Archaic laws that could land someone in jail for up to a year for such crimes as maliciously imputing a woman’s lack of chastity or degrading a bank’s reputation may soon be removed from Florida statutes under legislation sponsored by Senator Daphne Campbell (D-Miami).
SB 1060, which won unanimous endorsement Monday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, would remove two obscure criminal statutes dating back to the late 1800’s and early 20th century, both first degree misdemeanors.
“This bill would repeal Florida Statute Chapter 836 Section 4 which makes it a first degree misdemeanor for a person to speak of a woman, married or unmarried falsely and maliciously imputing to her want of chastity,” explained Senator Campbell. “It also repeals Florida Statue Chapter 836 Section 6 which also makes it a first degree misdemeanor for a person to speak or make derogatory statements concerning banks or building and loan associations.”
In Florida, a first degree misdemeanor conviction can include up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or 12 months of probation.
At one time 15 states had criminal statutes prohibiting imputing unchastity to women, whether in writing or orally. In addition to Florida, which enacted its law in 1883, these states included Oklahoma, Alabama, and North Carolina.
In the case of the financial institutions, the 1915 law may have been enacted to prevent bank runs, but its origins remain murky.
“We can all agree that defamation or libelous remarks of any kind are serious and have no place in our public discourse,” said Sen. Campbell. “However, in our modern society these penalties are too severe and are an unnecessary government intrusion into an issue that has mostly been handled amongst two private citizens in civil proceedings.”
SB 1060 has two additional committee hearings before heading to the full Senate for a vote. Its next stop will be before the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
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SunRail Offering Special Service on Pro Bowl Game Day This Sunday
SunRail is pleased to announce it is offering special service to support the NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium this Sunday, January 28.
With the NFL Pro Bowl kick-off scheduled Sunday at 3 p.m., SunRail begins service at noon, as the first train leaves southbound from the DeBary Station. Service runs hourly between the DeBary and the Sand Lake Road stations for about eight hours.
Those taking the train should consult the special schedule at sunrail.com and take note of the times of service, including:
- The last southbound train leaves DeBary at 6 p.m. and makes stops at each station, including pick-ups from LYNX Central Station at 7 p.m. and Church Street Station at 7:03 p.m.
- The last northbound train leaves the Sand Lake Road station at 7:30 p.m. and makes stops at each station, including pick-ups from Church Street Station at 7:40 p.m. and LYNX Central Station at 7:43 p.m.
In addition to providing service for Pro Bowl attendees, the Sunday service also provides an option for those who wish to try the train, just for fun.
Please remember anytime is train time. Whether at railroad crossings or SunRail platforms, always be on the lookout for a train. Please stay a safe distance away from railroad tracks. Be smart. Be safe.
Governor Rick Scott Appoints Eight Members to Judicial Nominating Commissions
Governor Rick Scott today announced the following appointments:
Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
Eual Tyler Cathey, of Tampa, is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Franklin Street. He succeeds Edward Page and is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2019.
Fourth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Jennifer Shoaf Richardson, of Jacksonville, is an attorney with Jackson Lewis P.C. She succeeds Michelle Barnett and is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2020.
Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Tara L. Tedrow, of Winter Park, is an attorney with Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.. She succeeds Paetra T. Brownlee and is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2020.
Tenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Lydia Zbrzeznj, of Bartow, is an attorney with Frost Van den Boom, P.A. She succeeds Cassandra L. Denmark and is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2020.
Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Richard McChesney, of Key West, is an attorney with Spottswood, Spottswood, Spottswood & Sterling. He succeeds Piper L. Smith and is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2020.
Michael Puto, of Marathon, was the former City Manager for the City of Marathon. He fills a vacant position for a term ending July 1, 2019.
George Wallace, of Key West, is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Key West. He succeeds David P. Horan for a term ending July 1, 2018.
Seventeenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Christina Sanabria, of Coral Springs, is an attorney with Sanabria, Llorente, Marsh & Associates. She succeeds Zachariah P. Zachariah and is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2020.
Kissimmee man celebrates 39th birthday with $550,000 LUCKY MONEY™ jackpot
The Florida Lottery announces that Mao Ni, of Kissimmee, claimed the $550,000 LUCKY MONEY™ jackpot from the January 12, 2018, drawing at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee, two weeks after his 39th birthday.
