FCASV 2010 Legislative Agenda

Priorities

Issues of Interest

Priorities:

Rape Crisis Program Funding
Retaining Non-Recurring General Revenue for Rape Crisis Centers
Although the community budget request system remains closed, FCASV will be working with Senate and House allies to retain $250,000 in non-recurring general revenue for rape crisis centers in the Legal Affairs budget.

Enhancing the Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund
SB 400 by Sen. Mike Fasano (R-Port Richey)
HB 229 by Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Ft. Lauderdale)
FCASV’s priority legislation for 2010 seeks to add a number of sexual violence related crimes to the rape crisis program trust fund. If passed, those convicted or adjudicated guilty of these additional crimes will be required to pay a mandatory $151 fine. $150 of the fine goes to the rape crisis program trust fund to support rape crisis services at the state’s 30 certified rape crisis centers. Those additional crimes include:

The Florida Sexual Predators Act, Luring or enticing a child, Human trafficking, Human smuggling, Unlawful activity with certain minors, Female genital mutilation, Procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution, Selling or buying minors into sex trafficking or prostitution, Forcing, compelling, or coercing another to become a prostitute, Sex trafficking, Deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, Renting space to be used for lewdness, assignation, or prostitution, General prostitution offenses excluding engaging in prostitution, Exposure of sexual organs, Voyeurism, Video voyeurism, Home-invasion robbery, Home or private business invasion by false personation, Abuse/neglect of elderly or disabled person, Lewd or lascivious offenses on or in presence of elderly or disabled person, Written threats to kill or bodily injury, Computer pornography, Transmission of pornography by electronic device, Selling or buying of minors, and Sexual offender registry requirements.

Housing Protections for Victims of Sexual Violence
SB 786 by Senator Nan Rich (D-Sunrise)

FCASV will prioritize passage of legislation to allow victims of sexual violence to terminate a lease if safety concerns necessitate moving.

Sex Offender Policy
HB 119 by Rep. Rich Glorioso (R-Plant City)

FCASV will be working with legislative leaders and allied organizations on HB 119 and other legislation to ensure sex offender evaluation and treatment providers are qualified, forbid sex offenders from loitering or prowling in certain zones where children regularly congregate, and preempt local residency restriction ordinances for sex offenders to one statewide standard.

Other Issues of Interest:

Statutes of Limitation for Sexual Battery
HB 525 by Rep. Chris Dorworth (R-Heathrow)
This legislation eliminates statutes of limitations for criminal or civil actions relating to sexual battery of child if the victim is under 16 years of age at time of offense.

Florida Safe Harbor Act/Sexually Exploited Youth
HB 535 by Rep. Erik Fresen (R-Miami)
This legislation provides legislative intent and goals for protecting sexually exploited youth. The legislation provides for presumption that placement of a child alleged to have been sexually exploited in short-term safe house is necessary; provides requirements for findings in shelter hearing relating to placement of allegedly sexually exploited child in a safe house; requires assessment of certain children; provides for use of such assessments; provides requirements for safe houses receiving such children; provides for placement of other children in safe houses when appropriate; requires annual report on safe-house placements; provides requirements relating to appropriations for safe houses; provides for operation of safe houses; provides for training for law enforcement officials likely to encounter sexually exploited children; revises prohibitions on prostitution & related acts; and provides presumption against filing delinquency petition for certain prostitution-related offenses in certain circumstances.

Healthy Teens Act
HB 169 by Rep. Keith Fitzgerald (D-Sarasota)
This legislation requires that public schools receiving state funding provide comprehensive, medically-accurate, and age-appropriate human sexuality information including skills for making responsible decisions about sexuality, like how to avoid unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances and how to avoid making unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances; and how alcohol and drug use may affect responsible decision making.

Prevention First Act
SB 652 by Sen. Nan Rich (D-Sunrise)
This legislation requires licensed health care practitioners and facilities to provide rape survivors with information about emergency contraception and, upon request, directly provide the full regimen of emergency contraception. The legislation requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to provide for enforcement and impose penalties and requires licensed pharmacies to dispense certain forms of contraception without delay.  

Background Screening
FCASV will monitor efforts by the Florida Legislature to improve and develop a consistent approach to background screening processes across agencies including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Children and Families, The Agency for Health Care Administration, and the Department of Education for employees who work with children, those with disabilities and the elderly. Recommendations include using digitized fingerprints checked regularly through both state and national records and requiring the background screening be completed before hiring.

Sexual Activity Involving Animals
SB 104 by Sen. Nan Rich (D-Sunrise)
This legislation prohibits sexual activity with animals. Research shows that those who abuse and sexually assault people often have a history of abusing animals. Law enforcement has asked for the tools to be able to track and protect the community from those who abuse animals, as intervening may prevent future violence against animals and people.