A Democratic Orlando State Representative has filed bipartisan legislation on juvenile justice educational services, pool safety requirements, and Florida’s wrongful death law, finding Republican support from Tampa Bay to Miami on the bills.
Recently, Orlando State Rep. Johanna López, a Democrat filed House Bill 129, with prime co-sponsor Republican State Rep. Mike Beltran, of Apollo Beach in Hillsborough County. HB 129 is an act relating to damages recoverable in wrongful death action, a bipartisan bill that works to ensure families can seek justice when a loved one is lost due to medical malpractice. Currently, Florida is the only state in the nation with a “legalized negligence, free-kill” law.
The bill honors Keith Davis who passed away as a result of medical malpractice. His daughter, Sabrina Davis, is an advocate who has assembled a coalition of people personally impacted by Florida’s “free-kill” law, and has advocated for the passage of this bill in the past three legislative sessions.
“My dad was a family man, he instilled values in me that I’ll have for the rest of my life. While serving his country in the Navy, he fought for our freedom… It’s time the legislature revisit this 33-year-old law and cultivate a solution. Despite the marital status or age of someone’s child, when it comes to human life, accountability is non-negotiable,” said Sabrina Davis.
Representative Johanna López chose to bring the bill again this session because she believes that, “our Floridians deserve to have the same rights as others across the nation. The bill will allow the parents and descendants to be remunerated in case of medical malpractice that results in the death of a loved one. We are the only state that does not have this law. Let’s be fair and make it happen!”
Representative Johanna López also filed House Bill 417- Educational Services in Department of Juvenile Justice Programs with Orlando State Representative Susan Plasencia, a Republican, as Prime Co-Sponsor.
This bill would amend Florida Statute 1003.52 subsection 3 to include additional educational services in Juvenile Justice Facilities. These services include course prep work and examinations for GED programs. Through these services, students at juvenile justice facilities 16 years of age or older would have the opportunity to take the GED examination once a year at no cost to the student.
“Not only would this bill provide the opportunity for students to gain a high school diploma, but this would also afford students several options: enter the workforce, join the armed forces, gain a post-secondary certification, or go on to college. The more opportunities students have to leave the juvenile detention facilities, the greater the chance of reducing the school-to-prison pipeline and avoiding recidivism in our communities,” said Representative López.
Also, Rep. Johanna López filed House Bill 719 related to Residential Swimming Pool Requirements. According to CDC National Injury Data, Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate in children 0-9 in 2018 to 2020 combined. This bill expands current safety requirements for residential swimming pools from pools built after the year 2000 to all residential swimming pools regardless of the year they were assembled.
Representative López filed this bill after speaking with constituents concerned about residential swimming pools and how dangerous they can be for young children. After learning about the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act and realizing that pool safety mechanisms can cost as little as $5.00, she decided to champion the bill alongside Republican Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, of Miami-Dade, in the Senate.
