TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Tuesday, Florida lawmakers will take up a bill that would allow grandparents to more easily petition courts to see their grandchildren in the event one of their parents is killed.
The measure was crafted following the 2014 murder of Florida State Law Professor Dan Markel.
Prosecution has alleged it was a murder for hire plot orchestrated by Markel's wife or her family, though none have been charged. Markel's parents have since been denied access to their son's two boys.
Bill sponsor Senator Jeff Brandes says this legislation would give them to have access through the court system.
"The child of these parents has been murdered and yet they have no rights to see their grandkids?" said Sen. Brandes. "That to me is a problem the legislature needs to address."
Senators will discuss the measure in the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
If approved, the legislation would still face two more committees before getting to the full chamber.
