TAMPA, Fla. – In an inspiring transfer in the direction of civic engagement, college students from Hillsborough County are taking their legislative concepts to the state stage, with 4 student-proposed payments set to be offered within the upcoming legislative session in Tallahassee.
These younger advocates are decided to make Florida a safer place via their revolutionary proposals.
READ: New laws goals to guard home violence victims and goal serial abusers
The scholars, who participated in Hillsborough County Colleges’ “Should Be a Legislation” competitors, have researched urgent points starting from helmet necessities for e-scooter and bike riders to banning beauty animal testing.
Their efforts have caught the eye of native state representatives, who’re proudly sponsoring these payments.
What are the student-proposed payments?
One of many standout proposals comes from Brooklyn Weathers and Jesmia Marrero of Sumner Excessive College in Riverview. Their invoice seeks to create an exception to Florida’s two-party consent legislation, permitting home violence survivors to file their abuse to be used in court docket.
“In case you or I had been being abused within the consolation of our residence, we couldn’t file our abuser and use that video in court docket as proof, as a result of, greater than probably, the opposite individual wouldn’t consent to that. So plenty of proof is deemed inadmissible,” defined Weathers.
“We want to suggest a 3rd exemption to this legislation when home violence survivors suppose that they’re in imminent hazard of loss of life or nice bodily hurt, that they’re allowed to file and that these recordings can be utilized in court docket, in order that now we have increased case decision. As a result of as of proper now, we solely have a 34% case decision,” she mentioned.
Consultant Susan Valdes has dedicated to sponsoring this invoice, recognizing its potential to present victims a voice.
“I feel I discovered my invoice, thanks ladies,” Valdes remarked, highlighting the significance of the proposed laws.
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Dig deeper:
Valdes can also be backing a invoice from Freedom Excessive College in Tampa that’s geared toward defending teen riders by elevating the authorized helmet age for e-bikes and scooters. The proposal resonates with college students who’ve witnessed the implications of e-scooter accidents firsthand.
“I really feel prefer it resonated with me, as a result of I did have a buddy who was in an e-scooter accident, and sadly he did get hit, and it was fairly unhealthy,” mentioned Marrero.
Further payments from East Bay Excessive College in Gibsonton and Sickles Excessive College in Tampa have additionally gained legislative help. East Bay’s proposal focuses on strengthening truancy enforcement, whereas Sickles Excessive advocates for a ban on beauty animal testing in Florida.
Marrero expressed her pleasure about collaborating with like-minded friends, stating, “It was so cool to take a seat within the room with different folks identical to me in highschool, and so they have such sensible concepts.”
What’s subsequent:
The Sumner group emphasizes that their initiative transcends political boundaries.
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“Each events appeared very assured and enthusiastic about this matter, and I really feel like that’s one thing in me simply to see that there was no side-choosing, no bias, and that it simply appealed to each events,” mentioned Weathers.
As these college students put together to draft their payments with their sponsors, they continue to be hopeful concerning the affect their efforts may have.
“I am extra so excited, not for myself to get to expertise it, that I’m serving to so many individuals if this really passes,” mentioned Weathers.
A number of different payments pitched throughout the competitors are being related with lawmakers for potential development, showcasing the breadth of concepts generated by these younger minds. Keep tuned as these student-driven initiatives make their means via the legislative course of, probably paving the way in which for significant change in Florida.
The Supply: The data on this story was gathered throughout interviews with two college students concerned in one of many proposed payments.
