Regularly check this link and our calendar of events for updates: Legislative Delegation Calendar for 2024 Session
Each year before the legislative session starts your State Senators and State Representatives are meeting in your county to listen to all concerns. This is a great opportunity to see your Representatives and Senators in action. It also gives us a chance to voice our concerns as individuals regarding things that could be improved through legislation. For instance, this year I am going to encourage legislators to consider legislation that will end the forced homelessness in our state. There are several issues that I can address related to punishment being passed on to those required to register and their innocent loved ones.
The above website is a great way to keep updated with the dates, times and locations of upcoming meetings. If you want to speak, you must fill out a request to appear form and email/mail it to the address listed. If you want to provide handouts those must be mailed or delivered to their office by the deadline they set.
Even if you are not ready to get up and speak, this is an educational opportunity to learn how the state of Florida Legislature works. I look forward to seeing you at the meetings.
Jennifer Blasdel
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Florida Action Committee
Revised jury instructions from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dealing with Florida’s residency law:
11.17 UNLAWFUL RESIDENCY BY A SEX OFFENDER §775.215(2) & (3), Fla. Stat.
To prove the crime of Unlawful Residency by a Sex Offender, the State must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
(Defendant) was convicted of
Give a or b as applicable.
a. [Florida Statute 794.011] [Florida Statute 800.04] [Florida Statute 827.071 [Florida Statute 847.0135(5)] [Florida Statute 847.0145]
b. a crime in another jurisdiction other than the State of Florida that is similar to Florida Statute [794.011] [800.04] [827.071] [847.0135(5)] [847.0145]
The victim of that crime was less than 16 years of age when the crime was committed.
Give a or b as applicable.
a. The date that the crime occurred for the defendant’s convict ion of Florida Statute [794.011] [800.04] [827.071] [847.0135(5)] [847.071] was on or after October 1, 2004.
b. The date that the crime occurred for the defendant’s conviction in another jurisdiction that is similar to Florida Statute [794.011] [800.04] [827.071] [847.0135(5) [847.071] was on or after May 26, 2010.
After the conviction, (defendant) resided within 1,000 feet of a [school] [child care facility] [park] [playground].
What about for convictions prior to 1997 ? And whatever happened to the Doe vs Sweargen case ?
Oral arguments on Motions for Summary Judgement on the Ex Post Facto II case were heard in June, and we are awaiting the judge’s opinion. Trial, originally scheduled for July 17, was postponed.
Trial For Ex Post Facto II case in Northern District Court is scheduled for sometime between Nov 6-20, 2023.
There is separate state residency act in Florida called the Lauren Book 2,500 ft Residency Act which has been adopted by most counties in Florida. This act seems to ignore the except those convicted before Oct 01, 1994 rule and applies only if the victim was less than 16 yrs old and the new residence is after 2005.
-Does this act conflict with the state’s 1000 ft rule and especially if it ignores the except those convicted prior to Oct 01, 1994 ?
Doesn’t list Duval or other counties.
We will continue to update the list of Legislative Delegation meetings as they become known, If you do not find your county listed, please call your State Representative’s office to ask for the date and location, then post it in a comment here or email to [email protected].
If you go to the FAC YouTube site and click on Videos, you can look for Broward Legislative Delegation and see video’s recorded of members going to these meetings in prior years.
You can say as much or as little as you like, but I think most people would be surprised by how little these legislators and their staff understand the registry problems, much less how it has contributed to homelessness. And if you are not comfortable speaking, go with someone who is speaking and show support for that person and to show the delegation there is more than just one person there for the cause. The speaker can even refer to those in attendance to show it is not just them who feels this way.