Rep. Randy Fine, a Leader in Tackling Anti-Semitism in Florida, Introduces HB 741 On Monday
By Space Coast Daily // February 11, 2019
BILL will create a legal definition of anti-Semitism
FINE/GRUTERS BILL TACKLES ANTI-SEMITISM HEAD ON
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – District 53 Florida State Representative Randy Fine introduced HB 741 on Monday, which would create a legal definition of anti-Semitism and require that all educational institutions in Florida treat anti-Semitism in an identical fashion as racism.
It would also allow law enforcement to utilize that definition in determining whether a crime is a hate crime. The definition proposed is the U.S. State Department’s federal definition.
Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) will be filing the companion bill in the Florida Senate
“We now live in a time where open anti-Semites are promoted in Congress, and companies discriminating against American Jews believe they can hold public offerings,” said Fine.
“This is simply unacceptable. The State of Florida needs to make clear that anti-Semitism sits at the intersection of racism, sexism, and discrimination based on a disability or national origin. This legislation does not legislate how anti-Semitism should be treated in education, but it will eliminate the ability for any institution to discriminate in how they treat such discrimination.”
Related Story:WATCH: Rep. Randy Fine’s Audit Request On City of Melbourne, Two CRAs Finances Approved
Fine has been a leader in tackling anti-Semitism in Florida.
He successfully sponsored legislation to create a zero tolerance policy for Florida governments to do business with those boycotting Israel and a House resolution condemning the United Nations for its anti-Semitic stances on Israel.
Fine also sponsored another resolution in which the Florida House endorsed the movement of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the first-in-the-nation security funding to ensure that Jewish children are safe from anti-Semitic attacks while at Jewish Day Schools
“The United States has always been a safe haven for Jews, and like so many other people groups, they have thrived here,” Gruters said.
“But the ugly stain that is anti-Semitism is beginning to show in, of all places, Congress. It is nothing short of disgraceful. We simply cannot sit back and allow such bigotry toward our fellow Americans and our close ally, Israel, to be tolerated. The land of the free stands for better.”
In the legislature, Fine is a Chairman of Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Vice Chairman of Gaming Control Subcommittee, serves on Health Quality Subcommittee, Business & Professions Subcommittee, Education Committee, Appropriations Committee, and Brevard County Delegation.
District 53 is comprised of the southern portion of Brevard County and includes the entirety of Palm Bay, Malabar, and Grant-Valkaria, and portions of Melbourne, West Melbourne, and unincorporated Brevard.
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
