In just over a year, a major change in funding for the Florida courts will
take place.
The amendment to Article V of the Florida Constitution, commonly referred
to as
Revision 7, requires that a larger portion of the courts' funding be paid
from
the state coffers.
However,
County Law Libraries are not considered to be an essential element of the courts.
Recent legislation, Laws of Florida, Chapter 2003-402, eliminates the current sharing of filing fees by the County Law Libraries. These filing fees represent the major source of funding for the law libraries. Without these funds, most county law libraries will be forced to close.
You can help protect the public access to legal information by contacting state legislators and voicing your support for the County Law Libraries. Please contact your state elected official by calling them, sending an email or via regular mail notifying them that access to a County Law Libraries protects our democracy and that public access to legal information is vital to each and every Floridian.
If you are a member of a group or organization and want to support the continued
operation and funding of the County Law Libraries, you can adopt a resolution.
SAMPLE RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION NO. ________
A RESOLUTION OF (INSERT NAME HERE)
REQUESTING FULL AND ADEQUATE FUNDING
FOR COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES
WHEREAS, the voters of Florida approved an amendment to the Florida Constitution,
commonly referred to as Revision 7 relating to the funding for the Judicial
branch of government,and
WHEREAS, as a result of said amendment the Florida Legislature has passed legislation which eliminates the sharing of filing fees for the funding for our County Law Library, and
WHEREAS, currently over eight five percent (85%) of the funding for our local Miami-Dade County Law Library comes from filing fees, and
WHEREAS, our County Law Library has many responsibilities to the people of Florida and it is critical that the a new funding structure is implemented so that the Law Library is not disrupted and can continue to serve the public, and
WHEREAS, our County Law Library protects democracy by providing legal information to the judiciary, attorneys and all persons throughout the county, rich and poor alike, through many sources, including but not limited to statutes, case law and legal treatises, and
WHEREAS, our County Law Library is a source of legal information for those individuals who do not have the ability to hire legal representation and is essential to the administration of justice, and
WHEREAS, our County Law Library provides legal forms and information to
assist
the public in resolving legal matters concerning landlord/tenant, property,
family,
probate and other civil matters, as well as criminal law, and
WHEREAS, our County Law Library needs reasonable and adequate funding to
ensure that justice continues to be carried out in a fair, timely and impartial
manner, and
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED that the (INSERT NAME HERE) hereby recommend and request that the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation fulfill this obligation and ensure that the County Law Library receive full and adequate funding.
Section 1. The foregoing is true and correct.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS _____ DAY OF ____________________________.
ATTEST: __________________________________
President
__________________________________
Vice President
__________________________________
Secretary
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Senator/Representative:
The voters of Florida approved an amendment to the Florida Constitution commonly
referred to as Revision 7 of Article V relating to the funding for the courts.
As a result
of this amendment the Florida Legislature has passed legislation which eliminates
the
current sharing of filing fees by the County Law Libraries effective July
1, 2004.
At the present time, over eighty-five percent (85%) of our local Law Library's
budget
comes from filing fees.
The County Law Library serves many functions for the people of Florida. It
not only
serves the judiciary and attorneys – it is a public library and serves
all pro se litigants
and members of the public. It is critical that a new source of funding be
implemented
so that the County Law Library can continue to serve the people of Florida
by providing public access to legal information.
Please ensure that the County Law Library receive adequate funding to ensure
that
justice is available to all citizens. I am requesting that you and the members
of the
Miami-Dade Delegation to the Florida Legislature fulfill your obligation and
ensure
that the County Law Libraries of Florida receive full and adequate funding.
| Miami-Dade
County Law Library 73 West Flagler St. #321A Miami, FL 33130 |
