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July 2010 |
Volume 3, Issue 2 |
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The legislature is
scheduled to convene July 20-23 for a special session called
by Governor
Crist to address
a proposed state constitutional
amendment to ban offshore oil drilling in Florida. |
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March 2-April 30, 2010
REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION |
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In Review |
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During the 2010 Session, a total of 301 bills
were passed by
the House and Senate
with many of the laws going into effect July 1, 2010. |
Educational Choice
Two positive outcomes of the Session occurred in the area of
educational choice. Both the
Florida Tax Credit
and
McKay Scholarship Programs were expanded by legislation
passed in both chambers and signed by the governor.
Provisions
of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship legislation,
CS/SB 2126 (Negron), raise the cap on
funding limits and provide for an incremental increase in
the value of the scholarship up to 80% of the per pupil
funding for public schools.
Eligibility for the McKay
Scholarship Program
was expanded
by CS/HB 1505 (Flores) to include disabled
preschoolers entering kindergarten. Effective in the
2011-2012 school year, students enrolled in a public school
in any of the five years prior to 2010-2011 will be eligible
to apply for a McKay scholarship. |
Ultrasound
Before Abortion; Public Funding of Abortion
In the last days of
the Session, two vital pro-life amendments were added to HB
1143 (Hudson), a health care bill. The first amendment
required all women contemplating an abortion to view an
ultrasound of their unborn child unless they sign a form to
opt out or meet certain exemptions. The second prohibited
health insurance policies purchased with state or federal
funds from providing coverage for abortion. The Conference
issued a critical action alert to its advocacy network, but
despite messages from thousands of individuals urging the
governor to sign the bill, on June 11, Governor Charlie
Crist vetoed the measure. The Conference expressed extreme
disappointment in the veto, click
here to read full press release. |
Fiscal Year
2010-2011 Budget
The Legislature passed
a $70 billion budget with several provisions being vetoed by
the governor. Governor Charlie Crist vetoed $371 million in
spending, but also restored cuts in nursing home
reimbursement and developmental disability assistance. The
governor also vetoed a ban on embryonic stem cell research
at state universities that was supported by the Conference,
as well as $500,000 for a marriage education grant program.
$2 million for crisis pregnancy services remained in the
final, signed budget. |
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Legislative Report and
Weekly Session Summaries
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For the final status of priority bills
followed by the Conference
and summaries of significant
legislative action
and activities of interest at
the Capitol
during the
nine-week
session, click
here. |
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Click to view Candidate Responses
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Click here for Federal and State Questionnaires
Materials prepared as part of the Candidate Questionnaire Project
are the only surveys/polls approved by the bishops of Florida for
use in parish bulletins or diocesan publications. Surveys or polls
by outside organizations are not approved for distribution by Church
entities unless prior approval has been granted by the local
diocesan bishop or the Florida Catholic Conference. |
Where do the candidates stand?
The Candidate Questionnaire
Project is an effort supported by the bishops of Florida to
assist Catholics
and the broader community
to become
informed voters. Being familiar with candidates' positions on issues
involving human life and dignity and the common good is essential to
responsible, faithful citizenship.
All U.S. Congressional, Florida legislative
and gubernatorial candidates in both
the primary and general elections have been invited to participate in a
questionnaire regarding their stance on various public policy
issues. Questions address
areas
of concern to the Church that are
anticipated to appear before lawmakers in the coming term. |
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Election Resources for Voters
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Elections in
Florida are held in
all even-numbered years. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and
members of the Florida Cabinet are elected every four years. Members of the
Florida House of Representatives are elected every two years, while members
of the Florida Senate are elected every four years. Candidates for the
Florida legislature may serve no more than 8 years in either chamber.
To vote in an
election, you must be registered by the 29th day before the
election. Florida offers early voting,
which begins 15 days before an election and ends on the 2nd day before an
election. |
Primary Election - Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Florida is a closed
primary state. Only voters who are registered party
members may vote for their respective party's candidates in the primary
election.
