The Republican-controlled legislature has passed bills cracking down on riots, and efforts aimed at changing election policies following the outcome of the 2020 election. Democrats have blasted both moves as potentially racist and haven鈥檛 hidden their disappointment with the bills. Now comes House Bill 7051鈥攖he legislature鈥檚 response to the killings of Black Americans by police which sparked the summer protests.
鈥淭he comments I鈥檝e heard is that it doesn鈥檛 go far enough. And I would agree," said Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando. Bracy carried the bill through a last-minute hearing of the Senate Rules Committee, Tuesday.
Bracy and the Legislative Black Caucus spearheaded the effort and struck a deal with Republicans to get the bill. The measure requires law enforcement officials applying for jobs to disclose whether they鈥檝e been the subject of a criminal, civil or internal investigation; it requires officers get more training in use-of-force and de-escalation techniques, prevents children under 7 from being arrested in most incidents and mandates the state begin tracking use-of-force incidents that result in injury or death.
鈥淏ut we do have to start somewhere," Bracy said, "I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 been a bill like this ever, definitely in the last couple decades, when it provides reforms and you have the entire legislature onboard. You have the police organizations onboard, and I think this is a moment where we can all agree it鈥檚 time to address concerns of the community and rebuild trust in certain communities with law enforcement and I think this starts that process.鈥�
Karen Woodall, with the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy calls the proposal the first step in what she hopes will be an ongoing conversation:
鈥淚t鈥檚 a start, it鈥檚 a step," she said. "When I do my trainings and workshops鈥 remind myself that we鈥檙e not ever allowed to do everything comprehensively at once. So we have to take the pieces we can, and continue to work on them.鈥�
The measure is also getting support from conservative corners, such as Americans For Prosperity. And that鈥檚 a marked difference, says Democratic Senator Perry Thurston, from where the issue was before last summer鈥攚hen similar law enforcement reform proposals couldn鈥檛 even get hearings.
鈥淎s one who has spoken forcefully against legislation coming through鈥擧B1 and SB 90鈥擨 think it would be horrible if we didn鈥檛 have some type legislation that says we recognize what鈥檚 going on with society, we recognize what鈥檚 going on and we鈥檙e trying to address it.鈥�
The language cleared the house this week in a unanimous vote. It will now head to the Senate for final approval.
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