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Committee adopts amendment and reports favorably CS/SB 156, the 'Jason Raynor Act'
Summary
The committee adopted a technical amendment and reported CS for SB 156 favorably after Senator Leake’s presentation of the Jason Raynor Act, which seeks to clarify application of statute 776.051 and enhance penalties when violence occurs against law enforcement on duty.
Senator Leake presented CS/SB 156, the Jason Raynor Act, describing the 2021 shooting death of Daytona Beach Officer Jason Raynor and the bill’s intent to clarify the scope of Florida law that prohibits violence against law-enforcement officers. Leake said the bill would amend statutory language and would add an enhanced penalty for manslaughter when the victim is a law-enforcement officer performing official duties.
The committee took up amendment 539084, described by the sponsor as technical and intended to conform the bill to language in the companion House measure; the amendment (which changes the word 'acting' to 'engaged' in the relevant statutory language) was adopted without recorded opposition. Multiple law-enforcement groups were listed as waiving in support during the record.
A roll call on the committee substitute for SB 156 recorded votes from Senators Osgood, Polsky, Simon, Wright, Yarbrough, Vice Chair Martin and Chair Garcia as yes; Senator Smith voted no. By that vote, CS for SB 156 was reported favorably to the next stage.
Senators asked clarifying questions about the bill’s scope, including whether the statute’s changes could apply in scenarios such as DUI-related manslaughter; the sponsor said she would review that hypothetical.
Outcome: CS for SB 156 reported favorably by committee vote.
