Description
Florida lawmakers are looking to honor the legacy of Gabby Petito with legislation aimed at helping others avoid the same "tragic and preventable" fate that she met.
The "Gabby Petito Act" would change how law enforcement officers respond to domestic violence calls — with the goal of stopping dangerous situations from turning deadly.
It was filed on Wednesday by Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book and influenced by Gabby’s father, Joe Petito, who lives in Vero Beach.
In an interview with 10 Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Joe Petito says the bill would help everyone in the state of Florida.
"We had almost an entire planet that helped us when it came to Gabby's story, so we have a lot of people that we have to pay back," he said. "It's going to take our lifetime to do that."
Under the legislation, law enforcement officers would be required to complete something called a lethality assessment during domestic violence investigations. This assessment, which is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, is designed to evaluate the potential for serious injury or death.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/gabby-petito-act-florida-domestic-violence-prevention/67-23b83f5c-dbe9-42d3-959c-0fcc97ea0d97
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