SB 1226 sails through Rules Committee
This morning SB1226, Senator Lauren Book’s bill that would reduce the time period in which to register from 5 days to 3 passed the Rules committee and is now headed to the floor, where it will undoubtedly pass.
You can watch the video of Lauren Book describing the bill as “impacting transient registrants who are trying to exploit a loophole” here: https://www.flsenate.gov/media/videoplayer?EventID=2443575804_2018031001(starts at 1:26)
We know that’s NOT what this bill is about and it impacts everyone who is registered in Florida, 99% of which are not trying to exploit anything, just live their lives. It also adds mandatory GPS monitoring for registry violations.
NOBODY showed up to speak against the bill, which is the worst shame of all!
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I emailed everyone on the address list:
Dear Friend,
Currently up for vote is Senate Bill 1226, which would change sex offender registry from a five-day change of address to a three day change of address. This would create an even more onerous and precarious life for registrants and their families. It is already nearly impossible to live as a registrant in the state of Florida. Even those with very minor offenses a very long time ago (some that aren’t even required to register in their home state) would be required to register in the state of Florida under this bill for merely spending a weekend in our state or a weekend with a relative in another address in the state.
As you may or may not know, once a person is registered in Florida, whether or not they have to register in their home state, they will be on Florida‘s registry for life. There is no getting off of Florida‘s registry.
Rather than subject otherwise honest people to more heavy restrictions, Florida and it’s taxpayers would do much better to spend more time focusing on and monitoring those evil, predatory people that would seek to do harm; Not people that pose little to no risk and have not committed any act of recidivism, sexual or otherwise, in a very long time.
Think about it; the simple act of spending three nights away from home would require someone to obtain a new drivers license twice (once when leaving and then when returning), at great expense, and both time and money, plus trips to the sheriffs offices of both counties, which may or may not even be open during the statutory notification period. It would also require much more time of probation and registration officers and deputies who could otherwise be pursuing actual criminals rather than criminalizing innocent behavior.
There is no single statistic or reason why this change is needed. Life as a registrant in Florida is already a minefield, and this would make it even worse.
Sincerely yours, (My Name)
I email representatives regularly, to voice my protest of any new laws/restrictions, as well as the need to reform those already passed. It does no good I’m sure, but I try, and I pray that one day they will see that the laws only hurt the communities instead of making them safe.
I personally find it ironic that Lauren Book used the words “exploiting loopholes”, she would know what that means since her and her father have made lucrative careers out of exploiting loopholes at the expense of Florida taxpayers.
Off topic I would like to say that I find it absolutely sickening that Mary Ellen Klas at the Miami Herald would use the Parkland tragedy to write an op-ed on Lauren Book and the Lauren’s kids foundation. What was failed to be mentioned in that article is that the $1.5 million that her foundation is getting next year is coming out of the education budget, or the fact that most of the representatives that are voting on the appropriations receive campaign contributions from Ron Book who is listed as the chairman for the foundation and his lobbying firm is listed as the lobbyist on the appropriations bill, or did it state what that money is being used for which is mostly “printing and project management”.
I find irony in that this foundation has gotten millions out of the education budget to provide schools with printed materials to prevent sexual abuse, yet it seems that every week I am reading articles about teachers being arrested for sexual relationships with students.
One last thing that Mary Ellen Klas failed to mention in her op-ed of Lauren Book, is that out of the 71 house representatives that voted no to debate assault weapons 53 (74%) of them received campaign contributions from Ron Book.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article201671659.html
People, all the letters, calls, and emails cannot ever hope to carry the weight of attending these meetings in person.
In an ideal world, we’d have a room full of opponents, with registrants AND their loved ones there. Bring your spouses, your kids, and fill the room with opposition. Even if not everyone speaks, everyone shows solidarity and support for those who do.
I would gladly have been there had I known the bill was up for debate. Maybe it could still be addressed once it goes for discussion when it reaches the House. Question is, if I use my meager resources to go, will anyone have my back?
When is all of this going to end. As many times as we make our voices heard they are silenced. How do you fight a person who has such a hatred for RSO’s that she is able to write such laws that will most all the time be passed. Yes I too was molested as a child. I have moved on. I do not let my molestation define me.
No wonder they do not want to let RSO’s vote. If they did these idiots would be out of office. I sent Book an e-mail shaming her for her efforts to destroy lives and families. One day she will have a price to pay; of that I am convinced.