the time to go to at least one hearing of some sort. In my former life, I spent time in Tallahassee in legislative and budget meetings, but that was twenty years ago. If you have not experienced it, it is quite the education–regardless of where on the political spectrum you are.
I am grateful for the opportunity to learn. Once again, if you have the opportunity, would encourage you to try to attend at least one. Even if you don’t speak, the number of people in support (or opposition) can be telling.
One final note. Also, keep up the e-mail activity. It was mentioned by at least one rep that she had many emails about this subject.
Mark
Thank you so much for your efforts! 🙏🏼
It would be very interesting to see if those who have already set their minds have taken any lobbyist money, especially from Ron Book. I’ve been doing a little research on him and it appears that he has a lot of control over Florida’s government and we are all acutely aware of that family’s agenda. Their financials need to be investigated to see if they have any investments in any companies associated with the registry. And if they own stock in any jails and prisons.
I’m averaging, some days, anywhere from 1 to 3 emails a day to all of them in Tallahassee. I’m fighting for my son and this relentless endless punishment forced on him, for deleted photos he didn’t have anything to do with taking or distributing, and the impact it has had on our family. I developed health problems the year following his arrest, and after he was forced to register, my body really started taking a beating. I’ll fight to my last breath.
I clearly see this is an attack on not just the Constitution, but part of the overall agenda to dismantle America. And of course it’s about the opportunists profiting off the suffering of huemanity. I’ve observed their lock-step forward-moving pattern in my 60+ years on this earth and it’s obvious what is happening.
“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As the result of the War, corporations have been enthroned. An era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people…until wealth is aggregated in a few hands…and the Republic is destroyed.”
-Abraham Lincoln, 1864
“The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer.”
-Henry A Kissinger, War Criminal
Thank you FAC for all that you do! I try to help when I can and will continue to do so, and I encourage everyone to do the same. There is always a way to do some small part that will help with the cause. My son left Florida years ago after his conviction due to lack of housing. He is my only child and I am so angry that he was forced out of Florida when he had a life, work, family and friends that he had to leave behind. All for sharing a couple of emails with forbidden images in them. He never asked for them – they came to him and he shared one with the other. For that he got 4 years in Federal prison, regardless of test results that showed he had no preference for minors. And for that he was banished from his life-long home and his family and friends. I don’t care what side of the isle they are on, I have such hatred for all politicians these days. I will not vote for any of them.
Thank you to everyone who went to Tallahassee today to boldly speak against this bill. You persuaded 5 brave members of the committee to vote against HB 45, even though it passed 11-5 (all Republicans voted yes and all Democrats voted no).
The Plakon amendment passed, meaning that no one will be ejected from residences that were previously compliant, but if this passes in its current form, those impacted would not, in the future, be able to move to any location within 1,000 feet of bodies of water or swimming pools, broadly defined. Rep. Bartleman introduced an amendment to exclude private swimming pools (apartments, hotels, townhouses), but that amendment was defeated. We will continue to fight.
Excellent update. I like the approach with facts/data. I would love to find out how they plan on monitoring/enforcing such nonsense. If it can’t be enforced or monitored then it’s not a law
Passage of this bill would be devastating. We need to pull together as a community and oppose it.
That’s really great that we have such awesome advocates!! Go get em!