Ni chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $403,449.10. He purchased his winning LUCKY MONEY Quick Pick ticket from Publix, located at 2338 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee. The retailer received a bonus commission of $1,000 for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
The next LUCKY MONEY drawing will be held tonight, January 23, 2018, at 11:15 p.m. ET, with a $650,000 jackpot. The LUCKY MONEY drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the state. Winning numbers are available on the Lottery website, at retailers statewide and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY.
Governor Rick Scott Honors 628 Veterans with Veterans Service Medal
Governor Rick Scott today awarded 628 Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal for their service to the state and the nation. Since 2013, Governor Scott has awarded more than 13,000 veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to recognize these brave American heroes who dedicated their lives to protecting the families of our great nation. We will continue working to give back to our selfless veterans who have given so much to our state and country.”
- Governor Scott also highlighted investments in Florida’s active military, veterans and their families in his Securing Florida’s Future budget, including:
$200,000 for search and rescue vessels and protective equipment for our National Guardsmen to use during deployment; - Nearly $8 million to begin operations at the Lake Baldwin State Veteran Nursing Home, which will allow this facility to serve more than 110 veterans in the coming year;
- Doubling the funding to $2 million for Building Homes for Heroes to build and modify homes for veterans who were severely injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan;
- $2 million for the Florida Defense Support Task Force, which helps support our military and defense communities and the many families who rely on them; and
- $2.7 million to support veterans looking to obtain employment, start their own businesses and make Florida their home, including $1 million for Veterans Florida to continue their mission of helping veterans find great jobs at Florida businesses.
The following Florida veterans were highlighted during today’s ceremony:
Colonel Darrell W. Katz
Colonel Darrell Katz enlisted in the United States Army in 1956 and served for 40 years, including 30 years as a commissioned officer where he served mostly in the Special Forces. His decades of service included tours in Vietnam and Desert Storm. Colonel Katz is a member of the Army Special Forces Hall of Fame at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the Infantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia. His actions have been recognized with a Purple Heart, a Silver Star and the Legion of Merit among others for his dedicated service.
Private First-Class Robert G. “Bob” Black
Private First-Class Bob Black enlisted in the United States Army in August of 1951 and attended infantry basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was deployed to Korea during the Korean War as a light infantry leader and joined “A” Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division assigned to a 57mm recoilless rifle squad. While serving in Korea, Private First-Class Black was injured in the line of duty. After he was injured he was assigned as the editor of the 2nd Infantry Division Newspaper and subsequently transferred to Stars and Stripes. His service has been recognized with the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal with three battle stars and the Army Commendation Medal.
Private First-Class John H. MacPhee
Private First-Class John MacPhee was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 and attended basic training at Camp Blanding where he qualified as a sniper. He was assigned to the first wave of assault troops to land on Omaha Beach for the D-day invasion on June 6, 1944. During the invasion, Private First-Class MacPhee was wounded five times, his injuries were so severe that he was given Last Rites by a Catholic Priest. He has been recognized for his service with a Purple Heart, a Combat Infantry Badge, a Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor.
Commander Edward Socha
Commander Edward Socha enlisted in the United States Navy in 1939 and was commissioned as an Ensign in 1944. He underwent Scout and Raider Training and was later stationed on the USS Maryland in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 when the first Japanese plane attacked the base. Commander Socha served throughout the Pacific in various naval battles including the battle of Guadalcanal. His actions have been recognized with the American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Florida Children and Youth Cabinet Focuses on the Health and Well-Being of Florida Children During 2018 Children’s Week
In recognition of Children’s Week, leaders from the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet came together today on the steps of the Old Capitol to promote the health and well-being of Florida’s children. For the past 23 years, this event has strengthened Florida’s families by sharing a commitment to improving communities through events and outreach efforts. Members of the cabinet addressed its current priorities, including focusing on early childhood development, the effect of substance abuse on children, significant behavioral health issues in children and teens, and child poverty.
“Children’s Week is an important time to recognize and promote initiatives that improve the self-sufficiency, safety, health, and quality of life of Florida’s children,” said Chair of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet and nationally recognized leader in juvenile justice Wansley Walters. “Working together, agencies, organizations, and communities can have a real impact on enhancing the lives of children and families.”
“Every child deserves to be safe, healthy, and educationally and developmentally on track and an essential element to this is to have healthy parents and a supportive community,” Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Mike Carroll said. “We are committed to the continued integration of substance abuse and mental health services and the child welfare system because early intervention in the life of a struggling family, child, or parent, can make all the difference in their lives.”
