The Florida
Senate releases its new policies on sexual harassment.
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate has released a revamped sexual harassment policy, after sex scandals rocked the chamber and led to the resignations of two prominent senators.
Senate President Joe Negron gave Senate Rules Chairwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto the responsibility of reviewing the chamber’s workplace harassment policies and recommending changes.
“I recognize that no matter how complete we believe our policies and rules to be, only through effective implementation, shared commitment and continual improvement will we achieve our goal,” Negron, R-Stuart, wrote in a memo to senators released Thursday.
He said the Senate will provide online training to senators and staff regarding sexual and workplace harassment and also will distribute the policies to lobbyists. Senators will have two weeks to complete the training, once it is available.
The policy will apply to senators, legislative staff, lobbyists and visitors to Senate offices or committees.
The policy defines sexual harassment in part as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment … or such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.”
Unwelcome physical behavior that could constitute sexual harassment includes “kissing or hugging, unless welcome or clearly not objected to, when made in connection with a greeting or parting, such as a peck on the cheek.”
And “patting, pinching, or intentionally brushing against an individual’s body” are also off-limits, according to the new policy.
Former Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, resigned last month after an investigative report recommended a criminal probe into allegations he had promised legislative favors to a lobbyist in exchange for sex.
In October, Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, quit his legislative post after admitting he had an extramarital affair with a lobbyist.