On April 7, the Senate unanimously passed SB 626 (Bracy), which prohibits children who are younger than 7 years of age from being arrested, unless the violation of the law is a forcible felony. Titled the "Kaia Rolle Act," this legislation was filed in response to six-year-old Kaia being placed in zip ties, transported in a police vehicle, and fingerprinted after having a tantrum in an Orlando school last year. The bill is in messages to the House.
On April 8, SB 1032 (Perry) unanimously passed the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice. The bill increases the amount of rehabilitation credits someone in prison can receive in order to reduce the term of sentence. This incentivizes those in prison to pursue degrees and certificates in addition to participating in programs that prepare them to return to society and reduce recidivism. The bill will go next to the full Appropriations Committee.