A state senator from central Florida feels it’s time for middle school and high school students to become better Americans. And to do that, Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, wants to make viewing what he deems a “patriotic movie” a requirement for eighth-graders and high school juniors.
In a bill filed Nov. 18, Hays wants to make the 2014 film “America: Imagine the World Without Her,” an annual event for students.
If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, it would require students in those grades beginning next July to see the film produced by conservative political commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who directed the 2012 film “2016: Obama’s America.”
His new “America” film recreates the nation’s history from his perspective, and was released through Lions Gate Entertainment. It grossed about $14.4 million at the box office.
Students can be excused from the requirement with a parent’s note, according to the bill, labeled S.B. 96.
On the other side of the aisle, state Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Cutler Bay, has introduced S.B. 114, which would raise Florida’s minimum wage from $7.93 to $10.10 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2016. Florida’s minimum wage already is above the federal minimum of $7.25, and is adjusted annually based on a cost-of-living formula. It’s expected to be $8.05 beginning in January.
Sen. Jeff Clemens wants to protect social media users from being forced to disclose private information found there to employers. The Lake Worth Democrat filed S.B. 126 that would make it illegal for an employer to request any kind of access to personal social media accounts of an employee or prospective employee that are not available to the general public. It also prohibits any retaliation against an employee or job candidate for not disclosing it when asked.
Legal action can be taken against employers through this bill for a period of up to two years, and could include damages of $500 or more per violation.
If the bill becomes law in its current form, it would not affect business-related social media accounts on places like Twitter and Facebook, but instead focus on personal accounts in those areas that have restricted access. It also doesn’t prohibit employers from using information found in publicly available tweets or Facebook posts.
