Florida Senate panel approves proposal that curbs sleeping in public

A state Senate committee on Monday backed a proposal that would prevent counties and cities from allowing people to sleep or camp on public property without permits.

Bill sponsor Jonathan Martin called his proposal a way to address a mental health crisis in the state and to assist the “chronically homeless.”

“The current situation does not work,” Martin said. “If we sit around and do nothing, if this bill fails, and we come back next year and try to do something, and we do nothing for another year, it’s gonna be even worse next year.”

The Republican-controlled Senate Community Affairs Committee approved the bill along party lines. A similar House bill also started moving forward last week.

The Senate proposal would allow local governments to designate certain public property for sleeping or camping if they meet standards set by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The proposal said any designated area couldn’t “adversely and materially” affect residential or commercial properties. Also, the bill would encourage people and businesses to file lawsuits if local governments don’t follow the proposed rules.

Democrats and some advocates for homeless people expressed concerns that wording in the bill is vague about permits. Also, they said people who fall asleep while tanning on the beach or waiting at a bus stop could be found in violation and raised concerns about the financial impact on local governments.

“A municipality’s alternative to raiding public camping areas under this bill is to fund the sites with 24-hour security and mental-health and substance-abuse resources, as well as ensure they don’t negatively affect surrounding property values or else be sued by any business or individual,” said Carrie Feit, senior attorney at the Community Justice Project, which represents renters in Miami-Dade County facing eviction and homelessness.

Sen. Rosalind Osgood recalled a time when she was working but homeless and preferred sleeping in her car to going to a homeless camp “out of fear of being raped.”