To minimize the impact of SB 7066 on Amendment 4, the League of Women Voters of Florida has launched training programs for attorneys and other non-lawyer volunteers willing to assist returning citizens avoid penalties when they register to vote.
Voters approved Amendment 4 in November, which restored the voting rights of those with a felony conviction, excluding murder or felony sex offenses. Within months the Legislature passed SB 7066, which restricts the ability of returning citizens to register to vote. The restrictions will have a disproportionate impact on African-American citizens. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated he will sign the bill.
If signed, the proposed law will take effect July 1. The League will hold events throughout Florida on June 15th and June 29th.
The Florida Bar has approved the training for two Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit hours and accreditation from the American Bar Association is pending. Lawyers and others seeking to take the training may sign up at: bit.ly/implementationcle.
In addition to seeking volunteer lawyers for this effort, the League is seeking information about community events (job fairs, community Juneteenth celebrations, etc.) that returning citizens may be likely to attend. Clinics would be set up before the events to train lawyers in order to help returning citizens.
The League will hold voter registration events where lawyers who receive the CLE training can assist in researching the status of people’s sentences in Tallahassee, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, and Panama City on June 15.
For more information, contact League Rights Restoration Chair Cecile Scoon at [email protected]. See below for a list of events times and locations:
Unless otherwise noted, lawyer training will run from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Eastern Time and community members will arrive for assistance at 1:00 pm.
June 14, 2019
Gainesville
Mass Incarceration Convening
Civic Media Center
433 South Main St.
Gainesville, FL 32601
June 15, 2019
Gainesville
League & University of Florida attorney workshop
UF Library West
1545 West University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32611
Jacksonville
Beaver Street Enterprise Center
1225 West Beaver St.
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Community will arrive at Juneteenth Family Fun Day Celebrations (Across street from Beaver Street Enterprise Center)
Orlando
Job Fair and Voter Registration Workshop
Iglaesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret
26 Willow Drive
Orlando, FL 32807
Panama City
Voter Registration Workshop (Lawyer training only, begins 10 am Central Time)
Law Offices of Peters & Scoon
25 East 8th Street
Panama City, FL 32401
Turn Your Life Around After Incarceration (Community arrives for assistance at 1:00 pm)
Daffin Park
320 North Kraft Avenue
Panama City, FL 32401.
Rutherford High School Family fun day and cook out (Community arrives for assistance 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm)
1000 School Avenue
Panama City, FL 32401
Tampa
Voter Registration Workshop
Board Room 9th Floor
University of Tampa
401 West Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33606
June 29, 2019
Tampa
Voter Registration Workshop
Board Room 9th Floor
University of Tampa
401 West Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33606
Tallahassee
Tallahassee Urban League
923 Old Bainbridge Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32303
