Caylee Anthony-Inspired Bill Sent to Gov. Rick Scott

A bill crafted as a result of an emotional murder trial last summer in Orlando, was unanimously supported by the Florida Senate on Thursday and is off to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott.

HB 37 would require a caregiver to report if any child 16 or younger is missing. Failure to do so would be a third-degree felony, the penalty bumped up to a second-degree felony if the child is harmed while missing.

The bill was inspired by the death of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, the daughter of Casey Anthony who was acquitted last summer of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter in the girls death.

Currently, providing false information is a misdemeanor.

The Orlando woman was convicted of four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

Caylee Anthony was reported missing July 15, 2008. It was determined the child, later found dead, had been missing for 30 days and during the investigation law enforcement reported Casey Anthony made a number of false statements regarding herself and the location of her daughter.