National Organization for Women
From MSNBC, Oct. 15, 2021:
Alison Kessler lost her son Greyson after he was killed by his father. Now she is fighting to pass a law to prevent it from happening to other children. MSNBC’s Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Kessler and Florida State Representative Michael Greico.
Click here to view MSNBC clip.
by pbcnow 
Released on
Washington, D.C. – The Biden-Harris Administration was elected to advance the full participation of all people, regardless of gender. With the release of the first-ever national gender strategy to advance equity and equality, that’s precisely what it’s doing.
NOW applauds the interconnected priorities identified by the strategy, including a renewed national focus on gender-based violence from a trauma-informed perspective. It is imperative that we continue to acknowledge that longstanding gender discrimination and systemic barriers have held women and girls back. The White House notes that gender-based violence is “endemic” in homes, schools, workplaces, the military, communities, and online, exacting a terrible toll on the safety, health and economic security of survivors and their families.
For more than 50 years, NOW’s grassroots have centered our efforts to spark a national conversation to address gendered systemic injustices and ways we can end violence against women. From educating the public about gender-based violence to increasing access to health care, advancing gender equity and equality in the law, the workplace and leadership roles, and improving economic security with permanent investments in the care infrastructure – we commend our allies in the administration for working to prioritize an intersectional feminist agenda with these policy goals.
NOW looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration on enacting this vitally important gender policy strategy.
Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,
October 19, 2021
CONTACT:
Abby Ross Thomas Wilmouth
Office of Senator Lori Berman Office of Representative Emily Slosberg
Ross.Abby@flsenate.gov Thomas.Wilmouth@myfloridahouse.gov
850.487.5031 850.717.509
Senator Lori Berman and Representative Emily Slosberg File Bill Requiring Recording of Child Custody and Child Support Court Proceedings
Tallahassee, FL – Today Senator Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach) and Representative Emily Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) filed SB 558/HB 339, which requires any court proceedings in which issues of parental responsibility or time-sharing must be electronically or stenographically recorded, made available to the parties for purchase, and at no cost to an indigent party seeking to appeal the court’s ruling.
According to Families Against Court Travesties (FACTs), Inc. and the Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Organization for Women, “In Florida, all Family Courts are not required to record proceedings. To protect children and families, it is important for the court to provide all litigants with a recording or transcript. This legislation represents positive changes for Family Courts and makes all courts play by the same rules.”
“I have worked on legislation seeking to improve the lives of women, children and families my entire legislative career,” said Senator Berman. “Ensuring all people, whether indigent or not, have equitable access to court recordings is vital, especially when we’re speaking of a child’s future. In today’s world of technological advances, ensuring all courtrooms are equipped to record hearings should be easy to implement.”
“Criminal, guardianship and child dependency court proceedings are required to be recorded. This legislation seeks to have court proceedings that concern placement of children and support of children formalized by more than a docket entry so as to dignify and be fair to parents and their children,” Representative Slosberg said.
The Florida Supreme Court, through the Rules of Judicial Administration, has established a policy favoring the recording and transcribing of judicial proceedings. A formal record of proceedings is required for any appeal, and deters frivolous post-judgment motions and appeals.