HB 385 passed the House Floor yesterday with a unanimous vote. Representatives Joel Rudman (R-Navarre) and Hillary Cassel (D-Dania Beach) jointly filed HB 385, which requires county sheriffs to designate safe custody exchange locations.
In 2022, young mother Cassie Carli disappeared after a custody exchange on Navarre Beach. Her body was later discovered buried in a shallow grave.
This bill allows Cassie Carli’s legacy to live on through ensuring that every parent in Florida has a safe place to exchange custody of their child.
Representative Rudman (R-Navarre) said, “I’m so proud to stand with Rep. Cassel to bring this bill home for Cassie’s friends and family. This bill demonstrates in a bipartisan way how your government is expected to work. Thank you to all of Cassie’s loved ones who helped this bill become reality, and I hope today’s passage brings some comfort to Cassie’s family and friends. Today’s efforts will truly save the lives of hundreds of Cassie Carli’s.”
Representative Cassel (D-Dania Beach) added, “The Cassie Carli Law builds on the legacy of Greyson’s Law, which established a mechanism to protect children at risk of parental harm during custody or visitation disputes. This bill establishes a mechanism to protect parents at risk of potential harm from their former partners during custody exchanges. Parents posing risks to their children often also pose risks to their co-parents, as Cassie and those who loved her have so horrifically experienced. This bill, which I’m proud to sponsor with my colleague Rep. Rudman, acknowledges and accounts for that reality in order to make Florida a safer place for parents and children alike.”
