ANDRADE DRAFTING STATE LAW TO ADDRESS PANHANDLING

State Representative Alex Andrade says he may have an answer to the panhandling issue in our area. He believes it could potentially be solved through state legislation. Andrade believes expanding the definition of a charitable donation to include panhandling on the streets, thus requiring a permit could solve the problem. He says the state regulates charitable commerce transactions, and those who solicit donations without the proper permits can be charged with a crime. This comes after discussions this week on whether Escambia County could enact a panhandling ordinance at a local level, but law enforcement officials say that type of law could be unconstitutional and face legal challenges.