As the 2024 legislative session comes to a close, 34 laws will take effect in Florida, with the homeless changes drawing the most attention. According to cbsnews. com, the new laws aim to address the issue of homelessness in the state, but local governments and residents are scrambling to comply with the new measures.
One of the key changes is the prohibition on local governments allowing people to sleep on public property. The law bars the use of public buildings and public rights of way for camping and sleeping, and allows local governments to designate specific areas for homeless individuals to sleep. The measure gives legal standing to residents and business owners to file civil lawsuits against local governments that allow sleeping or camping on public property.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis expressed concerns about the enforcement of the new law... stating that he hoped Governor Ron DeSantis would delay enforcement. Trantalis acknowledged that his city has taken steps to address homelessness, including increasing funding for the police department and the civilian homeless outreach program.
However, "he claimed that the state's mandate is an onerous burden." In response to the changes, Miami-Dade County is considering the use of "tiny houses" as emergency accommodations to mitigate the impact of the changes on jails. The managed tiny houses will be operated by the Homeless Trust, "a homeless agency in the county." The law is set to take effect on January 1... and local governments are working to comply with the changes.
However, the measure has raised concerns about the potential consequences for homeless individuals and the effectiveness of the law in addressing the root causes of homelessness.
Other measures include creating a "Margaritaville" license plate for Parrot Heads, which honors late singer Jimmy Buffett , and requirements about flood disclosures for home buyers. In all, 34 laws that passed during the 2024 legislative session will take effect, with the homeless changes drawing the most attention.
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