Jim Rosica
After a House version died, the Senate version of a Stand Your Ground bill might be finding new life – in the House.
And that’s if it can get on an agenda.
The Senate bill, backed by state Sen. Rob Bradley, “shifts the burden of proof from the defendant to the prosecution” in pretrial hearings on whether a use of force was justifiable, according to a staff analysis.
Those hearings determine whether a defendant can claim self-defense at trial.
The House version died in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in November on a 6-6 vote. The Senate bill passed that chamber last month on a 24-12 vote.
The Senate legislation was redirected to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Jacksonville Republican Charles McBurney.
On Tuesday night, though, it wasn’t on the agenda for the next and last meeting of that committee for the 2016 Legislative Session.
It wasn’t clear whether the measure would be added at the last minute, and McBurney could not be reached after Tuesday’s floor session.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli credited the bill’s reappearance to a procedural decision.
“Our rules allow that to happen,” the Merritt Island Republican told reporters. “Now, it hasn’t been agenda-ed yet … but any bill that would come over here like that can be re-referred to a committee.”
He denied reports, however, of pressure from the National Rifle Association to move the bill.
“We are certainly not under pressure,” Crisafulli said. “Members are moving legislation as they see fit.”
