Florida Senate - 2015                             (NP)    SR 174
       
       
        
       By Senator Joyner
       
       
       
       
       
       19-00350-15                                            2015174__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing April 2015 as “Fair Housing
    3         Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, Title VIII of the federal Civil Rights Act of
    6  1968, as amended by the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of
    7  1988, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion,
    8  sex, national origin, disability, or familial status in the
    9  sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and
   10         WHEREAS, in 1983, the Legislature enacted the Florida Fair
   11  Housing Act to ensure that the state makes every effort to
   12  promote fair housing for all residents and to prohibit
   13  discrimination in the sale or rental of any dwelling because of
   14  race, color, national origin, sex, or religion, and the act was
   15  amended in 1989 to prohibit discrimination based on familial
   16  status or mental impairment, and
   17         WHEREAS, the United States Department of Housing and Urban
   18  Development has proclaimed April as “National Fair Housing
   19  Month” and conducts awareness campaigns to commemorate the
   20  historical passage of this major legislation, increase the
   21  public’s understanding of the many protections of the Civil
   22  Rights Act, and encourage communities to remember and celebrate
   23  47 years of housing successes, and
   24         WHEREAS, as authorized under law, the Florida Commission on
   25  Human Relations conducts thorough and timely investigations of
   26  housing discrimination complaints and, as a result of its
   27  investigative efforts, has found that housing discrimination
   28  continues in Florida, with disability, race, national origin,
   29  familial status, and sex constituting the top five bases for
   30  housing discrimination during the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and
   31         WHEREAS, the Florida Commission on Human Relations
   32  continually strives to educate the general public and members of
   33  the housing industry to ensure that they are informed of their
   34  rights and responsibilities under fair housing laws and to
   35  engage in community partnerships so that all persons are
   36  provided fair and equal access to adequate and affordable
   37  housing without being subjected to discrimination, prejudice, or
   38  barriers, NOW, THEREFORE,
   39  
   40  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   41  
   42         That April 2015 is recognized as “Fair Housing Month” in
   43  Florida and that state and local governmental leaders,
   44  communities, and individuals are encouraged to observe this
   45  important occasion through ceremonies and activities celebrating
   46  historical and future efforts to ensure fair and equal access to
   47  housing for all Floridians.