HB 919 Prohibits False Information FLA
April 21. 2006 2:27PM The day in Tallahassee, Friday, April 21, 2006 By The Associated Press A bill filed in response to misleading statements allegedly made to police while they were investigating the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was headed for Gov. Jeb Bush's desk after the Senate passed it 36-0 on Friday. The measure (HB 919), which had been passed 116-0 on Thursday by the House, would make it crime to intentionally give false information to police conducting a felony or missing person investigation with the intent to mislead or impede. The maximum penalty would be a year in jail. Rep. Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte, introduced the bill and Sen. Lee Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, filed similar legislation after a prosecutor dropped obstruction of justice charges against three housemates of John Evander Couey. The registered sex offender was later charged with abducting and murdering Jessica last year. Citrus County sheriff's investigators said the housemates failed to tell them Couey was staying at their mobile home about 150 yards from Jessica's house in Homosassa after she disappeared on Feb. 23, 2005. State Attorney Brad King said he had no choice but to drop charges against Couey's half-sister and two friends because there was no evidence they knew Couey had abducted Jessica when investigators had asked them about his whereabouts. King said it is not a crime to lie to police under those circumstances because investigators lacked probable cause to search the home and no search warrant had been issued. Couey later was arrested in Georgia. The girl's body was found a day later buried near the mobile home. http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060421/APN/604210851

House 0919: Relating to Law Enforcement Investigations H919 GENERAL BILL/1ST ENG by Grant; (CO-SPONSORS) Ambler; Dean; Hasner; Kottkamp; Needelman; Porth; Reagan (Identical CS/S 1418) Law Enforcement Investigations; prohibits knowingly & willfully giving false information to law enforcement officers under certain circumstances; provides penalties. Creates 837.055. EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/01/2006. 01/30/06 HOUSE Filed 02/21/06 HOUSE Referred to Criminal Justice (JC); Justice Council 03/07/06 HOUSE Introduced, referred to Criminal Justice (JC); Justice Council -HJ 00071 03/20/06 HOUSE On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice (JC), 03/22/06, 10:15 am, 404-H 03/22/06 HOUSE Favorable with CS amendment by Criminal Justice (JC); YEAS 8 NAYS 0 -HJ 00284 03/23/06 HOUSE Pending review of CS under Rule 6.3(b); Now in Justice Council -HJ 00284 03/31/06 HOUSE On Council agenda-- Justice Council, 04/04/06, 9:00 am, 404-H 04/04/06 HOUSE Favorable by- Justice Council; YEAS 10 NAYS 0 -HJ 00346; Placed on Calendar -HJ 00346 04/19/06 HOUSE Placed on Special Order Calendar; Read second time -HJ 00494; Ordered engrossed -HJ 00494 04/20/06 HOUSE Read third time -HJ 00528; Passed as amended; YEAS 116 NAYS 0 -HJ 00528; Immediately certified -HJ 00534 04/20/06 SENATE In Messages; Received, referred to Criminal Justice; Justice Appropriations -SJ 00516 04/21/06 SENATE Withdrawn from Criminal Justice; Justice Appropriations; Substituted for CS/SB 1418; Read second time; Read third time; Passed; YEAS 33 NAYS 0 http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&Tab=session&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=0919&Chamber=House&Year=2006&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AH%25200919%2D%3ESession%25202006