In a two-part series, FCCB Executive Director Michael Sheedy discusses gender ideology with Father Tim Cusick, a priest of the Diocese of St. Augustine and Academic Dean, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. In sharing his views on this topic, Fr. Cusick said, "There are certain elements of our biological sex which are fixed, that goes down to our DNA, but does that necessarily translate into particular social roles." Father Cusick went on to explain, "That doesn't mean that just because you have certain tendencies, enjoyments, or hobbies that you are a different sex. Gender aspects have now been defining of sex and that is where we get into a lot of confusion." He also talks about some of the impacts on the Church, the family and society." Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
The Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Health & Human Services Committee took up and passed SB 582 (Rodrigues, R.) and HB 241 (Grall), respectively. FCCB supports these measures that create the "Parents' Bill of Rights." The bills enumerate a list of rights that a parent possesses, making it easier for parents to readily know their rights in order to better direct the education and health care of their children.
Current Florida law allows the surrender of newborn infants up to seven days old at EMS stations, hospitals, and fire stations. Even with the existence of this good law, however, illegal abandonment of newborns continue to occur, sometimes leading to the child's death. SB 122 (Baxley)/HB 133 (Harding/Beltran), supported by the FCCB, would authorize the installation of newborn safety devices or "baby boxes" to accept surrendered newborn infants at the same locations where newborns may now be surrendered. The boxes would be installed through an exterior wall, with an access door on the inside of the building. An alarm notifies emergency personnel that someone has placed an infant inside the box. The bill also increases the allowable age of surrender to 30 days. The Senate bill passed its first committee of reference on January 27. The House bill has yet to be scheduled for its first committee hearing.
HB 1059 (Grall) would designate the "Parents' Bill of Rights", bringing together in a single statute the various parental rights that currently exist in law. The bill would highlight the role of parents by clearly outlining the rights parents have in the upbringing, education and care of their children. The bill is poised for a vote of the full House on Monday, March 9.
On February 26, the FCCB joined lawmakers and parents at a press conference at the state Capitol to encourage passage of HB 1059 (Grall) and SB 1634 (Stargel). These bills would designate the "Parents' Bill of Rights", bringing together in a single statute the various parental rights that currently exist in law. The bill would highlight the role of parents by clearly outlining the rights parents have in the upbringing, education and care of their children. Several legislators spoke on the importance of these bills including the bill sponsors. Representative Erin Grall addressed the value of parental rights in a child's life and believes this is a fight for all families in Florida. Senator Stargel stressed the responsibility of legislators to protect the rights of parents in Florida.
November is Florida Adoption Month, a time to celebrate adoption finalizations, express thanks to the parents, staff and stakeholders who work throughout the year to find permanent families for children in need, and bring attention to the children who are still searching for their forever family.
Formal negotiations on the state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2019, began earlier this week. The House and Senate reached agreement on allocations - specific amounts divided among major budget areas - and the budget conference process where details are negotiated is currently underway. A final budget must be passed by both chambers before the session ends on May 3.
In a letter to SB 410 sponsor, Senator Lori Berman (District 31, Boynton Beach), FCCB shared its concerns with a proposal requiring the Florida Department of Health to establish a long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) pilot program in Duval, Hillsborough, and Palm Beach counties. FCCB's correspondence cited the following:
The U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The case involves Christian baker Jack Phillips who declined in 2012 to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony. State officials sought to compel Phillips to create such cakes under Colorado's public accommodations law. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Phillips under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
An FCCB supported resolution was passed (18-1) this week by the House Health & Human Services Committee. HB 157 (Spano) recognizes the public health risk created by pornography and acknowledges the need for education, prevention, research and policy change to protect the residents of Florida.
Both SB 444, sponsored by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), and its companion, HB 41 by Representative Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa), passed initial committees of reference in the weeks preceding the 2018 legislative session that begins January 9.
On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, Governor Rick Scott signed into law an FCCB-supported measure that would allow parents whose pregnancies result in miscarriage to request nonviable birth certificates from the Department of Health. The bill (HB 101), sponsored by Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is called the "Grieving Families Act." Parents can seek certificates of nonviable birth for babies lost after the 9th week but before completion of the 20th week of gestation. Currently, certificates of birth are available for stillborn children after 20 weeks gestational age.
HB 101 (Cortes, B.) received final passage in the Senate and will go to the governor for his signature. The bill allows parents whose pregnancies result in miscarriage after the 9th week but before completion of the 20th week of gestation to request nonviable birth certificates from the Department of Health. Currently, certificates of birth are available for stillborn children after 20 weeks gestational age. FCCB supports this legislation that will allow parents who previously had no official record of children lost before the 20-week threshold to formally memorialize them. SB 672 (Bean) was the companion measure in the Senate.
SB 1130, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday by its second committee of reference. However, time ran out before the bill was taken up by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. While this endangers its passage this session, the program is funded at current levels in proposed House and Senate budgets for the coming year.
While Catholic Days participants looked on, HB 969 (Toledo) was debated and passed (78-38) by the full House on Wednesday. The measure places the Florida Pregnancy Care Network (FPCN) in Florida statutes. The program has been operating since 2005, with funding in the state budget provided on an annual basis. FPCN is a network of pregnancy help centers that provide services such as counseling, referrals, material support, training, and pregnancy and childbirth education to pregnant mothers as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption. For state fiscal year 2015-2016, the program served 24,184 clients.
HB 969 by Rep. Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa) passed its final committee of reference on Thursday and is scheduled to be heard by the full House on Tuesday, April 4. The measure places the Florida Pregnancy Care Network (FPCN) in Florida statute. The program has been operating since 2005, with funding in the state budget provided on an annual basis. FPCN is a network of pregnancy help centers that provide services such as counseling, referrals, material support, training, and pregnancy and childbirth education to pregnant mothers as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has released a proposed revision to the rule that establishes licensure for child-caring facilities (65C-14). Despite improvements to the rule, it retains a framework that places children in facilities based on flawed gender ideology.
The State of Florida has an obligation for all the children in its care, including those who experience gender dysphoria. Every child needs to be safe and free from bullying and to receive assistance dealing with their unique challenges. However, the rule goes too far in failing to consider the well-being of other children in a residential facility.
The Regular Session of the Florida Legislature came to a close (sine die) at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, March 11. The motion to adjourn sine die, Latin for 'without day,' is the last action of a session of the Florida legislature.
After passing the House on Wednesday, HB 43 (Plakon) achieved final passage in the Senate on Thursday, and is on its way to Governor Scott for his signature. The bill prevents churches or religious organizations - or individuals employed by these entities, including clergy - from being forced to solemnize any marriage or provide services, facilities or goods for related purposes if such action would violate sincerely held religious beliefs.
