Dear FFASA Supporter,
In the last five months, you have witnessed how FFASA has kept
the spotlight on the issue of high prosecutor turnover. Today's
article in the Palm Beach Sun-Sentinel is another example of this
unprecedented effort. Keeping the spotlight on prosecutor turnover
must continue to be a year- round effort if we want lawmakers to
take this issue seriously. Now that we are approaching the beginning
of a new legislative session, it is time to unveil FFASA's
legislative strategy for 2007.
Last month, FFASA's Board of Directors approved the Legislative
Committee's strategy to engage lawmakers in finding a solution to
prosecutor turnover. The following is a brief outline of FFASA's
legislative strategy:
Presentation of Legislation: FFASA supports the
FPAA-backed loan repayment bill. For the last five years, a similar
version of this bill has died in committees without making it to the
floor for a vote. Although FFASA supports 100% the loan repayment
bill, we are also diligently working on a Loan Deferment bill that
would more effectively reduce prosecutor turnover at all levels.
This bill would be a viable alternative to the loan repayment bill
and would be beneficial to a wider number of career prosecutors.
Active Communication Before the Legislature Convenes March 6,
2007: Florida's legislature will convene on November 21, 2006
for an organizational session to appoint committee members and their
chairpersons. These changes provide a new opportunity to establish
effective communication with the newly constituted committees and
their new leadership. As soon as the legislative committees are
constituted, FFASA will begin direct communication with the members
in the four committees with jurisdiction over our subject matter:
Judiciary, Governmental Oversight and Productivity, Justice
Appropriations, and Ways & Means. When the legislative session
opens March 6, 2007 every member of these committees will know that
FFASA is watching and will hold them publicly accountable for the
bill's fate.
FFASA Legislative Delegations: The heart of FFASA's
legislative strategy is face-to-face contact with lawmakers. As
bills move from one committee to another, FFASA will send
delegations to meet with committee members and chairpersons. These
delegations would include concerned citizens and prosecutors from
across the state. FFASA will also make presentations at the public
hearings held by every committee. This hands-on strategy will
solidify our message and show that people do care about the
detrimental effect high prosecutor turnover has on public safety.
FFASA's legislative strategy is a concerted effort to effectively
engage our legislators in Tallahassee. FFASA is prepared to do what
no other grassroots organization has done on behalf of state
prosecutors and public safety: presenting a united front that
demands a solution and to hold lawmakers in Tallahassee accountable
for finding a solution.
We need your support in order to implement this strategy. Please,
volunteer to participate in one of the four legislative delegations
and become a FFASA member or sponsor today. Now is the time to
make a difference! Remember that a healthy criminal justice
system is the foundation of public safety. We count with your
support in this unprecedented effort on behalf of our communities.
Thanks For Standing Up Against High Prosecutor Turnover In
Florida!
Juan Carlos Arias
FFASA President & Founder
