Sherry MagillCity council members heard public comment on Tuesday evening on a bill that expands protections under Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance to LGBTQ persons.
Florida’s First District Court of Appeal recently struck down Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance adopted by city council in 2017 (see HRO Redux, JaxLookOut.com), finding that the ordinance was improperly written. The Court’s decision nullified the 2017 ordinance necessitating passage of a new bill. In ruling, the Court did not overturn the ordinance on its substance or content but rather on what the Office of General Counsel has termed a “technicality.”
Introduced by Aaron Bowman, the new HRO ordinance (2020-244) currently has four co-sponsors: Matt Carlucci, Leanna Cumber, Rory Diamond, and Tommy Hazouri.
Jacksonville’s city council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance on Tuesday, June 9. The mayor has publicly stated that he will sign the bill should city council pass the ordinance.
We encourage calls and emails to city council members urging quick passage of the HRO. You may find council members’ contact information via this link — https://www.coj.net/city-council.aspx.
And you may download the bill and bill summary here:
Gregory Newburn