However, if all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation
and the winner will have no opposition in the general election, all
qualified voters regardless of party affiliation may vote in the
primary election for that office. Closing date for registering to
vote in the primary is July 26, 2010. Early voting begins August 9,
2010.
General Election - Tuesday, November 2, 2010
In the general election, all voters
receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or initiative on
the ballot. If there are write-in candidates, a space will be left on
the ballot where a write-in candidate's name may be written. Candidates
who are unopposed for the general election will be elected automatically to the position.
Closing date for registering to vote in the general election is
October 4, 2010. Early voting begins October 18, 2010.
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Register to vote
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Check your voter registration
status, precinct and polling
place location
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Locate your county Supervisor of Elections |
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Election and Political Activities
Guide
Updated for the 2010 ElectionsThe Conference has updated its Election and
Political Activities Guide for pastors and parishes. Approved by the bishops of
Florida, this guide is intended to encourage Catholic clergy and laity to facilitate
the involvement of their faith communities in appropriate election related
activities. These activities are designed to increase parishioner interest
in the policy issues that will characterize this election year’s debate, to
focus their attention on candidate positions, and encourage them to exercise
their right to vote.
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click to read online
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click to print in booklet format |
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Click here for registration form |
Held annually, the Florida Respect
Life Conference addresses a full range of life issues.
This year's presentation topics include:sexual morality and God’s plan for love and
life,
abortion in the context of Catholic Social
Teaching,
advancements in ethical stem-cell research,
coming back to God in post-abortion healing,
our final hour of our journey on earth before
going back to
God,
Catholic Church teaching on the death
penalty, and
“Hope Amidst Adversity” at two of the most
vulnerable stages of our lives, the beginning
and the end.
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Diocese of St. Petersburg
Welcomes New Superintendent of Schools |
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Mr. Alberto Vazquez Matos has accepted the position of Superintendent of
Schools and Centers for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Before joining
the diocese on July 1, 2010, Mr. Vazquez Matos served as the Associate
Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.
As superintendent,
Mr. Vazquez Matos is designated as one of the voting members of the
Conference's Schools Executive Committee. His position also necessitates
close work with the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Committee. |
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The Conference joins Florida's Catholic school community in sending Mr.
Vazquez Matos
greetings and encouragement as he
assumes his new leadership role. |
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New Online School
Accreditation System Launches This Fall |
In February, 2010, two
foundations awarded grants to the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation
Program (FCCAP) to fully automate its accreditation program. The FCCAP has
partnered with TurnIP Digital, Inc., to develop the Electronic Accreditation
System for Education, EAS-ed, which will serve the 188 schools throughout
the Province of Miami and the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia.
The goals of EAS-ed include: |
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- Decreasing time and
paperwork spent on the process
- Speeding and easing
user access to data
- Consolidating, storing
and securing data
- Promoting
communication and coordination for events and requirements
EAS-ed – named for its patroness, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – launches
this school year at
www.eas-ed.org. |
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Project Rachel - Hope after
Abortion
Post Abortion Counseling Resource |
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Ten years ago, the Florida Catholic Conference launched a toll free
number in Florida for
Project Rachel,
a post-abortive Catholic outreach ministry offering healing and
reconciliation to women and men who are experiencing emotional and
spiritual pain as the
result of an abortion
decision. Program support, including printing of brochures, was provided
through grants from the Florida State
Council
of Knights of Columbus, the Florida Council of Catholic Women and the
Florida Catholic Medical Association.
The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently revised the
Project Rachel Resource Manual and is coordinating efforts to implement
a national toll free
number. By August 2010, the Florida toll free number (877-908-1212) will
be replaced with the national toll free number: 888-456-HOPE (4673).
Calls to
this number will be routed to the appropriate office in Florida where
individuals can receive counseling and support on their healing journey.
The national Project
Rachel website is www.hopeafterabortion.com. |
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