Florida Senate votes 24 to 14 to approve American Laws for American Courts legislation
The Florida Senate has approved American Laws for American Courts legislation which would prohibit Sharia and other foreign laws. The full senate voted voted 24 to 14 in favor of SB 386 titled Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases at the third reading during the Monday, April 28, 2014 session.
| Joseph Abruzzo | No | Democrat |
| Thad Altman | Yes | Republican |
| Aaron Bean | Yes | Republican |
| Lizbeth Benacquisto | Yes | Republican |
| Rob Bradley | Yes | Republican |
| Jeff Brandes | Yes | Republican |
| Oscar , II Braynon | No | Democrat |
| Dwight Bullard | No | Democrat |
| Jeff Clemens | No | Democrat |
| Charles S. Dean Sr. | Yes | Republican |
| Nancy C. Detert | Yes | Republican |
| Miguel Diaz de la Portilla | Yes | Republican |
| Greg Evers | Yes | Republican |
| Anitere Flores | Yes | Republican |
| Don Gaetz | Yes | Republican |
| Bill Galvano | Yes | Republican |
| Rene Garcia | Yes | Republican |
| Andy Gardiner | Yes | Republican |
| Audrey Gibson | No | Democrat |
| Denise Grimsley | Yes | Republican |
| Alan Hays | Yes | Republican |
| Dorothy L. Hukill | Yes | Republican |
| Arthenia L. Joyner | No | Democrat |
| Jack Latvala | Republican | |
| Tom Lee | Yes | Republican |
| John Legg | Yes | Republican |
| Gwen Margolis | No | Democrat |
| Bill Montford | No | Democrat |
| Joe Negron | Republican | |
| Garrett Richter | Yes | Republican |
| Jeremy Ring | No | Democrat |
| Maria Lorts Sachs | No | Democrat |
| David Simmons | Yes | Republican |
| Wilton Simpson | Yes | Republican |
| Christopher L. Smith | No | Democrat |
| Eleanor Sobel | No | Democrat |
| >Darren Soto | No | Democrat |
| Kelli Stargel | Yes | Republican |
| Geraldine F. Thompson | No | Democrat |
| John Thrasher | Yes | Republican |
The official Florida Senate vote history for SB 386 is posted here.
This legislation, commonly known as “American Laws for American Courts”, would prohibit Florida courts from considering certain provisions of foreign laws, including Islamic Sharia law, if such provisions are inconsistent with the Florida and United States of America Constitutions.
If Florida courts accept provisions of Islamic Sharia law or other foreign laws or legal codes which are inconsistent with American laws it will undermine public policies enacted by our representative form of government and change our value system.
Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases:
Defines “foreign law, legal code, or system”; specifies public policy on application of foreign law, legal code, or system in proceedings relating to dissolution of marriage, support, time-sharing, UCCJEA, & UIFSA; provides that certain decisions rendered under such laws, codes, or systems are void; provides that certain contracts & contract provisions are void; provides for construction of waiver by natural person of person’s fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by state or federal constitutions; provides that claims of forum non conveniens or related claims must be denied; provides that act doesn’t require or authorize court to adjudicate, or prohibit any religious organization from adjudicating, ecclesiastical matters in violation of specified constitutional provisions or to conflict with any federal treaty or other international agreement to which U.S. is party to specified extent. Full text of SB 386.
A vote by the full Florida House of Representatives on HB 903 Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases is pending.
