07 February 2017 :

The Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice today passed 6-0 Senate Bill 280, Sentencing for Capital Felonies, which revises sentencing requirements in capital felony cases to require a unanimous jury verdict, rather than a certain number of jurors, for a sentencing recommendation of death. “It is important that we have an orderly system of justice in place for both families of victims and individuals charged with serious crimes,” said Randolph Bracy (D), sponsor of Senate Bill 280. Senate Bill 280 is now available for a hearing in the Senate Committee on Rules. If passed by the Rules Committee, the bill would be available to be heard on the Senate floor early in the 2017 Legislative Session. A similar law in the House is HB527.