Resolution 2023-32854RESOLUTION NO.1 2023-32854
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE,
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING HOUSE
BILL 599, WHICH SEEKS TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC EMPLOYERS', EMPLOYEES', AND CONTRACTORS'
USE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS, AND BAN ANY NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION, OR AN EMPLOYER THAT RECEIVES STATE FUNDS
FROM REQUIRING ANY TRAINING, INSTRUCTION, OR OTHER
ACTIVITY ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR
GENDER EXPRESSION; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND
A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SPEAKER OF THE FLORIDA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
FLORIDA SENATE.
WHEREAS, House Bill 599 (HB 599) has been filed for consideration during the
Florida Legislature's 2024 session and seeks to make sweeping changes to Florida
employment statutes to declare that "a person's sex is an immutable biological trait"; and
WHEREAS, if enacted, HB .599 would prohibit government employees or
contractors from being compelled to use a person's pronouns, if those pronouns "do not
correspond to his or her sex," and bar employers from asking any worker to state their
own pronouns; and
WHEREAS, HB 599 would prevent trans employees from sharing their pronouns
at all, and employees and contractors cannot "provide to an employer his or her preferred
personal title or pronouns" if, again, they do not match the worker's assigned sex; and
WHEREAS, even more draconian, HB 599 would also ban any nonprofit
organization, or an employer that receives state funds .from requiring "any training,
instruction, or other activity on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression;"
and
WHEREAS, the broad language used in the proposed bill could affect the City and
its services, including its sensitivity trainings or services provided by the Human
Resources and the Police Department regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and
gender expression; and
WHEREAS, for example, the City's Department has its very own Transgender
Interactions Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) #050, which establishes guidelines for
the appropriate, safe and dignified interactions with transgender individuals by members
of the Department; and
WHEREAS, the City's very own's SOP #050 has served as a model for
departments across the United States; and
WHEREAS, advocates have opined that if HB 599 is adopted, it could have
devastating consequences for LGBTQ -organizations, going as far as effectively
torpedoing nonprofits, medical clinics, and advocacy organizations that work with
members of the LGBTQ community, and. those specialize in training staff —as well as
outside entities —regarding queer and trans inclusion; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach is a diverse and inclusive community and
has demonstrated -a long history of opposing discrimination based on sexual orientation
and gender identity, among other categories.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby strongly oppose House Bill 599, which seeks to place restrictions on
private and public employers', employees', and ,contractors' use of personal pronouns,
and ban any nonprofit organization, or employer that receives state funds from requiring
any training, instruction, or other activity on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender
expression; and direct the City Clerk to send a copy of this Resolution to the Speaker of
the Florida House of representatives, and the President of the Florida Senate.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13 day of J�cQ"���'r 2023.
ATTEST:
4 DEC 19 2023
Steven Meiner, Mayor
Rafael E. Gr nado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex
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APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
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City omey .` Date
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Resolutions - C7 O
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
DATE: December 13, 2023
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 599,
WHICH SEEKS TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
EMPLOYERS', EMPLOYEES', AND CONTRACTORS' USE OF PERSONAL
PRONOUNS, AND BAN ANY TAX-EXEMPT NONPROFIT OR EMPLOYER
THAT RECEIVES STATE FUNDS FROM REQUIRING ANY TRAINING,
INSTRUCTION, OR OTHER ACTIVITY ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
GENDER IDENTITY, OR GENDER EXPRESSION; AND DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO SEND A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
SPEAKER OF THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE.
VL`ETAW-I I
The proposed Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor, Commissioner Alex
Fernandez.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
Nig I AAFIA
imim"
Is this a "Residents Right
to Know" item, pursuant to
Citv Code Section 2-14?
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
onsor
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
Page 405 of 1118
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 406 of 1118
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
December 20, 2023
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo
409 The Capitol
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Senate President Passidomo,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2023-32854:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 599, WHICH
SEEKS TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
EMPLOYERS', EMPLOYEES', AND CONTRACTORS' USE OF PERSONAL
PRONOUNS, AND BAN ANY TAX-EXEMPT NONPROFIT OR EMPLOYER
THAT RECEIVES STATE FUNDS FROM REQUIRING ANY TRAINING,
INSTRUCTION, OR OTHER ACTIVITY ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER
IDENTITY, OR GENDER EXPRESSION; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO SEND A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
FLORIDA SENATE. (Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez and Co-
sponsored Commissioner Laura Dominguez)
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach on December 13, 2023.
Respectfully,
71:;,�f9
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez
Commissioner Laura Dominguez
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-741 1
December 20, 2023
Speaker of the House Paul Renner
420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Speaker of the House Renner,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2023-32854:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 599, WHICH
SEEKS TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
EMPLOYERS', EMPLOYEES', AND CONTRACTORS' USE OF PERSONAL
PRONOUNS, AND BAN ANY TAX-EXEMPT NONPROFIT OR EMPLOYER
THAT RECEIVES STATE FUNDS FROM REQUIRING ANY TRAINING,
INSTRUCTION, OR OTHER ACTIVITY ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER
IDENTITY, OR GENDER EXPRESSION; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO SEND A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
FLORIDA SENATE. (Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez and Co-
sponsored Commissioner Laura Dominguez)
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami
Beach on December 13, 2023.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez
Commissioner Laura Dominguez