VIERA, Fla. — Commissioners in Brevard County voted Tuesday to move forward with the proposal to name the community a Bill of Rights Sanctuary County.
What You Need To Know
- Brevard County Commissioners are moving forward with a proposal to label the county a Bill of Rights Sanctuary County
- Although commissioners voted to move the proposal forward, the final vote will be left to the new board
- An informational meeting open to the public is set for Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Space Coast Convention Center in west Cocoa
The potential status would, on paper, give residents the right to refuse to cooperate with federal government officials in response to what they consider to be unconstitutional federal government measures.
Those who back it say citizens’ constitutional rights should never be violated, especially during a federal state of emergency declared for hurricanes.
It’s based on a measure adopted by Collier County in 2023.
The ordinance establishes that area as a sanctuary county, meaning the county has the “right to be free” from actions of the federal government.
“I think there’s a movement in Florida to protect our civil liberties at the county level," said Brevard County District 4 Commissioner Rob Feltner. "A couple of groups and constituents contacted me and asked that I consider this resolution.”
The Collier County ordinance forbids any county official or employee, acting in their official capacity, from assisting the enforcement of a federal act, law, order, rule or regulation which violates a citizen’s constitutional rights, or from using county assets or funds for that purpose.
Feltner says this change would especially be enforced during natural disasters like hurricanes.
“That’s not the time to try to infringe on peoples’ civil liberties, and sometimes you see that in a state of emergency, my personal motive is to support the constitution at all times,” he said.
Under the ordinance, it means civil penalties. If approved, suspected violators can be fined $500 and/or be locked up in the county jail for up to 60 days.
The new county commission board is being sworn on Nov. 19, and the proposal will be on the agenda at their Dec. 3 meeting.
It will be up to the new board to pass the ordinance.
An informational meeting open to the public is set for Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Space Coast Convention Center in west Cocoa.
The Constitution of the United States includes a “supremacy clause” that says that federal laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land, and take priority over local or state laws.