Below is an official statement from the office of Florida State Senator Linda Stewart (D- Orlando).
Florida State Senate bill SB 768 sponsored by Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), at the request of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, today passed through its second committee of reference. SB 768, entitled “Duty to Report Certain Deaths”, would reclassify the penalty for disturbing a body.
SB 768, also known as the Dead Body Bill, would change the criminal penalty for tampering with bodies for the purpose of obscuring evidence from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. This would allow law enforcement to obtain search warrants sooner for the purpose of investigation.
“I am delighted that the Senate has joined me in supporting legislation to enhance public safety with the passage of SB 768, providing law enforcement with essential tools for investigating deaths and deterring tampering with bodies,” said Stewart.
