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House and Senate Chambers to Take Up School and Gun Safety Measures
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The Florida legislature has acted quickly to address gun policy and school safety in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. HB 7101 and SB 7026 both contain key changes that improve state law and help to ensure that a tragedy such as the one that occurred in Parkland on February 14 never occurs again. Key provisions of the bills include:
- Raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21
- Banning "bump stocks" that make many weapons automatic
- Increasing funding for mental health services
- Providing additional school resource officers and school hardening measures for public schools, such as metal detectors, bullet-proof glass, steel doors, and upgraded locks
The Senate will hold a rare Saturday floor session to begin debate on SB 7026 and will vote on the measure on Monday, March 5. The House will wait until the Senate acts on its proposal before taking up the issue.
In the video above, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, urges that resources also be made available to nonpublic schools. All kids need to be safe in Florida.
The FCCB also supports a ban on assault weapons and recommends including such a prohibition in the final bill.
On February 26, Michael B. Sheedy, FCCB executive director, identified these two concerns in letters to Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran.
TAKE ACTION: Urge Support and Additional Provisions to HB 7101/SB 7026 to Protect All Schoolchildren
The Catholic Church has been a consistent voice for the prevention of gun and other forms of violence that strike at the life and dignity of persons and a strong advocate for the reasonable regulation of firearms. A 2016 document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urges support for policy and legislative measures that, among other reforms, require universal background checks for all gun purchases; limit civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines; and improve access to mental health care for those who may be prone to violence. |
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Legislative Budget Conference Process Underway
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The House and Senate have begun the process of resolving differences between the two chambers' spending plans. On Tuesday evening, House and Senate leaders announced agreement on allocations - specific amounts to be allocated for the major budget areas - and lawmakers are now negotiating how funds will be spent.
Both chambers passed budget plans on February 8 for the fiscal year that starts July 1, both proposing about $87 billion in spending. Lawmakers are faced with unexpected costs and a lower estimate of corporate tax revenue than when the two chambers approved their budget proposals. The biggest change stems from plans to spend at least $400 million in response to the February 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The top budget priority for the FCCB has been to ensure the safety of all school students as the legislature considers SB 7026 and HB 7101. |
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Predatory Payday Lending Proposals to be Considered by Full House and Senate
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Ingrid Delgado, FCCB associate for social concerns/respect life
At a press conference organized by consumer advocates, Ingrid Delgado, FCCB associate for social concerns/respect life, spoke in opposition to bills that further the practice of usury among predatory lenders. Exploiting people who live in poverty is theft and usurious practices are the equivalent of indirect homicide. (Catechism, nos. 2409 & 2269)
At times the working poor and those on fixed incomes have a need for immediate access to small amounts of capital. While there are alternatives such as credit unions, many people seek payday loans. The current payday lending product in Florida too often traps borrowers in cycles of debt often requiring additional loans with new fees and interest rates. On average, payday borrowers take out seven loans in a year.
HB 857 (Grant, J.) and SB 920 (Bradley) have passed all committees of reference and are being considered by their full chambers. These FCCB-opposed bills allow payday loans to be made at triple-digit rates when calculated on an annual basis, costing consumers more dollars in fees. A better alternative are bills filed by Senator Baxley and Representative Olszewski, which would cap these loans at more reasonable APR rates as has been done in other states.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami recently opined on the practice of unscrupulous lending in the Sun Sentinel.
TAKE ACTION: Protect vulnerable Floridians from the debt trap of payday loans - SB 920 in Senate |
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Two Pro-life Bills See Action in Respective Chambers
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Dismemberment Abortion
On Thursday, March 1, HB 1429 (Grall) passed the House (72-42). This FCCB-supported measure would prohibit physicians from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion, a procedure conducted in the second-trimester that removes the body parts of an unborn child while the child is still alive. The companion bill in the Senate, SB 1890 (Mayfield), has not been heard in its committees of reference.
Retroactivity in Death Penalty Cases
SB 870 (Bracy) finds that partial retroactivity of a new unanimous jury requirement in death penalty cases results in a miscarriage of justice. Based on a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling, only cases that were finalized after June 24, 2002 and had non-unanimous juries are eligible for resentencing. Defendants whose death sentences were finalized before this date - but under the same unconstitutional system - have been denied relief. SB 870 states that applying retroactivity to the earlier cases will provide a more just and final resolution. This FCCB-supported bill was approved by the Senate Rules Committee on Thursday, March 1 and is on the calendar for the full Senate. There is no companion bill in the House. |
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Congress Hears from Constituents on National Call-in Day to Protect Dreamers
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Thank you to all of our FLCAN members who participated in the National Call-in Day to Congress!
On Monday, February 26, more than 45,000 calls were made to members of Congress from Catholics around the country urging them to find a legislative solution to save the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asked all Catholics to contact their members of Congress and urge them to protect Dreamers from deportation, provide them a path to citizenship and avoid any damage to existing protections for families and unaccompanied minors in the process.
On that same day, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear and rule on whether the Trump administration has the right to shut down the DACA program. The administration asked the Supreme Court to rule on a lower court's decision that blocks efforts to end the program. The Court's refusal to hear the case means a March 5 deadline imposed by the administration is no longer of any significance and those who currently have DACA status can keep applying to renew permits that protect them from deportation. However, a legislative solution is still necessary to make certain that protection is lasting.
For more information see: Why We Are Advocating for Dreamers, both in English and Spanish. |
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Sign Up to Receive Action Alert Notifications Via Text Message
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Time is of the essence when your Florida legislator needs to hear from you on an issue. Often, little notice is given before a bill is considered by a committee or heard on the floor of the House or Senate chamber. You can be notified immediately when the FCCB sends an action alert to the Florida Catholic Advocacy Network by signing up for text messages. It's easy to sign up, just text FLCAN to 50457. |
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March 2, 2018
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2018 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
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