In 2019, the Florida Department of Education conducted a survey of bus drivers and found that on any given day, school buses in Florida were passed illegally nearly 13,000 times across the state.

Rape kits include evidence obtained from victims after sexual assaults. The database would be designed to allow victims and police to track the kits from the time the evidence is collected through the subsequent criminal-justice process. AdAfter reports about untested rape kits sitting on shelves, the Department of Law Enforcement in 2016 started a three-year project to process untested kits submitted by local police agencies. A House staff analysis said the project led to 8,023 kits being processed. A Senate version of the bill (SB 1002), sponsored by Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, has been approved by one committee.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida rape victim whose sexual assault test kit went untested for more than 30 years years told her powerful story before a House committee unanimously approved a bill Monday that would require a tracking system for the kits. But the kit wasn't processed until the state finished clearing a backlog of unprocessed evidence in 2019. Democratic Rep. Emily Slosberg, the bill's sponsor, said today's technology allows people to easily track package and food deliveries. “Why should we be able to track a pizza more efficiently than we can track evidence in a criminal case? AdThe House bill has two more committee stops before being considered by the full chamber.

RELATED: State clears backlog of thousands of rape kits | Florida nearly caught up on rape kit backlogAd“We’re talking about women that spent years and years and years losing sleep literally. When Gail’s kit was finally tested, DNA evidence identified her offender as a serial rapist who was already in prison. The bill named after her would make sure that victims of sexual assault can track the status of their rape kits in real time. Gail’s Law wouldn’t be the first reform made to Florida’s rape kit system. Slosberg said Gail’s Law would help identify any gaps or loopholes lurking in the system.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Could Florida soon be completely “hands-free” when it comes to drivers and their cellphones? The state representative survived that crash and since then, has worked to tighten Florida’s driving laws. Slosberg sponsored previous legislation that allows law enforcement officers to pull over and cite drivers who are texting while driving, which took effect in July 2019. Another Florida law prohibits drivers from even handling a wireless device when they’re in a “designated school crossing, school zone or active work zone area.” Slosberg’s new bill would expand that to include driving at any time. Currently, there are 25 states that prohibit drivers from using phones while driving.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - An author of a new law that toughened the state's texting-while-driving ban wants to require motorists to go fully "hands-free" if they are using wireless phones. The proposal (HB 249) was filed a day before a change takes effect that prohibits motorists from using hand-held wireless devices in designated school crossings, school zones and work zones. Since July 1, the Florida Highway Patrol has issued 463 warnings for texting and driving, while law enforcement statewide has issued 605 tickets. Tickets will start to be issued Jan. 1, punishable as a moving violation with three points assessed against the driver's license. In a news release Monday, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles noted an effort is underway among state agencies, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association and AAA to ensure motorists are aware of the change.