The Need For, and Results From “Calls to Action”

(Weekly Update #196)

Dear Members and Advocates,

We dodged a bullet. Or, to make a more proportionate reference, we dodged a missile. Senate Bill 1932 went nowhere this legislative session and is officially dead. SB 1932 would have made some incredibly burdensome changes to the registry, the worst of which would have amended the definition of day to be any “part” of a calendar day. For purposes of how many “days” constitute a residence, this would have been an absolute disaster, since anywhere you spent “part of a day” three or more times during a calendar year would have become registrable. Thankfully, the bill died in the criminal justice committee.

We will never know whether it was the immediate and significant responses to our calls to action that made the difference or some legislators simply read the proposed changes and said, “come on!”. We believe that our efforts in raising the objection to all legislators, pointing out the absurdity of the changes is what made the difference. It was our efforts in educating the legislators on the potential impact of the bill that made the difference. Otherwise and ordinarily, any bill seeking to make “sex offender laws” tougher would have sailed through without thought. Bottom line, we’re getting a lot better at this.

Also dying on the vine were HB 725 (which would have meant no restoration of civil rights, ever, for registrants), SB 512 and HB 325 (which would have required stays of as little as 24 hours at a vacation rental require registration), and SB 1732 (landlords can be held liable for renting to a registrant).

We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to our legislative committee who identified the bills, researched their effect on our population, tracked the status as they proceeded through committees, prepared calls to action, assembled contact lists for legislators, and provided us with talking points to help guide our emails and phone calls. We also owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to all of those who stepped up and did something. Whether you made phone calls, sent emails or mailed letters, you certainly made a difference!

While we can breathe a sigh of relief over 2022. Now is not the time to relax. Now is the time to work on our mission for the next legislative session, and that is to propose legislation! It might seem like a long-shot, but other states have been successful in proposing bills and FAC is a large enough, informed enough, and knowledgeable enough organization to prepare the draft of a bill and see if we can find a sponsor. It might seem ambitious and aggressive, but we are ambitious and aggressive!

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Calendar of Events – Keep up with Meet-and-Greets in your area, Support groups, Membership Calls, and other events.  Click Here for Calendar, and double click on the event to view details and RSVP instructions. For questions, contact membership@floridaactioncommittee.org or call 833-273-7325,Option 1.

• Join the County Coordinator Team.  Only requirement is your desire to HELP us organize your county.  Training for new Coordinators is available.   Choose best day/time for you:  Wednesday 7pm (March 16 or 30), Thursday 1-2pm (March 17 or 31), Sunday 7-8pm (March  20 or 27)   Dial (760) 548-9898.
• Fearless Group Call  Monday March 28 at 7pm Dial (727) 731-2927
• Meet-and-Greet in Hillsborough April 2 from 11am-1pm. RSVP (727) 731-2927 or email daphne.fac@gmail.com.
• Free Viewing of “Untouchable Documentary” April 4-7.
• Monthly Membership Call Thursday April 7 at 8pm.  Topic: Untouchable Documentary.  Guest speaker Shawna Baldwin.  Dial 319-527-3487
• Family Support Group (by Zoom) Sat Apr 9 from 11:00-1:00pmET
• New Member Orientation Call Thursday April 14 at 8pm.  No Agenda.  Learn more about FAC, ask questions, get resources, volunteer. Dial 319-527-3487
• A national conference is planned for March 2023 that includes a vigil on the steps of the United States Supreme Court.  Watch for details!

Wrongful Convictions: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

John Oliver explains why it’s so difficult to be exonerated for a wrongful conviction, even when there’s compelling evidence to prove your…

SB 1798 “Sexually Related Offenses” heads to Governor’s Desk

SB 1798 has passed the Senate and is heading to the Governor for signature. The bill does the following: “Increasing the monetary damages that an aggrieved person may receive as a result of violations relating to sexual cyber-harassment; revising the prohibition on…

‘Miya’s Law’ heading to Governor’s desk

The Senate Friday took up and unanimously passed Sen. Linda Stewart’s “Miya’s Law” (SB 898) for the second time, this time with a late amendment message from the House that calls for a ban of rent-by-the-hour hotel and motel rooms. “Miya’s Law” would require apartment…

In Defense of the Defenders: Our Overlooked Attorneys in the Anti-Registry Movement Derek W. Logue

“—Didn’t do it, lawyer f**ked me.” – Heywood, “The Shawshank Redemption Know any good lawyer jokes? Do you also feel your lawyer also screwed you like they screwed Heywood in The Shawshank Redemption? Do you feel like all lawyers go the 4th circle of hell, where they…