State Sen. Don Gaetz has sponsored the Iris Roberts Act (sb1946c1.html) which will allow charitable groups to solicit funds on state roads.
Escambia County officials have told us that because the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that governments can’t restrict such solicitations to just one type of group, this effectively guts Escambia County’s panhandling ordinances. The PNJ will be allowed to sell their papers at intersections.
The bill has passed both House and Senate and is waiting for the Gov. Crist’s signature.
Escambia Co. Commissioners are upset. Gaetz will not return Touart’s phone calls on the issue.