The Fourth Floor Rotunda in the Florida Capitol. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)
The Florida Senate has approved creation of a statewide 18-member task force on antisemitism that must submit a report and policy recommendations to the governor and legislative leaders.
The measure (SB 1072) was approved Wednesday after lawmakers supported an amendment by bill sponsor Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami Dade, clarifying that the definition of antisemitism “does not include criticism of Israel which is similar to criticism of any other country.”
The group would have a range of responsibilities to combat antisemitism in Florida. Among them:
- Engage with local Jewish communities and provide public officials across the state with recommendations and support for combating antisemitism.
- Identify best practices from efforts to combat antisemitism in other states and jurisdictions.
- Evaluate this state’s hate crime statutes and consider whether amendments would better protect residents from antisemitism.
- Recommend strategies, programs, and legislation to combat antisemitism in this state.
- Access existing state programs related to education in digital media literacy.
The amendment drew plaudits from Senate Democrats.
“All the things I heard [from opponents] were, ‘We can’t criticize Israel.’ And so you’ve listened to the people, you’ve clarified the language, and so I really appreciate that,” said Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton.
“That is so important in today’s dialogue, where healthy debate does include these types of criticisms that too often can be construed as antisemitism, so thank you for making that clarifying language,” Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, told Sen. Calatayud. “Antisemitism is such a terrible, terrible, rising issue that we have to continue to tackle as a nation.”
The bill’s future is questionable, however. Its House companion (HB 111) has cleared just one of its two assigned committees with the session set to adjourn a week from Friday.