Forward!
FRRC and the 2023 Florida Legislative Session
A Blog Post by Chasman Barnes, FRRC Staff Member
The gavel has fallen, and the members of the Florida Legislature are embracing the challenge of trying to pass the people’s bills and change lives for the better in Florida.
The 2023 Florida Legislative Session officially began Tuesday, March 7, 2023, and will end May 5, 2023.
The significance of this particular session is by no means lost on the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC).
So much has happened leading up to the start of this legislative session.
We’ve had to face the heart-wrenching and unnecessary arrests of returning citizens accused of intentionally voting illegally.
We’ve also been caught by the most unexpected of surprises!
Your Florida Rights Restoration Coalition — the soldiers of Amendment 4 — has been graciously nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Yes! The Noble Peace Prize!
What a citizen-uplifting honor for an organization and movement that continues to put people above politics and answers over the mere mention of the problem!
All across the state, your FRRC advocates in every area of our organization — the executive director’s office, the senior leadership team, organizers, policy advocates, hotline representatives, and member leaders — are committed to working hard and moving returning citizens’ priorities forward.
Our noble leader, Desmond Meade, always says,
“We don’t lean to the left, nor do we lean to the right, but we lean forward toward making a difference in the lives of every returning citizen.”
We carry this principle into our policy and advocacy work for this year. The FRRC’s 2023 priorities are informed by returning citizens and justice-impacted people from all backgrounds and political persuasions throughout Florida.
FRRC’s 2023 Priorities
Our policy priorities for 2023 reflect many of the most important issues affecting people impacted by the criminal legal system. These are “right now” issues on the minds and hearts of hardworking, community-serving people who happen to have a past criminal conviction and who are redeeming their life stories one successful day at a time.
Among the issues that matter most to returning citizens in Florida are the following:
Jobs
Why it matters: One in 3 people have a record. When we remove barriers to work, we create more pathways for businesses to fill positions in key industries. Returning citizens who find a job are significantly less likely to re-offend, and recidivism drops even more when people can find a job soon after release. This saves taxpayer money as more people are able to provide for their families and avoid re-incarceration.
What we’re fighting for: We are supporting legislation that removes barriers to occupational licensing for returning citizens, which impacts nearly 30 percent of jobs in Florida.
Jobs legislation we’re supporting: HB 1443 and SB 1124
Housing
Why it matters: Stable housing is the foundation of successful reentry. Returning citizens without access to housing are twice as likely to re-offend than those with housing. Not having safe and stable housing also creates barriers for returning citizens and their families to access healthcare services, get and keep a job, and participate in educational programs.
What we’re fighting for: We are supporting legislation that would reduce risks for landlords in leasing to people with past criminal records and give them more freedom to make choices about their property.
Housing legislation we’re supporting: HB 93 and SB 282
Opportunity
Why it matters: Whether it is breaking down barriers to education, ending the practice of suspending people’s driver’s licenses for non-driving offenses, or expanding record sealing and expungement, improving opportunities for justice-impacted people helps reduce recidivism and creates safer communities for everyone.
What we’re fighting for: We are supporting legislation that would: provide a pathway for currently and recently incarcerated individuals to remain or become in-state residents for tuition purposes, improve record sealing and expungement, and end the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for non-driving offenses.
Opportunity legislation we’re supporting:
Record Sealing: HB 593 and SB 376
Expungement: HB 605 and
Drivers Licenses: HB 921 and SB 968
Justice
Why it matters: The process of administering Florida’s criminal legal system should be a top priority for every Florida citizen. This is especially true when the state takes action to deprive people of their life and/or liberty.
What we’re fighting for: We are opposing legislation that would eliminate unanimous jury requirements in the state’s death penalty cases.
Justice legislation we’re opposing: HB 555 and SB 450
Rights Restoration
Why it matters: Florida law requires returning citizens to pay all of the fines, fees, and restitution associated with their sentence before they are eligible to vote. But there is no statewide database or one-stop system in place for individuals to know whether they are eligible. Several different state agencies conduct independent investigations, which can take months or even years. Some returning citizens have faced arrest and prosecution for acting on the information they were given about their voter eligibility. Everyone deserves clarity and assurances on whether they are legally allowed to vote.
What we’re fighting for: We are advocating that the state determine a returning citizen’s voter eligibility on the front end of the election process. We are pushing for these determinations to be made by the Division of Elections and for returning citizens to get an official answer on their voter eligibility within a set timeframe. We are also fighting for returning citizens who are told they are eligible to vote and who do so to have legal protection.
Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing
You can join us! We at FRRC know how important these issues are to you too!
So, help us to help leaders in Tallahassee keep the main thing, the main thing: creating a better Florida for everyone!
Keep up with our blog and an eye on our social media and website for weekly updates about these priority bills and how you can take action.
Write, email, call, and interact with your local state representative and senator about these all-important issues.
Your FRRC remains ever-committed to putting people over politics and ending the disenfranchisement of and discrimination against people with past convictions.
Forward!
About the author:
Chasman is a Policy Professional, Advocate for Returning Citizens in Criminal and Social Justice Reform, TEDx Speaker, and sought-after Communicator.
