FLYING "OLD GLORY" ?
 
CCFJ Dispatch 
House Bill 21 B - Flying the American Flag in deed-restricted communities
Dear members and friends,

you have possibly read the newspaper articles regarding regulation of flying the American flag in deed-restricted communities. A bill sponsored by Representative Sobel numbered HB 21 B passed the House with a vote of 
119 -1.  A big "Thank you" to all legislators who helped passing this bill.
Since reading the articles I have desperately tried to locate the actual wording of this bill and finally found a very helpful person in Representative Sobel's District office, who read the wording to me.

After hearing the proposed wording I need to ask all our Senators to see to it that the companion bill which is being heard in the Senate will have a better definition about how the flag is being displayed.
A bill stating " homeowners may fly removable American flags in a respectful way regardless of any association rules" will definitely not prevent future law-suits. Please consider that the pending law-suits are not being fought over the size of the flag or similar issues, but about the way the flag is being displayed, talking flag-pole or bracket.
The trade organization of the industry, the Community Association Institute, has already advised its members to stay away from law-suits regarding this "violation" for the next six month until patriotism dies down again.
Please read the articles at : http://www.ccfj.net/flyoldglory3.html

It is of greatest interest to all parties involved that the final bill signed by our Governor in regards to this issue will contain wording which regulates the display of the flag in a certain manner - like flag-pole and/or bracket.

Without included provisions regarding the display of the flag the law-suits will definitely not be avoided in the future, hopefully one of the main reasons for enacting this bill.

A serious request to all legislators : please include this kind of provision - flag pole and bracket - into the bill before it is signed into law. Many patriots and homeowners will be grateful for your efforts!

With best regards
Jan Bergemann
President
Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.
Please read : HB 21-B + SB 98-B 
 
Courtesy of NAPLES DAILY NEWS
House passes bills meant to encourage patriotism
Wednesday, October 24, 2001 
By DAVID ROYSE, Associated Press 
TALLAHASSEE — Called back to the Capitol to tackle a budget deficit, members of the House took the opportunity Tuesday to pass some laws on patriotism. 
One would require school children to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, the other would allow people to fly American flags in any respectful way no matter what their homeowners' association might say. 
The bills flew through the House, being introduced, read and then passed with no amendments or debate, all in one day. None was ever head in a committee. 
The House first had to vote to take up the issues, because they are outside the scope of what Gov. Jeb Bush called lawmakers back to Tallahassee to do — close a $1.3 billion shortfall in the budget. 
But in the fervor of patriotism that has swept the nation in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, the House easily passed both measures. 
They would still need approval of the Senate and Gov. Jeb Bush to become law. 
The first bill (HB 25B), sponsored by Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Lauderdale, requires school districts to put in place patriotic programs and requires students to stand when the national anthem is played. 
It also requires the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited each day at all public schools, and requires that students must stand with their hand over their heart during the pledge. 
It says students have the right not to participate, but requires them to stand even if they don't. It passed 115-1. 
The bill preventing homeowners' associations from dictating how residents can fly flags is partly in response to a case in Jupiter in which a homeowner has been fighting his association over a flagpole. 
A Palm Beach County judge sided with the Indian Creek Phase III-B Homeowners Association, ruling that 61-year-old George Andres was violating its rule barring flagpoles. Under the association's rules, flags can be flown only from brackets attached to the side of homes. 
The bill (HB 21B), sponsored by Rep. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, says that homeowners may fly removable American flags in a respectful way regardless of any association rules. 
"This bill is about the United States flag on one's own property," said Sobel. "Solidarity to the cause of freedom. Our flag is the symbol of our country." 
That bill passed 119-1. 
Rep. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, voted against both, saying they were being rushed through. He said a 1943 court case saying students don't have to participate in the pledge marred the first bill, and that lawmakers didn't have time to research that. 
"What's next? We pass a bill that says you have to tattoo a flag on your butt," Smith said. "They'll vote for that. You've got to walk slowly."