State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC)
The Junior League of Panama City is a member of the State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) of the Junior Leagues of Florida. We are a non-partisan education and advocacy organization that represents 22 Leagues and more than 11,000 women from across the state. Together, we have monitored legislation and advocated for issues of importance to our members for almost 45 years to help improve the lives for Florida women, children, and families.
Each Florida Junior League that chooses to participate in the advocacy process sends delegates to state meetings and conferences throughout the year to research and debate the issues of the day, and then:
- Advocate for specific legislation at the state and national levels that is relevant to our key issue areas
- Educate our member Leagues about advocacy and public policy
- Coordinate the exchange of information from community-based League projects to policymakers
Over the years, we have weighed in on various topics, including child safety seats (booster seats), bicycle helmets for children under 16, the Environmental Growth Management Act of 1995, the ‘911’ Emergency Medical System, child abuse, domestic violence, juvenile justice, education, healthy foods and human trafficking.
Learn more about the Junior League of Florida State Public Affairs Committee (JLFL-SPAC) Legislative Priorities or for more information about JLFL-SPAC, visit jlflspac.org.
Member Leagues:
- Boca Raton
- Clearwater-Dunedin
- Daytona Beach
- Emerald Coast
- Greater Ft. Lauderdale
- Ft. Myers
- Gainesville
- Indian River
- Jacksonville
- Greater Lakeland
- Martin County
- Miami
- Ocala
- Greater Orlando
- Palm Beaches
- Panama City
- Pensacola
- Sarasota
- South Brevard
- St. Petersburg
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
State Public Affairs Committee Issues:
- Nutrition, physical activity and education regarding healthy choices for children
- Increased access to affordable, wholesome foods; including food deserts
- Financing provisions to entrepreneurs who want to open a fresh food outlet within a food desert
- Prohibiting minors from using tanning beds to promote skin cancer prevention
- Infant welfare related to substance dependent newborns and substance-induced negligent acts resulting in infant death
- Increased life skills for children in foster care and other at-risk youth
- Nutrition for school readiness gains
- GMO required labeling
- Raising awareness of domestic violence signs
- Human trafficking awareness campaigns
- Improved pedestrian safety
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or welfare (TANF) coverage for diapers
- Support for children aging out of foster care
- Maintain quality residential group homes
- Literacy skills
- Increase public speaking skills for school-age girls
- Later school start times
Meeting with Seantor Gainer: PAC-State Public Affairs Committee Member Alicia Carothers, President-Elect Lindsey Mathews, legislative assistant Andrew Grainey and Seantor George Gainer, Christy Rogers, President Elect-Elect Sara Walker, and Jennie Frey.
Meeting with Rep. Jay Trumbell: SPAC-State Public Affairs Committee Member Alicia Carothers, President-Elect Lindsey Mathews, President Elect-Elect Sara Walker, SPAC-State Public Affairs Committee Member Nikki Childree, VP of Membership Lorrie Buschmeyer, and Rep. Jay Trumbell. Not pictured, but present, Lynsey Beasley.