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'Lucy’s Law' advanced after committee deletes blood‑draw and training sections; father urges stronger boater education
Summary
Senate Bill 628 (Lucy’s Law) was reported favorably after a late amendment removed a warrantless blood‑draw provision and other sections; the sponsor and the victim’s family urged aligning vessel enforcement and penalties with motor‑vehicle standards and expanding boater education.
The committee reported favorably on SB 628, known in testimony as Lucy’s Law, after the sponsor adopted a late amendment that removed proposed changes to warrantless blood draws and retained current law on boater education requirements. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Martin, described the measure as an effort to align boating laws and penalties more closely with motor‑vehicle law.
Why it matters: The bill’s supporters, including Andy Fernandez — father of a 17‑year‑old victim who died in a 2022 boating accident — urged stronger boater safety education and stiffer penalties for reckless operation. Fernandez said his daughter Lucy died after a high‑speed collision that left her trapped under an overturned boat; he told the committee Florida leads the nation in reportable boating accidents that result in death and cited Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) statistics in urging change.
Senator Martin said the amendment removes section 6 so that current law requiring probable cause for law enforcement to require a blood draw in BUI incidents resulting in serious bodily injury or death remains in place; the amendment also removed section 7, leaving current boater education rules intact for now. The sponsor said he plans to pursue boating‑safety education requirements tied to violations at the bill’s next committee stop.
The committee accepted the late amendment (barcode 514165) and then reported SB 628 favorably by roll call. Testimony included statistics and both grief‑centered personal testimony and policy arguments; the sponsor and supporters said they will continue to refine the bill.
The committee advanced the bill to the next stage with the amendment adopted.
