Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) is renewing her call to the Florida Legislature to protect children and prevent future deaths by passing the Child Safety Alarm Act (SB 252).
The legislation would require that vehicles used by childcare facilities to transport children must be equipped with an approved alarm system. The alarm would notify the driver to inspect the vehicle to ensure no children are left behind when exiting the vehicle.
“Unfortunately, we are all-too-often reminded of the vulnerability of children left unattended in vehicles. Year after year we see heartbreaking, but avoidable, deaths and this legislation seeks to stop this type of tragedy when children are in the care of a licensed childcare facility.”
The Child Safety Alarm Act was inspired by the 2017 death of Myles Hill, a 3-year-old who was left in the back of a van outside his daycare in Orlando. The bill has passed the Florida Senate for each of the past two years, but stalled in the Florida House.
“I plan to make this a top priority again this year, and I’m hopeful that the new leadership in the House will make it a top priority as well. It’s always a good time to work together to save children,” said Stewart.
Over the last 20 years, Florida has the second highest number of child deaths from vehicular heat stroke. According to KidsAndCars.org, Florida has had two deaths in 2020 after five deaths in 2019.
