CALL TO ACTION ON SB 512 and HB 325
These two companion bills are of great concern as they both would require reporting stays at vacation rentals over 24 hours.
What needs to be done:
- Call the legislators on the committees listed below that will be hearing these bills.
- You will need to give your name, contact information (either an email address or phone number), state that you oppose the language in the bill that would require reporting stays at vacation rentals over 24 hours, and give one or two VERY BRIEF reasons why you oppose the bill.
- If you call after hours, voicemail will pick you up. Give the same information listed above (your name, contact information, and that you oppose the language in the bill concerning reporting stays over 24 hours in vacation rentals). The aides all say that they do count the yeas and nays from the voicemails.
- If possible, also send an email listing the reasons why you oppose each of the following bills. On the subject line, only put the bill number and that you oppose it. (Example: SB 512, Oppose)
Talking points and contact information:
SENATE BILL 512 (Author: Senator Danny Burgess) and HOUSE BILL 325 (Author: Jason Fischer)
Our concern: These companion bills would require reporting stays at vacation rentals AND ALL temporary residencies over 24 hours.
Talking Points:
- The shortened time for required registration will make it impossible for registered citizens to comply if they check in on a weekend.
- This part of the bill would most likely make it impossible for registered citizens to travel.
- Because this part of the bill could make it nearly impossible for registered citizens to travel throughout the state of Florida, FDLE has warned of lawsuits coming over this issue.
- FDLE has said this change will lead to a “substantial increase” in the number of registered citizens required to complete a registration. This will potentially increase the workload of the FDLE and require programming changes to FDLE’s technology systems and incur increased costs.
- This additional restriction would be punitive for registered citizens, making it unconstitutional.
- What is the purpose of requiring this 24-hour registration? What is the research that is being used to justify this part of the bill?
Committee members that need to be contacted to oppose SB 512:
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Senator Kelli Stargel (R)-Chair (850) 487-5022 Stargel.Kelli@flsenate.gov
Senator Aaron Bean (R)-Vice Chair (850) 487-5004 Bean.Aaron@flsenate.gov
Senator Ben Albritton (R) (850) 487-5026 albritton.ben@flsenate.gov
Senator Dennis Baxley (R) (850) 487-5012 Baxley.Dennis@flsenate.gov
Senator Lauren Book (D) (850) 487-5032 Book.Lauren@flsenate.gov
Senator Randolph Bracy (D) (850) 487-5011 Bracy.Randolph@flsenate.gov
Senator Jeff Brandes (R) (850) 487-5024 Brandes.Jeff@flsenate.gov
Senator Doug Broxson (R) (850) 487-5001 Broxson.Doug@flsenate.gov
Senator Manny Diaz, Jr. (R) (850) 487-5036 diaz.manny@flsenate.gov
Senator George B. Gainer (R) (850) 487-5002 Gainer.George@flsenate.gov
Senator Audrey Gibson (D) (850) 487-5006 Gibson.Audrey@flsenate.gov
Senator Ed Hooper (R) (850) 487-5016 Hooper.Ed@flsenate.gov
Senator Travis Hutson (R) (850) 487-5007 Hutson.Travis@flsenate.gov
Senator Debbie Mayfield (R) (850) 487-5017 Mayfield.Debbie@flsenate.gov
Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R) (850) 487-5028 Passidomo.Kathleen@flsenate.gov
Senator Keith Perry (R) (850) 487-5008 Perry.Keith@flsenate.gov
Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo (D) (850) 487-5038 pizzo.jason@flsenate.gov
Senator Bobby Powell (D) (850) 487-5030 Powell.Bobby@flsenate.gov
Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson (D) (850) 487-5019 Rouson.Darryl@flsenate.gov
Senator Linda Stewart (D) (850) 487-5013 Stewart.Linda@flsenate.gov
Committee members that need to be contacted to oppose HB 325:
House Ways and Means Committee
Payne, Bobby [R]-Chair (850) 717-5019 Bobby.Payne@myfloridahouse.gov
Zika, Ardian [R]-Vice Chair (850) 717-5037 Ardian.Zika@myfloridahouse.gov
Eskamani, Anna V. [D]-Democratic Ranking Member (850) 717-5047 Anna.Eskamani@myfloridahouse.gov
