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June 29, 2020Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law several bills engaged by the FCCB during the 2020 legislative session:
PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT
HB 7067 (Education) / SB 1220 (Diaz): Supported by FCCB
Accelerates the growth of the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program by boosting the formula that increases the number of students allowed to participate in the program each year. State general revenue funds these scholarships.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HB 6507 (Daniels) / SB 28 (Gibson): Supported by FCCB
Provides an appropriation to compensate Clifford Williams for being wrongfully incarcerated for 43 years and spent four years on death row. The state found that there was no credible evidence of Mr. Williams' guilt, and likewise, found verifiable and substantial evidence of his innocence.
HB 1259 (Jones) / SB 852 (Pizzo): Supported by FCCB
Prohibits the involuntary placement of incarcerated pregnant women in restrictive housing.
ACCESS TO CARE
HB 6031 (Pigman) / SB 348 (Bean): Supported by FCCB
Removes lifetime maximum cap on covered expenses for children enrolled in the Florida KidCare program. KidCare is funded through a state/federal partnership and provides affordable health insurance for about 345,000 of Florida's children from families with lower-incomes.
END-OF-LIFE CARE
HB 709 (Burton) / SB 994 (Passidomo): Supported by FCCB
Strengthens protections for vulnerable elderly persons with court-appointed guardians by improving guardianship laws with respect to conflict of interest, compensation, and appointment of guardians; requires that guardians may not consent to or authorize do-not-resuscitate orders for their wards without court approval.
The governor has until July 1 to sign the following two bills:
PARENTAL CONSENT PRIOR TO ABORTION
2020 Catholic Days at the Capitol Issue
HB 265 (Grall) / SB 404 (Stargel): Supported by FCCB
Prohibits a physician from performing an abortion on a minor unless presented with consent from the minor's parent or guardian; includes a judicial waiver process when parental abuse is a concern; Catholic Days Backgrounder; FCCB press release praising passage; Letter to governor expressing appreciation for his support of the bill
IMMIGRATION
HB 1265 (Byrd) / SB 664 (Lee): Opposed by FCCB
Requires public employers to use the E-Verify system and private employers use either E-Verify or I-9 documents to determine employment eligibility. If requested, all employers must turn over any employment eligibility documents to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Attorney General, state prosecutors, or state attorney whenever requested, without a warrant or probable cause. The position of the FCCB is that the expansion of employment eligibility verification only makes sense as part of federal comprehensive immigration efforts that also address the root causes of migration and increase the number of employment-based visas, among other necessary reforms; FCCB letter to bill sponsor.
