Panel backs tougher sentence for violence against officers; sponsor says bill is about life sentence for resisting with violence

Senator Leake presented SB 234 after the committee returned from recess. He described a 2021 Daytona Beach case in which an officer was shot and later died, and said the bill clarifies that a person may not resist an officer with violence or threats of violence when the officer is performing official duties, and that manslaughter resulting from violence against an officer should carry enhanced penalties.

The sponsor explained the bill would amend statutory language to place the determination of fault during a police interaction in the hands of the court and would add manslaughter against a law-enforcement officer to a statute requiring life imprisonment without eligibility for release for certain crimes, saying: “In my opinion… if that officer died as a result of your resistance, then you should go to jail for life.”

The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified in opposition, arguing the bill removes or weakens existing protections that guard against officers knowingly acting unlawfully. The association asked to keep the current subsection that disallows force when an officer “knows” the arrest or execution of a legal duty is unlawful and to preserve the “good faith” language for officers. The defense group said combined changes would leave citizens powerless if an officer knowingly acted outside the law.

Multiple law-enforcement associations waived in support (Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida PBA, Fraternal Order of Police, Suncoast PBA, Volusia Sheriff's Office). Senator Wright and others strongly supported the sponsor’s intent, and the committee reported SB 234 favorably on a roll call.