Altman, Thad [R] (850) 717-5052 Thad.Altman@myfloridahouse.gov
Caruso, Michael A. “Mike” [R] (850) 717-5089 Mike.Caruso@myfloridahouse.gov
Casello, Joseph A. “Joe” [D] (850) 717-5090 Joseph.Casello@myfloridahouse.gov
Clemons, Sr., Charles Wesley “Chuck” [R] (850) 717-5021 Chuck.Clemons@myfloridahouse.gov
DiCeglie, Nick [R] (850) 717-5066 Nick.DiCeglie@myfloridahouse.gov
Grieco, Michael [D] (850) 717-5113 Michael.Grieco@myfloridahouse.gov
Hart, Dianne “Ms Dee” [D] (850) 717-5061 Dianne.Hart@myfloridahouse.gov
Killebrew, Sam H. [R] (850) 717-5041 Sam.Killebrew@myfloridahouse.gov
Maggard, Randall Scott “Randy” [R] (850) 717-5038 randall.maggard@myfloridahouse.gov
McClain, Stan [R] (850) 717-5023 Stan.McClain@myfloridahouse.gov
Sabatini, Anthony [R] (850) 717-5032 Anthony.Sabatini@myfloridahouse.gov
Shoaf, Jason [R] (850) 717-5007 jason.shoaf@myfloridahouse.gov
Silvers, David [D] (850) 717-5087 David.Silvers@myfloridahouse.gov
Sirois, Tyler I. [R] (850) 717-5051 Tyler.Sirois@myfloridahouse.gov
Slosberg-King, Emily [D] (850) 717-5091 Emily.Slosberg@myfloridahouse.gov
House Commerce Committee
Ingoglia, Blaise [R]-Chair (850) 717-5035 Blaise.Ingoglia@myfloridahouse.gov
Drake, Brad [R]-Vice Chair (850) 717-5005 Brad.Drake@myfloridahouse.gov
McFarland, Fiona [R]-Republican Committee Whip (850) 717-5072 fiona.mcfarland@myfloridahouse.gov
Silvers, David [D]-Democratic Ranking Member (850) 717-5087 David.Silvers@myfloridahouse.gov
Barnaby, Webster [R] (850) 717-5027 Webster.Barnaby@myfloridahouse.gov
Clemons, Sr., Charles Wesley “Chuck” [R] (850) 717-5021 Chuck.Clemons@myfloridahouse.gov
Daley, Dan [D] (850) 717-5097 Dan.Daley@myfloridahouse.gov
DiCeglie, Nick [R] (850) 717-5066 Nick.DiCeglie@myfloridahouse.gov
Fabricio, Tom [R] (850) 717-5103 Tom.Fabricio@myfloridahouse.gov
Geller, Joseph [D] (850) 717-5100 Joseph.Geller@myfloridahouse.gov
Grieco, Michael [D] (850) 717-5113 Michael.Grieco@myfloridahouse.gov
Hage, Brett Thomas [R] (850) 717-5033 Brett.Hage@myfloridahouse.gov
Latvala, Chris [R] (850) 717-5067 Chris.Latvala@myfloridahouse.gov
Maggard, Randall Scott “Randy” [R] (850) 717-5038 randall.maggard@myfloridahouse.gov
McClure, Lawrence [R] (850) 717-5058 Lawrence.McClure@myfloridahouse.gov
Nixon, Angela “Angie” [D] (850) 717-5014 angie.nixon@myfloridahouse.gov
Omphroy, Anika Tene [D] (850) 717-5095 Anika.Omphroy@myfloridahouse.gov
Plakon, Scott [R] (850) 717-5029 Scott.Plakon@myfloridahouse.gov
Plasencia, Rene “Coach P” [R] (850) 717-5050 Rene.Plasencia@myfloridahouse.gov
Rommel, Bob [R] (850) 717-5106 Bob.Rommel@myfloridahouse.gov
Shoaf, Jason [R] (850) 717-5007 jason.shoaf@myfloridahouse.gov
Thompson, Geraldine F. “Geri” [D] (850) 717-5044 geraldine.thompson@myfloridahouse.gov
Tomkow, Josie [R] (850) 717-5039 Josie.Tomkow@myfloridahouse.gov
Willhite, Matt [D] (850) 717-5086 Matt.Willhite@myfloridahouse.gov
For registrants, this is not a bill about vacation rentals, but a bill about ALL TRAVEL.
And it directly conflicts with (and is more drastic than) the other bill (Sen Hooper’s) that is the subject of a call to action.
IS THIS CORRECT?
Didn’t Judge Hinkle allow this very issue to stand in the Expost Facto 2 case. That is what we should be pointing out. These two bills will nothing but infringe upon and chill a registrants right to travel and SCOTUS has already said the Right to travel is fundamental. Don’t have the case. Sorry possibly Saenez v Roe
You are not correct. He pointed out the absurdity of the three day rule.
Ah I see so what issue did he let the case proceed. Now I am confused but it doesn’t take much
The only purpose that I can see for the shortening of the time limit for registrants to register their stay anywhere is to get them off the street and back into prison. In this way, they “clean” up the streets of those homeless, “unwanted” persons that they deem a hazard to society. However, they are wrong in doing this as in the end it will place a tremendous strain on the judicial system, prison system and not to mention law enforcement. I live in Tennessee and can only hope and pray that this legislation in Florida fails mightily.
