HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 1996-111
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RESOLUTION NO. 96-11
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL,
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA ENDORSING STATE
HOUSE BILL 257 AND COMPANION STATE SENATE BILL
200.
WHEREAS, on November 16, 1995, State Representative Tom Warner, District 82-
Stuart, filed House Bill 257, which would make it an act of child abuse pursuant to F.S.
827.04(4) for a person 21 years of age or older to impregnate a child under 16 years of age, and
that such crime would constitute a felony of the third degree; and
WHEREAS, on November 14, 1995, State Senator Locke Burt, 16th District - Ormond
Beach/Deland, pre -filed Senate Bill 200, which is a companion bill to HB 257; and
WHEREAS, both HB 257 and SB 200 also requires a young mother under the age of
16 to name the child's father and to provide a DNA sample from the baby before she can receive
any financial assistance; and
WHEREAS, both HB 257 and SB 100 is designed to close the loopholes in the current
Statutory Rape laws in that consent of a young girl under the age of 16 to sexual relations with
an adult male, 21 years of age and older, or the girl's lack of a chastity, will no longer be a
defense since the bills clearly state that the offense is child abuse; and
WHEREAS, according to the 1995 Annual Report on the Impact of Teenage Pregnancy
in Florida, which was developed by the Florida Education and Employment Council for Women
and Girls, 3 out of every 4 teenage pregnancies can be traced back to an adult male, many 10 -15
years older than the girl; and
WHEREAS, according to the same report cited above, adult men father 77% of births
among junior high school -age girls; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that teenage pregnancies in Florida cost taxpayers nearly 1.2
billion annually, when factoring in regular and at -risk prenatal care, emergency room and
hospitalization, perinatal intensive care, re- hospitalization, special education, developmental
services, AFDC, Medicaid, crimes and child abuse; and
WHEREAS, one study found that 66% of the teenagers who become pregnant were
sexually abused with histories of rape, sexual abuse and physical abuse; and
WHEREAS, it is reported that 60% of adolescents giving birth for the first time have
their delivery fees covered by public funds; and
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City of Cape Canaveral
Resolution No. 96 -11
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Cape Canaveral:
Section 1: That the Cape Canaveral City Council endorses House Bill 257 and its
companion bill, Senate Bill 200, and that all State Representatives and State Senators are
strongly urged to support these bills.
Section 2: This resolution shall be forwarded to Florida Governor Lawton Chiles,
members of the Florida Senate, and members of the Florida House of Representatives.
Section 3: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
ADOPTED by the Cape Canaveral City Council this 5th day of March, 1996.
Kohn Bennett, CITY ATTORNEY
John K. Porter, MAYOR
NAME FOR AGAINST
BRUNS
X
NICHOLAS X
PETSOS
PORTER X
RANDELS X