Fantastic news this week from Florida, where Alice Flowers has been campaigning for legislation in this field, since the tragic death of her sister.
FL HB 1199 makes the requirement for Support for Parental Victims of Child Domestic Violence; Requires DJJ, in collaboration with specified organizations, to develop & maintain updated information & materials regarding specified services & resources; requires department to make information & materials available through specified means; requires domestic violence training for law enforcement officers to include training concerning child-to-parent cases.
After the bill was passed unanimously in the Florida Senate, it passed to the House of Representatives, where it was sponsored by District 45 State Representative, Kamia Brown. The final vote on May 3rd was again unopposed, and it now goes to be signed by the Governor, Rick Scott, after which it will be enacted on July 1st. Florida then becomes the first state in the United States to recognise child to parent violence.
Here’s Alice celebrating!
Alice talks to CBS reporters here about how her campaigning came about.
The Florida Channel covered the vote in their nightly update programme. You can find the courage here from 16.34 to 17.32.
