The proposed bill establishes a new section, 782.073, in the Florida Statutes, which creates a rebuttable presumption regarding the cause of death for alleged victims in specific legal cases. Under this new provision, if a defendant is charged with second-degree murder or manslaughter, and a forensic toxicology report shows the presence of a Schedule I controlled substance in the alleged victim at the time of death, there will be a presumption in favor of the defense that the death resulted from the controlled substance.

This bill aims to clarify the legal implications surrounding cases involving controlled substances and alleged victim deaths, potentially impacting how such cases are prosecuted and defended. The effective date for this legislation is set for July 1, 2025.