“We now know that your ZIP code is a more important predictor of one’s health than your genetic code. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as living in poverty, can have long-term effects on a person’s ability to live a healthful life,” said Dr. Celeste Philip, Surgeon General & Secretary, Department of Health. “Early interventions such as screening for ACEs, teaching children how to cope with toxic stress and promoting trauma-informed care can mitigate these impacts and improve lifelong health and quality of life.”
“By age 2, a baby’s brain has reached 80 percent of its adult size. The quality of experiences from the prenatal stage until a child’s third birthday, i.e. those during the first 1,000 days of life build either a strong or fragile foundation for all experiences that follow,” said Diana Ragbeer, Managing Director, Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe. “After that, early learning or School Readiness programs improve language skills and help reduce the achievement gap, resulting in kindergarten readiness, early grade success, and success in life. Pay attention to the first 5 years of life and you can change everything!”
Children’s Week brings together more than 5,000 children, parents, advocates, teachers, and communities to the Florida Capitol each year to celebrate children and families, highlighting the critical issues they face. This annual event exemplifies how the collaboration of local and statewide organizations come together under “One Voice.”
DJJ Honors 2018 Youth Ambassadors During Youth Success Day
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Secretary Christina K. Daly, the Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation, members of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association, legislators, and community partners today honored the 2018 DJJ Youth Ambassadors during Youth Success Day at a reception at Florida’s Historic Capitol.
DJJ Youth Ambassadors are youth in the state of Florida who have turned their lives around for the better after contact with the juvenile justice system. These ambassadors serve as mentors and role models for other at-risk kids throughout the state.
“The incredible stories of our Youth Ambassadors and how they’ve overcome their challenges serves as a reminder that we must never allow our past to define our future” said DJJ Secretary Christina Daly. “These young people have demonstrated that success isn’t just about what you accomplish in life, but how much you inspire those around you.”
DJJ solicits nominations for the Youth Ambassador Award from providers, community stakeholders and the public at large. Youth Ambassadors received a certificate and Youth Investment Award from the Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation, which is the direct-support organization for DJJ. Youth receiving awards today were:
Carlos Leyva
Carlos first became involved with the juvenile justice system at the age of 14 and was later committed to a residential program. In 2016, Carlos completed his program and took the initiative to complete aftercare services with Eckerd Connects Project Bridge to reach his goals. Carlos immediately began career services workshops to gain the skills needed to secure employment. His training proved successful as he was hired at a local restaurant, receiving several promotions along the way. Although Carlos has successfully graduated from Eckerd Connects Project Bridge, he regularly keeps in contact with the team and works with them to further advance his goals. Carlos looks forward to a bright future, which includes securing his own apartment and continuing his education to become a registered nurse.
Jazzman Lezama
Jazzman first became involved in the juvenile justice system when she was 15 years old. She was later direct filed and committed to a residential program at the age of 16. Early in life, Jazzman was involved with the foster care system, and then the juvenile justice system. Jazzman has used her past choices and decisions to motivate her to make better ones. Jazzman realized that she had the capacity to give back to the community in more positive ways. This includes being an advocate with a group called Florida Youth SHINE, which works to advocate on behalf of foster youth and child welfare issues at the state and local level. In addition, she is involved with the Palm Beach County Youth Services Department as a member of a youth empowerment group called Future Leaders United for Change. Youth Success Day is a DJJ sponsored event held each year at the Florida Capitol. This is the eighth year that DJJ has recognized Youth Ambassadors during its Youth Success Day.
Nursing home and assisted living facility associations support Governor Scott’s proposal that all facilities have emergency generators
Governor Rick Scott announced today that the Florida Health Care Association, Florida Senior Living Association, LeadingAge Florida and the Florida Assisted Living Association have agreed to support the Governor’s rule to have emergency generators to power their air conditioning units during emergencies. These associations, which represent thousands of nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALFs) in Florida, have worked with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) through the rule-making process and have agreed to drop their challenges against the agencies and work with their members to have emergency generators. Hundreds of nursing homes and ALFs in Florida have already agreed to follow the Governor’s rule and are working to install the necessary equipment. While the rule challenges against the currently proposed nursing home and assisted living facility generator rules have been dropped by all parties, these rules are still awaiting ratification by the Florida Legislature. The legislature must ratify these rules during the current legislative session.
Governor Scott said, “Following the tragic loss of life at the Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center last year, I immediately ordered our state agencies to require each nursing home and ALF in Florida to have emergency generators to keep their residents safe during a disaster. My goal throughout this process was to ensure that every facility in Florida can provide a safe environment for its residents. These rules accomplish this important goal by having generators and fuel supply resources at every nursing home and ALF in Florida. This is a big win for our state and makes Florida one of the first states in the nation to require emergency generators at nursing homes and ALFs. The bottom line is that we fought for residents and they will be safer because of these rules. I look forward to the legislature ratifying these life-saving rules.”
