Christine Jordan Sexton
Shacking up in Florida can cost you.
Living in sin is a crime that, if found guilty of, can show up on an employment background screening and can be used in child visitation procedures.
Unmarried cohabitation has been in the state’s lewd-and-lascivious laws since the 1860s. The crime was included in the state’s Level II screening background laws initially passed in 1995. It was picked up in child protection laws passed in the 2007 and grandparent visitation rights initially passed in 1990.
On Monday the Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a revisiting of the ban on living together, SB 1078, filed by Sen. Eleanor Sobel. Similar bills have been filed by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda and Rep. Richard Stark. Neither House bill has been referred to committee.
