Protecting Florida’s kids

Governor Ron DeSantis talks about the “Let Kids Be Kids” bill package, signed May 17, 2023. -Photo Governor’s Press

By Tami Stevenson

Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed five bills into law, calling it the “Let Kids Be Kids” bill package to protect the innocence of Florida’s kids.

“Florida is proud to lead the way in standing up for our children,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “As the world goes mad, Florida represents a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy.”

The bills are outlined below:

SB 254 – Outlawing Permanent Mutilation Of Minors

Outlaws permanent surgical procedures and experimental puberty blockers for minors.

It requires adults receiving these surgeries and hormones to be informed about the irreversible nature and dangers.

This bill also grants Florida courts temporary emergency jurisdiction to intervene and halt procedures for out-of-state children and creates a pathway to recover damages for injury or death resulting from mutilating surgeries or experimental puberty blockers given to a minor.

HB 1069 – Removing Pronoun Politics And Expanding Parental Rights In Education

Florida’s students and teachers will no longer have to “declare” their pronouns in school or be forced to use pronouns not based on biological sex.

This bill expands parent’s rights in education by prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in Pre-K through the 8th grade, building on last year’s bill that prohibited classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in K-3rd grade.

HB 1438 – Protecting Children’s Innocence

Protects children from sexually explicit adult performances in all venues - including drag shows and strip clubs. It imposes fines and license suspension for hotels and restaurants that admit a child into an adult performance.

HB 1521 – Ensuring Women’s Safety

This bill requires educational institutions, detention facilities, correctional institutions, juvenile correctional facilities and public buildings with a restroom, locker room, or changing facility to have separate facilities for men and women based on biological sex.

HB 225 – Expanding Access To Youth Sports

Allows private school, virtual school, and homeschool students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities at public or private schools, regardless of their zip code.

It preserves the first amendment right to speech, including public prayer at the beginning of high school sporting events.

The bill also imposes state control over the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to ensure women’s sports are protected.

“Thank you to Governor Ron DeSantis for continuing to implement legislation to keep our students safe and our schools focused on education, not indoctrination,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Today’s actions make it clear – educators in Florida are expected to teach our standards, and not interject their own opinions or worldview into the classroom. The Department will remain focused on teaching students core subjects, rather than woke gender ideology or inappropriate topics.”

All of these bills will take effect July 1, 2023.