TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — “Miya’s Law,” a legislation that would improve apartment tenant safety in Florida, got one step closer to passing when it received unanimous approval by the state Senate's Agriculture, Environment and General Government Subcommittee on Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • "Miya’s Law" to improve apartment tenant safety cleared another Senate subcommittee

  • The legislation now advances to the Florida Senate’s Appropriations Committee

  • The measure would require more thorough background screenings for apartment employees

  • The bill is named after Miya Marcano, a slain college student who lived in Orange County

The measure, Senate Bill 898, now moves on to a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The bill is named after Miya Marcano, 19, a college student who was killed last fall. Orange County sheriff’s deputies suspect a maintenance worker at the Arden Villas apartments near UCF killed her before committing suicide. Marcano lived at the complex.

The maintenance worker, Armando Caballero, likely got access to her apartment through a master key, according to authorities.

If passed, SB 898 would:

  • Require landlords to do background screenings on employees
  • Require the background checks to include national screenings for domestic violence and the sex offender registry
  • Require staff to give 24-hour notice before using a master key to enter a tenant’s unit
  • Require staff to maintain a key log with details on who has access and when it’s used

“We have over 2 million apartment dwellers, so this is: everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, and Miya’s Law will help to make that a reality,” said Florida Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), who sponsored the bill. “We can’t stop everything, but this goes a long way to that.”

The Marcano family has been outspokenly supportive of the proposed measure.

Meanwhile, the Miya Marcano Foundation has announced a formal gala in South Florida on April 26, which would be Miya’s birthday, to honor and celebrate her life.