The Officer Jason Raynor Act is a proposed bill designed to enhance protections for law enforcement officers and other specified personnel against criminal offenses in Florida. It amends several sections of the Florida Statutes, including s. 776.051, which now explicitly prohibits the use or threatened use of force to resist arrest or detention by law enforcement officers, provided that these officers are acting in good faith. The bill also revises the definition of "law enforcement officer" in s. 784.07 and increases penalties for offenses such as battery against law enforcement personnel, reclassifying these offenses to higher severity levels on the offense severity ranking chart in s. 921.0022. Furthermore, it introduces harsher punishments for manslaughter committed against specified officers under s. 782.065, mandating life imprisonment without eligibility for release in certain circumstances.

In addition to the provisions aimed at protecting law enforcement, the bill proposes amendments to various sections of the Florida Statutes that focus on increasing penalties for certain criminal offenses. This includes new classifications for crimes such as fraudulent use of personal identification information, trafficking in counterfeit credit cards, and lewd or lascivious acts involving minors or vulnerable individuals. The legislation also addresses drug-related offenses by increasing penalties for selling or manufacturing controlled substances near schools and parks. Moreover, it specifies that actions like promoting sexually explicit images without consent and falsifying records of individuals in state custody will carry increased penalties. Overall, the act seeks to strengthen the legal framework surrounding these offenses, ensuring that individuals who commit such acts face appropriate consequences, and is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
S 156 Filed: 776.051, 782.065, 843.01
S 156 c1: 776.051, 782.065, 843.01