House Passes Bill To Make Killing Fetuses A Crime
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMIAMI/AP) — The Florida House passed a bill Friday that would make killing or injuring a fetus, at any stage of development, a crime.
The House voted 74-42 Friday to approve the bill that expands a current law that allows murder or manslaughter charges if a fetus dies after a crime is committed against its mother.
The law only applies if the fetus has developed to the point where it can survive outside the womb, and it doesn't apply to injured fetuses.
Penalties for killing or injuring a fetus would be the same as would apply if the crimes were committed against a person, except that the death penalty could not be sought in a charge of first-degree murder of a fetus.
A similar bill is ready for a Senate vote.
TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.