As we celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit with and for our brothers and sisters in the various branches of our state government, we pray for God's guidance in all things. Particularly, we ask for the gift of "Fear of the Lord", so that we may revere and adore God while remembering that we are called to do His will. Only when we 'get out of the way' and let God work through us will God be glorified in us and in our world as well.
On January 23, HB 829 (Plasencia) was amended and passed by the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee with unanimous (12-0) bipartisan support. The measure reduces the prior-public-school-attendance requirement from a year to a semester or less for kindergarten to 12th grade students seeking to participate in the McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities.
The Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC) convenes once every 20 years to examine the Florida Constitution and propose changes for voter consideration. Two CRC committees took action this week on proposals supported by the FCCB:
SB 936 (Powell) passed its first committee of reference, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (5-1). The bill revises the circumstances under which juveniles may be treated as an adult in the court system.
National Catholic Schools Week 2018 will be observed in dioceses around the country January 28-February 3. This year's theme, "Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.," focuses on the important spiritual, academic and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education.
In an opinion-editorial, Bishop William Wack CSC of Pensacola-Tallahassee wrote the following: Tim Kane was a 14-year-old boy from Pasco County when he was indicted for capital felony murder. Tim has never killed anyone. He had no prior criminal history until one day in January of 1992 when he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Catholic Mass participants will pray for divine inspiration and guidance for those serving in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, and for members of the legal profession in Florida. Who: The Catholic bishops of Florida, members of the Florida cabinet and executive branch, legislators, judges, attorneys, state agency officials, and members of the community. Congregants are Catholic and non-Catholic.
SB 444 (Bean), which formalizes the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in Florida statutes, passed its final committee of reference, Appropriations (12-6). The bill will now go to the full Senate.
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.
The Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee passed (3-2) a measure urging Congress to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. SB 882 (Campbell) is a memorial bill addressed to Congress that expresses the sentiment of the Florida Legislature.
HB 1197 (Ahern) provides for automatic expungement of a juvenile's first-time misdemeanor after the offender completes a diversion program. The bill also allows for discretionary use of civil citations for adults. FCCB staff expressed support for the measure at a meeting of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, which passed the bill unanimously (10-0).
SB 874 (Passidomo), which prohibits money deposited into state housing trust funds from being transferred or used for other purposes, was passed unanimously (6-0) by the Community Affairs Committee.
Catholic school superintendents from Florida's seven dioceses gathered in Tallahassee this week to discuss shared concerns and opportunities, and to visit with legislators.
On Tuesday morning, January 9, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Florida Senate President Joe Negron called their respective chambers to order for the 2018 Florida Legislative Session. To a joint session of the House and Senate, Governor Rick Scott delivered his final State of the State Address.
In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida lament that a mother's womb has become a place of vulnerability for the developing child rather than a place of safety and security.
HB 41 (Toledo) passed the full House of Representatives (73-29) on Friday, January 12. Also this week, companion bill SB 444 (Bean) passed its second committee of reference, Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (4-2). It will be heard in its last committee, Appropriations, on Thursday, January 18 at 4:00 pm.
The House passed (71-35) the so called "Sanctuary Cities" bill, HB 9 (Metz). The bill requires local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration policy without accompanying funding. As a result, local resources for preventing crime and protecting the public will be redirected to immigration enforcement. In a letter to the bill's sponsor, Executive Director Michael Sheedy outlined FCCB's concerns with the measure. Ingrid Delgado, FCCB associate for social concerns/respect life, provided remarks at a press conference organized by immigration advocates.
A 2015 state law requiring a 24-hour reflection period prior to an abortion was ruled unconstitutional this week by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis. Judge Lewis' decision makes permanent a temporary injunction granted by the Florida Supreme Court last year after a Gainesville abortion clinic challenged the law as a violation of privacy rights under the state's Constitution.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida lament that a mother’s womb has become a place of vulnerability for the developing child rather than a place of safety and security.
The 2018 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature is scheduled to begin Tuesday, January 9. Lawmakers will convene next week in the Florida House and Senate chambers to formally call the session to order. During a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Governor Rick Scott is expected to give the traditional "State of the State" address.