Florida Sex Offender Bill Goes To Gov. DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - A proposal that would close a legal loophole in which some convicted sex offenders don't have to immediately register with authorities was one of four bills sent Tuesday morning to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The sex-offender bill, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book of Plantation, was crafted after courts ruled a Tampa man, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for molesting two girls, didn't have to register as a sex offender after being released from prison until he paid the fine.

"Despite a history of preying on young kids, this man was able to live freely and interact with unsuspecting children in person and online," Book said in a news release after lawmakers approved the bill on April 27.

DeSantis will have 15 days to act on the measure.

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