Public Affairs

Our Public Affairs Committee is a member of the State Public Affairs Committee in Florida. Please visit the Florida SPAC website:
http://www.jlflspac.org

2006 Issues Ballot 

Motion:  The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to sunset the following position statement under the section Children & Families:

#11 – Position Statement on Bicycle Safety Mandate

The Junior Leagues of Florida recognize the high incidence of injuries resulting from bicycling and therefore, support enforcement of statewide mandates for the use of bicycle helmets meeting minimum federal safety standards, by children under the age of 16 on bicycles, and all child passengers on bicycles and bicycle trailers. 

Rationale:  Legislation requiring the use of bicycle safety helmets passed.  The law is currently referenced as Florida Statute 316.2065 Bicycle regulations under section 3(d).

 Pros/Cons: Not Applicable

Motion:  The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to sunset the following position statement under the section Children & Families:

#16 – Position Statement on 911/BAD

The Junior Leagues of Florida support the establishment of an Emergency Medical Dispatch standard training program for all 911 operators in the state. 

Rationale:  Legislation has passed.  The law is currently referenced as Florida Statute 768.1335 Emergency Medical Dispatch Act.

 Pros/Cons:  Not Applicable

Motion:  The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to revise the following position statement under the section Health, Environment & Criminal Justice:

#6 – Position Statement on Services for Juvenile Offenders – The Junior Leagues of Florida support the concept of gender-specific programming and gender-specific models and services that comprehensively address the needs of juvenile female offenders within the juvenile justice system.  Therefore, the Junior Leagues of Florida are committed to increasing community and legislative awareness of the needs of juvenile offenders with the goal of expanding funding of gender-specific programming throughout the state’s juvenile facilities system.

Rationale:   The change from “facilities” to “system” addresses children who are not designated to facilities but are engaged in the juvenile justice process.  When using the term “facilities” it projects an image of the child already being in a state juvenile correctional facility rather than the term “system” which not only addresses those children in the system but those also involved in preventative or community-based programs. 

Pros/Cons: Not Applicable

Motion:  The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to revise the following position statement under the section on Health, Environment & Criminal Justice:

#7 – Position Statement on Human Trafficking – The Junior Leagues of Florida find human trafficking unacceptable and support the adoption and enforcement of laws that prevent the importation and illegal detainment of people against their will and endorse efforts to provide victim services and raise community awareness.

 Rationale:  The additional language provides the opportunity to address assisting a victim who is awaiting trial/prosecution of their trafficker as well as provides the opportunity to work with/educate the proper law enforcement, social services and medical personnel on human trafficking related issues. 

Pro:  Endorsing efforts to help victims of human trafficking and raising awareness of human trafficking would result in more awareness of the widespread nature of human trafficking, help promote outreach and advocacy services for victims, increase awareness of rescue and referral services available to victims of human trafficking and promote training of law enforcement officials in the tracking and prosecution of traffickers.

 Con:  Victims are often reluctant to testify because traffickers threaten to harm the families they have left behind, so finding victims to receive services might be hard.  Funding for housing of victims is in short supply as well as funding for social services.

Motion:  The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to approve the following position statement under the section on Health, Environment & Criminal Justice:

Position Statement on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine

The Junior Leagues of Florida are committed to protecting the health of women by recommending vaccination against HPV of all females by the age of 12.  We believe that the HPV Vaccine should be covered by health insurance and support adding the vaccine to the coverage list for the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for immunizations for uninsured and underinsured children.

 Rationale:  Seventy five percent of sexually active adults ages 15-49 will acquire HPV at some time in their lives (6.2 million new cases each year) and will never even know it as HPV, which usually has no symptoms and does not cause disease but is a leading cause of cervical cancer worldwide.  In the U.S., an estimated 10,000 women develop cervical cancer annually.  Of those women, 3,700 die.

 It is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Center for Disease Control that females, ages 11 to 12, be routinely vaccinated against HPV and that women 12 to 26 also be vaccinated.

