Sophiaโs Law passes Florida House subcommittee vote, moving closer to becoming law
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Legislation proposed after a 12-year-old Satellite Beach girl was killed as she used a crosswalk passed another vote Tuesday in Tallahassee, taking one step closer to becoming law. Sophia Nelson was crossing at State Road A1A and Ellwood Avenue on Dec. 22, 2019 when she was struck by a vehicle, according to a Satellite Beach police report. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, and Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, filed House Bill 1371, known as the Sophia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act. Named after a Satellite Beach girl killed crossing A1A, โThe Sofia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Actโ passes a legislature meeting. @VoteRandyFine wants midblock crosswalks to have flashing lights changed from yellow to red or to remove the yellow lights.
Florida bills seek to change booster seat, day care van requirements
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ The age requirement for child booster seats would be boosted up a year and day care centers would have to install alarms in vans used to transport children under two bills unanimously approved by a Florida Senate committee on Wednesday. Right now, Florida requires children up to the age of five to be placed in a car seat or booster seat. Republican Sen. Keith Perry's bill would raise that age to six. The committee also approved Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart's bill to require alarms to alert child care center van drivers to check to see if any children are left in the vehicle. โEach and every year we hear about the tragedy that could be avoided and deaths in Florida,โ Stewart said.