Mitch Perry
Florida is one of only three states that still has a law on the books prohibiting men and women from living together if they are not married. Attempts in 2011 and again in this year’s regular Legislative Session to repeal it failed, but Hollywood Democratic state Sen. Eleanor Sobel hopes it finally will happen in 2016.
On Tuesday the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to support Sobel’s proposal (SB 498).
The law now states that a couple found to be “living in sin” could be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor that could result in a $500 fine or 60 days in a local jail.
The law was written in 1868.
“Times have changed,” Sobel told the committee. “Currently, over half-a-million couples in Florida are breaking this law as we speak. The government should not intrude in the private lives of two consenting adults.”
The bill is moving forward in the House as well, where it’s being sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vaslinda of Tallahassee, HB 4003.
However, there has been opposition there to a repeal. In September, Republican Reps. Dennis Baxley of Ocala, Ross Spano of Riverview, and Charles Van Zant of Palatka were the only members of the 13-member The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee subcommittee who voted against the bill, citing moral reasons.
One comment
Jan Killilea
December 3, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Seems like a victory for some. Today I read about another bill, “To Ensure That The New Alimony Bill Passes: Anyone donating more than $10,000 per year will have direct access to the Florida Alimony Reform board and politicians to provide direct feedback on your personal alimony challenges,” I wasn’t aware that I had to pay for direct access to politicians. My personal alimony challenge is that my former husband of 25 years owes me over $191,000.00 in alimony since our 25 year marriage ended in 2009 during our 9th Corporate relocation with his career. A career which has allowed him to soar right out of the country and evade court orders. Does this fall under the same category of abuse which FAR wrote about today in their Press Release, ‘Abused Alimony Payors In Florida Have 4 Options?’ Here’s my option: call my Governor and tell him to listen to the League of Women Voters, UniteWomen,org, Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, Florida Breastfeeding Coalition and National Organization for Women who ALL oppose the alimony reform bill. It only takes votes to make our voices heard. To hear testimony from Retired Circuit Court Judge Robert Evans, go to First Wives Advocacy Group & Child Custody Laws on FB. The judge states, “this bill is dangerously flawed. If it passes, bad things are going to happen to good people.” Let your voices be heard. It’s FREE.
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