Florida Lawmakers Unanimously Advance Bill Seeking Death Penalty for Pedophiles

Florida's Democratic State Sen. Lauren Book at the Florida State Capitol Building in Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 21, 2018. Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

A new Florida bill allowing capital punishment for those committing sexual battery on children under 12 cleared the state’s rules committee this week and is now heading to the full Senate.

Senate Bill 1342 (pdf), a bipartisan effort by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Fla.) and Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fla.), cleared the Florida Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday by unanimous vote, and the state House committee is scheduled on Thursday to consider its version of the measure—House Bill 1297 (pdf).