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HB 33: Self-Defense

GENERAL BILL by Antone ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Watson, C. ; Williams

Self-Defense; Requires county sheriff or municipal police to issue reasonable guidelines for operation of neighborhood crime watch program; authorizes person to use force, except deadly force in defense of property; authorizes person to use deadly force in defense of property to prevent imminent commission of forcible felony; provides that person who uses force is immune from civil action brought by person or persons against whom force is used; revises definition of term "criminal prosecution" with regard to immunity from criminal prosecution & civil action; provides that law enforcement agency's right & duty to fully investigate use of force upon which claim of immunity is based is not restricted; deletes provision that prohibits law enforcement agency from arresting person for using force unless probable cause is found that force used was unlawful; revises when defense of justifiable use of force is unavailable to aggressor; directs FDLE to collect data alleged justifiable use of force incidents & report.

Effective Date: 7/1/2014
Last Action: 5/2/2014 House - Died in Criminal Justice Subcommittee, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 89 (Ch. 2014-195)
Bill Text: PDF

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  • Bill History

    Date Chamber Action
    8/30/2013 House • Filed
    10/7/2013 House • Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Justice Appropriations Subcommittee; Judiciary Committee -HJ 12
    3/4/2014 House • Introduced -HJ 12
    5/2/2014 House • Died in Criminal Justice Subcommittee, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 89 (Ch. 2014-195)

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  • HB 33, Original Filed Version (Current Bill Version) Posted 8/30/2013 at 9:45 AM

    Bill Text:   PDF
    Analyses:   None

    Related Bills (3)

    Bill Number Subject Filed By Relationship Last Action and Location Track Bills
    H 89 (er) Threatened Use of Force Combee, Edwards Compare Last Action: 6/20/2014 Chapter No. 2014-195
    Location: Became Law
    H 193 Use of Deadly Force Nelson Compare Last Action: 10/22/2013 H Withdrawn prior to introduction, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 89 (Ch. 2014-195) -HJ 22
    Location: Withdrawn from consideration
    S 130 (c2) Use of Deadly Force Simmons Compare Last Action: 5/2/2014 S Died in Judiciary, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 89 (Ch. 2014-195)
    Location: In committee/council (JU)

    Citations - Statutes (6)

    Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help
    30.60 Establishment of neighborhood crime watch programs. Page 2 (pdf)
    166.0485 Establishment of neighborhood crime watch programs. Page 3 (pdf)
    776.031 Use of force in defense of others. Page 4 (pdf)
    776.032 Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force. Page 4 (pdf)
    776.041 Use of force by aggressor. Page 5 (pdf)
    776.09 Page 7 (pdf)

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