News - March 2017 RSS Feed

On Tuesday, HB 697 (Metz) passed its second committee of reference, with one committee still remaining before it can be heard by the full House. The bill requires local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration policy without accompanying funding. As a result, resources for preventing crime and protecting the public will be redirected to immigration enforcement. FCCB staff expressed opposition to the bill during the committee hearing. A letter from Executive Director Michael Sheedy outlines FCCB's concerns with the measure, noting:

The FCCB expressed its support in committee this week for a bill creating a criminal justice task force. The newly created group will be charged with conducting a comprehensive review of the state's criminal justice, court and corrections systems. The 28-member task force will be composed of members of the Florida House, Senate and executive branch, judges, county commissioners, a victim's advocate, a representative of the Florida State University Project on Accountable Justice, two representatives of the faith community, members of criminal defense and law enforcement associations, and a formerly incarcerated individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to rehabilitation and community improvement.

The Constitution Revision Commission, which convenes every 20 years to suggest changes to the Florida Constitution, held its first meeting on Monday, March 20. Any proposed constitutional amendments recommended by the commission will go on the ballot for the November 2018 elections and would require approval from 60 percent of voters to pass. Of the 37 members on the commission, Governor Rick Scott appointed 15 members and named Carlos Beruff, a businessman and former candidate for U.S. Senate, the chairman. Both Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran had nine appointees each. Chief Justice Jorge Labarga named three members. Attorney General Pam Bondi is an automatic member of the panel.

HB 15 by Representative Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) passed (12-3) its first committee of reference on Tuesday, March 7. The bill contains several provisions that increase access to school choice, including:

During the committee weeks leading up to the 2017 legislative session, Florida lawmakers acted quickly to address an October 2016 Florida Supreme Court decision that struck down the state's death sentencing scheme. The state's high court ruled that a new 2016 law requiring agreement of only 10 of 12 jurors to recommend death was unconstitutional.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The following is a statement from James B. Herzog, Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, associate director for education, on today’s visit by President Donald J. Trump to St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando: