HB 1653 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1653-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to dut ies and prohibited acts 2
associated with death; amending s. 406.12, F.S.; 3
increasing the offense severity ranking for failing or 4
refusing to report certain death, circumstances 5
surrounding the death, and other pertinent information 6
or for altering the evidence or circumstances 7
surrounding the death; providing an effective date. 8
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of F lorida: 10
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Section 1. Section 406.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to 12
read: 13
406.12 Duty to report; prohibited acts. —It is the duty of 14
any person in the district where a death occurs, including all 15
municipalities and unincorporated and federal areas, wh o becomes 16
aware of the death of any person occurring under the 17
circumstances described in s. 406.11 to report such death and 18
circumstances forthwith to the district medical examiner. Any 19
person who knowingly fails or refuses to report such death and 20
circumstances, who refuses to make available prior medical or 21
other information pertinent to the death investigation, or who, 22
without an order from the office of the district medical 23
examiner, willfully touches, removes, or disturbs the body, 24
clothing, or any article upon or near the body, with the intent 25
HB 1653 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1653-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
to alter the evidence or circumstances surrounding the death, 26
commits a felony shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third 27
first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 28
775.083. 29
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 30