By james art 
One of the first bills filed for the upcoming special legislative session takes clear aim at organized crime, both at home and abroad.
HB 1Afiled on Sunday by a representative. Mike Caruso in West Palm Beach, it’s not just about local street gangs; Lawmakers will now turn their sights on terrorist groups and shadowy “transnational criminal organizations” that operate on a global scale, dealing in everything from drug trafficking to people smuggling.
“This is not your average crime bill,” explained a source familiar with the legislation. “This is a comprehensive effort to give law enforcement the teeth they need to go after these powerful groups.”
According to a joint memo from the Senate President Ben Albritton and home speaker Daniel PerezThe Florida Legislature will convene a special session on Monday at 10:30 a.m. Agreed to by the state constitution, called by the government. Ron Desantis.
Despite previous objections and considering the session “premature”, they will comply.
For the special session, the governor is seeking changes to ballot initiatives, immigration policy in line with the president To Donald Trump Policies, hurricane relief and condo association issues. Legislative leaders have previously emphasized their role in setting the session’s agenda and deadlines, signaling a possible clash between the executive and legislative branches.
DeSantis also called for significant changes to the citizen-led amendment process. That includes making it harder to collect signatures for petitions, potentially giving the state more control over financial impact analysis and making it easier to challenge the initiatives in court.
The governor pushed for legislation to crack down on illegal immigration, seeking to get Florida law enforcement to actively assist federal immigration authorities.
What does HB 1A seek to accomplish?
First, she recognizes that these organizations are causing significant harm to Floridians. However, it also recognizes the need to protect freedom of speech and the right to assembly. In doing so, the bill aims to strike a delicate balance between public safety and personal liberties.
To that end, the bill introduces specific language to clarify what the purpose is.
It expands the definition of “criminal gang” and adds the new term “transnational criminal organization”. These groups operate across borders, using crime and corruption to their advantage. This is not for petty thugs; It is about disrupting well-financed, internationally connected criminal enterprises.
The bill also ups the ante for those who commit crimes to support these nefarious groups. If the individual acts to further the interests of a hate group, terrorist organization, or transnational criminal organization, the penalties will be dramatically higher, scaling the severity of the original offense.
Lawmakers are also going after the financial heart of these operations, authorizing the state to seize profits, assets and equipment used by criminal groups under Florida’s Forfeiture Act. It is an effort to dismantle these organizations by cutting off their resources.
Perhaps the most significant part of the bill focuses on leadership. Anyone found directing the activities of a hate group, terrorist organization or transnational criminal organization could face up to life in prison. This aims to dismantle these groups from the top down by targeting the people who call the shots.
If passed, the new law will go into effect immediately. The timeline for this can be fast.
This new legislation represents a comprehensive attempt to equip Florida law enforcement with the tools to fight organized crime at every level. It reflects a dual purpose: protecting the citizens of Florida while protecting fundamental rights.
Whether the bill can achieve this delicate balancing act remains to be seen.
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