Florida House Judiciary Committee votes 11- 2 to approve bill which prohibits courts from considering certain provisions of international laws including Islamic Sharia law.

The Florida House Judiciary Committee voted on HB 351 - Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases during the scheduled February 21, 2013 12:00 pm meeting.  The vote was 11 - 2 in favor of the bill. The bill now moves for a vote by the full Florida House of Representatives.

Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases: Clarifies that public policies expressed in act apply to violations of natural person's fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by State Constitution or U.S. Constitution; provides that act does not apply to corporation, partnership, or other form of business association, except when necessary to provide effective relief in proceedings under or relating to chs. 61 & 88, F.S.; specifies public policy of this state in applying choice of foreign law, legal code, or system in proceedings brought under or relating to chs. 61 & 88, F.S., which relate to dissolution of marriage, support, time-sharing, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act, & Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; declares that certain decisions under such laws, codes, or systems & certain choice of venue or forum provisions in contract are void; provides for construction of waiver by natural person of person's fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by State Constitution or U.S. Constitution; declares that claims of forum non conveniens or related claims must be denied; limits construction of provisions in certain circumstances.

The language of this bill has been narrowed compared to the legislation offered in the 2012 session.

Here is how the Florida House Judiciary Committee voted:

Y  Baxley (R)           -  Ford (R)     Y  McBurney (R)   Y  Passidomo (R)      N  Schwartz (D)
-  Campbell (D)        Y  Gaetz (R)   N  McGhee (D)     -   Pilon  (R)            Y  Spano (R)
Y  Dudley (D)          Y  Hager (R)   Y  Metz  (R)        Y  Roberson, K. (R)    Y  Stone (R)
Y  Fitzenhagen (R)   -  Kerner (D)  -  Moskowitz (D)

Click here to see the video of the February 21, 2013 meeting.  HB 351 was the second bill discussed by the committee.

February 8, 2013 email alert and article.

Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee votes 9-4 to approve bill which prohibits courts from considering certain provisions of international laws including Islamic Sharia law.

The Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee voted on HB 351 - Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases during the scheduled February 7, 2013 8:00 am meeting. 

Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases: Clarifies that public policies expressed in act apply to violations of natural person's fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by State Constitution or U.S. Constitution; provides that act does not apply to corporation, partnership, or other form of business association, except when necessary to provide effective relief in proceedings under or relating to chs. 61 & 88, F.S.; specifies public policy of this state in applying choice of foreign law, legal code, or system in proceedings brought under or relating to chs. 61 & 88, F.S., which relate to dissolution of marriage, support, time-sharing, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act, & Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; declares that certain decisions under such laws, codes, or systems & certain choice of venue or forum provisions in contract are void; provides for construction of waiver by natural person of person's fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by State Constitution or U.S. Constitution; declares that claims of forum non conveniens or related claims must be denied; limits construction of provisions in certain circumstances.

The language of this bill has been narrowed compared to the legislation offered in the 2012 session.

Unlike 2012 when this subcommittee voted 13-0 to approve the bill, all four Democrats voted against the legislation this year.   Here is how the Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee voted:

Y  Boyd (R)                  Y  Goodson (R)      Y  Oliva (R)       Y  Spano (R)
Y  Stone (R)                N  Clelland (D)       Y  Hager (R)     Y  Passidomo (R)
N  Stafford (D)           N  Waldman (D)     Y  Davis (R)      Y  Metz (R)
N  Rodríguez, J. (D)

Perhaps Democrats gleamed from the 2012 elections that a certain constituency affected by this legislation voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama.

Sadly for all Americans, these four Democrats did not see the importance of honoring only American laws in American courts but only saw the importance of votes to keep their political longevity alive.

Click here to see the video of the February 7, 2013 meeting.  The discussion on this bill began at 10:10 am.

Here is the vote from the Florida House Civil Justice Subcommittee in 2012 where a 13-0 vote was taken on January 31, 2012:

Y  Abruzzo Y  Gaetz Y  Kiar Y  Passidomo -  Stargel Y  Bernard Y  Hager Y  Metz Y  Plakon Y  Steinberg Y  Eisnaugle -  Harrison Y  Oliva Y  Soto Y  Weinstein

Florida Family Association will continue to closely monitor this legislation in the Florida Legislature and issue alerts when necessary.