Pro:  The vaccine is 100% effective against 2 strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts.  The vaccine would have implications for bettering and lengthening thousands of lives. 

Con:  Some groups believe that vaccinating young girls against sexually transmitted diseases would promote promiscuity.  The vaccination is expensive, costing three hundred and sixty dollars for the three shot series.  Uninsured or Underinsured women would have a difficult time paying for the vaccine.  The vaccine lasts only 5 years and would require booster shots.

 Special Note: The Association of Junior Leagues International has asked that the Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee present this issue as one of AJLI’s three issues for the Emerging Issues section of the Fall Leadership Conference in Memphis in October 2006.

Motion:  The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to approve the following position statement under the section on Health, Environment & Criminal Justice:

Position Statement on Internet Predators

The Junior Leagues of Florida recognize that there is a disturbing increase of Internet predators in our society.  Therefore, the Junior Leagues of Florida are committed to increasing community and legislative awareness of and seeking viable solutions to the problem of Internet predators in our society.

 Rationale:  The problem of Internet predators is becoming pervasive in our society, effecting youth, elderly and all walks of life.  As access grows, so does the problem.  By adding this to our list of position statements, it gives the State Public Affairs Committee the ability to track the issue and address it as needed in the future.

 Pro:  The problem affects so many of our most vulnerable citizens and it needs to continue being addressed.  Law enforcement agencies are addressing the problem and recognize that there is an increasing problem as well.

 Con:  It is difficult to track and apprehend predators.  The cost of these programs can be prohibitive, too.

MOTION #1: The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee moves to delete the current position statement on Affordable Housing under the section on

Health & Environment that reads as follows:

"Position Statement on Affordable Housing (Adopted Fall 1993, Last Review Fall 2001)

The Junior Leagues of Florida recognize the need for affordable housing in all communities. The Junior Leagues of Florida support comprehensive services and

efforts to address affordable housing and advocate strategies to reduce barriers and create incentives for affordable housing."

 Rationale: A new position statement is being proposed.

 MOTION #2: The Junior Leagues of Florda State Public Affairs Committee moves to approve the following new position statement under the section on Children &

Families:

Position Statement on Affordable Housing:

The Junior Leagues of Florida recognize that we are the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Our communities need immediate relief.  Therefore, the Junior Leagues of Florida are committed to increasing community and legislative awareness about the affordable housing crisis in the State and are seeking viable solutions to create a more just and equitable society by promoting civic engagement and economic fairness to address these unmet needs.

 Rationale:  One of the three basic “conditions for sustainability” (aka: human needs) for all people is food and safe shelter.  Currently, there are thousands of Florida’s families (many of which are single-mother households) on a waiting list for subsidized housing.

Sadly, tens of millions of public dollars have been wasted and are no longer available for use by low-to-moderate income residents.  Without safe and affordable housing women are at a greater risk for domestic violence, children are in danger of abuse and

exposed to predators at a far higher rate than children in stable housing accommodations and often health-related illness impact people without safe housing, among other critical issues.  This housing crisis affects nearly all of the women and children served by Junior League sponsored programs.  Therefore, the Junior Leagues of Florida strives to

help to raise awareness and prioritize the housing needs of women and children in affordable housing. 

Pro:  The scarcity of affordable housing is a deepening national crisis, and not just for inner-city families on welfare. The problem has moved to the suburbs, where service workers cram their families into overcrowded apartments, college graduates crash with their parents, and firefighters, police officers and teachers cannot afford to live in the communities where they serve.  One-third of Americans spend at least 30 percent of their income on housing — the federal definition of an “unaffordable” burden. Half the working poor spend at least 50 percent of their income on rent, a “critical” burden. 

Cons:  Due to unprecedented hurricane activity in the State of Florida, issues regarding property insurance for current homeowners will likely have a greater focus for legislators statewide during the 2007 Legislative Session.  Millions of dollars which were designated to address affordable housing have already been wasted and are no longer available for use by the families that need them.