Title: Sexual Battery Prosecution Time Limitation

Summary: Creates exception to general time limitations allowing prosecution to be commenced at any time for specified sexual battery offenses against victims younger than a certain age.

Full Text:
An act relating to the sexual battery prosecution time limitation; amending s. 775.15, F.S.; creating an exception to the general time limitations which allows a prosecution to be commenced at any time for specified sexual battery offenses against victims younger than a certain age at the time the offense was committed; providing applicability; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (20) is added to section 775.15, Florida Statutes, and subsection (2) of that section is republished, to read: 775.15 Time limitations; general time limitations; exceptions.-(2) Except as otherwise provi ded in this section, prosecutions for other offenses are subject to the following periods of limitation: (a) A prosecution for a felony of the first degree must be commenced within years after it is committed. (b) A prosecution for any other felony must be commenced within years after it is committed. (c) A prosecution for a misdemeanor of the first degree HB 2019 must be commenced within years after it is committed. (d) A prosecution for a misdemeanor of the second degree or a noncriminal violation must be commenced within year after it is committed. (20) If a victim is younger than years of age at the time the offense was committed, a prosecution for a violation of s. 794.011 may be commenced at any time. This subsection applies to an offense that is not otherwise barred from prosecution on or before July 1, 2019. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.