News Articles
Priority Bill Protecting First Amendment Rights Signed into Law
Holmes County Advertiser, June 5, 2010
TALLAHASSEE – House Bill 31, a bill to protect First Amendment rights and religious speech freedoms of teachers, students and school district employees, co-introduced by Representatives Greg Evers (R-Baker) and Brad Drake (R-Eucheeanna), today was signed into law. This new law protects teachers, students and school personnel by prohibiting district school boards, administrative personnel and instructional personnel from infringing on the constitutional free speech rights and religious freedoms protected by the First Amendment.
The law is designed to preempt future ACLU attacks on the First Amendment protections of freedom of speech, including religious speech, such as the recent attack in Santa Rosa County that led to then-Pace High School Student Body President Mary Allen being censored and barred from speaking at her own high school graduation, as well as Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman being charged with criminal contempt of court for offering a blessing at an adults-only event.
“I applaud the governor for signing this good bill into law today,” said Representative Evers. “Our First Amendment rights, granted to us by the U.S. Constitution are absolute, and this law ensures that they remain that way. With the signing of this bill, students, like Mary Allen who want to thank God in a commencement speech or students who want to bow their head in silent prayer before taking a test, may now do so without fear of being questioned or stopped. This law will also serve to protect school officials, like Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman, from special interests who would like to see the First Amendment rights of students, faculty and Floridians restricted, or worse, denied.”
“I commend Governor Crist for signing into law today this bill that protects all Floridians’ First Amendment rights,” said Representative Drake. “This piece of legislation was a priority of mine and Representative Evers from day one, and we are proud to have answered our constituents' call for help make this good bill Florida law."
A fifth-generation, panhandle farmer and small businessman, Evers puts his real-world experience to good use in the Florida Legislature and is proud of his accomplishments on behalf of Florida’s critical agriculture industry, economic development, job creation, and preserving and protecting Northwest Florida values, including acting as a champion of our Second Amendment rights and protections. He has sponsored and passed NRA priority legislation, protecting the right of law-abiding citizens to have legal firearms secured in the automobiles in public parking lots and protecting against raids of Florida’s Concealed Carry Permit Trust Fund.
He has also sponsored legislation, protecting Floridians from unnecessary federal government intrusion into health care freedoms and choices, designating “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the State of Florida, enabling Florida farmers to transport their farm equipment from field to field without the burden of additional government permits or fees, enabling the reopening of the Jay Oil Field to restore numerous Northwest Florida jobs, and extending the dates between parole hearings for violent criminal offenders to protect victims and taxpayer resources.
Evers has never been prouder of any legislation he has sponsored than he is of House Bill 31, which will protect the First Amendment religious speech rights of teachers and students across Florida from future infringements, such as those suffered at the hands of the ACLU in Santa Rosa County.
Representative Drake represents Florida House District 5, which includes parts of Okaloosa, Walton & Jackson Counties, as well as all of Holmes and Washington Counties. He is a marketing executive and, prior to his election as District 5 Representative, he served as legislative aide to his predecessor and mentor, former Representative Don Brown.
Since being elected just two years ago, Representative Drake has championed issues important to the Panhandle, including agricultural protections and enhancements, veteran benefit expansion, Second Amendment rights and freedoms, and economic protections for rural cooperative electrical authorities. He was the sponsor of the Anthony Forgione Act that established greater protections for our community by giving greater enforcement of the Baker Act.
Copyright © 2010.
