Florida House Judiciary Committee voted 13 to 6 in favor of approving American Laws for American Courts bill which would prohibit Sharia and other foreign laws.   Click here to send your email to support this bill in the full Senate.

The Florida House Judiciary Committee has approved American Laws for American Courts legislation which would prohibit Sharia and other foreign laws.  The committee voted 13 to 6 in favor of HB 903 titled Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases during their Friday, April 11, 2014 8:00 am - 10:30 am meeting: 

Chair
     Baxley, Dennis K. [R]                     Yes
  Vice Chair
     Stone, Charlie [R]                          Yes
  Democratic Ranking Member
     Schwartz, Elaine J. [D]                   No

Campbell, Daphne D. [D]                  No
Dudley, Dwight [D]                               No
Eisnaugle, Eric [R]                             Yes
Fitzenhagen, Heather Dawes [R]    Yes
Gaetz, Matt [R]                                      Yes
Hager, Bill [R]                                       Yes
Kerner, Dave [D]                                   No
McBurney, Charles [R]                       Yes
McGhee, Kionne L. [D]                        No
Metz, Larry [R]                                      Yes
Moskowitz, Jared Evan [D]                 No
Passidomo, Kathleen C. [R]            Yes
Pilon, Ray [R]                                      Yes
Raulerson, Daniel D. "Dan" [R]       Yes
Roberson, Kenneth L. "Ken" [R]      Yes
Spano, Ross [R]                                 Yes

The official committee vote history is posted here.  To view the video of the committee meeting click here. 

This legislation, commonly known as “American Laws for American Courts”, would prohibit Florida courts from considering certain provisions of foreign laws, including Islamic Sharia law, if such provisions are inconsistent with the Florida and United States of America Constitutions.

If Florida courts accept provisions of Islamic Sharia law or other foreign laws or legal codes which are inconsistent with American laws it will undermine public policies enacted by our representative form of government and change our value system.

Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases: Defines "foreign law, legal code, or system"; specifies public policy on application of foreign law, legal code, or system in proceedings relating to dissolution of marriage, support, time-sharing, UCCJEA, & UIFSA; provides that certain decisions rendered under such laws, codes, or systems are void; provides that certain contracts & contract provisions are void; provides for construction of waiver by natural person of person's fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by state or federal constitutions; provides that claims of forum non conveniens or related claims must be denied; provides that act doesn't require or authorize court to adjudicate, or prohibit any religious organization from adjudicating, ecclesiastical matters in violation of specified constitutional provisions or to conflict with any federal treaty or other international agreement to which U.S. is party to specified extent.  Full text of HB 903.

The Florida Senate is the chamber that needs the most urging to pass this legislation on for Governor Rick Scott's signature.

Florida Family Association has prepared an email for you to send urging the members of the Florida Senate to vote for SB 386 - Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases. 

To send your email, please click the following link, enter your name and email address then click the "Send Your Message" button. You may also edit the subject or message text if you wish. 

Please click here to send your email to the members of the Florida Senate.

For contact information for the Florida Senate please click here.