Florida Updates: Sports Betting, Police Oversight & Trans Health
TL/DR –
A new law in Florida restricts local governments from allowing civilian boards to oversee or investigate complaints of police misconduct. The Seminole Tribe retains control of online sports betting in Florida after the Supreme Court refused a challenge against the agreement. Lastly, a federal judge blocked Florida from enforcing a law that bans gender-affirming care for minors and restricts it for adults.
Florida Civilian Police Oversight Loss
From July 1, over two dozen Florida counties and cities will lose their independent civilian police oversight due to a new state law. It prevents local governments from allowing civilian boards to examine or manage police misconduct complaints. Instead, police chiefs and county sheriffs can form their own boards to investigate training, general policies, and systemic issues. Supporters of independent review boards argue that the absence of civilian oversight will damage public trust in law enforcement.
- Guests: Danny Rivero, investigative reporter, and Rodney Jacobs, head of the Civilian Investigative Panel in Miami city.
Exclusive Online Sports Betting Control
The Seminole Tribe is set to maintain control of online sports betting across the state, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of a challenge to an agreement granting the tribe exclusive rights to manage online sports betting in Florida. The agreement, signed in 2021, will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the tribe and the state over 30 years. The decision clears the path for Gov. Ron DeSantis to use proceeds from the deal for resilience work and sea rise impacts. This new ruling may inspire other tribes across the U.S. to operate online gambling.
- Guest: Daniel Wallach, founder of legal consultancy firm Wallach Legal.
Florida’s Gender-affirming Care Law Blocked
A federal judge recently put a stop to Florida’s enforcement of a law banning gender-affirming care for minors and restricting it for adults. Judge Robert Hinkle found Senate Bill 254 and the associated medical board rules violated the equal protection rights of transgender individuals and parents of minors. A survey last year revealed that the majority of trans and nonbinary Floridians considered or planned to leave the state due to the restrictive laws.
- Guests: Daylina Miller, WUSF multimedia journalist, and Kathryn Varn, Axios Tampa Bay reporter.
Weekly Briefing: Florida Events and Sports
Statewide events marked Juneteenth last week alongside Pride Month celebrations. Highlights included a bus tour of significant Black history sites and an art exhibit in St. Petersburg spotlighting queer joy. Passion for ice hockey is also on the rise in Florida, with the Florida Panthers one game away from winning the Stanley Cup.
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