FL S0234

Establishes the "Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act" to provide legal protections for unborn children by redefining terminology in homicide and related statutes.

Redefines "unborn child" to mean unborn offspring from fertilization until birth, replacing the previous "viable fetus" standard in vehicular homicide (s. 782.071) and DUI manslaughter statutes.

Eliminates requirements that a defendant had knowledge the mother was pregnant or intended to harm the unborn child when prosecuting offenses under s. 782.09 (killing of unborn child by injury to mother).

Updates terminology in DUI (s. 316.193) and background screening (s. 435.04) statutes to refer to "unborn child" instead of "quick child" for consistency with the new definition.

Excludes prosecutions involving lawful termination of pregnancy under chapter 390 and clarifies that civil remedies for death do not create additional negligence causes of action; effective October 1, 2012.