Gov. DeSantis signs domestic violence bill inspired by Gabby Petito

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with members of the Petito family in the crowd, stood before a podium that red “protecting children” just before he signed Senate Bill 1224, the bill inspired by and pushed for by the family of Gabby Petito.

The bill, one of five the governor signed Wednesday, requires law enforcement to be trained on how to assess if a domestic violence victim is at a higher risk of death or serious injury by asking a series of 12 questions.

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1. Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon?

2. Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children?

3. Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you?

4. Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you?

5. Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun?

6. Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous, or does the aggressor control most of your daily activities?

7. Did you leave or separate from the aggressor after you were living together or married?

8. Is the aggressor unemployed?

9. To the best of your knowledge, has the aggressor ever attempted suicide?

10. Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor’s biological child?

11. Has the aggressor every followed, spied on, or left threatening messages for you?

12. Is there anything else that worries you about your safety and, if so, what worries you?

Law enforcement officers will now have to direct the victim to the nearest certified domestic violence shelter if the victim answers yes to any of the first four questions, or if they answer no to the first four questions but yes to at least four of questions five through 11.

The bill, first introduced by Sen. Colleen Burton (R-Lakeland) and co-sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce), includes language the Petito family pushed for following the murder of Gabby Petito by her fiancé Brian Laundry in 2021.

“We are thrilled to see the child welfare and lethality assessment bill 1224 pass in the state of Florida,” Gabby’s father, Joe Petito, said in a statement after the bill was unanimously passed by Florida lawmakers back in March. “It’s a significant milestone in the fight against domestic violence and a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. This achievement brings hope and protection to survivors, ensuring their safety and well-being.”

Other bills, such as HB 1545, increased the punishments for child exploitation, with the Florida Governor calling the internet a “cesspool” where predators can groom children.

“In Florida, we let kids be kids, and we protect children from those who seek to harm them,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today’s anti-grooming legislation punishes those who seek to prey on children and rob them of their innocence. Florida will continue to be the best state in the country to raise a family.”

HB 1131 creates a grant program within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to facilitate online sting operations, while HB 1235 created stricter guidelines for sexual offender registrations, including the need to register vehicles and vessels.

Finally, HB 304 expands the types of evidence that can be presented to a jury in a child sexual crimes case and increases penalties for trafficking minors.

Details of the five bills can be found below:

HB 1545

• Prohibits an adult from engaging in a pattern of communication to a minor that includes explicit and detailed verbal descriptions of sexual activity.

• Increases penalties for child exploitation crimes such as promoting sexual performances or possessing child pornography.

• Establishes this conduct as a third-degree felony, strengthening the punishments associated with child exploitation and making them more severe.

HB 1131

• Requires FDLE to award grant funding on an annual basis for sting operations.

• Allocates funding to be used on computers, electronics, software, and other digital assets to conduct online child predator sting operations.

HB 1235

• Prevents sex offenders from using a temporary residence to avoid registration.

• Requires sex offenders to register vehicles and vessels used as living quarters with the state.

• Requires international travel to be reported ahead of time.

• Makes it more difficult to qualify for registration removal.

SB 1224

• Creates a new role within the Guardian ad Litem Office to assist children aging out of foster care to successful independent living.

• Establishes the Fostering Prosperity grant program for youth and young adults aging out of foster care to facilitate trade school opportunities and financial literacy instruction and to provide college preparation tools.

• Creates a lethality assessment that requires responding law enforcement officers to a domestic violence incident to determine if a domestic violence victim is at risk of death or serious injury and respond appropriately. This was inspired by Gabby Petito who was tragically murdered by her fiancé Brian Laundrie.

HB 305

• Allows a hearsay statement made by a minor, regardless of age, to be admitted as evidence.

• It also requires offenders convicted of human trafficking minors to be registered sex offenders on the first offense.

DeSantis signed the bills at The Urban Stillhouse.

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