Fla. Judiciary Committee approves immunity bill

A bill that would give legislators “absolute” immunity from being deposed was approved in the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 23.

Florida State Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton, voted in favor of proposed Committee Bill 12-03 (HB 7123) and argued that the immunity is needed to stop the “bullying” of legislators and the “gamesmanship” that exists in litigation.

“The people of Florida are not well-served when the separation of powers are eroded,” Gaetz said.

He cited the pending court matter regarding Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg. Last year Kriseman came under attack from Expedia because he distributed internal company documents when there was a bill related to the hotel taxes for online-travel companies being discussed. A circuit court judge ruled that depositions could move forward but that questions would be very limited. However, Gaetz said Kriseman has yet to be deposed because the decision is being appealed.

For Rep. Richard Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, the issue is about the recent redistricting maps that were drawn after the voters overwhelming approved Amendments Five and Six to The Constitution.

For more on this story, see the Feb. 23 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.