During the 2011 legislative session, Florida lawmakers had to contend with plenty of the heavy stuff -- a comprehensive Medicaid reform package, a teacher merit pay bill, state worker pension reform and far more -- all while cutting spending by nearly $4 billion in order to balance the budget.
Yet, as they do in almost every session, legislators somehow found the time and the will to move their oddball agenda -- this year in the form of a trio of bills that each attracted national attention for a different reason:
- a bill that outlaws bestiality (and perhaps more);
- a bill that insists students pants are at waist level (at least);
- and a bill looking to name the barking tree frog Floridas official state amphibian.
The bestiality and droopy drawers bills were seen around the nation as evidence that the overwhelming Republican majorities in the Legislature were focusing on "weird bills" at the expense of badly needed, job-creating legislation. But the bills were sponsored by Democrats.
Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, defended his Pull Your Pants Up bill -- his preferred name for it -- as pro-jobs, in addition to being pro-family and pro-education.
If were going to push jobs for the state, we need to have people dressed to get a job. When you interview for a job you make a first impression, Siplin said.
Siplin has been trying to get similar legislation passed for the past few years. Previous bills extended to all citizens in public areas, but SB 228 only addresses students in Florida schools. According to Siplin, some people are clamoring for a wider application of the ban on sagging pants.
What people want me to do right now is take it to the rest of (the people) in the streets, Siplin said.
Like the saggy pants bill, legislation banning sex acts with animals has also had trouble making its way through the Legislature. Although the Senate has passed a bestiality bill in the past, it never fared well in the House.
This year, the bill was sponsored by Senate Democrat Minority Leader Nan Rich of Weston, who stated that the bill has greater implications than just the outlawing of bestiality.
In her remarks on the Senate floor before the vote, after colleagues' snickering died down, Rich said that cruelty to animals was one of the early warning signs of some criminals subsequent violence toward humans.
Richs bill, which passed unanimously through both houses and was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott last week, creates a first-degree misdemeanor offense for anyone who knowingly engages in sexual conduct or contact with an animal. There are exceptions for animal husbandry practices, conformation judging practices and necessary veterinary procedures.
Unfortunately for Rich -- and probably for Florida, too -- the loosely worded bill failed to recognize that humans are animals, too. The item exploded across the Internet, with headlines making fun of the Florida Legislature for banning all sex.
Nevertheless, an offense under the bestiality law carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail. It will go into effect Oct. 1.
Siplins bill, despite opposition to its earlier incarnations, was overwhelmingly popular in the Legislature, passing unanimously in the Senate and garnering just 15 votes against it in the House. The droopy drawers bill now sits on Scotts desk, awaiting his signature.
If Scott signs the bill, school boards will be required to prohibit the wearing of clothing in schools that indecently or in a vulgar manner exposes underwear or body parts or that is disruptive to an orderly learning environment.
Violators will be hit with a warning and a parental notification for the first offense, followed by the students exclusion from extracurricular activities for five days and a meeting with parents and administrators for a second violation. On the third strike, a student will be barred from extracurricular activities for one month and receive a three-day, in-school suspension.
Another seemingly off-the-reservation bill -- in light of the Legislature's pursuit of some of the heftiest reforms in the state's history -- involved Steve Oelrich's barking tree frog bill. The Republican senator from Cross Creek wanted the tiny critter named Floridas official state amphibian. The legislation swiftly moved through three committees and received a unanimous vote on the floor of the Senate -- but only after Oelrich played a recording of the croaking creature.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