FAC, could you please point out exactly where in the bill there is a requirement that all temporary addresses of 24 hours or more would have to be registered? The bill specifically states this is only for vacation rentals. I have read the bill very carefully and cannot find this, at all. I have copied the relevant text from the current version of SB 512 (Committee Substitute 1):
(n) “Temporary residence” means a place where the person abides, lodges, or resides, including, but not limited to, vacation, business, or personal travel destinations in or out of this state, for a period of 3 or more days in the aggregate during any calendar year and which is not the person’s permanent address or, for a person whose permanent residence is not in this state, a place where the person is employed, practices a vocation, or is enrolled as a student for any period of time in this state. The term also includes a vacation rental, as defined in s. 509.242(1)(c), where a person lodges for 24 hours or more.
(The only addition to the definition of temporary residence is the last sentence.)
You are correct, RM. I am not sure who wrote this. I’m going to ensure it is edited.
Or almost everything.
Look at the statute reference, above.
‘Vacation Rental’ is defined very broadly.
It seems to include hotels, apartment buildings, and virtually everything except single-family homes.
Use caution in how you edit this Call to Action, FAC. RM may have answered his/her own question.
(Please, please, let me be wrong).
Following RM’s lead:
‘A vacation rental is any unit or group of units in a condominium or cooperative or any individually or collectively owned single-family, two-family, three-family, or four-family house or dwelling unit that is also a transient public lodging establishment but that is not a timeshare project.’
So it’s anything that’s a transient public lodging establishment (other than timeshare).
So what is a ‘transient public lodging establishment’?
‘Transient public lodging establishment: means any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of buildings which is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or 1 calendar month, whichever is less, or which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests.’
Guess this includes all hotels and motels?
At least I was (hopefully) wrong about apartment buildings.
A vacation rental is any transient public lodging establishment.*
A transient public lodging establishment is anything rented to guests at least 3x/year for less than a month.
A transient public lodging establishment is also anything held out as a place regularly rented to guests.
Do we need to discuss further?
*timeshares exempted
I emailed all the senators and this is the only automated response that I got back from and it was from Senator Diaz.
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your thoughts and concerns. Constituent feedback is very important to me.
I welcome the opportunity to be of service to you. This inbox is monitored on a regular basis.
However, due to the high volume of emails we receive, it is sometimes difficult to reply in a timely manner. If you require immediate assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my Tallahassee office at (850) 487-5036 or my district office at (305) 364-3073.
Thank you once again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Manny Diaz, Jr
State Senator
District 36
Thank you, Tim P., for contacting these legislators. The legislators receive so many emails that they are unable to usually contact you back, but they will know that you oppose the bill and why. It does count.
Media…
How Can You Be Sure That a ‘Computer Generated Response’ Counts?
‘They’ Can Just Automatically Delete Everything!
‘They’ Say that ‘They’ are Counting ‘Yays’ and ‘Nays’; But Do You Really Think So and Do You Really Think that ‘They’ Really Give a Damn?…HELL NO!
This is Just all Window Dressing!
Ouvrez Les Yeux!
So use tax dollars to pay busy staffers to spend time illegally deleting emails from their own constituents?
Not likely.
We do not know for sure what happens after we make the contact, but we have to try. I do know that when Pizzo’s office was contacted, they said that they had received other “Nays”, so at least his office is listening, and hopefully others.
Here’s a reply from Senator Passidomo.
Thank you for contacting Senator Passidomo regarding Senate Bill 512-Vacation Rentals and expressing your concerns with the language regarding new requirements for the registry. I spoke with the Senator and she indicated the House Bill and Senate Bill are very far apart and lacking agreement on language. Therefore, the bills are unlikely to pass.
Thank you.
Becky Kokkinos
Chief Legislative Aide to Senator Kathleen Passidomo
District 28
850-487-5028
Senate Office Building 400
Great, Tim P.
I haven’t seen this mentioned but some family members and relatives of a registered person, live in communities that has restrictions and covenants in the deed to their property, that a Sex Offender can not live in that house and community. If a registrant has to give one of these address as a resident, it could get the owner kicked out of their house and community once it is registered as a place a registrant stays. I hope I am thinking wrong, please let me know if so.
I have contacted everyone on the list and I have had responses from them.
Thank you, DCG , for all the contacts that you have made.
Politicians should take another oath, “ I will not sponsor or pass a bill without any evidence and if it causes harm to my community, our state, and Americans I won’t be involved. If I violate I should be placed behind bars as a dirty rat.”
Great job FAC!
I just sent a personalized message to each of these contacts.
Douglas In Jacksonville
Thank you, Douglas.
In a county near Tampa a registrant has to introduce themselves as a registrant to neighbors. How’s that for a first time conversation meet, greet, and eww Not in my backyard? Hopefully that isn’t the case anymore, however that county was crazy.