HB 141 Summary

• Officially titled the "Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act," this bill redefines "unborn child" to mean any member of the species homo sapiens at any stage of development carried in the womb, replacing the previous "viable fetus" standard.

• Expands vehicular homicide charges to include the killing of an unborn child by injury to the mother, making such deaths punishable as second-degree felonies or first-degree felonies if the driver fails to provide information and aid.

• Removes the requirement that perpetrators have knowledge of the victim's pregnancy or intent to harm the unborn child when charged with murder or manslaughter resulting from injuries to a pregnant woman under section 782.09.

• Updates DUI manslaughter statutes to include deaths of unborn children caused by impaired driving, with a mandatory minimum 4-year sentence, using the same definition of "unborn child" as vehicular homicide provisions.

• Conforms terminology in employment screening standards (sections 435.03 and 435.04) and the Criminal Punishment Code (section 921.0022) to reference "unborn child" instead of "viable fetus" with an effective date of October 1, 2010.