AHCA Secretary Justin Senior said, “We have put together a rule that we believe can help save lives. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are homes for some of Florida’s most vulnerable populations, and these rules are vital to ensuring patient safety. We are glad that the hard work of Governor Scott and stakeholders will establish standards that will keep Florida’s vulnerable populations safe.”
DOEA Secretary Bragg said, “When Florida families make the decision to place their loved ones in long-term care facilities, they expect that they will be safe and well cared for at all times. Since September, our Department has been working to ensure the safety and welfare of Floridians in assisted living facilities during periods of prolonged power outage. We are glad that all parties were able to come together and create procedures that will ensure protection for these populations.”
Florida Health Care Association Executive Director Emmett Reed said, “The health and well-being of our state’s frail elders is our members’ number one priority. Our association has worked with Governor Scott, AHCA and DOEA since September on how our members can implement these important life-saving rules. We are glad that all stakeholders were able to come to the table, work together and agree to lasting policy that will keep residents and patients safe in Florida.”
Gail Matillo, President of the Florida Senior Living Association said, “Throughout this process, we have remained supportive of the Governor’s original intent – to ensure vulnerable Floridians are kept safe during emergency situations. We believe these rules will benefit both Florida seniors and the communities invested in providing them with quality living environments.”
Shad Haston, Chief Executive Officer of Florida Assisted Living Association said, “Our assisted living facilities are implanted in communities all over the state and ensuring resident safety has been a key issue since the storm this fall. Governor Scott was able to bring key stakeholders together, and work through the rules ensuring that facilities large and small will be able to implement them.”
Steve Bahmer, President and CEO of LeadingAge Florida said, “Ensuring the safety of Florida’s seniors has always been the primary goal of LeadingAge Florida and our members, and we appreciated the Governor’s leadership on this as Hurricane Irma moved through our state. The state has stayed in close contact with our association during the course of this process, and we support the implementation of these rules to ensure that Florida’s seniors are safe.”
With this agreement AHCA and DOEA have filed notice of change to the permanent nursing home and assisted living facility generator rules. The notice of change can be found here for nursing homes and here for assisted living facilities.
PIFF: Texting and driving is not worth the danger it poses
The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida (PIFF) today applauded the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development for passing Senate Bill 90, relating to the use of wireless communications devices while driving, filed by Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville).
Samantha Sexton, Vice President of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs for PIFF, shared the following remarks:
“PIFF members commend the Florida Senate for aggressively working to reduce the number of distracted drivers on Florida roads. Texting and driving is a dangerous practice that puts everyone on our roads at risk.
“Texting and driving is not worth the danger it poses, and we hope Florida drivers will respond well to this new policy – as they did in 2009 with the seatbelt law – when law enforcement gains the ability to issue a citation for this practice as a primary offense.”
PIFF is a member of the FL DNT TXT N DRV Coalition.
Floridians’ Broad Support for Second Chances Sends Voting Amendment to 2018 Ballot
The League of Women Voters of Florida congratulates the hundreds of thousands of Floridians committed to grassroots action in succeeding to submit more than 1.1 million petitions and place the Second Chances Voting Restoration amendment on the ballot.
“League members have been working diligently and consistently on this issue for years, and we are thrilled that our efforts, and the efforts of so many other dedicated organizations and citizens have achieved this momentous accomplishment,” said Pamela Goodman, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida.
Nearly 1.5 million people in Florida who have served their time and paid their debts to society are permanently excluded from voting. This amendment will make sure Floridians who have paid their debts in full are given the opportunity to have their voices heard. The amendment specifically excludes those individuals who have committed murder or a felony sexual offense.
“Through the hard work of Florida voters and unwavering dedication of a truly grassroots movement, we have reached a historic milestone and have officially placed the Second Chances Voting Restoration Amendment on the ballot,” said Desmond Meade, Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy and spokesperson for Second Chances Florida Campaign. “Voters took matters in their own hands to ensure that their fellow Floridians, family members, and friends who’ve made past mistakes, served their time and paid their debts to society are given a second chance and the opportunity to earn back their ability to vote.”
The next step will be to spread the message of Florida For 4, and vote Yes on Amendment 4 this November.
For more information, visit lwvfl.org. To learn more about the Second Chances Campaign, visit secondchancesfl.org.
