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Features
State Rep. Ed Narian Heads To Tallahassee For 2nd Year To Complete What He’s Started
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
When the Florida Legisla- ture convenes this week for an unusually early 2016 session, Rep. Ed Narain said he’ll be ready to work for his con- stituents of the 61st district.
Last year, Rep. Narain en- tered the Capitol building as a freshman after defeating three opponents in a grueling race to replace term-limited Rep. Betty Reed, who had held the seat since 2006.
Rep. Narain dived right into his role, filing or co-spon- soring more than a dozen bills and serving on the Economic Affairs Committee, Economic Development & Tourism, Health Quality, Transporta- tion & Ports, and Government Operations subcommittees.
Rep. Narain, a regional di- rector for AT&T, said one of his accomplishments was the passage of a bill he sponsored that requires law enforcement officers to undergo diabetes awareness training.
Dubbed the Arthur Green, Jr. Law after the Tampa resi- dent and community activist
who died in police custody after suffering a diabetic seizure, the law stipulates that officers obtain instruction on how to identify a diabetic emergency.
“It’s not anti-police,” he said. “It can move everybody for- ward.”
With the first year under his belt, Rep. Narain said he’s looking forward to return- ing to Tallahassee and build- ing on the work he completed in 2015.
“I’m extremely confident that I know the people, and I know what to do to be more effec- tive,” he said.
Rep. Narain already has sponsored or co-sponsored several bills, including one that offers a sales tax holiday on Small Business Saturday and another that increases the total amount of research and development tax credits for certain businesses.
Rep. Narain, a graduate of Saint Leo University and Stet- son College of Law, said he was especially excited to file HJR 729, which would amend the state constitution to auto- matically restore the voting
STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED NARAIN
rights and the right to hold of- fice for certain felons.
Florida’s lack of automatic restoration is hurting felons who desire to return to work and participate in the demo- cratic process, he said.
“It’s a community killer, it’s a job killer,” he said. “It’s de- stroying families.”
Another bill, HB 239, would require state attorneys to con- sider specific before recom- mending that a child be transferred for criminal prose- cution as adult.
Rep. Narain said he with- drew the proposed legislation after learning that Fort Laud-
erdale Sen. Christopher Smith filed an identical bill.
“The sponsorship of the bill, however, is not as important as the difference this legisla- tion could make in the lives of youth who deserve a second chance,” he said.
“We’re throwing people’s lives away,” he said. “Prosecu- tors want to be tough on crime to win re-election and they are doing it on the backs of these young people.”
Rep. Narain also is co- sponsoring a bill with State Senator Arthenia Joyner that would provide payments to families of children interred at Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys for proper reburials.
He said working with his col- leagues – both fellow Democ- rats and reaching across the aisle – has proved key to see- ing success in Tallahassee. He’s going into the new ses- sion with the same spirit of co- operation as he did last year,
FYI
to be willing to compromise,” he said. “You give to get. There’s a reason why I got four bills passed last year as a freshman.”
Outside of the Legislature, Rep. Narain’s kept plenty busy attending events and re- ceiving awards from groups throughout the district.
Most recently, he teamed with the 100 Black Women of Tampa Bay and St. John Pro- gressive Baptist Church to host Farm Share, a one-day event that provided services and fresh groceries for 750 fami- lies.
Rep. Narain said maintain- ing high visibility in the com- munity – be it attending events or sending high school seniors a letter of congratula- tions upon graduating – is a crucial part of his role in pub- lic service.
“As long as I can help peo- ple, that’s all I want,” he said. “The community comes first.”
Highland Pines Neighborhood Meeting
Mrs. Betty Bell, President of the Highland Pines Neighbor- hood Association, is announcing their next meeting that will be held January 14th, 6:30 p. m., at the Highland Pines community House.
Mrs. Bell said the meeting will focus on the need for the com- munity to make plans on what they can do to move forward.
he said.
“To get things done, you have
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