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Committee passes 'Missy’s Law' requiring remand after conviction for dangerous crimes
Summary
PCS for HB 445 would require immediate remand without bond for persons convicted of 'dangerous crimes' and expand the definition to include child‑exploitation offenses; the sponsor framed the bill as a response to a local fatality and the committee approved the PCS 16‑1.
Rep. Greco presented PCS for HB 445, which requires that a person convicted of a dangerous crime be remanded to custody immediately following conviction without the possibility of release on bond or other pre‑sentencing release. The PCS also expands the definition of “dangerous crime” to explicitly include child‑exploitation offenses.
Greco said he filed the bill in honor of a child victim and urged members that the change was prompted by a real case in which a person released post‑conviction later harmed a child: "This is Missy's Law," he said, describing the measure as closing a gap in Florida law to protect public safety.
Rep. Gottlieb questioned whether the change was procedural rather than substantive and raised separation‑of‑powers concerns, noting that court procedures are typically defined by the Florida Supreme Court. Greco and other supporters said the bill addresses a concrete public‑safety gap and described the factual story behind the legislation.
With limited public testimony and law‑enforcement support, the PCS passed the committee by voice vote (16 yays, 1 nay).
Why it matters: The bill changes pre‑sentencing custody practice for a designated set of offenses and could affect release hearings, jail populations and court procedure. Critics questioned whether the legislature can set procedural release rules that historically fall to the judiciary.
The bill will move forward to the next legislative stage after committee passage.
