Currents
June 2019
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headed attacks on the values we share as Ameri-
cans, but the people of Florida refuse to do so,"
Florida ACLU executive director Micah Kubic said
yesterday. "Floridians have said loud and clear that
they expect their elected officials to move us forward
by protecting voting rights, making the state a safe
and welcoming place for everyone, and building a
criminal justice system that actually works. It is
shameful that the Legislature not only refused to
hear that message, it actively opposed and under-
mined it."
The ACLU noted one of the
few positives was the "Florida
First Step Act" - a sweeping bill
that, among other provisions,
makes it easier for former
inmates to earn professional
licenses, gives prosecutors more
leeway to charge teens in juvenile
instead of adult court, and, most
importantly, raises the threshold
for felony theft from $300 to $750,
which lowers the number of peo-
ple facing five or more years in
prison for small levels of theft.
But, the ACLU says, that law
likely won't do enough good to
offset other passed legislation
awaiting governor signature.
Importation of prescription
drugs: The measure establishes
three separate programs to
import drugs from Canada.
Fruit and vegetable gardens in
front yards: The bill places per-
sonal property rights over the
authority of counties and cities to
dictate where people can grow
vegetables in their yard.
Petition drives: In the last
hours of the regular session, Rep.
James Grant, R-Tampa, slipped
an amendment onto a surtax bill
that resurrected a bill that greatly
restricts the ability of grassroots
organizations to gather petitions
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