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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Marsy’s Law Backers Confident of Ballot Language

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Monday, April 23, 2018   

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Supporters of a constitutional amendment that has been discussed for months are hopeful that the language surrounding the proposal will be easy for voters to understand.

Marsy's Law, which would give crime victims more details about the judicial process, needs 60 percent voter support to pass this November. Tim Cerio, a commissioner on the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, said the only way the proposal can get approved is if it's easy to understand.

"And that's the key point,” Cerio said. “The bundling and the combining of these different concepts only works if the ballot summary language that the voters will read is clear and understandable and not misleading and not confusing."

Lawyers and a judge were hired to ensure that the language of the proposal isn't lost on readers come election time.

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission voted 34-to-3 to approve the proposal last week. Supporters of Marsy's Law say the law is there to make sure victims are engaged and informed throughout the court processes.

Opponents believe nothing needs to be changed and that this process would just create more difficulties. Cerio said the amendment would put more power in victims' hands.

"You would have an ability to go to court to seek enforcement of Marsy's Law if you are not provided with the rights you are entitled to,” he said. “You could go before a judge an say, 'Judge, I am not getting notice of hearings,' or, 'Judge, I wasn't consulted before pre-agreement was accepted.'"

Marsy's Law has garnered support across the state from various sheriffs, Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi.


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